May 15th, 2008

Practice gratitude and celebrate every day.

We never know whats going to happen tomorrow. With the extreme weather and devastation going on in the world, this becomes painfully apparent. Instead of feeling helpless and bummed out, let this information be a reminder- celebrate each moment and know that each day is a gift.
Enjoy the sunshine, feel love, communicate gratitude, and be good to your body and mind.

Choose to feel happy and lucky- because you are.

WE WILL BE OPEN MEMORIAL WEEKEND.

Selfless Gratitude

An Attitude of Gratitude

The understanding you gain from practicing gratitude frees you from being lost or identified with either the negative or the positive aspects of life, letting you simply meet life in each moment as it rises...

Gratitude is the sweetest of all the practices for living your daily life and the most easily cultivated, requiring the least sacrifice for what is gained in return. It is a very powerful form of mindfulness practice, particularly for those who have depressive or self-defeating feelings, those who have access to wonder as an ecstatic state, and those with a reactive personality who habitually notice everything that's wrong in a situation... Practicing mindfulness of gratitude consistently, leads to a direct experience of being connected to life and the realization that there is a larger context in which your personal story is unfolding.

Let me be clear: The practice of gratitude is not in any way a denial of life's difficulties. We live in troubling times and no doubt you've experienced many challenges, uncertainties, and disappointments in your own life... gratitude practice is useful because it turns the mind in such a way that it enables you to live into life or, more accurately, to die into life... The understanding you gain from practicing gratitude frees you from being lost or identified with either the negative or the positive aspects of life, letting you simply meet life in each moment as it rises.

There is a very old Sufi story about a man whose son captured a strong, beautiful, wild horse, and all the neighbors told the man how fortunate he was. The man patiently replied, "We will see." One day the horse threw the son who broke his leg, and all the neighbors told the man how cursed he was that the son had ever found the horse. Again the man answered, "We will see." Soon after the son broke his leg, soldiers came to the village and took away all the able-bodied young men, but the son was spared. When the man's friends told him how lucky the broken leg was, the man would only say, "We will see." Gratitude for participating in the mystery of life is like this.

There are numerous ways to use mindfulness to cultivate gratitude. Of course you acknowledge your appreciation when things are going well. But even more helpful is to notice those things for which you are grateful when you are contracted physically or emotionally.

If you were asked to make a list of things for which you are grateful, how long would this list be -- 20 items, 100, 500? ...The making of such a list is not meant to make you feel indebted but is intended to clarify your understanding of how life really is. It is a reflective meditation that uses mindfulness to carry you beyond the superficial to a deeper experience of your life unfolding moment by moment. You learn to throw off the blinders of habitual assumptions that prevent you from perceiving the miracle of life.

The next step in gratitude practice is to actively notice things you are grateful for throughout your regular day. For instance, when you're stuck in traffic and it's making you late and irritated, you notice you can be thankful you have transportation and that other drivers are abiding by the agreed-upon driving rules, which prevent chaos and unsafe conditions. ...And you do this not just once or twice, but a hundred times each day. You do so not to get out of a bad mood or to be a nicer person, but with the intention of clearly seeing the true situation of your life.
Sometimes you shortchange gratitude because your mind is stuck in problem-solving mode; it only notices what isn't working and sets about trying to resolve it... there will always be things wrong in your life... Do you really want to delay your sense of being alive while you await a future, perfect moment that is unlikely to arrive?

The phenomenon of comparing mind is another hindrance to practicing gratitude. It is the aspect of your mind that notices, "She has a nicer car than I do," "He is stronger than I am," or "She is a better yogini than I am." Understand that there is a difference between discernment, the factor of mind that sees things clearly, and comparing mind, which exercises judgment and hides a belief system that says, "If only I have more of the right things, I will be happy."

The words "gratitude" and "grace" share a common origin: the Latin word gratus, meaning "pleasing" or "thankful." When you are in a deep state of gratitude, you will often spontaneously feel the presence of grace... Reflect on this: You, with all your flaws, have been chosen for this opportunity to consciously taste life, to know it for what it is, and to make of it what you are able... However you find life to be -- cruel or kind, sorrowful or joyous, bland or stimulating, indifferent or filled with love -- you get the privilege of knowing it firsthand.

