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Yoga Parties
A Healthy New Trend By Teri Brown
Evan Cooper, yoga instructor and the author of the book, UM, Like...OM: A Girl Goddess's Guide to Yoga, (Little Brown, 2005) says it's fun to use an eastern philosophy theme for decor and food.
"There are so many ways to be creative when this expansive and all-inclusive theme is used," she says. "For example, I would create a very Zen-like or peaceful atmosphere with beautiful flowers, an array of candles and soothing music. I'm not saying you have to put your guests to sleep – actually quite the opposite. The goal is to awaken your guests into a feeling of being at peace, being calm and truly alive."
Cooper has taught at parties where the host has served an organic and vegetarian meal in the vein of traditional yogis with party decor such as little Buddhas decorating the tables. At one party she instructed, the hostess hired an astrologer to read her guests' signs.
"Another great idea is to give every guest a personal journal as a party favor," says Cooper. "They can then write about their first experience in yoga and/or have friends sign it as a meaningful keepsake."
When asked to teach at a party, Cooper often refers her clients to restaurants and bakeries that cater delicious organic foods and pastries, tough she does suggest that you wait to serve the refreshments until after the class. She also asks them what types of music generally inspire them and then creates a CD mix of preferred music, plus traditional Indian music to play during the yoga class. The CD is then left for the host as a gift to remember the occasion. Even if your instructor doesn't offer to do this, you certainly can.