Located across the street from Korduroy.tv ‘s headquarters, Yoga Swami operates a donation-based yoga studio in a yurt on Coast Highway in Encinitas. The City of Encinitas is requiring the owner to meet building codes that would cost ten times the price of the yurt or take it down. The problem lies in the fact that there are no city codes that acknowledge the safe and efficient design of yurts and other sustainable dwelling spaces. We are choosing to document this local story because there is an opportunity here for citizens and local governments all over the world to open a dialog about alternative structures and their ability to save monetary and planetary resources affording their occupants more time to build stronger communities.
Go to yogaswami.com to find out how you can help
Directed and Written by Cyrus Sutton
Additional Footage by Erik Derman
Production Assistance by Dan Madison
Music by A Slight Breeze
©Korduroy.tv 2010
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December 8th, 2010
OUTSTANDING!
December 8th, 2010
Great video! Thank you for taking the time to make it. I will definitely pass it along my Twitter and Facebook. Hopefully all goes well at the city council meeting tonight!
December 8th, 2010
support from Black Lotus Yoga out on the cold east coast! (cold but lovin it!)
December 8th, 2010
Yeah cy. Good stuff.
December 8th, 2010
u all rock!!!!
December 8th, 2010
i can’t stop watching it- i love it!
December 8th, 2010
You hit the perfect note with this one. Well done. *
December 8th, 2010
Wonderful video that captures the spirit of yoga ~ union. Thank you for this inspiring work!
December 8th, 2010
From our yoga community to yours – we hope you win your peaceful battle and save your wonderful home!
December 9th, 2010
This is no surprise to hear given the easily observable trend of development taking place in downtown Encinitas, and may in fact be related to it.
We need to take note of what is happening in both Encinitas and now Leucadia too, as it seems the very thing that make these areas so special and loved are being marginalized in order to make way for a more homogenized image of coastal life and whose landscape is completely cluttered with strictly commercial enterprises.
December 9th, 2010
I have lived in yurts in Arizona….they are the most wonderful structures of all to live in. We are blessed to have a yurt to practice yoga in. I know Lemongrass Salon has one as well on 2nd street and I hope they don’t run into the same problems you have with your yurt. We should all live in Yurts….just my opinion. I will again someday!
December 9th, 2010
I live on the Big Island of Hawaii and Yurts are able to be permitted by the county here. Might want to look into how it’s done here. Good luck!
December 9th, 2010
@MC- last night was very heartening. We walked to city council to defend the yurt although it isn’t certain, it seems like the yurt will STAY. There was definitely a generation/lifestyle gap and tension from the council was palpable… BUT our voice was heard and the amount of money conscious industries bring to the city is hard fact to deny. I think this is the beginning of good things to come. Yes things are changing, more people are going to be living here and the cost of living is going to continue to rise but by being creative and making our voice heard, I think we can keep this place cool! Cy
December 9th, 2010
[...] you have trouble viewing above: http://www.korduroy.tv/2010/save-the-yogic-yurt December 9th, 2010 | Category: [...]
December 9th, 2010
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December 10th, 2010
[...] you have trouble viewing above: http://www.korduroy.tv/2010/save-the-yogic-yurt December 10th, 2010 | Category: [...]
December 10th, 2010
Hi Cyrus:
We are madly tweeting the Yurt flick all over the universe but we need it on youtube so it can get viral. Please help!
December 10th, 2010
@david- word
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28FpTywv0XY
December 12th, 2010
i remember last winter taking a class during a wind and hail storm!! it was magical… and a testament to the yurt’s strength in all elements.
December 14th, 2010
[...] if unable to view above: http://www.korduroy.tv/2010/save-the-yogic-yurt [...]
December 27th, 2010
[...] Job. Friend. Lover. Focus (at times). Other friend. Yurt. [...]
May 16th, 2011
First of all, I LOVE yurts – even though i haven’t even set foot in one yet.
before i watched the video i figured it was a problem with not measuring up to building codes… wrong there… however, what i don’t hear people bringing up in the video is the fact that a yurt can be set up and be classified or considered a temporary structure thus making the lot it sits on remain ‘unimproved’ and therefore the city/county doesn’t want this to become popular as it will adversely affect their revenue from property taxes.
Even if the yurt IS considered to be a permanent structure on the land, it is still quite a bit cheaper to construct than conventional housing and again, the amount of tax revenue will be less…. doesn’t sit well with city hall.
Sorry to hear you lost the battle this round.
August 11th, 2011
[...] painted a Ganesha mural on the Coastal Highway in Encinitas, California at a place called Yoga Swami. Recently the city established some building code that made backyard yoga structures illegal and [...]
August 14th, 2011
[...] of the last great Kook Attack or the nice video Cy did in 8 hours to try and save the local Yoga Yurt. One thing is for certain, the installation is an amazing display of artistry, teamwork and [...]