yoga stops traffic - 108 sun salutations

The akasha studio decided to participate in the Yoga Stops Traffic event, which will take place on March 13th 2010.

Roll out your Yoga mats for an around-the-world sun salutation, to take a stand against human trafficking in India and show your support to its millions of victims. Yoga Stops Traffick India will be led from the grounds of the Mysore Royal Palace by 90 young people from local anti-trafficking organisation Odanadi Seva Trust, many of whom are survivors of slavery, domestic abuse and forced prostitution. Over the years Astanga Yoga has come to play a vital roleto their rehabilitation process: building their physical and mental strength, restoring a sense of peace, confidence and self-worth. The Odanadi residents will be joined by at least 200 visiting yoga practitioners from around the world.

Over the past 20 years Odanadi has rescued more than 1850 women and children, carried out over 60 brothel raids and brought 137 traffickers to justice. 100% of the money raised by this event will go directly to Odanadi, to support them in carrying out this crucial work.

We invite you to join us at akasha on Saturday March 13th at 10:00 am. The Sun Salutations will be led by Tereza Cíchová and my humble saluting and cheering self :)

The traditional number of sun salutations (or surya namaskar) usually undertaken for this kind of event is 108: a sacred number in Hindu, Buddhist and many other belief systems. The average distance of the sun and the moon to Earth is 108 times their respective diameters. There are also said to be 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra; 108 pithas, or sacred sites in India and, in astrological traditions108 also represents the nine planets.

Couple of suggestions:
We recommend that you do however many surya namaskar you can manage comfortably, or in divisions of 108 (54, 27, 13 etc) according to your ability. There are no prizes for the most number of sun salutations!

Make sure you are comfortable, wear appropriate clothing, stay hydrated and take regular breaks if need be.

At the Mysore event, the surya namaskar will be led by the Odanadi children, and counted on the podium using a big flip chart. You can count the number of sun salutations this way too, or alternatively by using stones or dried beans as counters.

To complete the full 108 surya namaskar takes an estimated 2.5 hours. You could save time by reducing the number of breaths in down dog, from five to three.

See you this Saturday :)

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yoga breather on feb 28

those of you attending my classes would know i'm rather obsessed with breathing :) so no surprise i've decided to spend three hours on a lovely sunday morning at the end of the icy cold february breathing with and for you :)





breath is a most precious gift. breath is a symbol and expression of life. breath is something all of us were given at birth – without having to earn it in any way. but it is up to us whether our breath remains natural & nurturing, or whether we let our breathing become constricted as we go along.


one of the main tools of yoga, breath is the basis of any yoga practice. it helps us to keep focused while guiding our movement, calming & refreshing our body, and soothing our mind.

breath is a metaphor of our relationship with and approach to life – we live as we breathe. each mind pattern has a corresponding breath pattern. breathing is a symbol of constant change – an endless cycle of coming & going epitomising the ebb & flow or life. breath awareness teaches us how natural and healthy it is to accept & then let go. we’ll explore how breath is linked to movement & how focused, calm & smooth breathing can dramatically change the experience of our yoga asanas (poses) on the physical, mental & spiritual levels. we’ll be cultivating the smooth flow of breath & movement in yoga asanas & simple sequences, transitioning to chanting, pranayama & meditation.


if this sounds like a good way of starting your sunday i'll be happy to see you on 28 february 2010 from 9.30 to 12.30 at the beautiful wellness rooseveltova in prague 6 (for more info pls see the flyer). and i'll see the rest of you other time, other place :) stay well and in peace.

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new yoga therapy course at akasha

(artwork by papaya)

namaskaram to all of you in days crisp and sparkling with crunchy snow embellishing the city of a hundred white and frosty spires.

as there are people still signing up for the tuesday yoga therapy course in the akasha studio the lovely bela chylikova and my ever-so-inspired-by-my-students self have decided to open another course, of course :) this time in english.

the course will start on 3 march 2010 and will run until 1 july 2010. the yoga therapy course will replace my hatha yoga class on thursday and will run from 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm.

if you'd like to register for the course please contact bela (bela(at)akasha.cz). places are limited so please sign up as soon as possible.

for those of you who'd like to learn more about the course please see the description. if you still can't get your head around it but feel somehow intrigued by the whole therapeutic business ;-) you can come to one of the trial yoga therapy classes to be held on 18 february and 25 february (7.30-9.00 pm).

"may peace be with you in heart and mind and body.
may you experience grace and healing love.
may you be lifted as life opens windows
through which the eternal sends light."

