Visit to Yoga Now

We all met up on Friday to make another payment to the yoga studio and I had a chance to snoop around the place. I have to say, I LOVE THE SPACE. It's really cozy and inviting with lots of nooks and crannies (never fear bathhouse fans, this new place is really cool). One of my favorite things at Yoga Now is the bench in the front room. It's made out of plaster(?) and heated from the inside. I could barely tear myself away from this lovely heated bench when it was time to go. The steam room and sauna are clean and nice, so I am looking forward to hitting both.

Change of Plans

Dear friends,

After contract difficulties with the Division Street Russian & Turkish Baths, we decided to sign a contract with a new venue, Yoga Now at 742 N. LaSalle (map) in the Gold Coast. We are very happy with the new space and we hope you will be too. The studio features a steam room and a sauna, so you can still steam/sweat/sereni-fy as planned.

If you aren't happy with the new plan for any reason, we will refund the full cost of your ticket. We will no longer be selling parking passes, but we think there may be parking available (more on that as we get info). Tickets will remain $20, but space may be limited since we have had a lot of interest. Drinks and food are included in the ticket price as well as live entertainment.

If you have any questions about the new place, feel free to contact one of the organizers.

steam on

Mary

P.S. If you are planning a party, we do not recommend the bathhouse on Division Street as a venue. Long story.

Yes, We're at Yoga Now, um, Now (Also with Sauna + Steam Room)

Hi All,

David here. Thanks for your patience as we reconfigure NYE locations. I think a downtown yoga studio will be even better – it's a warmer and a more inviting space to witness 2008 transform into 2009. Plus, it has a sauna and steam room, for those still seeking high octane heat. At Yoga Now, the music, food + festivities will be front-and-center. Dancing, too. Scroll down to see the re-posted the YouTube clip and preview on Dan Patrevito and DJ Jump Cut.

Some highlights on the space:

• Take a peek at the place here (and learn about its eco-construction)
  
• See photos (with dim-witted captions) from our Dec 9 visit. You can see much of the unique plaster art (!), sauna room AND steam room (!!), massage table (!!!) and more.

Peace,

david

Yoga Now Photos: Think Comfort + Environmentally Friendly

View slideshow of the Yoga Now space. Or just view the stand-alone photos here.

The Evening's Music: Dan Patrevito & DJ Jump Cut

We are happy to announce that we will have two musical guests at our Bathhouse NYE.

Alan Jacobson, aka DJ Jump Cut, has a website highlighting his cool-cat tastes here. He'll be starting up the evening with his eclectic sonic blend, ranging from Jazz to Reggae to UK punk. A perfect way to chill after the sauna ends and the party begins.

Dan Patrevito's amazing voice and organic band ensemble will also be playing upstairs – away from the steam, but still piping HOT! Another big plus: Crowd participation is welcome! (Write in Comments section or reach one of us if interested.) Check out Dan's vocals on "Dark Hollow" in this YouTube video below.

The Irony of Fate, or S Lyokhim Parom!

Organizer's Note: Though we are no longer at a Russian Sauna, there IS a SAUNA At Yoga Now, as well as a STEAM ROOM. Each fit 4-6 people each. We love Natasha's original write-up, so we're keeping it here:

Every year on New Year's, Russian t.v. plays a movie akin to "It's a Wonderful Life" called "The Irony of Fate, or Have a Good Steam." In it, our hero, Zhenya, gets so wasted at a New Year's celebration in a sauna with his friends that he accidently takes boards a flight to St. Petersburg. He ends up at "home," having given the cab driver his address in Moscow. It turns out that in Russia, the little public housing made of ticky tacky has the same addresses in the same streets with the same state locks "union" wide. The buxom blond who actually lives there comes home to find a man passed out in her bed, and a romantic comedy is born.

I can't explain to you how dear this movie is. The music is legendary. I can't resist posting a link to a clip of some of the music.

The New Year's tradition of having a drunken sauna with your friends is central to the Russian experience. In a country where there is very little that is tender, this holiday and this custom make Russians just a little softer.

There are many things to know when partaking in a real Russian sauna (which the Russians call a "banya.") Two things, however, must be noted. The first is that real Russians don't mess around with "bathing suits." Now I don't expect anyone to crave the authentic experience that much, but I can say that for a people who subsist on starch, the Russians are not modest about their bodies. Me and my winter pudge are going to be rocking a bikini - you all can do as you wish.

The second thing to know is that you must greet people before going in by wishing them a "good steam."

So with that in mind, I wish you all well and hope to see you there. S lyokhim parom!