PLAYLIST(S): LOVE FROM LOS ANGELES

Love Yoga has 2 studios in Los Angeles, a 3-year old hotspot in Venice and a newer location on the East Side in Echo Park. In their classes, co-founders Sian Gordon and Kyle Miller combine their Iyengar and Vinyasa backgrounds with the Taoist theory and sacred geometry of the Katonah teachings with the added bonus of a juicy soundtrack.

Tune in and enjoy the flow below. 

A CHAT WITH KYLE MILLER

Inside/Out: Other than yoga, what other activities or sports do you participate in?
Kyle Miller: Hiking! Swimming in the ocean. Communing with nature is my thing. If I can be active while I’m doing it, even better.   

I/O: Any particular wellness-related rituals? 
KM: I pick lemons and oranges from my front yard and then I savor the pranic energy from them as I consume. It connects me to the cycle of life and feeds my spirit like nothing else.  

I/O: Any particular challenges or obstacles you have faced or are facing as a woman?
KM: I actually haven’t experienced any hardship on account of my being female but I do definitely see the men in our industry taking the business side of things more seriously and getting compensated more because of it. I always try to raise the worth of our teachers and show them how to value themselves.  

I/O: What says 'Los Angeles' to you? 
KM: Driving down PCH. That is my LA.  

I/O: A motto or mantra?
KM: Through orientation I can shift my perspective.  

I/O: A favorite asana or sequence?
KM: I like a simple classical headstand or a Katonah Yoga style pigeon with a blanket beneath my pelvis and a block under each arm pit.  

“Through orientation I can shift my perspective.  ”

I/O: A favorite spot in Venice? A favorite spot on the East Side?
KM: In Venice, I live and die for Gjusta. It’s the only place I want to eat. On the East Side, I love Honey Hi for the smoothies and mushroom hot chocolate.  

I/O: A favorite artist, album or song?
KM: My number one song is On and On by Erykah Badu. And Tyrone. Love her!!

I/O: A food/drink?
KM: I like to peel 2 oranges from my tree and make a smoothie with almond or coconut milk, the oranges and spinach. It’s perfection.  

I/O: A wish? 
KM: For consciousness, personally and and for the planet. I want to wake up and act from my highest self in all moments.  

I/O: A teacher? 
KM: Nevine Michaan of Katonah Yoga and Abbie Galvin of The Studio.  They inspire me so much.  

I/O: An app? 
KM: The Mindbody app so I can track our sales at both studios throughout the day.  

I/O: A favorite destination?
KM: Europe in the summer is my favorite! I’m lucky to be leading 2 retreats there this summer. Mallorca in June and Provence in July! And I’m squeezing in some travel for fun, too. 

I/O: Someone we should feature?
KM: Actress turned activist Bonnie Wright - she is our friend through the studio and my inspiration on sustainability. Her mission to inspire more consciousness around single use plastic should be blasted from every roof top. 

I/O: Thoughts on female empowerment or feminism? 
KM: Women are brilliant, dynamic and multifaceted.  We are shapeshifters and power players and it’s time we take control. 

A CHAT WITH SIAN GORDON

Inside/Out: Other than yoga, what other activities or sports do you participate in? 
Sian Gordon: Surf and running through the Santa Monica mountains with my dog. 

I/O: Any particular wellness-related rituals? 
SG: I drink a large glass of lemon water as soon as I wake up and I don't allow myself to touch my phone for at least a half an hour.

I/O: Any particular challenges or obstacles you have faced or are facing as a woman? 
SG: Women are expected to be extremely friendly and outgoing. If you're quiet or shy, you're labeled a bitch. If a man is quiet he's seen as strong. 

I/O: What says 'Los Angeles' to you?
SG: The ability to access a matcha latte wherever I am.

I/O: A quote?
SG: 'It loved to happen' by Marcus Aurelius is my favorite quote of all time. 

I/O: A favorite asana or sequence? 
SG: I do a supported fish and a round of kapalabhati  breathing every morning to open and aerate my lungs. 

“I think we all need to stop talking about one another’s faces and focus on our achievements. Judging other women is only serving to hold us back. ”

I/O: A favorite spot in Venice? A favorite spot on the East Side?  
SG: In Venice I love The Lev, a local beautifully curated book shop on Lincoln (editor's note: focused on women and children). In Silverlake you can find me at Botanica. 

I/O: A power song or favorite artist/album? 
SG: Right now I'm obsessed with a harpist named Mary Lattimore who I've been playing a lot in my classes. 

I/O: A food/drink?
SG: Mostly vegetables. And the smoothie Kyle makes. It really is the best. 

I/O: A wish? 
SG: I wish people would stop buying bottles of water at the store and gas guzzling cars. 

I/O: A resource? 
SG: I'm obsessed with the New Yorker Fiction podcast and The Paris Review podcast. They get me through my commute. 

I/O: An app? 
SG: Duolingo to learn new languages. I've been brushing up on my French. 

I/O: A favorite destination?
SG: It's very hard to choose but I feel a consistent longing to go back to Cape Town South Africa where my family is from. 

I/O: Someone we should feature?
SG: Kassia Meador. Ex pro surfer, woman entrepreneur (editor's note: the founder of Kassia Surf), sound healer and environmentalist. She is a beaming ray of light. 

I/O: Thoughts on female empowerment or feminism? 
SG: I think it's really important for women not to judge one another. Women are so quick to remark on another women's looks, clothing, attitude. I think we all need to stop talking about one another's faces and focus on our achievements. Judging other women is only serving to hold us back. 

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