2012
Yoga Student + Staff member of the Month
This month, we’re featuring two yogis who love to travel, Emily Vasu, a dedicated IO yogi whose superhero talent is hailing a NYC taxi and Leslie Su, IO’s Retail and Brand Manager, whose favorite after yoga snack is Fraiche Yogurt’s oreo flavor.
Next time you see them in class, say hello!
NAME Emilie
HOMETOWN Bedford, NY
YEARS IN SF 7
PROFESSION Advertising Director
YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS Looking at the ocean
TEACHERS WHO INSPIRE YOU All those who teach me to breathe and to live in the moment
GO-TO AFTER YOGA SNACK Cashews
FAVORITE WRITERS Gustave Flaubert, Kafka, F. Scott Fitzgerald
FAVORITE ARTISTS Picasso, Magritte
HEROES My friends
SUPER-HERO TALENT My NY taxi-hailing whistle
FAVORITE VACATION Traveling anywhere I have not been before
IDEAL SUNDAY Sleeping in, going for a hike, and prolonging the weekend with a good wine-infused dinner with friends
5 THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY Travel, the people in my life, molten chocolate desserts, dogs, a good sweat
FAVORITE YOGA POSE Pigeon and Crow (can’t decide, both noble creatures in their own right)
OFF-THE-MAT PASSIONS Tennis, horseback riding, singing, skiing, travel, wine tasting, trying new restaurants
MANTRA Go where the love is
NAME Leslie Su
HOMETOWN a lovely little town in West Virginia: Vienna
YEARS IN SF 4 years in SF, 2 years and counting in Palo Alto!
FAVORITE VACATION My honeymoon! Maldives and a safari in Kenya (in that order).
YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS An abundantly well-lived, and full life – complete with grace, good health, wholesome friendships, new discoveries, worldly travel, family love, and beauty.
BEST AFTER YOGA SNACK Fraiche yogurt. Obsessed with their Oreo flavor.
YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS Edgar Degas (my 1st love at age 5)
YOUR SUPERHERO TALENT Falling asleep at movies and being a country mouse and a city mouse all rolled-up in 1!
YOUR FAVORITE POSE Pigeon. Oh it hurts so good.
HEROES My mom and dad. And those who truly live by what they believe in.
5 THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY QT time with my best friend and husband Jeff, sunshine, seeing the world, being inspired, laughing with close friends and family.
IDEAL SUNDAY a good night’s sleep, sunshine, Farmer’s Market, a hike and a lil’ bit of shopping!
OFF-THE-MAT PASSIONS travel, fashion (anything J. Crew and Isabel Marant), party planning/event design, homemade cooking, fitness (training for my next road race or triathlon)
YOUR MANTRA Everything has beauty. Be grateful – to yourself and to others.
For more tidbits on Emily and Leslie, read their complete profiles on the yoga board located outside of the studio. For our complete IO yoga schedule, please visit our yoga schedule here.
If you’d like to nominate a student, email Lindsay at lindsay@internationalorange.com
Namaste,
Sofia
Get Wellthy: October 31-Day Yoga Challenge
They say it takes 28 days to form good habits.
Let us give you a few more reasons to lock in a good habit: our inaugural 31-Day Yoga Challenge, beginning October 1st.
Our challenge to you: commit to the 31-Day Yoga Challenge and build a bridge to your better side.
The reasons to salute the sun on the mat are aplenty. Inspire your existing yoga practice or create a powerful new one and experience the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of a dedicated yoga practice.
THE DETAILS
All 31-Day Yoga Challenge participants are eligible for 15% OFF all massage services during the month of October (Monday-Thursday only).
For each IO yoga class taken, each participant will be entered into our drawing for prizes (limit 1 per participant).
The raffle prizes include: a 60-minute IO massage, a IO 5-class yoga card, and gift cards from Athleta and Fraiche Yogurt. The more you practice, the more likely you are to win!
The student who takes the most classes in the month of October (up to 31) will win the ultimate IO experience (total value: $315): – a 60 minute IO massage (value $110) – a $100 IO retail gift card – a 60 minute IO private yoga class (value: $105) with instructor of choice
Each participate must purchase a 31-yoga class pass ($120) from the IO Front Desk (expires October 31) for before the challenge starts on October 1, 2012.
The best prize of all: a new good habit, your improved health and happiness. Let’s get WELLthy together!
Here’s to good habits for 31 days,
Sofia
Change up your hair care: NEW Kai Shampoo and Conditioner
Much like our skincare, it’s important to change your hair care products, in order to keep your hair and scalp healthy.
