Discover Ayurveda at an open house with Madhurima Rao, M.D., expert in Ayurveda and Western Family Medicine and new associate of the reputable Access Medical Group. Get your questions about Ayurveda answered. Dr. Rao was trained at Harbor UCLA, board certified in 1996 and recertified in 2003. Open to the public for free. Tea and refreshments will be served. Thursday, August 11 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Southern California Center for Integrative Medicine, 4644 Lincoln Boulevard, Marina del Rey, RSVP by July 18 by calling 310.578.1062. For more information visit drmadhurao.com
Santa Monica Tibetan Buddhist Study Group invites you to join them every first and third Thursdays of the month from 7 to 9 p.m. for instruction in Tibetan Buddhist meditation and book study.Open to everyone, by donation. 2439 Wilshire Boulevard at the Clubhouse in Santa Monica. For info call Daniel 310.451.4368, SantaMonicaKTC@earthlink.net
Bike Critter Art Contest, have your artwork featured in SMMoA’s Third Annual cultural bike event. Tour da Arts has always been represented by a delightful “bike critter,” and this year, we invite you to create one. All submissions must be in black and white and will be reviewed by a jury of artists as well as SMMoA’s curatorial staff. An online slideshow will feature all critters after the winner is announced on July 11. Deadline for submission is July 6 at midnight. Send to education@smmoa.org with subject header “2011 Tour Da Arts Bike Critter Contest.” Include name, contact information and an attachment (one 100-180 dpi image between 5×7 and 8×10. Have a 300 dpi 8×10 image ready in case you are selected)
Academic Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (AFICE) is looking for individuals to work as Community Representatives, who will find host families for international students and will work with them and their families. Call Anne Ring, 866.462.3423
The American Red Cross is looking for volunteers. Various positions are available. To volunteer, call Tom Viscount at 310.394.3773 x112 from 1-5 pm, Monday through Thursday.
The Artists’ League of the Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club invites you to drop in Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to work on independent projects in water color, gouache, and collage. $3 donation benefits local youth art programs, 1210 Fourth Street, Santa Monica. Info: 310.310.2273
Beyond Baroque offers free writing workshops including Monday night Literary and Experimental Fiction, 8 p.m., Tuesday night Creative Non-Fiction, 8 p.m., Wednesday night poetry, 8 p.m., Thursday night alternative screenplay, 8 p.m., Saturday afternoon poetry 1:30 p.m., and fourth Saturday of the month morning poetry and prose 11 a.m. Beyond Baroque Literary / Arts Center, 681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, 310.822.3006
Do You Have the Heart for Hospice? Roze Room Hospice seeks volunteers to provide support and companionship to terminally ill patients and their families. Training is free. We have patients at home and in nursing facilities in throughout the Westside and Los Angeles. For more information, contact Kathleen McMahon, Volunteer Coordinator, at 323.938.1155 or volcoord@rozeroomhospice.org
Donate blood on Monday and Wednesdays at the American Red Cross of Santa Monica, 1450 11th Street. Hours for donations vary, so call to schedule an appointment. 1.800.GIVE.LIFE or 1.888.POR.FAVOR
Healthy vs. Emotional Eating, free workshop series starting Thursday, June 2, every Thursday in June, Rachel Fintzy, licensed psychotherapist and workshop facilitator, will provide you with tools on how to improve your relationship with food, your body, and difficult emotions, in ways that feel right for you. This series will provide you with specific ideas on how to enhance your health and well-being, using creative exercises, practical information, and mindfulness techniques. 4 to 5:30 p.m., Santa Monica Family YMCA, 1332 Sixth Street, 310.393.2721
Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, a 12-step program for those struggling to control their relationship with food, has three meetings every week in Santa Monica. Tuesday, 7 to 8:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Youth Lounge, 1220 Second Street, Santa Monica; Wednesday, 7 to 8:30 a.m., Unitarian Universalist Community Church, The Cottage, 1260 18th Street, Santa Monica; and Saturday, 9 to 10:30 a.m., First United Methodist Church, Room 101, 1008 11th Street., Santa Monica. Free. Call: 800.600.6028 or see: www.foodaddicts.org
Food Addicts Anonymous has free meetings every Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, 6700 W. 83rd Street, Westchester. There are no dues or fees, just the desire to abstain from the foods we crave. foodaddictsanonymous.org
Harmony Tai Chi with Dr. Mao Shing Ni, Tuesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. Be taught by Dr. Mao! Harmony Tai Chi captures the gracefulness and meditative benefits of the popular Yang style of Tai Chi, the power generating aspects of Chen style, and the agility of the Wu style. $18/class or $120/series. The Wellness Store, 1412 14th Street, 310.260.0013
Have you ever wanted to act? Design sets? Make costumes? Whether you want to be on stage, or behind the scenes, we can help you unlock your creative side. Work with professional writers and directors, as well as teens just like you, to develop and sharpen your skills in our free teen theatre workshop. Thursday, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at The Christian Institute, 1308 Second Street, Santa Monica. For more information call 310.394.4178 or 310.617.4905
It’s hip to be square. Fun and fitness set to music. New class in Square and Line dancing every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., Marine Ave Park, 16th and Marine Avenue, Santa Monica. Eight sessions, $42 for Santa Monica residents (others $46). Sponsored by the Red Ribbon Squares in association with Santa Monica Parks and Recreation. Information: 310.312.0410
Meals on Wheels West needs volunteers to deliver meals to homebound people in Santa Monica. Deliveries are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. To volunteer call 310.394.7558
