Tag: author

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Tola Yoga at the InterContinental + Rooftop

No doubt you gotta always be looking up…at the bright side of life as well as to your dreams and aspirations. No matter what age, that energy drives you.

Not to mention you could be looking up from the 73rd floor of the InterContinental Hotel located in the Wilshire Grand Center, the 1,100 foot skyscraper and 11th tallest building in the United States, at 7th & Figueroa in DTLA. A beautiful building with an incredible view from our yoga class (pictures soon). Starting this Thursday, June 6th at 6a, you can catch me teaching the Rooftop Yoga class for Attitude Fitness. Come start your day with a great sunrise workout performed at some really inspiring heights!

I’m also teaching Tola Yoga at Attitude every Saturday at 10a, Tuesday at 6:15p and Thursday at 5:15p. Safe to say I love this club, by far the nicest in LA for sure. Find us on Class Pass or stop by for a test drive. Hey, ya neva know, you just might join.

Have an awesome week everyone, and hope to see you on the mat! Peace – R

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Tola Talks with Children’s Book Author, Erin Mason

Congratulations to author, psychotherapist, yoga teacher and my dear friend, Erin Mason, for publishing a tender and heartwarming story, Growing Grace, about adoption from the biological mother’s perspective.

Tola also Talks about America’s obesity epidemic and how it affects 36% of all adults and nearly 20% of all children and adolescents, and more specifically, how I would financially reward everyone for being fit…If I Were President. Not to mention fitness tips for losing that unwanted weight.

Subscribe on iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher. And have an awesome day! Peace – R

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Build a Strong Foundation with Tola Yoga

Everybody knows the answer to that infamous question, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall”, right? Of course, it’s “practice, practice, practice”. And if you believe best-selling author and pop psych writer, Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers), you’ll say it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to become world-class in any field.

But what happens when the foundation you’ve set for all your practicing is not that sturdy, or better yet, it’s built on quicksand? 

That’s why anyone looking to build a strong yoga practice should learn the proper fundamentals before spending hours upon hours in the yoga studio. Just like I say in Chapter 68 of my memoir, Simply Between Millions: From Wall Street to Hollywood, it’s always best to Learn from the Best. Or at the very least, learn from someone who has learned from the best.

That’s also why if you’re in Los Angeles you should treat yourself to a Tola Yoga class or private lesson to help you build that strong foundation. There’s something for everyone…from beginner-to-advanced as well as pregnant women…with my five distinct classes:

  1. Tola Yoga Fundamentals  – for beginners or anyone looking to re-learn the basics
  2. Tola Yoga Prime – for intermediate students and strong beginners
  3. Tola Yoga Power – for advanced students and strong intermediates
  4. Tola Yoga Prenatal – for women in all stages of pregnancy
  5. Tola Yoga Stretch & Restore – for all students from beginner-to-advanced

Feel free to email me your questions and to schedule your Tola Yoga private lesson today: [email protected]

Peace – R

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Demystifying the Art with TOLA YOGA

What is Yoga? 

You know how many times I’ve been asked this question in the past 12 years, from men, women and children (and mostly men). Because knowing the definition of Yoga is much different than understanding this physical and mental art form, including the similarities and differences between the many styles of Yoga, e.g., Vinyasa Flow, Kundalini, Asthanga. Not to mention how each style uniquely impacts your body and your mind. Which is all good, no doubt, regardless of style. And don’t forget your spirit, although that aspect is much less tangible in all Yoga.

So what can a Yoga master with a passion for fitness spanning more than five decades, beginning with Jack LaLanne in the 1960’s, do to demystify that age-old question?

That’s simple: create another style that specifically caters to the fitness-minded individual.

One year ago I introduced Tola Yoga to the world with live classes on Periscope and YouTube: http://youtube.com/RichTolaYoga.

Although my Tola Yoga brand was born in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, it’s conception occurred 11 years earlier on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. That’s right, I taught my first “Stars of the Future” class on August 4, 2006 at New York Yoga. And what a rush it was! Kudos and thank you so much to all the amazing Yoga teachers who influenced and inspired me throughout my 200 hours of training…Jenny, Nixa, Michael, Karl, Rita, Lori, Molly, Sam, Kristen and Emily.

Because success is best served with a strong foundation. As well as passion and perseverance. And if you’re lucky, your life’s colorful journey will be long, prosperous and rather trying at times. But if you live what you love, happiness will follow you everywhere.

No doubt. And how’s this for serendipity: the other day I was in the drug store and came across this writing pad with that exact phrase, LIVE WHAT YOU LOVE. In colors just like that. So I had to buy it. And repeat it…to you today and to myself everyday, along with a few other mantras.

Keep rockin-it everyone, in whatever you do, and don’t forget your daily workout! Peace – R

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The Power of One

Never underestimate the power of your thoughts, and without question, never ever underestimate The Power of One.