New to our San Francisco spa is Kai’s first foray into hair care with their Argan Oil infused shampoo and onditioner ($34 each for 10oz.).
The advanced shampoo and conditioner is one of the 1st hair care products to use glycolic acid, which helps to exfoliate the scalp. It’s no surprise that Kai has put out another wholly clean and peace-abiding product.
If you’re a fan of Kai’s signature scent of a light blend of gardenia and white exotic florals, then you’ll love dousing your hair in the same.
In addition to glycolic acid and argan oil, the shampoo formula contains coconut oil, glycerin and mild surfactants that delicately remove dirt and buildup without stripping hair of color or texture.
The vitamin-rich conditioner is uniquely infused with Vitamin eE, shea butter, safflower seed oil, plant extracts that help to reconstruct, detangle and replenish hydration level deep within the hair shaft. End results: expect vibrancy, strength and smoothness all day long.
Like all of Kai’s products, both the shampoo and conditioners are paraben, sulfate and phthalate free. Never tested on animals, made in the USA and packaging is 100% recyclable.
Smell the gardenia,
Sofia
Nike Yoga Ambassador: Leah Kim
Ever wonder what it takes to fully live your dream? Or be a yoga teacher? Or better yet, be the face of Nike yoga?
This week, we had the chance to chat with Leah Kim, Nike’s Global Yoga Ambassador, who recently published a book called From Office Hell to Yoga Heaven about her journey from office cubicle to yoga teacher.
Tell us a little bit about where you’ve been and how you found yoga.
I’ve been based in London over the past couple years, after having lived in Hong Kong for three years. I’m originally from California, where I found yoga in Santa Monica. I had dabbled in yoga classes here and there from when I was a teenager, but it was when I first took my teacher Ally Hamilton’s class at Santa Monica Power Yoga that I became a serious practitioner.
Something lit up and woke up within my heart and soul during that first class with her, and I was instantaneously hooked. I think it was a combination of Ally’s extremely likeable personality and her grounded and sensible yoga speak, as well as the sheer challenge of the practice itself that pulled me in. I found it astounding how difficult it was to touch my toes and to try to stay remotely still for a few seconds. At the same time, it felt like I was being effortlessly and magnetically pulled to my mat. A calling, as they say.
Nike Global Yoga Ambassador. That’s 4 big power-packed words in a row! Tell us, what does that really mean?
It is indeed! Technically, I am signed with Nike as one of their Elite Athletes. Nike considers an athlete to be anyone who is dedicated to their movement practice, be it a competitive sport, dance, or yoga. They foster relationships with athletes that they feel represent the best in their field, and that fit the Nike brand.
As Nike’s Global Yoga Ambassador, I represent yoga for Nike on a global basis as a Master Trainer and Spokesperson. This means I serve as the face of Nike yoga, whether for a media event, or to create yoga content for the Nike Training Center app, or of course to teach people yoga!
We have a lot of athletes that come into our studio, what are your favorite poses for runners?
A simple forward fold is great for getting into your hamstrings as well as releasing your spine. Instead of trying to jam your legs straight, try a soft bend in your knees, and separate your feet about hips width apart. Hold opposite elbows. Completely release the weight of your head, neck, shoulders, and the rest of your torso. Keep both feet firmly grounded, but sway forward and back a bit. Switch the crossing of your arms. Connect to the sensations and emphasize a full exhale.
What’s your favorite post-yoga snack?
These days I’m really liking fat free Greek yogurt. Depending on how I’m feeling I’ll add oat bran, flax seeds, chia seeds, manuka honey, and/or berries.
What is the most rewarding part about being a teacher?
Happy and peaceful faces at the end of class. Watching people feel better and get stronger, more open, and more confident. When a student excitedly shares with me that they found their balance in a pose like Crow Pose. It’s not about the pose itself, but what it represents: the diligence, practice, and fearlessness it takes to get there.
Where do you turn to for inspiration?
I love watching the world go by. I love talking with all different kinds of people about all different kinds of life things. I love listening to talks by anyone who is passionate about life and what they stand for.
What’s playing on your yoga playlist right?
Alexi Murdoch, Massive Attack, Krishna Das
What is the thing that challenges you the most?
It’s a challenge for me to take it easy on myself. I am a perfectionist by nature, so I can unconsciously set crazy, basically impossible expectations for myself. It’s important to have big dreams and aspirations, but I think it’s equally important to just be proud of who you are and grateful for what you already have. So I practice nurturing a kind inner voice, both on and off the mat.
