Moto Yoga with Jamie Sullo welcomes all experience levels

Jamie Sullo has spent most of his life on some form of two wheeled contraption, and at least half of it teaching yoga and practicing massage. He brings his massage chair to Moto Yoga; a free class which takes place the fourth Sunday of every month, from April to October, at Chilao School in the Angeles National Forest.
The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. The venue is rural, quaint and full of history. Sometimes there's running water, and sometimes there isn't; severe drought and antiquated plumbing throughout the forest make you appreciate the life-giving necessity that water is. But no matter what the plumbing circumstance is, there's always water to drink, food to enjoy after class, and lots of laughter.
If you're one of those people who thought you had to be a soccer mom or deeply spiritual to practice yoga, you'll be happy to know that at Chilao School, everyone is welcome. Yoga is an excellent way to loosen and strengthen your body. It involves movement, and Moto Yoga involves making sure people are moving at a pace that is healthy and comfortable for their bodies.
"The last thing you want to do is have someone over-extend themselves in their first yoga class" says Jamie. "You want the experience to be beneficial on every possible level. If a person realizes and feels the benefits of yoga, they might do it again."
A donation basket sits unobtrusively atop a cabinet, the image of a coyote laced to its aging fibers with ribbon. Contributions are entirely voluntary.
The location boasts some rider - and nature lover - perks. Chilao School is located in the heart of the forest, in the USFS Chilao Campground, approximately 26 miles up Highway 2 - Angeles Crest Highway. It is a technical road and renowned for its vistas and challenging curves. Experienced riders ply its asphalt with grace and finesse, the melody of finely tuned engines mingling with the song of birds and the passage of the wind through chaparral and trees. It is also a favorite road for serious bicyclists - because by the time you've reached Chilao, you're at an altitude of 5,300 feet.
First time visitors to Chilao School should look for red and white, hand-painted signs that point the way. They may say Moto Yoga, or Chilao School, or simply "Redbird" - Redbird is the non profit organization which owns and operates the school.
The forest itself, a marvel of survival and recovery, is parched - the Chilao area having received far less precipitation than other regions of the forest in the course of the drought. Still, the recovery from the fire and the abundance of wildlife in Chilao is amazing.
Class begins at 10 AM and Jamie's style of teaching is inclusionary. He tries to insure that everyone finds their own comfort zone, and learns a little bit about how certain movements, breathing techniques and postures help the body.
After class, the rewards...sharing food, conversation, some mountain air and sunshine, perhaps a massage or a test drive in an electric car or on any variety of motorcycles. There's no rush to leave. Everyone is welcome to linger.
There's also the immensely popular Newcomb's Ranch Bar and Restaurant, just a mile up the highway. Sunday is a busy day at Newcomb's; the parking lot itself is a bit like an all day vehicle show, changing every few hours, sometimes boasting rare, celebrity and one of a kind rides.
Two Moto Yoga workshops remain for the 2016 season - September 25 and October 23. By November, cooling temperatures generally prevail...and hopefully, so will rain, and snow, in abundance.
You can learn more about Moto Yoga here:

http://motoyoga.weebly.com/about.html

https://www.facebook.com/events/1037299596304277/

Learn about the work of Redbird here:
http://www.redbirdsvision.org

Visit Newcomb's Ranch:
http://www.newcombsranch.com

https://www.facebook.com/NewcombsRanch/?fref=ts