4 LAYOGA.COM
EDITOR’S NOTE
Felicia TomaskoRAY’S AND STARK BAR EXECUTIVE
CHEF FERNANDO DARIN AND
FELICIA TOMASKO AT LACMA
RAYSANDSTARKBAR.COM
PHOTO BY JEFF SKEIRIK
RAWTOGRAPHER.COMT
hink about your life before and after you began to have a yoga practice. There’s something about yoga
that first spoke to you, that made you curious, that invigorated and/or calmed you, helped you over-
come obstacles and even get through the day. Some of us are looking to integrate yoga more, to become
teachers or to find our teacher, to find a practice that speaks to us for what we need in our life now. We
may also be trying to find a consistent time of day in which we can practice. Being aware of your individual story
of what inspires you about yoga and connecting to others’ stories can be integral to building and sustaining yoga as
part of an overall wellness practice.
For renowned model and Kundalini instructor Normandie Keith, yoga served as a powerful refuge in the pre-
dawn hours during a challenging time in her life. Her practice has become one of appreciating the inner beauty that
transcends the superficial. It remains a refuge and one she is committed to compassionately sharing with others.
Ray’s and Stark Bar (on the LACMA campus) Executive Chef Fernando Darin didn’t expect to enjoy yoga when
he attended his first class. But like many yoga aficionados, he became quickly hooked. More than simply practicing
the postures, he muses on how yoga’s emphasis on balance has become one of the ingredients in every other part of
his life. This includes Chef Darin’s culinary artistry of balancing flavors in the kitchen. It also includes the balance of
life and work as well as cultivating the ability to be happy while working.
When it comes to cultivating happiness—and harmony—in our relationships, Brahma Kumaris Sister Shivani
offers five steps to support us on this part of our path. From shifting from expectations to acceptance to embrac-
ing faith, Sister Shivani emphasizes the connection between our own awakening and the strength and health of our
relationships.
Shanti Generation Founder Abby Wills also believes in the importance of dropping expectations when develop-
ing a family yoga practice that is grounded in wellness. She wonders what the world would be like if more families
integrated yoga and meditation into their daily lives.
Your life story will take some unpredictable twists and turns but you can draw strength from your practice. Your
foundation is supported by believing in the power of your own self-worth, by sharing with your community of
friends, family, teachers and fellow students.
This issue features our first Wellness Guide. We want to keep you informed and connected to the network of
practitioners and products available to help support your foundation. We’ll be offering more guides in upcoming
issues. And look for our expanded information related to events, practitioners, businesses, cafes and restaurants, and
more online on la.findbliss.com.
Keep adding layers to your foundation and discover the beauty within,