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Zen Diaries: The Lockdown

It’s 10 years after the premiere of my first film, Boulevard Zen, and here’s our protagonist, the former hot-shot Atlantic City, NJ attorney turned yoga master, Bobby D’Angelo, dealing with another shooter in his life. This time causing a lockdown in his LA studio. It’s where “self-doubt goes to die”, and it’s also where tempers start to flare among students and strangers as Bobby vows to “protect his family” while trying hard to inspire – and not insult – his guests with his tough love words of wisdom.

Zen Diaries: The Lockdown is a 20-minute dramedy starring Rich Tola, Kayla Moore, Jonny Haug, Romi Valenti, Anita Davenport, Jennifer Cheung and A.P. Moses. Similar to Skateboard Bandits, this film was completed from start-to-finish in less than 90 days with a total budget of $2,000.

Feel free to email us: info@twostrikehitter.com for the Vimeo link and private code. Zen Diaries: The Lockdown will officially premiere on November 1, 2019.

Coming next: All Mixed Up, a sexy R-rated love story about a 25 year-old socialite who’s trapped in an abusive relationship and soon to be married, who yearns for a way out plus one last affair with a man twice her age.

Have an awesome Autumn everyone, and get your workouts in! Peace – R

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Reader Book Review – Simply Between Millions

SimplyBetweenMillionsPostcardCover copy

Thank you Andrea from PA, for the stunning review on Amazon (see below).

Per your request, one day I’ll make this into “a great inspirational movie” with the legendary Michael Douglas playing my father – a role perfect for him! Peace – R

“Simply Between Millions is a quick and addictive page turner about a guy who seems very charismatic, very smart and very passionate with an impressive range of interests, talents and knowledge. The book is a great example of how it’s never too late to follow your heart, in spite of what others expect of you or think of you!

Rich Tola’s book is an entertaining autobiography that would make a great inspirational movie! I was inspired to google the authors’ videos while reading his book and, in addition to being amazed by his physical strength, I was amazed by his similarities to the great actor Michael Douglas…their voices, inflection and engaging charm are very similar! Perhaps Douglas could play Tola’s father in a movie version of the book!

I would love for the author to write another book that expands on his work
with teaching yoga to women and children in domestic violence shelters. He dedicates a few pages to this topic and it was so heartwarming that I really wanted to read more chapters about it.

Congratulations to the author for a compelling “first book” and I look forward to reading your next one!!! Ben Franklin and Jack LaLanne would be proud of you!”

Andrea from PA!

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Tola Yoga in Chinatown, LA

RichTolaYogaTeacherI’m back.

Of course Arnold said it best in the 1984 blockbuster, The Terminator, but for my devout yoga students in LA, I’m sure these words are music to their ears. And they can be for you too, if you’re into getting a great yoga workout!

Join us every Saturday from 9-10a for a challenging Tola Yoga class, and remember to bring your mat, towel and water. It’s also a donation class, so give what you can. Address: 808 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 – enter on Alameda Street about 100 feet north of Alpine Street (with free street parking along Alameda).

And for anyone new to my fitness style of yoga, Tola Yoga is a strong workout affecting every muscle in your body and is comprised of 5 equal parts: Yoga Stretches, Balancing, Abdominals, Core Strengthening and Foundation Poses.

Have an awesome day everyone, and I’ll see you on the mat. Peace – R

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Stay Zen #9 – Top 5 Household Item Exercises

I confess. I didn’t make it to the gym or yoga class yesterday. That’s right, too busy getting this next episode of Stay Zen ready to publish.

But no worries, because I was able to get a quick workout in with my Top 5 Household Item Exercises. No BS here folks, because regardless of your financial situation or your super busy life, all it takes is a little creativity and discipline and bam! You got your workout in. Enjoy – R

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Get Fit. Live Healthy. Lose Inches. Stay Zen

Because life’s a BLVD and you gotta be ZEN.

And everything else that comes with living a self-respecting and healthy lifestyle that keeps you happy and fit. As well as lean and confident, because feeling good about yourself positively affects your friends and loved ones as you project your inner strength out into the Universe.

So if you haven’t already, add some exercise and some Zen (i.e., enlightenment) to your day and you’ll be on your way! And if you could use a little inspiration to get you going today, then follow BLVD ZEN on Instagram (click below), and Get Fit, Live Healthy, Lose Inches and Stay Zen.
BLVD ZENEnjoy – R

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Keep the Drive Alive

Yoga masters Rich Tola and Jessi Harper teaching a charity class in Hollywood to benefit The Boulevard Zen Foundation
Yoga masters Rich Tola and Jessi Harper teaching a charity class in Hollywood to benefit The Boulevard Zen Foundation
Did you ever notice how quiet your fitness center is on Sunday mornings? That’s because Sundays are a day of rest, right?

Not in Father Time’s eyes.

And not in mine. Because whatever goals you set for yourself – such as getting leaner for the beach this summer or finding a more rewarding job – Keep the Drive Alive. That’s right, stay motivated every single day to move the ball up the field with your thoughts and actions.

Like getting your workout in on Sundays, or researching the internet and then canvassing your neighborhood for new opportunities. They’re all cumulative. And get you closer to your goals.

So no worries or self-sabotage about what you didn’t do this past week…just do it today!

Enjoy – R

My audiobook, Simply Between Millions: From Wall Street to Hollywood, now on iTunes
Rich Tola's Memoir on iTunes

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Take compliments to Heart

Oftentimes we receive compliments from friends or people we recently met, and just let them slide off us without really absorbing their energy.  That is to say, really taking compliments to heart and warming yourself with the admiration.  Especially guys.  We can easily prefer criticisms to compliments because of our male conditioning.  But it’s OK for anyone to basque in the moment of the compliment.  Like what happened to me this morning.   I saw a friend in the gym I haven’t seen in a while who complimented me on my film, Boulevard Zen, and my 100 days of blogs when she went on about how she loved the film’s characters, and my “totally believable” girlfriend, and my “powerful blogs”, until she finally said, “And you know what Rich Tola, you got heart.”  Now that made my day.  And why shouldn’t it, right?  So take note and absorb that positive energy.  Take compliments to Heart!  And enjoy firming your Core & Abs as we countdown with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #99 – Core Power II.  – R