‘Exceptional teaching’ in a pristine place Columbia Memorial hosts art
Sixth annual Cannon Beach Yoga Festival has new classes, extra day show by local pediatrician
Story by LYRA FONTAINE
EO Media Group
The sixth Cannon Beach
Yoga Festival will be the lon-
gest yet, from Friday, Feb.
26 through Monday, Feb. 29.
This is because Monday falls
on a leap year, which founder
and director Christen Allsop
says is “auspicious.”
Notable new events in-
clude an Indian dance work-
shop and party, a gemstone
healing intensive, and a mar-
keting class for yoga profes-
sionals.
Cannon Beach Yoga Fes-
tival is different from big
yoga conferences that are lo-
cated in a single setting, such
as a convention center.
“This is a way to experi-
ence a beautiful environment
in different venues,” Allsop
said. “We’ve got this beau-
tiful, pristine place, and we
want to offer exceptional
teaching.”
Allsop has studied yoga
in India and New York City.
After teaching yoga in Can-
non Beach for 15 years, she
opened the Cannon Beach
Yoga Arts studio ¿ve years
ago.
“It’s a lifelong learning
process,” she said of teach-
ing and practicing yoga.
The yoga festival is fund-
ed by the city’s lodging tax,
which is designated for non-
pro¿t events.
“The funding makes it
possible to bring amazing
master teachers from all over
the country,” Allsop said.
The full festival pass is
$375, the Saturday pass is
$210, and the Sunday pass
is $190. People can now sign
up for main track workshops
individually.
The event is expected to
have about 175 people, with
the majority of yogis in atten-
dance coming from Seattle
and Portland. Cannon Beach
Yoga Arts will serve as a cen-
tral hub or headquarters for
the event. A shuttle will take
attendees to events at Tolo-
Submitted photo/Cannon Beach Gazette
Students at the 2015 yoga festival.
Submitted photo/Cannon Beach Gazette
Cannon Beach yoga students practice
poses.
Need-to-know
Sanskrit terms:
Asana: physical postures in
yoga such as tree pose, warrior
pose or downward dog.
Ayurveda: a 5,000-year-old
system of natural medicine
from India that helps optimize
individuals’ health and balance.
Namaste: a term that means
“I bow to you” that can be said for a
greeting, goodbye or to recognize
the light and wisdom in others.
ASTORIA — Columbia Memo-
rial Hospital will unveil a new
art exhibit with photography by
pediatrician Dr. “Ram” Madha-
varapu. The show, entitled “Se-
renity,” features Northwest land-
scapes and Portland nightscapes.
It opens with an artist recep-
tion from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thurs-
day, March 3 in the Columbia
Memorial Hospital Health and
Wellness Pavilion, located at
2265 Exchange St.
Prints will be available for
purchase and proceeds will be
donated to the CMH Auxiliary.
Madhavarapu’s photography
is dynamic and worldly. He has
been passionate about photogra-
phy since age 14 because it cap-
tures a moment in time, allowing
the viewer to recall a memory
with ease. Madhavarapu said he
“especially loves the Northwest
landscapes” and feels like he
never has enough time to capture
all the beauty he sees.
Madhavarapu attended med-
ical school in India, completed
specialized training in neonatol-
ogy in England and Ireland, and
worked on the East Coast be-
fore moving to Astoria 12 years
Submitted photo
Dr. “Ram” Madhavarapu, as depicted by a
street artist in Italy.
Submitted photo
“Playing at the Edge of the World” by Mad-
havarapu.
ago. He is a well-loved pediatric
physician in the CMH Pediatric
Clinic.
For more information about
the show, call 503-325-4321.
Submitted photo/Cannon Beach Gazette
Open 7am
A teacher leads a yoga class at a recent festival.
vana Inn, Hallmark Resort,
Cannon Beach Chamber Hall
and Sea Ranch Resort.
“In the past ¿ve years, the
growth of yoga has been so
exponential,” Allsop said,
adding that it is harder than
ever to ¿nd master teachers
who aren’t booked two or
three years in advance.
She carefully selected this
year’s master class teachers
to create a well-rounded pro-
gram that would draw a vari-
ety of people.
Julie Gudmestad’s work-
shop focusing on anatomy
awareness of lower back,
hips and pelvis during poses
will appeal to yoga profes-
sionals and advanced practi-
tioners, she said, while Sar-
ahjoy Marsh’s therapeutic
workshops that address how
yoga is connected to addic-
tion, recovery, love and be-
longing may interest mental
health professionals. Lovers
of language will enjoy Simon
Chokoisky’s class on learn-
ing the ancient language of
Sanskrit. Brad Waites teach-
es a class on the origins of
sun salutations, a key move-
ment series in yoga, as well
as a course on how to achieve
“wheel” pose.
There are also optional
workshops to choose from,
including Prashant Kakad’s
beginning bhangra and Bol-
lywood dance class. A Bol-
lywood dance party will take
place at Sea Ranch Resort on
Saturday night.
Kids’ classes include ¿g-
ure drawing with local artist
Dave Kinhan and imagina-
tion yoga.
Friday night will see
the opening ceremony. Ad-
vanced holistic nurse Kath-
leen Bell will lead morning
meditations on Saturday and
Sunday.
Master classes can be be-
ginner-friendly, Allsop says,
particularly if they deal with
matters of yoga philosophy
and not just yoga poses,
called “asanas.”
Jeevani Eigen will teach
courses on ayurveda, an an-
cient East Indian philosophy
for healing and longevity.
Star Weitman and Dr. Ada
Gonzalez are leading a work-
shop on quantum healing
with gemstone energy med-
icine.
Daily!
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February 25, 2016 | coastweekend.com | 29