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Greetings from Dallas!

Like a moth to a flame, I’ve been drawn to Dallas.

I’m not sure if it’s the richness of early American history dating back to its original settlement as a good trading post in 1839, or the plethora of diverse and interesting neighborhoods like Uptown, Deep Ellum, Bishop Arts District, Downtown, Lower Greenville or the M Streets (where I landed). Or perhaps it’s that cosmopolitan feel along with that “smell the roses” Texan mindset.

Regardless of whatever “it” is, Dallas certainly has me thinking I’ll be here for the rest of the summer. Not that America’s #1 city to live, aka Austin, wasn’t a cool place to explore for a couple of months, not to mention the wonderful staff and yoga students  at Castle Hill Fitness who loved Tola Yoga ..thanks everyone, especially Reesa, Autumn, Amy and Kat!

There’s just something about the Big D that reminds me of my Philadelphia roots and tickles my fancy in less than a week.

Have an awesome day everyone, and get your workout in!  Peace – R

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Greetings from Austin!

Another day, another workout…in another great American city:

Austin, Texas

How fortunate I am to experience and explore the #1 place to live in the United States for the past two years (U.S. News & World Report), the “City of the Violet Crown” with its unofficial slogan “Keep Austin Weird”, the state capital of Texas as well as the southernmost state capital in the contiguous 48 states, the “Live Music Capital of the World” and of course, home to the music, film and interactive festival, South by Southwest (SXSW), not to mention the Austin City Limits Festival (ACL) held every year in Zilker Park.

Austin also marks the 7th major U.S. city in as many years where I’ll be teaching my fitness style of Tola Yoga through the end of July. Because no doubt life is all about the journey while relentlessly pursuing your passion, regardless of where it takes you.

Have an amazing Father’s Day everyone, and get your workout in!

Peace – R

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Tola Talks Up Close & Personal with Co-Host Vi

It’s get super hot in The Valley when Tola Talks up close and personal with co-host Vi about phone sex, Mukbang, non-traditional dating, crappy first dates and why white boys love chocolate.

We also pay tribute to musical sensations Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, as well as the five ex-Presidents and the Major League Baseball pennant champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros.

Not to mention Vi’s year-long abstinence and Rich’s unrequited love when “the player gets played”.  Tune-in below or subscribe on iTunes,  Google Play or Stitcher. Have an awesome day everyone! Peace – R

 

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Tola Talks with Actress/Producer, Stephanie Drapeau

Kudos to re-launch of Tola Talks…we had a titillating show yesterday talking Hollywood film and TV roles with the lovely and talented, Stephanie Drapeau.

Plus, before I introduce Stephanie at 27:41 minutes, I kick-off the show with some Presidential advice on how to solve homelessness and get every United States resident off the streets. I also give out the Get Your Shit Together Award to none other than The Trump Administration.

We also observe a moment of silence for the victims and families of those who perished or were injured in Las Vegas in the worst mass shooting in our nation’s history, as well as for the way-too-early passing of one the great rock-and-roll legends of all time, Tom Petty.

Thanks for listening, and have an awesome day! Peace – R

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Getting ready for Monday talking Tola Talks w/ Sam & Wren

Had a great time on LATalkRadio’s “Sam in the Morning” show this past Wednesday with Sam & Wren. You can isten to the show below by clicking the play button…I’m introduced at 11:07mins.

Thanks again Sam & Wren…it was fun talking Hollywood, pumpkin patches, Wall Street and the Oct 2nd re-launch of Tola Talks. Peace – R

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Talking Tola Talks on LATalkRadio tomorrow 10am PST

Hey everyone, you can catch me on the radio tomorrow, Wednesday at 10am PST with ‘Sam in the Morning’ talking Tola Talks and anything else Sam and Rachel have in mind.

And if you haven’t seen the news on social media, after three years aways teaching Tola Yoga in Chicago and Seattle, I’m re-launching my talk show on LATalkRadio every Monday at 4p.

Tola Talks is a weekly show bringing you my “21st Century Talk for a No-Bullshit World”. No doubt there’s a lot of BS in the world, so I give it to you straight with seven different segments including: If I Were President, the Get Your Shit Together Award, Books-Movies-Music & More, World News, Rant & Raves (aka WTF), Fitness & Tola Yoga, and Celebrity Guest Interviews & Listener Calls.

Have an awesome day and as always, remember to get your workout in!

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Tola Yoga every Wednesday @ The REEF

Thanks to Maker City LA, I’m now teaching Tola Yoga classes every Wednesday at The REEF, located at the corner of Broadway & Washington in the Fashion District of DTLA.

First class starts at 5:15pm while the second class starts at 6:15pm.

Great building, wonderful zen space, the best yoga workout in the world (come see for yourself), and above all, another opportunity to stretch, strengthen and detox every part of your body while advancing your yoga practice.

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

Peace -R

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Thank you Seattle…until we meet again!

Top of Denny Way in Capitol Hill looking West

Thank you Seattle, for a wonderful six months of teaching yoga to well over 1,000 students in exactly 136 classes. Because as you may already know, I’ll be returning to my beloved Los Angeles (aka Home) where I first began teaching my fitness style of yoga in 2007 before it was even known as Tola Yoga.

And who says you can’t have a blast walking around and exploring Seattle in the rain? Plus, you never really get those torrential downpours like Chicago does, so who needs protection? Seattleites with an umbrella, that’s something you rarely see. I guess that’s why people would always ask, “You’re not from around here, right?” With my black leather jacket and biker boots and carrying a red umbrella, go figure. Or maybe it was just my California tan 🙂

Relaxing in Martin Luther King Jr. Park looking North

And what a great place to stay in shape and to keep moving forward, or I shall I say, upward…on the plethora of hills that traverse the Emerald City.

No doubt your butt works overtime in this town. I should know, I’ve walked more neighborhoods than Oprah has houses (well, maybe not) and loved every minute of it!

But what I’ll miss most – other than my yoga students, especially Charisma, Jodi and Sallie who never missed a class – are the amazing views of downtown Seattle you get just by walking around or lounging in Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, including my three favorites you see here.

40th & Stone Way in Fremont looking South

So thanks Seattle, and until we meet again I wish you the very best. Continue growing and providing your good citizens with more great buildings, parks, restaurants, culture, grunge-free fashion and of course, a Tola Yoga studio in the near future.

Hey, ya neva know!

Peace – R