Aya Community Market is Back! Saturday- 8/20/11

Don't forget to check out the Aya Community Market in Hillcrest at the Pennsylvania Baptist Church on Saturday, August 20, 2011.

At the last market there were Capoiera demonstrations, food samples and tons of fresh vegetables. Should be another great event this time around.

Aya Community Market
11am-5pm at Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church
3000 Penn. Ave. SE
202-332-1306
http://www.dreamingoutloud.org
http://twitter.com/DOLDC

Free Kukuwa Dance Demonstration in Georgetown

The first time I saw African Soukous dancing, I was mesmerized by the way the ladies isolated their hips and rotated their bodies like pinwheels, all the while looking cute and sexy.


I immediately went home and stood in front of the mirror demanding that my booty move just like the ladies on stage. As you can imagine, my booty just stared back at me and we both agreed to just leave "booty rotation" to the professionals. Then I discovered the Kukuwa Dance Workout method.

The Kukuwa Dance Workout combines Caribbean rhythms, African Dance, Salsa and Hip-hop. I took a class with Fatima Senghore, who explained the mystifying booty shaking technique step by step.

After awhile, I could suddenly do amazing things with my derriere that made me (and my boyfriend) very happy!

If you want to learn the ancient art of Congo Booty Shaking, Fatima will teach a Kukuwa workshop at the Joy of Motion Atlas theater on H Street and offer a free demonstration at the Georgetown Safeway this Saturday, August 20, 2011 from 10am-10:30am.

Georgetown Safeway requires you to reserve a spot by emailing georgetownsafeway@gmail.com by Thursday, August 18th.

Can’t make the free demonstration at Georgetown Safeway? Join Fatima Tuesdays 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at JOMDC Bethesda and Saturdays 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. at JOMDC Atlas for Kukuwa Dance Workout® drop-in classes. Click here to register.

Can Anacostia Manage a Food Co-op?

Can Anacostia residents organize, mobilize and manage a food co-op? With the right level of planning and commitment, I say YES! I have attended many seminars, read many reports and witnessed many food failures East of the River. But recently, I have noticed Anacostia's food justice conversation gaining momentum and residents showing an interest in an actual food co-op!

Managing a food co-op is not rocket science and there is a ton of information on the step-by-step process.

A food co-op is a brilliant yet challenging way to improve food access. It requires heavy time commitment from volunteers, start-up capital and support from like minded people. I think a small Anacostia Food Co-op selling fresh vegetable staples, gourmet items and fresh prepared food would be an amazing way to pool our health resources.

Presently, there are a few key organizations focusing on gardening and fresh food East of the River.

The Center for Green Urbanism
University of District Columbia Community Extension
Fort Dupont's Heal Our Hood
Aya Community Markets
Healthy Solutions DC produce
Ward 8 Farmer's Market

Take notice that none of these orgs are housed in downtown Anacostia! If Anacostia can manage a food co-op it would set an amazing example for urban food self-sustainability and build investment opportunities for other health conscious business ventures.

If interested in collaborating for an Anacostia Food Co-op, email anacostiayogi@gmail.com and visit the Food Co-Op Initiative at
http://www.foodcoopinitiative.coop/.

The Hood Health Handbook- Book Review

I picked up The Hood Health Handbook vol. 2 and I just learned of its predecessor, Hood Health volume 1, who knew?

Hood Health Vol. 1

This "anthology" touches on just about every possible social illness, disease, affliction and addiction associated with the "hood". The book functions as a health 101 for the hip-hop generation highlighting weight loss efforts by Paul Wall and tips from Mike Tyson's vegan diet, human ears excluded.

Hood Health is broken up into random articles and functions more like a collection of suggestions than a book. But, the diverse authors chime in on issues like addiction, sexual abuse, yoga and even food allergies for black children. The writing style is direct and targets everyday life in neighborhoods like Anacostia, Bronx, Oakland, Newark etc. The do it-yourself message is very accessible. I appreciate the non-condescending tone about changing the culture of health and the anti-victim subtext:

Excerpt:
"There are some parts of this book that will totally blow your day. You'll be feeling dusted and disgusted. You'll feel like you can't do anything, because everything out there is so unhealthy. Don't fall victim to that kind of thinking. The goal, again is to simply start doing better and constantly do the best you currently can. "


I will definitely incorporate this book into my yoga classes for different populations in Anacostia. I recommend that our overstock of social services take note of The Hood Health Handbook in their outreach and programming.

The Hood Health Handbook
Sankofa Video and Book Cafe
2714 Georgia Avenue Northwest
Washington D.C., DC 20001
(202) 234-4755
http://www.sankofa.com/

Sunday Yoga in District Heights, MD

Divas, MPH would like to invite you, your family, friends, and colleagues to join us for the third event in our More than Brown Blues Sunday Summer Series, Balance Beam of Life. This event will take place on Sunday, August 7th from 2:00 - 4:30pm. The goal of the event is to introduce women to yoga as a tool to maintain mind, body, and soul balance in order to reduce stress.

The event will start with a personal testimony on battling depression as a young women by Lelita Cannon. Mallori Stoler, a certified yoga instructor, will then lead us through a yoga class while incorporating discussion around the benefits of yoga as a practice to reduce stress, relax, and find happiness.

Healthy snacks will be provided by Wholefoods of Georgetown. Event Giveaways will be provided by Jordin's Paradise, Bikram Yoga of Capitol Hill, Tranquil Space DC. This is an event not to be missed.

Take advantage of this FREE opportunity to nurture your mind, body, and soul. Reserve Your Space Today @ http://bboflife.eventbrite.com.

Please share this information with all of your networks.

For more information, email us @ brownblues@divasmph.org.

Be Happy. Be Healthy. Be Well.

A Face Only a Foster Mom Could Love

Doesn't your heart just melt at the loving gaze of this furry fella?

That's Twinkle and he was my Washington Humane Society foster kitten for two months. And I tell ya, those folks had to pry his paws from my cold, bare hands because I loved him as if he was my own.

To no one's surprise, I couldn't give up my other foster, "Minnie", so I now I've officially adopted a kitten. She keeps me company while watching movies and wakes me up every day at 6am by nibbling on my toes.

The Washington Humane Society is an amazing organization and when kitten season comes around, it is almost impossible to say no to all the babies needing love.

If interested in fostering kittens contact:
Washington Humane Society
Alyson Burgess
ABurgess@washhumane.org

Celebrity Yoga Inspiration

Lisa Bonet in Scorpion

(Photo By 2003 Fierce Mag)