Article By Phillip Moffitt
Yoga Journal 2002

Kids Sessions

Rock Toddler, Ballet/Tap, Hip Hop

Share your love of dance and music with your kids- register them for a fun and casual dance session:

Rock Toddler with Julie
Ages 9 mos. to 4 yrs.
Thursdays 10:45-11:30 PM
5 Week Session 6/12-7/10
$60, $14 Drop In

Ballet/Tap Combo with Nina
Ages 5 to 7 yrs.
Thursdays 4:00-4:45 PM
8 Week Session 5/29-7/17
$80, $12 Drop In

Kids Hip Hop with Chelsea
Ages 7 to 10 yrs.
Fridays 4:00-5:00 PM
8 Week Session 5/16-7/11 (no class 7/4)
$80, $12 Drop In

Rock Toddler: Grab your kid(s) and come on over! It's a fun interactive music class specifically for you and your toddler! Join Julie in a creative class of music, song, movement, and chants--all to rock and pop hits from the 50's to the present. For ages 9 months to 4 years, this class will benefit your child's motor skills, language development, and socialization.

Ballet/Tap Combo: Introduce your kids to basic ballet and tap techniques, while awakening a sense of imagination, creativity, and self-expression through movement and music. At the end of the 8 week session, there will be an opportunity for the students to demonstrate their new skills and experience the joy of performing at a showcase for parents, friends, and loved ones, where the emphasis will be on fun and creative expression rather than executing the perfect routine. Ballet shoes and tap shoes are preferred, but if you would like to try the class before purchasing them, students can wear socks or be barefoot for ballet and wear hard-soled shoes for tap. Leotards and tights are great but not required, and any clothing that is comfortable and easy to move in will do.

Kids Hip-Hop: is a fun, high energy class for young adults. It consists of a mix of different styles of movement that are set to popular music. Students will learn coordination as well as muscle memory from learning pieces of choreography in each class. It's an exciting way to learn one of the most popular dance disciplines in the entertainment industry today.

Jennie Teaches Salsa Workout!

Sundays 1:00 PM

From Monday nights to Sunday afternoons, come join long-time Heartbeat House instructor, Jennie Gonzalez, in a Salsa Workout class that will get your heart pumping and feet moving to those energetic Latin beats! Jennie is taking over the Salsa Workout class, bringing in her unique style and energy that we are sure you will love! She has been teaching her hot latin moves in Cardio Latina on Mondays, but will now keep it gender neutral in the Salsa Workout on Sundays. Come join her!

Sunday
1:00-2:00 PM

Jennie Gonzalez is originally from Miami, Florida, a first generation Cuban-American. At the age of five, her mother introduced her to the world of classical ballet, however it wasn't until Jennie Gonzalez, Jennie Gonzalez is originally from Miami, Florida, a first generation Cuban-American. At the age of five, her mother introduced her to the world of classical ballet, however it wasn't until college that she decided she could not live without dancing! She began dancing and touring locally with a Salsa company named Grupo Arara. Jennie was a dancer for the University of Miami Band of the Hour where she performed countless halftime shows including the 2002 National Championship at the Rose Bowl. In the meantime, she received a Bachelor's degree in Dance from Florida International University. She studied many disciplines such as ballet, modern, jazz, Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, West African, and Salsa. To further pursue her career in dance, she moved to Los Angeles, and was a part of the Debbie Reynolds scholarship program. She joined several LA based Salsa companies and performed in the West Coast Salsa Congress, Latin Image Awards, Latina Magazine 25th Anniversary Party, and Palm Springs Salsa Extravaganza among others. She recently wrapped work on the dance drama La Vida where in addition to dancing, she had a speaking role. Currently, Jennie is a part of Jillina's Sahala Dancers International dance show, and a proud member of the cutting edge dance company: Contra-Tiempo.

FREE CLASS: Ballet Stretch & Tone

Monday 5/19 8:30 PM

A perfect way to end your Monday- with Michael and his Ballet Stretch and Tone class! Applying the fundamentals of Classical Ballet and Pilates Methods, this class will work to elongate your muscles, strengthen your center to achieve peak stamina, defined musculature, and overall wellness! Ballet Stretch & Tone is a comtemporary take on a classical form, without sacrificing the essentials. No tights or dance belts necessary!

