Author | Filmmaker and Host, Tola Talks
I’m heels over head for teaching my 500th Yoga class since arriving in Chicago last September.
I’m grateful to my courageous students, fellow teachers and managers, and the owners of Chicago Athletic Clubs for giving me the opportunity to spread my passion for fitness & yoga, and specifically my style of Tola Yoga.
Looking forward to inspiring the world with YogaStyles of RICH and the Almost Famous.
Peace – R
I’m very fortunate and grateful for having reached my 10th anniversary teaching Yoga to more than 25,000 students in over 2,000 classes throughout the United States. To celebrate, the lovely Lauren Accardi joined me for another challenging Tola Yoga class filmed at the super cool Damen Silos, also the site Michael Bay’s Transformer’s 4 and The Namaste Five class from YogaStyles of RICH and the Almost Famous: Chicago.
Love this one! Peace – R
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 08/04/16
YogaStyles Braves 108-Degree Heat and Wraps Chicago Pilot
Chicago, IL: Long considered a sacred number in Yoga, 108 should bring good luck to creator and Yogatainer Rich Tola’s new Reality TV series that aims to inspire audiences with his one simple motto: Yoga…Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere.
Inspired is exactly how Rich and his crew felt as they endured the heat and filmed the Pilot episode of YogaStyles of RICH and the Almost Famous in more than 60 locations throughout the streets of Chicago.
“We knew it was going to be a scorcher, but we never anticipated it would be hotter than a July BBQ,” shares Tola. “The great news is everyone we interviewed, including the homeless woman (Rebecca) living in a tent on North Broadway, was super friendly and excited to give Yoga a try.”
In addition to the dozen or so “Almost Famous” people Rich interviewed, Tola also demonstrated challenging Yoga poses at many historic landmark and tourist attractions including Buckingham Fountain, Millennium Park, Water Tower, the University of Chicago, Navy Pier, Soldier Field and the Chess Pavilion by Oak Street Beach.
“Our last day of filming was the hottest, with heat index temperatures reaching 108 degrees,” Tola said. “And what’s cool about it was that we filmed a 2-hour class at the abandoned Damen Silos with our band of beautiful Yoga babes (The Namaste Five) and not once did anyone complain or even request a break. Talk about hot Yoga, it really felt like we were practicing in an oven.”
Yoga guru and lifelong fitness virtuoso, Rich Tola aims to teach everyone on the planet the fundamentals of the 6,000 year-old practice with his unique, workout style of Tola Yoga. “It doesn’t matter where you are or what you’re doing, anybody can benefit from five minutes of Yoga. After watching our show you’ll definitely be inspired to try Yoga, or at the very least, be excited to visit Chicago and enjoy all the amazing attributes this great city has to offer,” proclaims Tola.
Today also marks Rich’s 10-year anniversary teaching Yoga to more than 25,000 students in over 2,000 classes throughout the United States. Since 2006, Tola has produced 30 hours of instructional DVDs including his film, Boulevard Zen, and his video encyclopedia of 100 Yoga poses, Rich Tola’s Yoga Survival Guide, including Bus Stop Yoga, Traffic Yoga, Office Yoga, Shower Yoga and Watching the Ellen Show Yoga.
Join us this Saturday, August 6th from 6-8pm at Two Hearted Queen for another great Standup showcase with super funny comedians Trevor Gertonson, Julia Brown, Andrew Burcastro, Stuart Scotten, Erik Scott and Chris Trani. Get there early & enjoy the soulful sounds of Allegra Malone!
Get ready for some really cool Yoga filmed at some really cool Chicago landmarks with some really cool – and Almost Famous – people. Here’s a behind the scenes look at our Yoga class with The Namaste Five filmed at the super cool Damen Silos…in 100 degree heat I might add!
Stay tuned for more on YogaStyles of RICH and the Almost Famous: Chicago. Peace – R
As we’re getting ready to film the Pilot episode of YogaStyles of the RICH and the Almost Famous this week in Chicago, here’s a 3 minute lesson on the basics of Triangle Pose.
Have an awesome day everyone…and don’t forget your workout! Peace – R
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 07/13/16
YogaStyles of RICH and the Almost Famous Sports prAna Attire
Chicago, IL: As the cast and crew of the new Reality TV series, YogaStyles of RICH and the Almost Famous, gets ready to film their Pilot episode throughout the streets of Chicago, the show’s creator and world’s greatest Yogatainer, Rich Tola, exemplifies that good fortune can also be derived from the clothes you wear.
