The following is an e-mail I just sent to a friend of mine (with a bit–but not much –editing) — and it’s a bit crazy, I know, but I figure if I’m really trying to put something out there, I might as well do that in as many places as I can — I will probably have to start a different blog/site just for this cause!
Here’s what I wrote:
The idea I have is pretty simple, really — to create the world’s foremost center for mind-body wellness and healing in a state-of-the-art healthy, green and sustainable building. Where, you might ask? The most (and least) obvious place I can think of: the former site of the World Trade Center in NYC (which is only 6 blocks from Kula). I actually thought of this idea about a year after 9/11, and wrote a hurried proposal to the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. Of course, they never got back to me. I had just gotten started with Kula Yoga, and had no clue what I was doing, and was not very connected in the yoga or business world.
I see now that in order to make this happen, we’d (forgive the ‘we’, just sounds better than “I”) need to get the likes of Deepak Chopra, Andrew Weil, Dean Ornish, Mehmet Oz, etc etc. to sign on, at least with their support in principle if not investment. But my sense is, who wouldn’t want to be involved with such a venture? It would bring together just about anyone and everyone, and could be big and inclusive enough to bring everyone in under the same tent.
Of course, also would be vital to get the likes of (famous yoga teachers here), etc. etc. involved (and of course you and (other famous teachers)) — to ensure that when they visited NYC, they would make this space part of their ‘tour’ — could also get motivational speakers of all kinds in social justice and environmental issues, etc. (famous speakers and personalities and activists here) — a space where all this stuff can go down. Imagine 12 (or 5, whatever) different yoga studios (collectively managed?) with teachers from all over the tri-state area, etc. All kinds of ‘alternative’ healers. A birthing clinic, etc…of course amazing food of all kinds (raw, vegan, local, sustainable, maybe even some meat!). A ‘green’
hotel/conference center for mind/body expos. An amazing and inspiring and educational film center, bookstore, music, clothes (local, organic, sustainable…)…A million other things I can’t even think of right now.
It’s a crazy big vision, I know, but I think it would be SO COOL if someone could start spreading this meme (I am totally unattached to leading the charge or even being involved, and feel like, at best, I could serve in an advisory capacity in terms of figuring out who to get onboard, etc.!). It’s one of those things that really seems inevitable once we get the right people talking to the right people — how could the NOT put a place of healing and wellness on that site where there was so much pain and horror?
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Okay, that was the the basic gist. Any thoughts?