What’s next for Leah?
I’ve just published my first book! It’s called From Office Hell to Yoga Heaven, and it’s an anecdotal guide to becoming a yoga teacher. It’s available as an e-book through Hyperink.
I’m always happy to hear from peeps so feel free to get in touch!
www.facebook.com/leah.beyoga or Twitter: @leahkimyoga
Yoga Student + Staff member of the Month
This month, we’re featuring Karen Hennessy, a dedicated IO yogi whose superhero talent is being ridiculously organized and Lisa Jean Souza, one of IO’s senior Certified Massage Therapists who truly embodies the spirit of holistic wellness.
Next time you see them in class, say hello!
NAME Lisa Jean
HOMETOWN Morgan Hill, CA
YEARS IN SF I’m an East/South bay baby, but I’ve been working in SF for I think 6 years now.
YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS sun kissed, sand in the toes, ocean hugging my bones, dear friends, laughing, lots of laughing, eating lots of green things, good health, warm belly
YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC the raw kind, the emotional kind, the live kind
YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS I feel we are all are artists, I’m really insipired by my friends… Drew Roulette, Kim Evans, Ben Henderson, Julia Dawn
YOUR FAVORITE WRITERS So many, but what comes to mind is Tom Robbins, Octavia Butler, Salmon Rushdieie
BEST AFTER YOGA SNACK Dinner
SUPER-HERO TALENT: To hear the unspoken, and feel the unseen
FAVORITE POSES Triangle pose
HEROES All the mothers, and all the children, both seen and unseen
IDEAL SUNDAY Good sleep, Good love, delish meals, Mahalia Jackson on the stereo, a beautiful walk in the trees, smiling friends
OFF THE MAT PASSIONS the mystery of the human body in connection to spirit, creative wellness, writing
YOUR FAVORITE VACATION In real life, the Cayman Islands were a dream, in a dream, Africa.
NAME Karen Hennessy
HOMETOWN Pleasant Hill, CA
PROFESSION Director, Technology Certification
FAVORITE VACATION With friends and family in the south of Chile (the farther, the better) and romantic Tahiti
YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS Being at peace with where you are in life, and taking time to enjoy the people and places that surround you
BEST AFTER YOGA SNACK A delicious salad or sushi
YOUR FAVORITE WRITERS Oscar Wilde, Maya Angelou, Dr. Suess, Jhumpa Lahiri, and a whole bunch of food writers
FAVORITE ARTISTS Rodin, Richard Avedon, Olafur Eliasson, Sol LeWitt
SUPERHERO TALENT I’m ridiculously organized
FAVORITE POSE Pigeon, triangle, headstand
TEACHERS WHO INSPIRE YOU My parents, but inspiration can come from anyone as long as you take the time to listen
IDEAL SUNDAY Early morning yoga at IO, followed with good coffee and a stroll, an afternoon outdoors, ending with dinner among friends or family
SONG TO SING IN THE SHOWER Anything by The Cure!
YOUR MANTRA Follow your heart and do the best you can, it will be enough
For more tidbits on Karen and Lisa, read their complete profiles on the yoga board located outside of the studio.
For our complete IO yoga schedule, please visit our yoga schedule here.
If you’d like to nominate a student, email Lindsay at lindsay@internationalorange.com
Namaste,
Sofia
Fresh-faced for summer: the NEW Resurfacing Mask
Now that we’re half way through the summer, have you found your summer glow yet?
The countless hours (or non-hours if you live in San Francisco) spent in the sun, fog and or by the beach may be eating away at your resplendent glow. Yes, hyperpigmentation, acne, photodamaged/photoaged skin are all aftereffects of too much sun, dirt or imbalances in your lifestyle.
Meet our newest member to the IO menu at our San Francisco spa: the Resurfacing Mask ($24).
Some call it a peel, others a mask, but whatever you want to call it, it’s a power-packed punch of an add-on that gently and effectively resurfaces your skin without the downtime and the residual peeling often found in peels.
This means you’re up and running the minute you walk out of the spa, radiant and ready to be seen at your next bachelorette party or summer BBQ.
The Resurfacing Mask contains glycolic, retinol, and niacin and antioxidants that help to rapidly polish and smooth the skin. Removing dead skin cells, it is the perfect add-on to our Deep Cleanse Facial ($155) as it replaces all chemical and manual exfoliants, (which means this add-on is nothing but powerful!).
Last but not least, the Resurfacing Mask helps to restore a healthy glow back to dull skin and deep cleans pores, so acneic skin types, need not shy away! However, not recommended for extremely sensitive skin.