For Rich and his band of rockstar yoginis who plan to inspire audiences with his one simple mantra: Yoga…Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere, that means doing so while wearing versatile, stylish, vibrant and sustainable clothing designed and manufactured by prAna.
“We’re super excited to be wearing prAna in our Chicago premiere,” says Tola. “And it’s quite serendipitous to say the least, because in 2005 when I purchased my very first Yoga apparel it was prAna. That’s right, a pair of recycled wool capris for men and an organic cotton shirt displaying these two very simple, yet very powerful words…Be Present.”
Rich and his band of beautiful “Yoga babes” appropriately called The Namaste Five, will stylishly demonstrate challenging Yoga poses and sequences with Rich leading the charge. While most of his teaching will be done to unsuspecting residents and tourists nearby historic landmarks and major attractions, Rich and his prAna-clad yoginis will take you to a new level, “We’ll show you how to make the hard stuff look easy and look good at the same time,” Tola said.
Yoga expert and lifelong fitness virtuoso, Rich Tola aims to teach everyone on the planet the fundamentals of the 6,000 year-old practice with his unique, workout style of Tola Yoga. “It doesn’t matter where you are or what you’re doing, anybody can benefit from five minutes of Yoga, and I will prove that. Fire up your body and fire up your day with a simple Warrior II or Triangle pose, plus it’ll help reinforce a clear and positive mindset,” declares Tola.
Since becoming a Certified Yoga Teacher in 2006, Rich has taught more than 25,000 students in over 2,000 classes throughout the United States. He has also produced nearly 30 hours of instructional DVDs including his film, Boulevard Zen, and his video encyclopedia of 100 Yoga poses, Rich Tola’s Yoga Survival Guide, including Bus Stop Yoga, Traffic Yoga, Office Yoga, Shower Yoga and Watching the Ellen Show Yoga.
Inquiries: Angie Lee Chastain | [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 06/30/16
YogaStyles of RICH and the Almost Famous Sets its Sites and Cities
Chicago, IL: With the filming of YogaStyles of RICH and the Almost Famous: Chicago less than a month away, the show’s creator and world’s best Yogatainer, Rich Tola, announced plans to visit 11 more U.S. cities plus 12 international cities to round-out Seasons 1 and 2, produced through Tola’s company, Two Strike Hitter Productions.
Yoga expert and lifelong fitness virtuoso, Rich Tola aims to inspire everyone on the planet. “It doesn’t matter where you are or what you’re doing, anybody can squeeze in a measly 5 minutes of Yoga everyday, and I will prove that. Spark it up with a quickie, a simple Warrior pose or balancing, plus it’ll help you reinforce a clear and positive mindset throughout your day,” declares Tola. “Not to mention that every practitioner, from beginner-to-advanced, should know the proper body mechanics of every pose, especially the twists, and more importantly, how to come in and out of difficult positions while avoiding injury.”
Tola and his band of beautiful “Yoga babes” appropriately called The Namaste Five, will also be demonstrating creative and challenging sequences with Rich leading the charge. While most of his teaching will be done to unsuspecting residents and tourists nearby historic landmarks and major attractions, Rich and his rockstar yoginis will take you to a new level, “We’ll show you how to make the hard stuff look easy,” Tola said.
The 12 U.S. cities for Season 1 include: Chicago, Denver, Austin, Philadelphia, Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Boca Raton, Boston, Boise and Washington D.C. And kudos to seven of these utopias who also made Yoga Journal magazine’s “America’s Top Yoga Towns,” including Chicago, Denver, Austin, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. The 12 international cities for Season 2 include: Beijing, Barcelona, Paris, Dublin, Sydney, Havana, Dubai, Tel Aviv, Singapore, London, Rio de Janeiro and Prague.
Since becoming a Certified Yoga Teacher in 2006, Rich has taught more than 25,000 students in over 2,000 classes throughout the United States. He also produced nearly 30 hours of instructional videos and DVDs including his film, Boulevard Zen (2009). Rich received BSE from The Wharton School (PENN) and MBA from The Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern).
For more information please visit our website, YogaStyles.tv, or listen to Rich and his students, Rhonda and Vika, talk about YogaStyles on WGN Radio 720AM, The Frank Fontana Show on July 26, 2016. (click HERE to visit the WGN website).
Inquiries: Angie Lee Chastain | [email protected]