(annabelle woodard)

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may yoga retreat in dahab, egypt

namaskaram dear lovers of down-dogs, long exhales and minds clear as unbroken sky!

if your legs are still wading in the snow but your mind is already strolling along a sunny beach, wishing for the first signs of spring in the air you may enjoy looking at our retreat flyer that the diva of flyers, our very own petra from yogaeventsprague@gmail.com made for our THIRD yoga retreat in egypt (3 -10 may 2010). and perhaps more than looking - maybe even signing up for this or the NEXT one in october (18-25 oct 2010) :)




you can treat yourselves to seven days of yoga, relaxation and exploration at one of the most beautiful beaches of egypt!

dahab is a most charming place blessed with golden sands and magical sunsets. you can enjoy swimming, windsurfing or diving in the red sea and get mesmerised by the wonder of the sinai peninsula.

based on our past experience we've decided to keep the group small again so you can enjoy and deepen your practice in two yoga sessions a day in a small-group setting where the lovely lenka nezvalova and my co-dahabing self will have plenty of time and space to pay a lot of attention to you. plus we're providing a personal yoga consultation to any retreat participant who is interested. get the opportunity to explore and experiment!

both previous retreats felt very special and blissful and the groups were beautiful amalgamations that brought about powerful and lovely energy both inside and outside classes.

so, in the spirit of john o'donohue, may you receive great encouragement when new frontiers beckon ;)... and may warmth of heart keep your presence aflame and may anxiety never linger about you. and if it does...well, do a couple of sun salutes, will you? whether in dahab or dejvice ;)

om shanti shanti shanti

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new classes at a new studio

hope you keep your inner sun shining through the frosty greys of these days and hope your practice is keeping you in a state of calm joy, bliss and peace, radiating with good health and beaming with bright smiles:)

as announced previously i am teaching the last classes at joga centrum this week. from february 2010 i am starting new classes in a brand new yoga studio that opens 1 february 2010 in letna, prague 7. akasha is a lovely place run by my friend bela. most of the classes at akasha are held in czech (check the akasha schedule) but there is one lunch yoga class taught in english. i'm teaching a therapeutic yoga course there on tuesdays (18.30 - 20.00) and an open hatha flow yoga class (very similar to my slow flow class in prague yoga) on thursdays (19.00 - 20.30). both classes are followed by meditation.

stay tuned for more news as i've got one more yoga class in english in the pipeline. i'll keep you posted and you can always see the updated schedule here.

enjoy the grace and flow of your days and keep up your practice. remember, a good life is available to each one of us. and if not in this lifetime, we can always save up for the next incarnation ;-)

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winter yoga retreat in kasperk, sumava

the japanese say that one kind word can warm three winter months. so if we all share one or two or a dozen kind words with each other every day the winter chills won't get us :) and, hopefully, nobody is going to get stabbed in the back by a falling icicle either...

to make winter even more enjoyable and warm ourselves up with more than a dozen kind words and yoga asanas you are welcome to join lenka nezvalova and myself for our weekend yoga retreat in kašperk (19-21 march 2010). the šumava mountains are charming no matter what the weather is like. still, we keep singing to ganesha to bless our weekend with lots of crisp white snow and bright sun rays so that the gem of the mountains can twinkle and shine it all its brilliance and splendour.



we will teach four 90-minute yoga classes during the weekend, seeking to lead you deeper into your practice with some pranayama, meditation and chanting as well.

everything you always wanted to know about the retreat but were afraid to ask is here :)

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two january workshops coming up

if you feel like there isn't really enough time to explore some things in a regular yoga class or you've wondered about how to make your practice more effective - or just want to alleviate the pain in your back and/or your hips you may be in for a new year's treat :)

my study of spiraldynamik has made me realise and appreciate time and again how amazingly and intricately interconnected the human body is - on all levels - and how subtle but mindful, focused and well executed movements can bring amazing benefits both on the physical and mental level.

as hips and shoulders are the most important coordination units in the body, having a direct impact on the spine (and vice versa), defining the ease with which we move both on and off the mat, i've decided to spend the morning of january 24 exploring this hippy stuff with you :)

we will learn why weak and tight hips are as much hindrance to us as over-flexible hip joints are. also, we will explore what a coordinated and genuinely 3D movement is and how human anatomy reflects universal principles. together, we will go through some basic principles of healthy hip movement, pelvic floor exercises and a set of yoga asanas encouraging optimum mobility in the hips. for more information on the workshop held at wellness rooseveltova please see the awsome pyjama-pattern flyer (thanks, petruska ;-)



and, by popular demand, i'm doing my fourth installment of the back (to) basics saga (season 2, episode 1, starring warrior I and the downdog on the familiar set with the mat, the strap and the block :). if you'd like to see what can be done for your back and which healthy movement and breathing principles to incorporate into your yoga practice you can join me on 31 january (9.00 am -12.00 pm) at prague yoga. all the deets are here.



happy exploring :)

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new therapeutic yoga class

namaskaram in the new year!

hope it will be one filled with light, love and laughter. a year in which your spirits will be bright and merry and your heart & soul at peace. a year in which you'll show as much love, compassion and gratitude as you will receive.

