Learn the Art of Arm Balancing & Inversions on January 30th

Come join the fun and strengthen your Yoga practice by learning how to come in and out of these 10 challenging and potentially harmful poses. Since most Yoga instructors avoid these advanced poses in class, all the more reason why you should learn the proper way to do them.

Make a day of it, learning new skills & enjoying the amazing amenities Evanston Athletic Club has to offer, not to mention what a lovely downtown to explore, just 12 miles north of Chicago and home to my alma mater, The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

For reservations call the Evanston Athletic Club @ 847-833-6190…and I’ll see you next Saturday!

Peace – R

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Hosting/StandUp – Last Comedy Showcase of 2015

Treat yourself to my last hosting and Stand-up gig of the year, the Ain’t Jokin’ Wit Chu Comedy Showcasetomorrow night (December 29th) at Abram Gale Lounge in Chicago, starting at 8pm.

Excellent line-up with two super funny comedians from our 12 Ladies of Christmas Holiday Show at Two Hearted Queen, my friends Danette Mark & Bridget Clymore. Gonna be a blast!

And if we don’t see you there, have an amazing New Year everyone…and feel free to drop-in my Yoga class on New Year’s Day at Wicker Park Athletic Club from 10:30-11:30am. Peace – R

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Teaching Life Lessons is What it’s All About

Kudos to everyone who packed the house in support of our 12 Ladies of Christmas Holiday Show at Chicago’s Two Hearted Queen, and thank you to the very funny and very talented performers who donated their time and energy to make it an awesome event!

As your host/producer who always appreciates the opportunity to impact the lives of youngsters – as well as anyone else who’s open to it – the best part of the night took place right before our raffle drawing, while teaching young Nathan the proper way to shake hands.

Like the ancient proverb says: give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. So take heed and rid yourself of that dead fish handshake!

And don’t forget your daily workout. Peace – R

Conscious Living: 10 Years & Counting

This morning I read an article by psychotherapist Bonnie Katz about the emotional roller coaster ride Actors are subject to throughout their careers – especially those of us auditioning for that break-out role – and what it takes to be The Conscious Actor.

RichTola2007Whether or not your life’s calling takes you on that rather lonely path of emotional ups and downs filled with countless auditions resulting in countless silent rejections (which I more colorfully address in my memoir), then take Bonnie’s advice when she says, “Be your own best friend and take care of your emotional life. Stay away from people who are negative and not supportive of you. Be around people who lift you up, not pull you down.” No doubt.

Most importantly – at least I think so and something I’ve been blogging about since I started this website 6 years ago – and as Bonnie says, “Keep yourself in top mental and physical shape.”

Interestingly enough, this week marks my 10 year anniversary of practicing the “Conscious Living” Art of Yoga. Talk about keeping you in excellent mental and physical shape…not to mention spiritual, Yoga is an amazing way to level off those emotional ups and downs no matter what path you’re on. For the past 9 years, I’ve taught more than 20,000 students and there’s no question that every single one of them has benefited from taking at least one class.

Positivity not negativity. Strong body and a clear mind. Believe you can and sit tall in the saddle. Never judge yourself, just do the best you possibly can and delete excuses from your repertoire. All things I recommend no matter what you do in life. And workout every single day while incorporating the principles of Yoga into your everyday life.

It’s worked for me and it will certainly work for you. Peace – R