What’s not to love? It’s only $24 and at the ready for you this summer.
Smooth skin for summer,
Sofia
Yoga Student + Staff member of the Month
This month, we’re thinking international with Jodie Walker, a yogi and member of our front desk team who hails from Adelaide, Australia, and Paulina Barhona, a dedicated IO yogi who off the mat is a domestic goddess from Santiago, Chile.
Next time you see them in class, say hello!
NAME Jodie Marie Walker
HOMETOWN Adelaide, Australia
YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS Sunshine on my (well-protected) skin, being close to or in a body of water, fresh air, quality time with loved ones and live music
YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC A little bit of EVERYTHING, with a lot of Bon Iver and Beyoncé
YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS Nish, an Adelaide spraycan artist
YOUR FAVORITE WRITER Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Harper Lee – I’m a classics junkie
YOUR FAVORITE POSES It’s hard to go past Pigeon! Especially when it’s adjusted/deepened by a lovely teacher!
YOUR HEROES Anyone and everyone who is passionate and pursuing their dreams
IDEAL SUNDAY Sleep in, good food, a long walk, more good food, yoga, food, warm (wind-less) sunshine, and music and food with friends
YOUR FAVORITE VACATION South Africa
NAME Paulina Barahona
HOMETOWN Santiago, Chile
PROFESSION Psychologist
FAVORITE VACATION With friends and family in the south of Chile (the farther, the better) and romantic Tahiti
YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS Walking around the greenest most beautiful forests in the world: the hillsides of the Andes mountains, in the south of Chile
YOUR SUPERHERO TALENT It’s sooo unpopular…but I must say I’m a domestic goddess!
YOUR HEROS My parents and my husband. They have all done exactly the opposite of what was expected of them and they all succeed!
FAVORITE POSE Downward-facing dog and tree pose
TEACHERS WHO INSPIRE YOU In yoga? Marina Chaselon. In life? My husband.
SONG TO SING IN THE SHOWER Aves de Paso, by Joaquín Sabina
YOUR MANTRA Every thing is all right!
For more tidbits on Jodie and Paulina, read their complete profiles on the yoga board located outside of the studio. For our complete IO yoga schedule, please visit our yoga schedule here.
If you’d like to nominate a student, email Lindsay at lindsay@internationalorange.com
Namaste,
Sofia
Grateful for independence
Simply put, we’re grateful for our independence.
Grateful for our freedom …
to be well
to be open (yes, we’re open today)
to be present
to be responsible
to be strong
to be willing
to be flexible
to be giving
to be gracious
to be at one with ourselves, our community and the world in which we live.
Happy 4th of July,
Sofia
The Sunscreen Breakdown
It’s the great debate of the season: sunscreen.
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration’s final sunscreen regulations went into effect, and we’re all left a bit confused.
Thankfully this month our team of skincare experts gives us the breakdown on sunscreens. Answering the questions “Why is broad-spectrum important?” to “What’s the different between a chemical and physical sunscreen?” here’s what to look for in a sunscreen and our esthetician top picks:
1. Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
Broad-spectrum protects against UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are the “burning” ray, which is responsible for sunburn and damages the superficial layers of the skin, ultimately a key factor in skin cancer.
UVA rays are the “aging” ray, which penetrate more deeply than UVB rays and plays a major part in skin aging and wrinkling, or photo-aging.
2. Physical sunscreens most effectively reflect the UV rays away from the skin.
Currently there are 17 active ingredients approved by the FDA for use in sunscreens that fall into 2 categories: a chemical or physical sunscreen. Most sunscreens have a combination of both ingredients.
Most UV filters are chemical, and form a protective thin film on the surface of the skin and absorb the UV radiation. The physical sunscreens reflect the UV rays away from the skin. The controversy in chemical sunscreens is that they may cause internal inflammation, which ultimately can increase your skins pigment production and other aging factors.
Our favorite physical sunscreen is the Skinceuticals Physical Fusion SPF 50 ($32 for 50mL), available in-spa and made of entirely 100% physical sunscreens. With an added universal tint that looks good on all skin tones, the sunscreen goes on smooth and has a nice matte-fying effect.
3. Apply your sunscreen at least every 2 hours and wear it daily
No but’s about it! Wear it daily, no matter where you are. We recommend an SPF of at least 20 or higher everyday.
As a general rule, re-apply sunscreen every 2 hours, and more frequently if you are sweating and in and out of the water.
Protect intelligently,
Sofia