For the third time in 20 years I’m reading Bryce Courtenay’s , The Power of One. An amazing tale of a young boy’s travels and heartfelt metamorphosis – not to mention his spiritual influence on everyone he meets – that’s “part Charles Dickens, part Horatio Alger”, as described by the Raleigh News & Observer. More specifically, this magical journey filled with heartache and pure elation inspires anyone really listening to its deep-rooted message…to always listen to yourself and believe in the power of one:  one idea, one heart, one mind, one plan, one determination.

Before I leave you with a paragraph from the novel that rings true no matter what your occupation or calling, take time to reflect on 2016 and set your thoughts on an even better 2017! Mine was quite amazing, with several milestones that set the course for my one idea:

  1. Created my unique style of Tola Yoga after 10 years of teaching 2k classes & 25k students,
  2. Produced the original Reality TV series pilot, YogaStyles of RICH and the Almost Famous,
  3. Celebrated 50 years of fitness – 40 years of weightlifting plus over 10 years of Yoga,
  4. Celebrated 10 years as an Entertainer/Producer and Yoga Teacher (and Yogatainer),
  5. Lived in three amazing cities: Chicago, Las Vegas and Seattle (love it here!)

And whatever your goals are for the New Year, remember to respect yourself with a daily fitness program. And just like young Peekay says, dare your courage to follow your thoughts:

“The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself, often well beyond any latent ability you may have previously demonstrated. The mind is the athlete; the body is simply the means it uses to run faster or longer, jump higher, shoot straighter, kick better, swim harder, hit further, or box better. Hoppie’s dictum to me, “First with the head and then with the heart,” was more than simply mixing brains with guts. It meant thinking well beyond the powers of normal concentration and then daring your courage to follow your thoughts.”

Have a safe and Happy New Year everyone! Peace – R

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Be a Rockstar in Everything You Do!

Simply put, do the very best you can in everything you do and let the Universe decide what happens next. And if your heart and your mind are really not into it, then reconsider the task at hand and make another choice. Because making good choices is easier than you think!

And always remember to break all the rules except this one:  Another day, Another workout

RichtolaRockstarPose_Oct16

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500th Yoga Class in the First 50 Weeks: Chicago

Rich Tola - One Armed PinchamayurasanaI’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

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You Want Me on Your TV!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 06/14/16

New Reality TV Series from the World’s Best Yogatainer

Chicago, IL: Are you one of the 80 million people who want to try Yoga in 2016? If so, then “You want me on your TV!” declares Rich Tola, the world’s best Yogatainer and creator of the upcoming Reality TV series, YogaStyles of RICH and the Almost Famous.

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. “People who have never tried Yoga usually ask themselves, What is it and can I do it without getting hurt? And since Yoga involves twisting and turning the body into unfamiliar and challenging poses, or Asanas, as they’re called in the ancient Sanskrit language, you need to know the proper body mechanics as well as how to come in–and-out of difficult positions while avoiding injury,” Tola said.

And who better to motivate the masses than the world’s most handsome Yogatainer and producer of 30 fun and entertaining lessons in his Yoga Survival Guide, including Bus Stop Yoga, Traffic Yoga, Office Yoga, Shower Yoga and even Watching the Ellen Show Yoga.

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 including his film, Boulevard Zen (2009), Yoga-to-Go DVD, Rich Tola’s Yoga Survival Guide DVD, Rich Tola’s 15 Minute Fat Burning Workouts DVD, Stay Zen Web Series, Rich Tola’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workouts Web Series, plus his recent Tola Yoga classes and a special 10-episode “How-to” series for Livestrong.com.

Just like his precise teaching style and no-nonsense East-coast Italian energy, Rich will inspire audiences with his one simple mantra: Yoga…Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere.

“YogaStyles of RICH and the Almost Famous will take you on a wild and witty ride throughout the streets of Chicago before traveling to capitol cities around the globe”, says Tola. “We will creatively demonstrate that anyone of any age, size or gender can reap the benefits of Yoga, as well as highlight National Landmarks and popular destinations of each metropolis while teaching Yoga to its “Almost Famous” business leaders, designers, politicians, musicians and athletes.” Plus, anyone else Rich happens to meet along the way.

Inquiries: Angie Lee Chastain | [email protected]

YogaStyles of RICH and the Almost Famous

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Tola Yoga for Beginners…and Yes, it’s Challenging

Check-out yesterday’s Tola Yoga class LIVE on Periscope. 45 minutes of Yoga that anyone can do! And a special thanks to our wonderful Yoga student showing you precise poses, Elif Pilicer.

Have an awesome weekend everyone, and tune-in this Sunday at 1p (CT) for our Tola Yoga by the Lake class on Periscope.tv/richtola, including Vika, Lauren, Amy, Rhonda and Stephanie.

Peace – R

Tola Yoga workouts are 45 minutes and incorporate 5 key elements: Yoga Stretches, Abdominals, Core Strengthening, Balancing & Foundation Poses (Warriors, Triangles, Extended Side Angles).