Amanda Zapanta, Private Yoga and Thai Bodywork Located in New York City, with whom Mamma practices her yoga postures. Amanda teaches an extremely challenging class but with a child like spirit. Don't take her class expecting to relax. However, she has studied anatomy and physiology extensively and she brings that expertise to each class she teaches. She is the embodiment of joy in movement. She also helped Mamma to create this website.
 

Integral Yoga Institute A Yoga Center, in the West Village in New York City, where Mamma and I both go to take classes. Integral Yoga teaches one to be aware of the breath and to listen to the inner wisdom of one's own body throughout the class. Integral Yoga creates the room to observe that "quiet space" within. Swami Ramanda is an extremely thoughtful and kind teacher who Mamma likes to take classes from. There are even children's classes here!
 

Fairies World My favorite fairy spot!
Myrea Pettit is a fairy artist who draws fairies but also helps others to draw, by teaching us to listen to our own inner voice. She says each one of us is an artist when we learn to listen within and to paint what we feel.
 

Curly's Vegetarian Restaurant Mamma and my favorite restaurant to have pasta (Chicken Parmesan tender soy fillet with marinara and two cheeses over pasta, served with vegetables, salad and garlic bread) and it's all vegetarian, too! You can even draw on the table with crayons. 

Andrew Zapanta We love to jig to this music after our pasta.
 

Books Just Books Publishing Mamma says that "Books Just Books" make it easy to publish a book. They are very helpful and patient, too. Just ask for Dana.
 

Ta YogaThis is a yoga school in Harlem where Mamma use to teach yoga. It is where "The Donut Yogi" was first conceptualized by Mamma in a conversation she had with Teresa Kennedy, the founder of this school. 
 

Jivamukti Yoga School This is another yoga school Mamma loves to go to. It was while Sharon Gannon, one of the founders of this school and a very dedicated and gifted teacher, was speaking at Integral Yoga Institute, that Mamma realized the importance of leaving in the page on the breath.
 

YogaMS.com Eric Small, an Iyengar instructor, inspired Mamma in so many ways. She went to his workshop in California, and the adversity he has overcome and the dignity of his practice, as well as being a Master Teacher, is awe inspiring.
 

Yoga Kingdom Sanctuary Yoga Kingdom Sanctuary, founded by Naader Shagagi, is another school of yoga that Mamma loves. Naader is a true bhakti yogi, one who sees through the eyes of love and compassion.
 

Laughing Lotus Yoga Center Each school Mamma goes to is so different from each other. Mamma loves this school because there is such joy in the practice of yoga here. There is an emphasis on selfless service, too. This is the idea where one gives something and expects nothing in return. There are also free community classes here each weekday. 
 

The Initiative for Women with Disabilities Elly and Steve Hammerman Health & Wellness Center. Judy Goldberg and Connie Lam direct this high quality medical and multi-disciplinary center, committed to providing respectful, high-quality gynecological, medical and wellness services for women and adolescent girls with physical disabilities. Mamma says IWD is a real leader in the country in providing other healing modalities such as massage, reiki, reflexology, Tai Chi, and aromatherapy.
 

The Coalition for the Homeless Mamma says Mary E. Brosnahan is an amazing friend in New York City to those who have fallen on hard times. But equally important, Mamma says, is that when you give her something, she never forgets to say thank-you." 
 

The Golden Lantern and Buddhist Poems  Mamma likes to read poems on these sites. Paul Dolinsky was kind enough to write a review of The Donut Yogi.  
 

Benedetta Capanna
Mamma also loves to take yoga classes from Benedetta. She lives in Rome but occasionally comes to NYC to teach at Integral Yoga Institute and to conduct workshops. She is so knowledgeable and compassionate, having a background in dance and yoga. When she comes back to NYC, don't miss the chance to take a class with her. She has studied many types of yoga intensively. Now she is studying the teachings of Vanda Scaravelli, another Iyengar based instructor,  who wrote "Awakening the Spine".