FREE Class
Monday, May 19th
8:30-9:30 PM

Michael Crotty comes from the land of
cow-tipping and cornhusks. Michael began his
dance training at Ohio State University where
he received his BFA. He studied dance under
scholarship at American Dance Festival and
Alvin Ailey School. He then continued his studies at
the Rotterdam Conservatory of Ballet in the
Netherlands where he earned his diploma. He
worked under Isabelle Chauffeud, Jerome
Meyer of NDT and the Batsheva Dance Co. of
Israel. MIchael is currently a member of the
L.A. Contemporary Dance Co. and a certified
Basic Pilates Instructor.

NEW CLASS: Hip Hop with LeX!

Sundays at 2:00 PM

Need more SOUL in your life? Come check out Ms. Lady Lex and her authentic hip hop spirit and style- take her dance workout class and learn how to express yourself from a grounded, funky perspective. Warm up with easy to follow moves and stretches, then move into a fun routine, and end with a great ab workout and cool down.

HIP HOP (Cardio-Soul)
Sundays 2:00-3:00 PM

AleKsa Chmiel (a.k.a. LeX) has been a professional performer/choreographer/instructor for over 12 years. She has trained extensively with hip-hop masters like Boogaloo Sam, Don Campbell, Mr. Wiggles, Crazy Leggs, Buddah Stretch, Link, Rennie Harris and has also been trained in jazz, tap, lyrical and some salsa. LeX was a touring company member with Rennie Harris Puremovement and performer in the internationally touring production "Cool Heat Urban Beat," where she toured Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark & Portugal. She has worked with recording artists such as Will Smith, Sean Paul, Pink, Neil Young, etc. She was a member and choreographer of the NBA Philadelphia 76ers and Fox Television's Good Day Philadelphia Hip-Hop Dance Team. Besides teaching and choreographing, she is also co-Owner/Director of FloMotion Dance Company who have performed for NBC, Bally's Total Fitness, ILLADELPH Legends, 76'ers, and CLUB DUO, (Tokyo, Japan). LeX currently lives in Los Angeles where she's done videos with Snoop Dogg, Nelly Furtado, Alyson, as well as teaches and dances.

NEW BELLYDANCE BURN TEACHER

OCEANA!

Come check out our new Bellydance Burn instructor, Oceana! Many of you regular bellydancers know her as she has subbed for Heather regularly. As Heather takes her tribal skills to Europe, she will also be moving onto new opportunities as well as adventures- sad to see her go- but we are sure you will love Oceana's very traditional Egyptian Cabaret style! Come explore the depths of the Egyptian Cabaret as Oceana guides you through drills and moves that will give your mid-section a very intense workout. Widdling the middle AND learning something creative and different? Can't beat it.

Tuesdays
7:30-8:30 PM

Though most think Oceana was born out of a giant sea clam, here's the real watery tale...

Oceana began her lifelong fascination with movement at age six when she took acrobatics in Thousand Oaks. The progression to competitive gymnastics at age twelve was natural and she competed through high school, her best event being the balance beam. During her college years she studied ballet and operatic voice. Although she had always been drawn to eastern rythyms, it wasn't until she was a guest at an Indian engagement party that she saw a pair of sisters performing a special candle dance that she was inspired to find a class and begin her training.

As luck would have it, she chanced upon a bellydance class taught by a legend, the amazing Mesmera who teaches and performs internationally but is based right here in Los Angeles. With the guidance and support of a true master of the dance, Oceana has become a confident and dynamic performer over the last six years, in the American cabaret, gypsy, and Egyptian styles. Oceana is also a snake dancer in Mesmera's Sacred Serpent Troupe. In an effort to further develop a unique personal style, Oceana has studied some tribal with Heather Shoopman, and Egyptian with Zahra Zuhair in addition to attending various workshops on a regular basis.

The most recent and exciting chapter in Oceana's story is her recent foray into teaching. Anyone who has known her for even a short time will learn of her love for all animals and especially sea creatures. Her affinity for animals and the sea defines her personality and is the object of a majority of her affections. It is through dance that she is able to communicate that love and respect for all life to her students. Bellydance, of all dance forms has survived for thousands of years not only for entertainment, but because it has a real ability to heal and empower those who seek to explore its many secrets. Oceana invites you to join her in experiencing the life giving dance.

Referral Promotion

Spread the Word and SAVE Money!

With every 5 new people you refer to the studio, we will give you $5/class for a week!

Make sure the person you refer writes your name down on their registration form so we can keep track in our system. We will monitor every month and contact you if you have won the promotion- we will also be announcing those names in the next newsletter.

So, start talking, start sharing, and save money!

