Our Friends

I’ve met a lot of great people over my travels, and I’ve always felt one of my own dharmas in life is to help weave together a kind community by introducing various wonderful folks I’ve met but who’ve not yet met each other.

Below are links to a handful of good folks you may enjoy meeting yourself—go check ‘em out! And feel free to let us know if you know someone who should be our friend, but whom we haven’t met yet either…

Krishna Das ~ I’ve been blessed to play my electric bass with Krishna Das at a number of wonderful kirtan chanting events over recent years. KD is warmly beloved for having introduced kirtan to many Westerners, after having first been asked to chant the sacred Name by his guru in India, Neem Karoli Baba (Maharajji). If you want to go right to his tour schedule, to see if he’s singing near you soon, whether in Berkeley, Boston, Berlin or Brazil (he sings everywhere!) I’ve added that direct link as well.
www.krishnadas.com
http://www.krishnadas.com/tour_schedule.cfm

Shyamdas ~ Shyamdas is one of the Westerners who was drawn to India in the early 1970s to meet Neem Karoli Baba; he still spends much of his life there, studying sacred texts and music and enjoying the satsang, or good association, of many bhaktas or fellow devotional practitioners. I feel very fortunate to have been playing kirtan regularly with Shyamdas over the last several years—truly one of the inspiring blessings in my life. A direct link to his various US events is here as well.
www.shyamdas.com
http://www.shyamdas.com/calendar

Ram Dass ~ Born Richard Alpert, Ram Dass sacrificed a promising career professing at Harvard to follow his spiritual intuition, which led him to India where he was blessed with a life-changing connection with Neem Karoli Baba. His 1971 book Be Here Now turned on a lot of Westerners (including my dad, oddly enough) to the mysteries and radiance of Indian spiritual teachings. He has inspired so many people over the years through his relentless pursuit of grace and a life worth living. Ram Dass offers many teachings online, and lives and teaches on Maui—go visit him while you can!
www.ramdass.org

Omega Institute for Holistic Studies ~ Founded in 1977 in upstate New York’s splendid Hudson Valley, Omega was the first holistic and personal growth retreat center in America, based on the idea that “personal transformation is the foundation for transformation in the world around us.” More rockin’ than ever, Omega offers inspiring weekend and weeklong workshops on a diverse variety of subjects, including the sublime Ecstatic Chant gathering which I have played every Labor Day weekend for the last bunch of years (except for my Burning Man pilgrimage in 2006—but that’s another story). Come join us at Ecstatic Chant or check them out anytime for an inspiring, recharging time in the country surrounded by incredible staff and participants!
www.eomega.org

Sharon Salzburg ~ Sharon Salzberg is cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, Massachusetts, and a total sweetheart. Sharon’s one of those beings who, even if you are just a regular Joe and the room is filled with rock stars, will happily hang out and talk with you as if you are more interesting than Mick Jagger (and let’s face it: you probably are!). She offers meditation retreats and classes all over the place, sometimes with Krishna Das and other wonderful folks.
http://www.sharonsalzberg.com
http://www.dharma.org

Ananda Ashram, Monroe NY ~ Barely an hour out of New York City in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, Ananda Ashram is a spiritual retreat and educational center founded on the universal principles of Yoga and Vedanta and dedicated to East-West cultural exchange. It was established in 1964 by Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati, the Yoga Society of New York. I’ve played here a number of times with Krishna Das a nd Shyamdas and the vibe is very peaceful and sweet. Great folks, and the friendliest deer you’ll ever see in New York! The Ashram is open year-round and welcomes individuals of all faiths, origins and cultural backgrounds.
www.anandaashram.org

Neem Karoli Baba ~ What can I add to what has already been said? Maharajji is simply a divine embodiment of Universal Love. Pictures, stories and inspirations can be found below, including a link to the ashram Taos, New Mexico.
www.neemkarolibaba.com


Seva Foundation ~ This pioneering non-profit group was cofounded by Larry Brilliant, the same guy recently chosen by Google to leverage his visionary inspiration in heading up the new Google.org Foundation. Seva has long offered life-altering eye surgery and other health services to the poorest and most disadvantaged citizens in Asia, Africa and Latin America. They do great work and change people’s lives for less than Americans often spend on an evening out on the town. Spread the word!
www.seva.org

