Revitalize New Orleans Yoga Retreat Combines Yoga on the Mat with Community Service to Help a City in Need

From June 10-17, True Nature Wellness and Transcend Retreats are hosting the Revitalize New Orleans Yoga Retreat designed to give participants a chance to combine the practice of yoga on the mat with karma yoga service projects throughout the community. As participants assist in the next wave of Katrina recovery efforts, they will expand their definition of what it means to practice yoga and discover the essence of this ancient tradition.

New York, NY (PRWEB) April 19, 2006 –- The Revitalize New Orleans Yoga Retreat offers individuals a powerful way to deepen their yoga practice on and off the mat through volunteering in the next wave of Katrina recovery efforts this June 10-17.

Nationally certified yoga teachers Amy Lombardo of True Nature Wellness and Scott Feinberg of Transcend Retreats designed the Revitalize New Orleans Yoga Retreat to combine the popular physical practice of yoga with the less known practice of karma yoga: the art of selfless service to others. From June 10-17, retreat participants will practice postures, breathing, and meditation during two daily yoga classes, one in the morning and one in the evening. During mid-day, the retreat group will volunteer in different parts of New Orleans, offering their services to a variety of recovery efforts.

The retreat will begin with a state-of-the-city tour of New Orleans led by a local volunteer followed by five days of community service and yoga practice. The nature of the community service will vary each day and include projects like re-planting trees in local parks; cleaning up and painting elementary schools in preparation for re-opening next autumn; distributing non-perishable foods to families in need; and helping local farmers rebuild facilities and harvest crops. Service projects will last about 4-6 hours a day and are being carefully coordinated with the help of local organizations already immersed in the recovery efforts.

Emphasis will be placed on community-oriented projects where participants will have an opportunity to work alongside residents of New Orleans and other volunteers as they share their stories. Participants need no previous experience in yoga or volunteering. Special attention has been given to choosing safe and manageable projects that will provide fulfilling experiences for the group and the community at large. In addition to daily yoga practice and community service, there will be plenty of time for quiet reflection, group discussion, and opportunities to explore the city and support the local economy. There will even be the added bonus of a special yoga chanting concert by Sean Johnson and the Wild Lotus Yoga Band at the local Wild Lotus Yoga Studio on Monday night.

The retreat will be limited to 15-20 participants, and much of the time will be spent with other yogis and residents from New Orleans who have been helping to plan the retreat. Participants will be staying at the centrally located Dominican Conference Center run by the Congregation of St. Mary. For more information on retreat details or to reserve your space, please see www.transcendretreats.com or contact Amy or Scott.

About Amy Lombardo and Scott Feinberg:

Amy Lombardo is a nationally certified Yoga Instructor, Empowerment Coach, and founder of her own consulting and teaching practice in Manhattan, True Nature Wellness. She has completed extensive training in Hatha, Vinyasa, and Anusara yoga amongst many other healing modalities. Through yoga, Amy hopes to rekindle people's connection with the world around them, as well as the world within them. For more information, see www.truenatureyoga.us.

Scott Feinberg is a nationally certified Yoga Instructor and the Director of Transcend Retreats, an organization dedicated to providing yogis with unique retreat offerings, which serve to enhance our yoga practice both on and off the mat. Scott is a teacher of Yin and Vinyasa yoga in south Florida where he regularly teaches and leads workshops and immersions. For more information, see www.transcendretreats.com

Contact:

Amy Lombardo
True Nature Wellness
Phone: (646) 682-7619
www.truenatureyoga.us

Scott Feinberg
Transcend Retreats
Phone: 561-339-9642
www.transcendretreats.com