Jennifer Brown / special to the Record

Yoga practitioners at a "Kulathon" at International High School in Paterson. Proceeds will help support programs for cancer patients, caregivers, veterans and at-risk teens.

PATERSON With a white flower tucked in her long, straight, dark brown hair, Jody Domerstad wiped away tears and asked the more than 100 yoga practitioners sitting on mats before her to gather in a semi-circle.

It just feels like a big hug, said Domerstad, a Rutherford resident. Its nice, its comfortable, and I think thats what I need right now.

Domerstad, a yoga instructor for 20 years, gave the opening speech before a six-hour-long yoga practice on Saturday at Patersons International High School. The event was a fundraiser hosted by Kula for Karma, a Franklin Lakes-based nonprofit that provides targeted populations in the tri-state area with therapeutic yoga and meditation.

But Domerstad would not be teaching Saturday; One month ago, she underwent surgery for a tumor in her brain. Domerstad attributed the mental teachings of yoga the practice of calming the brains agitations -- for helping her cope with being hospitalized for a month and the possibility that she might not live.

If you can just take a minute and pause and youre willing to go back to yourself, youll have everything that you need, and thats the yoga, she said.

After Domerstads speech, the crowd returned to their mats for the first of several 45-minute-long yoga sessions throughout the afternoon. The event Kula for Karmas first Kulathon sought to raise funds so the organization of more than 300 volunteer yoga teachers can provide more yoga programs to four populations: cancer patients, at-risk teens, caregivers and veterans. Kula 4 Karmas founders hoped Saturdays event which saw more than 125 registrants can bring in more than $17,000 for the cause.

The organization, led by founder Geri Topfer of Franklin Lakes and executive director Penny Feiner of Hawthorne, already supplies more than 300 programs to more than 3,000 individuals throughout the region, Topfer said.

For example, the organization two years ago earned a five-year grant to provide yoga once a week to students in the Paterson public schools, creating a relationship that led International High School to host Saturdays event, Topfer said.

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Franklin Lakes-based nonprofit hosts yoga fundraiser 'Kulathon' in Paterson

Friday, June 6th, 2014 Issue 23, Volume 18.

Ayoga class at Carlsbad State Beachon June 7aims to benefit the bodies of its participants as well as the lives of foster children in Temecula.

Yoga instructor Susiana Lechiara of Murrieta is teaching theone-hourmorning class for free, but asking participantsto makeadonationif they wishto Rancho Damacitas Childrens Homes.Shes raisingfunds for the organizationbecause she loves children and wants to help onesin foster care.

People interested in attendingthe classcan meetLechiaraat 8:30 a.m.in front of24 Hour Fitness in Temeculaand carpool to the beach. She said participants shouldbring a beach towel, sunglasses, walking shoes,water andsandwiches.

"Yoga at the beach is a fun, fun class for all," Lechiarasaid."Its open to anybody. Its a family event."

Sheused to offermonthly yoga classes at the beach fromMay toOctober, butstopped lastyear to devote more timeto Collective Scents,ahandmade soy candle and natural productsbusiness thatshe and her husband launchedin2012.

"Our online business took off and runningitrequires tremendous energy,"Lechiara explained. She planson having an annualYoga at the Beachclassstarting this year.

Lechiara, originallyfrom Java Island, Indonesia,has been practicing yoga for over 20 years.Shedeveloped an interest in it when she met an Indian yoga teacher in 1989. Shestudied withthe teacher for a while, but stopped when she became toobusy with workand children to attend classes.In 2004, Lechiaramoved from Long Beach to Temeculaand then to Murrieta in 2009.

"When my children and I moved to Temecula, I saw the opportunity to learn yoga well enough to teach it,"she said. "I have been a teacher since 2006 and love it."

Shescertified through Yoga Fit and the Advertisement [ Berry-Bell and Hall Mortuary ] Arthritis Foundation and hastaught at several fitnessorganizations, including 24 Hour Fitness, Sweat Cardio & Yoga,Power Pro Fitnessand Isvara Yoga. She also taught for the City of Murrieta at its library and is currently teaching free classes at the Sun City Library. She offers private lessons as well.

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Yoga at the beach class to benefit foster children at Rancho Damacitas

LOS ANGELES, June 6 (UPI) --Katy Perry has been unlucky in love, but she isn't ready to give up just yet.

The 29-year-old singer covers the July issue of Cosmopolitan, and opens up to Chelsea Handler in the interview about her relationships with exes Russell Brand and John Mayer. Perry was married to Brand from October 2010 to July 2012, and had an on-again, off-again relationship with Mayer from August 2012 to February 2014.

"It feels like a hundred lifetimes ago, so it's like digging up an old grave," she says of her marriage. "A lot of therapy has happened and a lot of understanding and growth."

"Sometimes you have to go through all this [expletive] to get your grips on life and figure out what the next boundaries in your love life are going to be," she continues. "You have to go through the mud in order to find that peaceful place. In the long run, it was necessary for me to have more of a teammate."

As for ex-boyfriend Mayer, Perry says there are no hard feelings.

"I know it sounds really hippie [expletive], but I'm living in the now and not fantasizing about the future or [being] torn up about the past," she asserts. "I'm super Eckhart Tolle. I have a lot of respect for [Mayer] still, and I know it goes both ways. There's no bad blood, but I'm sure there will be inspired songs."

The singer admits she never stays "single for long," and reveals a surprising secret that may attract men.

"I carry a lot of rose quartz, which attracts the male," she divulges. "Maybe I need to calm it down with the amethyst."

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Katy Perry discusses exes Russell Brand, John Mayer