Community Events

Atwater Village Street Festival

Atwater Village Street Festival
Brought to you by the Atwater Village Residents Association with help from the AVNC and CD13

Sunday, June 8
11am - 4pm
3100 block of Glendale Blvd.
For more information - (323) 661-3283

Cookie contest, food, music, dancing, face painting, arts & crafts & much more!

Schedule Updates

Monday Night Schedule Change, Subs, Special Events

WE WILL BE OPEN MEMORIAL WEEKEND!

MONDAY NIGHT SCHEDULE CHANGE:
Cardio Latina with Jennie is now being taught on Sundays at 1:00 PM as Salsa Workout!

Broadway in L.A. with Leslie is now moved up to start at 7:30 PM.

SUBS:
Community Yoga on Thursday 5/22 7:00 AM will be taught by guest teacher, Billy Gill.

Salsa Workout on Sunday 5/25 at 1:00 will be subbed by Fransini.

Broadway in LA on Monday 5/26 at 7:30 has been cancelled. It will be back on 6/2.

Community Yoga on Tuesday 5/27 7:00 AM will be subbed by Kumbi.

Community Yoga on Thursday 5/29 7:00 AM will be taught by guest teacher, Amy Rose.

Bellydance Burn on Tuesday 5/27 will be taught by guest teacher, Camila.

NEW CLASS:
Hip Hop with Lex on Sundays at 2:00-300 PM

SPECIAL EVENTS:
Atwater Village Street Festival, Sunday June 8th, 11 AM- 4 PM, 3100 Block of Glendale Blvd.

Los Feliz Street Fair, Sunday June 8th,
11 AM- 8 PM. On Vermont between Franklin and Hollywood. Look for Heartbeat House- we will have booth with gifts, giveaways, raffles, and special Heartbeat House products.

DANCE EVENTS

Carnival- Choreographers Ball

Every last Wednesday of the month the Key Club host The Carnival "Choreographer's Ball" featuring the hottest dance shows by top professional choreographers and dancers in the video, music, and film industry with over 120 dancers in the show!

Wednesday May 28th, 11 PM
Key Club
9039 W. Sunset
Los Angeles, CA 90069
310-786-1712

Watch for our very own Jasmine Albuquerque performing!

Volunteer/Work Exchange

Work For Your Classes

Want to dance, but low on funds? Sign up for our Volunteer/Work Exchange Program! Help us out at the studio- cleaning, filing, errands, organizing, etc. and we'll give you Free Class Passes! Every hour and half you work, you receive a Free Class Pass- good for any of our regularly scheduled classes. Email us with your availability: heartbeathouse@hotmail.com. Our studio runs smoothly only because our volunteers are so great!

Contemporary Corner

Lykee Li

Every week in Jasmine's Contemporary Ballet class (Wednesdays 6:30 PM), she features ecelctic new music from different indie artist performing locally- this week is Lykee Li (performing Monday night at the Wiltern):

"the other day i dug up an old journal of mine but didn't open it for a week. instead, i would place it on my forehead and dream into it every night. when i
finally decided to open it, i discovered a window which then became a door that opened to the sea. i jumped in, swallowed by salt and sand, and quickly
sank to the bottom of the earth. when i got there women in bikinis offered me pineapple and tiny travel size bottles of anti gravity. i knew having gone so
low that there was only one way back and that was up. so here i stand, atop the tip of a sharpened pencil, ready for the sky to split and spit me back out. come
dance this wednesday night as we practice falling in love again. we'll embrace abandon and loose our expectations. ribbons attached to our fingertips,
we'll play the most beautiful music and let breath out of our pores. with all tomorrows sorrow we'll let ourselves go to tears and cry from behind our necks.
lykee li plays monday night at the wilton. she's been described as the avant pop princess and until then, there's only one place to be." -jasmine

Contemporary Ballet:
Wednesdays 6:30 PM
Optional Warm Up 6:00 PM

Promotions

New Student Promotion:New Students can try any class they want their first week for only $5/class!
Birthday Promotion:
Come dance off that birthday cake with $5 classes the week of your birthday!
Referral Promotion:
Receive 20% off a 4 Class Package when you refer a new student who buys a Class Package.

FEEDBACK and TESTIMONIALS

We appreciate any and all feedback you have about our studio, our classes, our teachers, requests, etc.

If you love our little studio and have had experienced some real fitness and fun results- please help us promote by sending us testimonials. Email or write!

Thank you!