And again today, my smile is on & my hat is off to San Francisco’s Mayor, Gavin Newsom for offering free yoga classes to the city and county of San Frcisco. San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom has understood the importance of how physical activities play an important role in the physiological, emotional, and physical well being of an individual. And on a larger scale, Mayor Gavin Newsom understands how healthy individuals plays an important role in the positive growth & health of a community. Therefore, Mayor Gavin Newsom has provided “the opportunity to engage in bettering oneself through physical activities” to people of all walks of life.

Today, tons of people returned and enjoyed “Part II – Sunday Streets San Francisco.”.

A four and half mile route stretching from Bayview to Chinatown along the Embarcadero was closed to traffic allowing biking, walking, jogging, yoga, tai chi, hoola hooping, hip hop dancing, roller skating, and physical activity of all kinds to fill the streets of San Francisco.

And thanks to the encouragement of San Francisco Physical Activity Council Member & Sports Basement Partner, Shelley Berniker – A Yoga Pod was born.

Yoga Pod Class Schedule – 14 September 2008

9:15 – 10:30am. – Yoga Teacher – Tony Eason

Born in San Francisco, Iyengar Yoga Teacher, Tony Eason has been a student of Yoga for fifteen years.

As an endurance cyclist, Tony came to yoga for the benefits of stretching.

For five years he studied under Yoga Teacher Mary Friedland. Tony continued to develop his personal practice and teaching skills with the guidance of Yoga Teachers: Kathy Alef, Ben Thomas, Tommijean Thomas PhD, Jaki Nett, and Nora Burnett. He apprenticed under Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher, Janet MacLeod.

He is a graduate of the Two-year Advanced Teacher Training Program of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco.

His classes are based on the traditions of B.K.S. Iyengar.

Through Hatha yoga classes, he teaches students to pay attention to the alignment of their bodies, to become aware of the breath, and to control the mind.

Presently, Tony teaches yoga classes, seminars, and substitute teaches at: James Howell Studio, Club One, Gold’s Gym , Sports Basement and the San Francisco Tennis Club .

Cyclist, beginners, seasoned yoga students, and everyone else, are encouraged to attend his yoga classes.

10:30 – 11:15am. – Yoga Teacher – Annie Appleby

“Annie Appleby graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Sociology and went on to intern for ABC News in Washington, DC. Later, while working at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood, California, she continued her education at UCLA and began taking lunch time yoga classes on the lot. After founding YogaForce, Appleby presented seminars on marketing and product placement to the MBA programs at USC and UCLA and to the fashion department at Stephens College www.stephens.edu).

Appleby has been teaching yoga privately since 1997 and currently teaches in the San Francisco Bay Area at Oracle, EQUINOX and the YMCA. She also travels to teach and consult. The YogaForce F2 Collection launched at the POOL Trade Show in August, 2006 and is available at select Nordstrom locations and other fine stores.

Appleby is a skin cancer survivor and advocate and is featured in the 2008 MELONOMA SURVIVOR CALENDAR .”

10:30 – 11:15am. – Yoga for Kids – Rebecca Durlin Smith

In 2005 Rebecca began sharing the gift of yoga with her 7-year-old sister, Danielle, and became overwhelmed with the desire to share the ancient practice with more children. Receiving her credential to teach children yoga in 2006 through the It’s Yoga Kids Certification Course has made that vision a reality. Rebecca brings her love of life and passion to make the world a better place into her classes.

11:00 – 12:15pm. – Yoga Teacher – Anna Yaya Kelleher

Anna has studied and taught yoga in the Iyengar tradition for over fifteen years. The practice of yoga and being in the yoga community naturally led to an interest, and then formal studies, in Ayurveda. Both of these sciences have sustained and enriched her through her worklife, pregnancy and birthing, motherhood, and other life changes and challenges. She views yoga and Ayurveda as structures we build within ourselves that we can always come home to whatever the circumstances. Yoga and Ayurveda offer us deep spiritual foundations so that we become present to ourselves and the world as we are, enabling us to experience and share joy. One of her favorite yogic sayings is “many paths, one truth” because it communicates that essence of allowing. Anna views sharing these sciences with students, as a teacher, and clients, as a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, as an honor and a pleasure.

Anna studied yoga at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco with teachers who include Judith Lasater, Ramanand Patel, Janet Macleod, and Jaki Nett. She has studied with Manouso Manos, and the Iyengars both in the US and in India. She has studied Ayurveda with Dr. Jay Apte at the Kerala Academy. She is currently enrolled in massage school at the World School of San Francisco. She works and lives in San Francisco.

San Francisco, like most communities, is facing an obesity/physical inactivity and chronic disease epidemic. Over 80% of San Francisco public school students in grades 5, 7, and 9 failed the minimum fitness test. Over one quarter of SF residents engage in no moderate physical activity.” – Mayor’s Challenge: Shape Up San Francisco Initiative.” –

• Sunday Streets – 31 August 2008 – Part I
• Thousands enjoy S.F.’s Sundays Street event, SF Chronicle
• Sun shines for first Sunday Streets, SF Examiner
• SF kicks off first ‘Sunday Streets’ event, ABC7 News
• Yelp Reviews
• Photos from the event – Picasa
• Flickr photos tagged “sundaystreetssf”