MIRROR CELLS Exhibit at the Whitney Museum of American Art - MAY 13–AUG 21, 2016

The Mirror Cells exhibit, on display from MAY 13 – AUG 21, 2016 at the Whitney Museum of American Art, presents a unique series of sculptures by five up and coming artists who explore disparate links among objects to immerse viewers in strange invented fantasy worlds. 

The exhibition’s title Mirror Cells refers to mirror neurons―specialized brain cells that are activated when observing the behavior of others. Maggie Lee’s video-based installations chart her family’s ups and downs, while Win McCarthy’s precarious sculptures are imbued with the anxiety of daily life in an unstable world. 

Liz Craft - Spider Woman - Mixed Media

Likewise, the anthropomorphic shapes of Elizabeth Jaeger’s large-scale ceramic vessels imply ambiguous emotions, and Liz Craft’s works are connected through internal dialogues reflected in sculptural mouths, word bubbles, and spider women. 

Liz Craft - Spider Woman - Mixed Media

Rochelle Goldberg’s installation alludes to unstable environments and questions of survival through her use of morphing growth cycles of living things. 

Largely composed of modest materials such as wood, clay, plaster, and fabric, these works engage the viewer through a sense of immediacy and tactility. 

Mirror Cells is organized by Whitney associate curators Christopher Y. Lew and Jane Panetta.

Win McCarthy, New York Critical Nightmare, Mixed Media

Full Day Workshop with Elena Brower at Yoga Journal Live! New York Conference, April 8, 2016

The Yoga Journal Live! New York Conference takes place every year at the Hilton Hotel in midtown New York City, featuring renowned yoga teachers who can help you take your yoga, wellness and spiritual practice to the next level. What's unique about this event is that it's not just about yoga!  There was a marketplace of wellness vendors exhibiting all natural and sustainable products in yoga wear, beverages, jewelry, skin-care, and wellness retreats.

This year's conference in New York City featured an all-star line up yoga instructors, including Amy Ippolitti, Elena Brower, Kathryn Budig, Seane Corn, Bo Forbes, Shiva Rea, Rodney Yee, Gabrielle Bernstein, and more!  

The Friday and Monday sessions of Yoga Journal Live! New York features a full day immersion class with a yoga teacher of your choice.  These full day classes give you a chance to learn the techniques well with personalized attention and to ask the instructor any questions you may have.

This year, we took the full day Friday class with Elena Brower, who's known for incorporating self-awareness, compassion, mindfulness, and wellness into her classes so well you leave feeling calm, yet energized and refreshed!  This year's topic is Art of Attention: Agility, Grace, and Strength.

In today's post we'll share an effective practice from Elena Brower on how you can start off your mornings, or revive your afternoons with these energizing and uplifting practices.  Ideally, the steps below should be performed in order - give it a try and feel the viva la difference.

1. Sit on your yoga mat cross legged and start massaging your hands, massage the palms and the intersections between each fingers.  Then lightly pull each finger and let your hands slide off each finger.  These actions stimulate the liver. as all body parts are INTERCONNECTED

2. Massage your scalp with your hands

3. Stand up.  Gently poke your stomach with the tip of your fingers and your sides, this stimulates the kidneys

4. Rhythm is important.  Repeat shrugging your shoulders in a circular motion, then run in a stationary place - imaging you are staying within a 12 inch square

5. Now the trick for lengthening your spine.  Instead of bending down to touch your toes with your hands, do this stretch with your knees slightly bent.  This will stretch out your spine if your legs are not as flexible.

6. After you stretch out your spine using the method described in step five, you should have a much easier time touching your toes with your hands now that your spine is stretched out!

7. Take a deep breath and thank yourself for this brief yet effective morning practice!

Adhere to these seven steps to start off your morning or in time of stress.  It was a transformative experience to dedicate a whole day to learning with Elena Brower.  We learned it's just as important to be compassionate to others as it is to yourself.

If you're attending any Yoga Journal Live! Event, don't miss out on the full day immersion classes with a renowned yoga instructor.  The next event this year is in San Diego at the beautiful Hotel Del Coronado from June 23 - 27, 2016 - tickets can be purchased here.  Get 15% off your ticket with the code CHAKRA