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health ~ A sweet retreat spot in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, Kripalu offers year-round programs in yoga and conscious, healthy living—with lots of good music and kirtan in the mix to keep it real. Great views, and food, and people—and just over an hour to the Dharma Boutique international headquarters!
www.kripalu.org

Maya Yoga, Maui Hawai’i ~ Eddie Modestini was my first yoga teacher, way back in the mid-80s in Amherst Massachusetts. Blessed with a strong heart and devotion and having dedicated himself to yoga for decades, Eddie has a tremendous gift for seeing how our capacities and restrictions manifest in our bodies, and is not shy about encouraging us to practice, practice, practice our way to deeper understanding of our own being. His radiant partner Nicki Doane (a fantastic and inspiring teacher and yogini in her own right) and their two lovely children are some of my oldest friends and favorite folks in the whole world. I think what they are doing with their teaching of yoga is very inspiring: both powerful from a physiological healing framework and deeply rooted in spiritual presence. Study with them if you can!
http://yogaonmaui.com

Medicine Hunter ~ My buddy Chris Kilham, aka the Medicine Hunter, has made it a mission to travel the planet in search of medicines for the healing of the nations, and then to help indigenous people to safeguard and protect their own communities while helping provide these plants in a way that is sustainable both economically and culturally. He’s been called the Indiana Jones of the plant medicine world—stay on his good side!
www.medicinehunter.com

Ashtanga Yoga San Francisco ~ Want to practice some Ashtanga yoga while you are in San Francisco? Drop by Ashtanga Yoga San Francisco at the corner of Page and Divisadero! My good friends John Wilhelm and Heidi Lender recently finished building out a cozy and delightful yoga space there, and are on the early-rising yoga program almost every day. Great folks, and conveniently located right around the corner from the Church of John Coltrane—no kidding!
http://www.ashtangayogasanfrancisco.com/

Sara Karl, Producer ~ Sara is the human behind the video camera on the road videos and product pieces sprinkled throughout this site. An indie writer, video producer and all-around media babe, she’s worked from LA to NY and Seattle to, um, the Montague Book Mill—basically, all over the place! She’s quick and bright and game for adventure—she handled endless ridiculous hours, ubiquitous power problems, budget India’s 2-star accommodations, weeks of excitement (and, yes, danger) in Afghanistan, and never gave up her trademark sparkle, wit and effervescence. In short: she rocked! Sure, she was “too friendly for Afghanistan” as we came to discover, but she came through with some crazy goods, as you can watch for yourself on all the crazy videos we made while risking rupee and limb going to the edge of civilization and (luckily) back home again. If you ever need to hire a great video producer…
www.youtube.com/user/SaraKarl
http://sarakarl.blogspot.com

Fanatic Promotion ~ Need a killer partner in the realm of non-commercial radio promotion, press relations, retail promotion, and new media? Fanatic is a bi-coastal organization with the connections to channel your passions. These guys are not run-of-the-mill industry wankers—they rock, I’m tellin’ ya!
www.fanaticpromotion.com

Art Farm ~ This place is a diamond in the woods of Ulster County NY. The ART FARM (Accord Research Team For Adult Recreational Motivation) is a dynamite digital/analogue recording & production studio (and shoot location!) nestled in a big old renovated barn on the back roads of upstate New York, just 2 hours from the city. Surrounded by big meadows and ancient stone walls, and run by the friendliest, mellowest yet highly competent-est folks you’d ever want to hunker down to make your record or finish producing your project with—this is a place where magic happens, on a regular basis. Cheap, compared to the city. And great food too—one of the proprietors used to run a wicked good French Provincial restaurant in the West Village for years. 4 stars.
www.artfarmrecording.com

Professional Audio Design ~ A boutique, full service recording studio design and equipment supply house in Boston, these guys make it happen every day. Loads of deals on hi-quality used gear, and they can find just about any piece of weirdo vintage equipment you might be lusting after. Run by Dave Malekpour, a 25-year veteran of the music industry, they’ve worked with many top acts, from Tony Bennett to Aerosmith, Black Crowes to R. Kelly, and most everyone in between. They’ll buy your old gear too. PAD knows their stuff.
www.proaudiodesign.com

