Los Angeles, CA – June 28, 2012 - Ahimsa translates from Sanskrit as “the principal of non violence to all living things”. The founder Julie Kundert was inspired to initiate The Ahimsa Festival Foundation due to her own experience with the Valley CARES Family Trauma Center, a service supporting victims of domestic violence. Her story is an inspiration to victims and as a speaker for the Center she says ”We are not our experiences; we are the person we choose to be from the outcome of our experiences.” Julie is a mother of four children who escaped from a dangerous domestic violence situation caused by a perpetrator who was since sentenced to 24 years in jail.
The Ahimsa Festival Foundation will launch its first festival on October 14th 2012 during the month of domestic violence. The Festival will be held in the beautiful Grand Ballroom, of the Park Plaza Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles, who kindly sponsored their space to support the cause (www.parkplazala.com). The Ahimsa festival is to become an annual event to celebrate peace, and it invites each and every one to support this beautiful message. It gathers prominent yoga teachers, spiritual leaders, musicians, and other inspirational people to raise awareness and money for the victims of domestic violence.
The agenda features an incredible array of inspirational speakers and musicians to yoga teachers and meditation instructors, including Jennifer Elliott, a renowned yoga Yogaworks teacher and yoga therapist with over 15 years of experience, Carmen Joy, a certified Meditation Instructor/Acharya who teaches practical sessions offering transformational meditation techniques from the ancient Eastern traditions. Vererable Master Shantha Sobhana, a Buddhist monk with 21 years of experience in meditation and healing techniques, holing a 3rd Dan black belt in Karate and 2nd Dan black belt in Aikido. Joan Hyman, a distinguished Senior Yogaworks Teacher, with over 20 years of teaching experience as a 500 hour certified yoga teacher. Her teachings come from an organic intuitive place, as she draws upon joyful study of Ayurveda, chakras, and meditation., Billy Gill, ] a Los Angeles-based yoga teacher whose popular classes at Yogaworks and Urth Yoga focus on aligning with the breath to direct intention and experience surrender. Ashley Rideaux, whose yoga classes are challenging yet playful, ranging from therapeutic work, with an emphasis on patients with neurological disorders, to advanced Vinyasa flow yoga Daniel Stewart Co-owner of Rising Lotus Yoga, and an holistic Mind /Body Psychotherapist, Jill Kennedy, certified yoga teacher and yoga therapist practicing over 15 years and teaching various styles from music infused vinyasa flow to yin yoga. And, more prominent speakers and teachers are being announced soon. A designated team of designated supporters and sponsors are making this festival a joyful celebration of peace, with the goal to raise as much money for the Valley Cares Family Trauma Centers as possible. The Managing Director of the Festival, Jeanette Buerling, the CEO of the film finance and production company Magnet Media Group, Beverly Hills and the Foundations Organization Director Mary Church, owner of World Hero, a boutique TV commercial production company in Los Angeles, are organizing the event and supporting Julie Kundert in her vision to raise awareness against domestic violence. “I met Julie during my 300 hr yoga works teacher training program and she is a tremendous inspiration for me. If felt a spark that grew to a burning need to share my compassion for her cause and to support The Ahimsa Festival Foundation” says Jeanette Buerling. Mary Church, says “I’m honored to be invited to be a part of the festival and I am grateful to the Park Plaza hotel in Los Angeles for donating their beautiful grand ballroom to us”.
The yearly festival events to come will be supporting other meaningful causes, which inspire and grow awareness in the world to improve our well-being in all aspects, including health, personal growth, educational and environmental developments. This first festival is the beginning of many more to come. Supporters are invited to attend this very first festival and help make a difference.
The Event takes place from 1:00 PM until 10:00 PM. Guest will enjoy music, love, joy and peace as they gather for the day. For VIP ticket holders the event will include a yoga and meditation practice beginning at 4:10 PM ending at 6:30 PM in the Grand Ballroom. From 6:30 PM until 10:00 PM. Space is limited for the yoga and meditation. Others ticket holders are welcome to watch the practice, mingle, enjoy delicious and amazing healthy food sold by our sponsors, dance after the yoga sequence, and bid on amazing services, and items in our silent auction and raffle. The event will be raising money for The Valley Cares Family Justice Center.
http://www.valleycaresfjc.com/
“The Ahimsa Festival is about raising awareness, healing and self- transformation through a day of joining together with yoga, dance, arts, music, and food, allowing us to open our hearts and shift our awareness to what is really important in life: Ahimsa. The proceeds of the festival will provide much needed funds for Valley Cares Family Justice Center, in order to support their team of professionals, which provide important services to victims of domestic violence. Partners of Valley Cares include the Los Angeles Police Department, Prosecutors Office, Neighborhood Legal Services, Social Services, and community based advocates.
General admission tickets, which include entrance to the festival are on sale now at http://theahimsafestival.com for $75. VIP tickets, which include a Yoga Mat Space are on sale for $100. The VIP tickets are limited and are expected to sell out fast.
For more information, please visit www.theahimsafestival.com.