Mt. Olive Film Night, entertaining and thought-provoking films shown on the second Saturdays of each month, supper at 6 p.m., films start at 7 p.m., free, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Boulevard, 310.452.1116
A New Grief Support Group for Parents who have lost children to addiction, drugs, medications, alcohol. Santa Monica near Ocean and Montana Avenue. Dates and times TBA. 310.917.5008, www.grasphelp.org, graspsantamonica@yahoo.com
Pranic Healing Sessions and Meditation. Whether you’re stressed, in pain or just in need of inner peace, PRANIC HEALING can help. Master Choa Kok Sui’s PRANIC HEALING is an energy healing technique that utilizes “prana” or life energy to promote physical, emotional and mental health. It has worked successfully with ailments ranging from asthma, arthritis, cancer, to addictions, stress, depression and phobias. Aanad Saagar Fridays, 6 to 8 p.m., 606 Venice Boulevard, #21. Contact: Isabel 310.883.8371 Suggested love offering $10. pranichealingsm@yahoo
Pregnancy Support Group, ongoing on Mondays, facilitated by Sahaja Douglass, MA, LMFT and Aleksandra Evanguelidi, LM, CPM. This Support Group will focus on building community, releasing fears about birthing and mothering, and offering a safe place where questions can be answered by health care professionals. 2 to 4 p.m., $25, 11965 Venice Boulevard, Suite 204, Los Angeles, CA 90066, 310.566.7690
Recovery International provides tools and practice in changing thinking habits so individuals can gain personal control over distressing emotions and improve general well-being. This worldwide non-profit organization, founded in 1937, holds weekly meetings every Saturday, 10:30 a.m., at Trinity Church, California and 11th Street, Santa Monica. Free, but free will contributions welcomed. For more information, call 818.268.9841 or go to www.lowselfhelpsystems.org
Meditation for People Affected by Cancer, free workshop intended to help improve the lives of those affected by cancer. Join Malcolm Shultz, JD, MFT as he guides participants in the art of meditation using a variety of techniques, including mindfulness, breath work, and visualization. For cancer patients and their families. Every Thursday, 6 to 6:45 p.m., The Wellness Community West Los Angeles, 2716 Ocean Park Boulevard, Suite 1040, 310.314.2555
Sand and Sea Speakers Award-winning Toastmasters club meets Monday nights 7 to 9 p.m. Improve your communication skills in a positive, fun environment and practice becoming a better public speaker. Guests visit free. Call 310.450.8589 for more info.
Santa Monica Oceanaires barbershop harmony chorus invites men of all ages and voice parts to sing each each Monday 7 to 10 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church, 4427 Overland Avenue, Culver City, oceanaires.org, 323.377.3570 or contact us at oceanaires_info@earthlink.net
Santa Monica’s Solid Waste Division’s website answers many residential and business customer queries. To learn how to set up recycling programs at apartment buildings, what to do with unwanted electronics devices, where to drop off bulky items like refrigerators, and answers to many more questions go to smgov.net/swm
Santa Monica YMCA is seeking counselors and counselors in training (CITs) for summer camp. Counselors must be 18 years or older and able to commit to work nine weeks during day camp or volunteer one to three weeks of mountain camp. CITs must be entering the 7th grade for day camp or 10th grade for sleep away camp. For more information regarding camp please contact Audrey Meyer-Hollis, Youth & Family Director, at 310.393.2721 ext. 123
SMC’s Continuing Education Program is offering free ESL and Citizenship classes, 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, at SMC’s Bundy campus, 3171 South Bundy Drive., West Los Angeles and at the Madison campus, 1310 11th Street, 310.434.3400
Babies, kids and teens can explore our world this summer at the Santa Monica Public Library by earning prizes for the amount of time they spend reading (or being read to)! This year’s summer reading program celebrates the richness of our world’s many cultures with the themes “One World, Many Stories” for children, and “You Are Here” for teens. Beginning Saturday, June 18, kids, teens, and parents of babies can sign up at the Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Boulevard
Take a walk through Santa Monica history! The Santa Monica Conservancy conducts downtown walking tours every Saturday at 10 a.m. Tickets are $5 for Conservancy members, $10 for non-members. For reservations, call 310.496.3146 or go to smconservancy.org
Volunteer for the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles, Marina del Rey center. We have various opportunities, at the Marina del Rey center and other locations, weekdays and weekends. Open to all, 18 years and older. Contact Gail at 626.677.2297 or gtomura@girlscoutsla.org
Volunteer to conduct guided programs for school groups and the general public, host a nature center, or patrol park trails. For more information contact Lisa Ann Carillo, 310.858.7272
Yoga for the Community! Flow Yoga, Wednesdays 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays 12 to 1 p.m. Classes are on-going, drop-ins welcome. No experience necessary. Classes taught by Coco Yellin, know for her life-affirming teaching styles. Suggested donation:$8 per class. Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Boulevard, 310.452.1116 or mtolivelutheranchurch.org
Yoga Classes by Donation, Sundays at 11:30 a.m., Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m., Kathmandu Boutique, 1844 Lincoln Boulevard, hathayogawave @gmail.com, 310.392.4711
The YWCA Santa Monica / Westside has classes for adults and kids, plus free exercise for women with cancer and free programs for girls in middle school. For more information call 310.452.3881 or go to www.smywca.org
Zen meditation group led by Sensei Daishin Buksbazen, teacher at Zen Center of Los Angeles meets weekly on Wednesday evening at the Hill Street Center, 237 Hill Street, Santa Monica. Meditation instruction for newcomers held at 7 to 7:30 p.m., Zazen from 7:30 to 9 p.m., Dharma talk the first Wednesday of each month. Contact Sensei Daishin at 310.315.3506 or daishin@zcla.org
Animal Rights National Conference will be held at the Westin LAX Hotel July 21 to 25. For registration information please visit: www.arconference.org
