The last few weeks have been a hectic time for myself and all the other students in Boulder. The end of the semester crunch. Although summer nears and I can see the end of the first year of my masters at Naropa University it doesn’t change the fact that April is National Poetry Month. I can’t wait until the summer to celebrate. I need to slam now! I need to stretch now! And I know students and non-students alike are feeling the same way.

This Friday, the 16th from 5-9pm come celebrate at Alaya Yoga Studio! Alaya will be hosting the first ever Slam and Stretch. Now you may be asking yourself what is a Slam and Stretch? Well imagine an amazing evening of yoga, poetry, turntables, break dancing, massage, bake sale goodies and good people.

The whole evening is donation based. It’s going to start out at 5pm with an hour-long Yoga class giving people a chance to stretch out a bit before the slam starts. From 6-630 there will be food and music and general mingling time with the other attendees. At 6:30 DJ Yarrow is going to hit the 1’s and 2’s to start the night with a performance from some local Colorado B-boy’s. From there we’ll have tons of great poets reading with turntable intermissions.

While all this is happening in the main room we’ll be having stretches lead in other areas of the venue, massage offered and delicious baked goodies donated from Naropa’s Community Kitchen.

From 9pm-11pm, there will be an optional after-party next-door at the Southern Sun. The Southern Sun has graciously agreed to donate a portion of any profits they make from attendees of the Slam and Stretch to Naropa’s Partners in Health effort. Just make sure you get your stamp at the Slam and Stretch!

Not only is this event going to be awesome, it’s for a good cause. On January 12th, Haiti was devastated by a 7.0 earthquake with a confirmed death toll of 230, 000 people. An amount nearly 2 and a half times the population of Boulder, Colorado. Since the Earthquake I’ve been spearheading Naropa’s Haiti Support group and we’ve been working on planning more cool, diverse events. All proceeds from the Slam and Stretch will be donated to Naropa’s ongoing Haiti fundraising effort with Partners in Health.

Breakdown of the event!

5:00-6:00pm – Donation Based Yoga Class

6:00-6:30pm – Food, music and more

6:30-9:00pm – Poetry, turntables and breakers in the main room. Free Yoga and massage offered as well all evening.

9:00-11:00pm – Optional after-party at Southern Sun.

Where: Alaya Yoga Studio

673 S. Broadway

Corner of Broadway and Table Mesa

Suggested Donation: $5

IMPORTANT: If your interested in reading please Email ahead of time. Space is limited and several talented artists have already signed up. Contact: [email protected]

If you feel like hanging out with some cool people, slamming, stretching and contributing to a good cause I’ll catch you on Friday. I’ll be the guy with the big smile.