Yoga trend setter Dray Gardner brings Silent Savasana to Vegas
Newly weds Larry and Jen Rudolph are expanding their XCycle sports fitness operation in Boca Park. And its not even a year old yet! Not only have they opened the next-door Xen Xen yoga fitness studio with renowned instructor Dray Gardner but they’ve bought his Silent Savasana classes that have revolutionized yoga coast to coast with thousands of people taking part in his unique mass public experiences.
Larry, who manages Britney Spears and Steven Tyler amongst other pop stars explained that Silent Savasana offers a distinctive, fun and inspiring version of yoga.
“Each class teaches balance, discipline, focus, determination and strength of mind,” he told at the studio’s opening. “During class, participants wear state-of-the-art LED headsets, which transmit the instructor’s voice and a carefully curated music playlist, allowing for a complete personal experience. Every other sound is blocked out.”
Silent Savasana specializes in large-scale events and unique experiences and was voted “Best Yoga/Pilates” in Las Vegas Review-Journal’s 2016 Best of Las Vegas Awards. This week through Sunday yoga classes available at Jen and Dray’s new XenXen studio in Boca Park this week are free.
Larry explained: “It’s a new home base where our Silent Savasana family can turn to between events for connectedness, healing and growth. It’s changing the lives of so many within our community. You can learn how to turn pain into power and wounds into wisdom.”
Chelsey Pierce of Silent Savasana added: “It’s a powerful yoga movement offering a memorable, playful and inspiring version of yoga that infuses the practice, community and music into each event. Gardner ensures each practice is grounded in the principles of balance, discipline, self-acceptance and strength of mind.
“When you walk into a Silent Savasana event you are immediately transported into an urban oasis in which the settings are handpicked to deliver a unique and transformative experience for yoga practitioners of all levels
Tomorrow ( Oct. 19), is the final outdoor Silent Savasana event for the season at Red Rock Resort. And then, the next Silent Savasana session is Nov. 4 at the Westgate. More than 1,000 fans turned out for the recent Red Rock Resort event at its massive pool.
Incredibly 42-year-old Gardner discovered yoga in 2006 when a doctor told him it was the only option if he wanted to heal himself from chronic back pain coupled with nerve and tissue damage, a result of years of playing contact sports. It was so bad that he walked into his first yoga class using a cane; but he signed up for a 60-day challenge.
“My body was broken, I walked with a limp on a cane. The yoga saved me from the operating table. The doctors wanted me to have back surgery. Yoga allowed my mind and body to have brand-new experiences, teaching me balance, discipline, focus, determination, strength, flexibility and peace of mind through meditation,” Dray said. “ It was in learning the science behind yoga and how the practice supports every muscle, tendon, joint and organ down to a cellular level. That truly hooked me — leading me to what has become my life’s work and dharma.”
This form of movement has changed Dray’s world on a personal, but most importantly, on a healthy mental level. He realized at that very moment that life is truly about the choices you make that form your future of what we like to call “happiness.” He is now in a place in his life where he wants to help those around him find their inner peace.
Dray graduated from UNLV with a double major in criminal justice and sociology and went from valet attendant to executive for Station Casinos after a spell as a real estate agent. His injuries were sustained playing football for Cal State-Fullerton and Chico State
In 2007, with the love and support of his family, Dray attended his first teacher training so that he could share the gift that was given to him through the practice. Dray has now been practicing for many years, traveling across the valley to bring Las Vegas the best energy he can bring and offering his knowledge, strength and commitment to the people of the Las Vegas community through Silent Savasana and at the newly opened Xen Xen studio.
His “Yoga in the Sky” classes have been staged at the high-roller observation wheel in the Linq and celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis was one of the first to sign up. She struck a pose during two orbits on the world’s tallest observation wheel
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HISTORY IN THE MAKING
More than 17,000 people watched history in the making last night (Oct. 17) at the T-Mobile Arena when our new Vegas Golden Knights expansion team toppled the Buffalo Sabres 5-4 in overtime. It pushed our hero’s season score to 5-1, setting a new record that previously stood for more than 100 years in the NHL — an expansion team starting off their season with a 5-1 record. With just a minute left in overtime, scorer David Perron had the Vegas crowd on its feet erupting in cheers.
Ever since their first loss after a 3-0 winning streak to open the NHL ice hockey season our Vegas Golden Knights have been stung back into victory action. On Sunday, our hometown team won 3-1 against the Boston Bruins in front of 17,560 very enthusiastic fans.
Their only loss had been 6-3 against the Detroit Red Wings when goalkeeper Marc-Andre Fleury played on after being kneed in the head. He had fans in silence when he lay on the ice following the concussion — but still played on. But he was placed on the injured list right afterward, and Malcolm Subborn in only his third ever NHL game proved just as adept for our Knights. He made his second start in goal at last night’s game.