ABC Home Furnishings ~ Manhattan’s ABC Home is a legend, and for good reason. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard people exclaim “ABC Home is my favorite store in the whole world!” I worked there for 2 years just before dreaming up Dharma Boutique, and it was an inspiring whirlwind, based in downtown New York City and taking me across the planet every time I stepped through the front door on Broadway. They are leaders in socially responsible business and bringing Fair trade into the mainstream—check out their MISSIONMarket for an inspiring way to rethink gift giving, for starters. Great people.
www.abchome.com

Jenny Chapin ~ It’s true: she’s my sister. But still, she’s great! Offering acupuncture, yoga, zero balancing treatments and her own kind heart in and around Greenfield Massachusetts, Jenny brings sweetness into the lives of those around her. Plus, she makes a mean pineapple upside-down cake—thankfully for me. If you’re in the area and you need some healing hands…
http://www.jennychapin.com

Sheila Chandra ~ Sheila ji has a voice from the spheres! She sat in for an amazing cameo with me and Shyamdas a couple years back at Omega—totally wowed the crowd. A stunning singer, she only recently returned to public performances—catch her if you can!
www.sheilachandra.com/

Heather Wakefield ~ Heather (aka Hez) is a gifted bodyworker as well as budding photographic talent—she’s taken insightful shots at various West Coast gatherings and festivals, especially Santa Rosa CA’s long-running Harmony Festival, where she has been deeply involved on the arts and community side for years now. You can check out some of her work here…
www.heatherwakefield.com/

Cara Ucci ~ Cara and I have danced at West Coast festivals and rambled through Delhi seeking forbidden green salads—and lived to survive both. She is a talented jewelry designer and her site features her unique pieces and some choice textiles too. Oscillating between San Francisco and Portland OR, and wherever freaky people gather and commune out west—and, online at…
www.caraucci.com

Mark Whitwell ~ Mark is a unique and gifted yoga teacher with a style and vibe all his own. I met him a few years back on Maui where we were both on retreat with Ram Dass—he teaching yoga asana, me playing kirtan with Shyamdas. It was a great week, and Mark’s innovative way of making yoga accessible to everyone was a key part of that experience for everyone.
http://heartofyoga.com

Fair Trade ~ The international movement to encourage “fair trade” is based on an increasing desire to ensure that producing communities are respected and compensated fairly for their work and efforts, rather than treated more like the slave labor or indentured servants for the more developed world. We are all better off when the people making our goods—no matter where they live—earn a living wage and are able to provide for their families. Even if that means we might pay an extra buck or two for our t-shirts or shoes. To learn more about fair trade and why it is important to stand up for decent production conditions around the world, read more here:
www.fairtradefederation.org www.ifat.org http://www.fairtraderesource.org http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade

Peak Experience Productions ~ Hard to describe in mere words, the Peak Experience crew is dedicated to creating and fostering experiential music and art events that thrive on and are driven by the participation of all attendees. These aren’t corporate rock consumption affairs nor simply rock & roll shows—these gatherings are where you meet the family you never knew you had. They only produce a handful of events every year, usually on the Best Coast—miss ‘em and weep, make ‘em and cry out with happiness and homecoming…
http://peakexperience.cc/

Michael Franti ~ Michael is a gifted and inspired singer, community organizer and all-around social flamethrower. Almost every time I’ve seen him live, I’ve been moved to tears, I guess somehow in recognition of the transcendent connections that bind us together in this fragile, painful, beautiful world we are living in and making up as we go along. Check out his videos or see him live—I’ll bet he makes you think and feel something fresh, and wiggle your hips along the way…
www.spearheadvibrations.com

Harmony Festival ~ The Health & Harmony Festival is a celebration of arts and music and sustainable living held every year in Santa Rosa CA. Featuring world-class music, food, goddesses and more, Harmony is one of my favorite festivals anywhere. Come find me on the dance meadow, rockin’ the house!
http://harmonyfestival.com

Inner Waves Organics ~ An off-the-grid company based on the North Shore of Maui, Inner Waves Organics is as committed to providing quality garments as it is to being a socially responsible company. Good people, stylish and comfy active sportwear.
www.innerwaves.org

Black Feather Boats ~ Happen to find yourself in Alaska and needing to buy a boat? These folks are true craftsmen—dedicated to the art of producing unparalleled custom-designed watercraft—fast, safe, fuel-efficient, and fun! Next time you’re in Juneau…
www.blackfeatherboats.com