SAFE AGAIN
There was amazing chemistry between our “Property Brother” reality TV local star, Drew Scott, with professional partner, Emma Slater, who danced a Viennese waltz to the song “Rainbow Connection” from the “Muppet Movie” on the Disney Night of Season 25’s “Dancing with the Stars.” They scored 25 out of a possible 30 from the judges and it was plenty to keep them safe on the hit ABC-TV show for at least another week.
Judge Carrie Ann Inaba praised them for their chemistry and her fellow judges Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli said Drew had become a good dancer and improved his skills every week since starting out. “Pretty Little Liars” actress, Sasha Pieterse, and her partner, Gleb Savchenko, were eliminated. Drew who says he’s already lost 30 pounds in the contest is now tied with Terrell Owens in the third slot from the bottom above Nick Lachey and Vanessa Lachey. The duo could be in jeopardy next Monday.
MAGIC MIKE’S BEER
The heat was on at Hofbräuhaus last night (Oct. 17) as five cast members from the hot “Magic Mike Live” show at the Hard Rock Hotel tapped the keg of authentic Oktoberfestbier.
The 14th annual Oktoberfest celebration runs through Oct. 31 and features Oktoberfest Stein-Holding contests, and celebrity keg tappings every weekend. Headliner and comedy magician Mac King will tap the keg on Friday, and master impressionist Gordie Brown takes over the Hofbräuhaus stage on Saturday.
RISE & FALL
Flamboyant and outrageous Hollywood producer Allan Carr was hailed as a genius when he launched his hit musical film “Grease” and followed it with his Broadway sensation “La Cage Aux Folles.” With a sprawling mansion in Benedict Canyon with its own disco, Allan threw Hollywood parties that defined the 1970s. He even took over a subway line and station in Manhattan late one night for Manhattan’s most flashy and ostentatious party. He was the subject of one of the most glitzy segments on my old “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous” TV shows filmed at his California estate. But the success all came crashing down after he produced the notorious debacle of the 1989 Academy Awards. Oscar was not at all happy!
Now, the Las Vegas Film Festival is coming back to life, hosting the local premiere of the film “The Fabulous Allan Carr” at the Brenden Theaters in the Palms on Nov. 1. Steve Wynn’s film director pal Brett Ratner appears with Marlo Thomas, Connie Stevens, Lorna Luft and original Village People’s cowboy, Randy Jones, in the film, which will benefit the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada. Allan wrote the 1980 “Can’t Stop the Music” film, which was a pseudo biography of the flashy disco group, and also starred the then Bruce Jenner.
“The Fabulous Allan Carr” movie director Jeffrey Schwarz and its co-producers John Boccardo and Larry Spitler will participate in a Q&A session after the screening. The 11th annual Las Vegas Film festival will be held June 6-10 of next year at the resort.
30 YEARS
It’s the longest-running girlie show on the Strip — and dancer host, Dani Elizabeth, led her seven high-kicking beauties through 16 eye-popping dance routines for “Crazy Girls’ ” amazing 30th anniversary at Planet Hollywood. Several femme fatales in the new lineup are the tall, long-
legged beauties, who were formerly in the “Jubilee” show at Bally’s. Dani gets her own comedic spotlight halfway through the show, interacting humorously with members of the audience, and Ginger has the enviable task of riding a provocative prop that explodes showering the audience with sparkling stars.
NEW COLLECTION
This morning (Oct. 18) in the French capitol, the Rolling Stones unveiled a new limited edition capsule collection within the legendary fashion boutique Colette to mark the group’s “No Filter” tour, wrapping up their final Paris shows tomorrow, Sunday and next Wednesday. Rumors swirl they’ll fly here afterward to see their new Exhibitionism exhibit at the Palazzo where some of the new fashion merchandise of Air Max sneakers, custom shirts and jerseys with the Stones lips logo, skateboards and motorcycle helmets will go on sale.
TONIGHT’S TIPS
• The 10 all-female musical members of the Femmology empowerment band make their theatrical debut at the Keep Memory Alive event center at The Smith Center. Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse’s Table 10 restaurant will cater the showcase unveiling. Towanda Braxton, rapper Flavor Flav and Walter Scott from the Whispers will walk the red carpet with Femmology stars DJ Sophia Lin, Ariel Bellvalaire, Dani Ivory, Brittany Brooks, Katrina Stuart, Nicole Row, Yolanda Harris, Samantha Schultz, Shannon Pearson, Arean Alston, Danielle McGinley, Tamyra Gray, Krystal Smith and RaVaughn Brown.
• “America’s Got Talent” winner Michael Grimm returns to his pre-TV success haunt at the Green Valley Ranch in an acoustic concert.
• Sharp Shock, Jerk and SWRS support The Interrupters headlining the rock show at Vinyl inside the Hard Rock Hotel.
• The VooDoo Cowboys provide the music for line dancing in a night of country at Gilley’s in Treasure island.
• DJ Ookay has thumbs up for his stint behind the dual decks at the Encore Beach Club in Steve Wynn’s hotel.
• DJ Casanova finds love amongst the wheels of steel at Chateau atop the Paris Las Vegas.
• DJ Kittie purrs from behind her booth at Hyde in the Bellagio.