(drawing by francene hart)

from 13 january 2010 i'm teaching a new THERAPEUTIC YOGA class at prague yoga (wednesday 19.30 - 21.00). that's right, when you've got to start something new, start on the 13th :) gotta love auspicious days ;)

suitable for both beginners and advanced practitioners of yoga, the class explores the main principles of mindful movement and breathing. the aim is to develop strength, flexibility and stability in and through yoga poses and simple sequences. leading students to greater awareness and promoting self-enquiry, the class cultivates ease in the body and mind.

THERAPEUTIC YOGA focuses on the fundamentals of structural alignment to promote healthy functioning of the body systems, particularly the spine, large joints, the core and deep, postural muscles. in this class, students are quided to learn healthy movement and breathing patterns and unlearn the ones that do them disservice - both on and off the yoga mat. the class will also include suggestions for personalised home practice, basic ayurvedic recommendations, pranayama (breathing practices) and meditation.

february will bring a couple more changes to my schedule and i'll soon let you know about those as well.

happy new year and may we always be mindful of the highest from which we draw inspiration to sustain our lives and keep steady our purposes.

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back (to) basics workshop 3, dec 6th

namaskaram, my lovelies, looks like my "back (to) basics" one-woman show is becoming a permanent fixture of my weekends :) though tempted to unleash some wicked spin-offs - watch out for "happy feet", "hippy hippy shake", "take the burden off your shoulders" or "yoga breather" (actually only half-kidding!) - it all really starts with the spine, the bossy lady de la bones :)

so if you'd like to join me for a third back (to) basics workshop i will happily guide you through some basic principles of healthy and effective yoga practice and some back care fundamentals. this time, the workshop will be held at wellness rooseveltova (sunday dec 6th, 9.00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.). all details can be found in the flyer.



genuinely looking forward to nurse your backs :) om shanti om

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back (to) basics workshop 2 BOOKED OUT

hello my dears, the second back (to) basics workshop (nov 29th, 9-12, prague yoga studio is booked out as well now - and i've quite a few people on the waiting list so if you're thinking about signing up, i'm most sorry to disappoint you :( back pain clearly is a very salient topic :)

but given the interest in the therapeutic aspects of the yoga practice i'm considering either a third workshop or starting a series of principle-based workshops/sessions going beyond what can be covered in classes and encouraging exploration. probably once every two or three weeks. will post the info here and mail it out in due time.

may your days bring you inspiration, insight and inner joy :)

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back (to) basics workshop, nov 15th

do you suffer from occassional or chronic back pain?

are you new to yoga, enjoying your practice but sometimes wondering why your back hurts during and after class?

are you a seasoned practitioner but still experience discomfort in your back in some asanas?

are you wondering how to possibly include some simple back care principles and the therapeutic aspects of yoga into your daily life?


in that case the back (to) basics workshop might be of some use and inspiration to you.




those who would like to explore some key principles of mindful movement and conscious breathing to develop strength, flexiblity and stability in their back are welcome to join us on sunday nov 15th from 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. at the prague yoga studio. for more information about the workshop please see the flyer.

enjoy the soft and subtle hues of autumn, the introspection and quietness this time of the year brings - and your practice, of course :) om shanti shanti shanti.

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quote of the day

Anyone can reach for the illumination of the Sun
to bring it into themselves.

(unknown)

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october yoga retreat in dahab, egypt

if you're rejoicing in the warm weather of these days and basking in the generous, long-awaited sunshine of this summer why don't you get some more of it in days when skies turn grey and temperatures head down?

you can join lenka nezvalova and my dahab-loving self for seven days of yoga, swimming, diving, sunbathing, windsurfing, exploration and chilling out in the golden dahab. all details are in the flyer.

the april retreat in dahab was such an awsome experience for all of us that we just could not resist going back and inviting those of you who went with us or those who could not make it to come along :) the energy of the group and the relaxed environment encourage a greater opening, more time and willingness to try out new things, treat the body and the mind to new experiences and (re)discover the ease and lightness of being vibrantly alive and present.

as the owner of one of the many lounges around there says, the beautiful and laid-back dahab is a place where you can enjoy the warmth of the sun, the lightness of the wind, the power or the sea, the calmness of the mountains and the brightness of the stars. and it may very well be a place that allows you to go deeper in your yoga practice or get a new inspiration from and appreciation of the wonder of yoga :)

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yoga workshops and kirtans with james boag

before i leave for egypt for our long-awaited yoga retreat for a week i cannot but share with you the good news of james boag returning to prague to teach and chant and sing and share!

james is a lovely person, an inspiring yoga teacher, a dedicated student of sanskrit and the yogic scriptures, a devoted and delightful singer of kirtans and bhajans, a precious friend and a true joy of a company! james' unique workshop classes encourage a discriminating approach to mat-based practice, weaving the physical practice into the fabric of a more comprehensive approach which recognises the potential for all our actions to be expressions of yoga. some of you already had the chance to meet and/or study with james last spring. since that time, james has spent most of his time studying sanskrit and yoga texts in mysore, south india, where he has also been hosting regular kirtan based classes.

this messenger of light and joy is coming to prague on april 20th and will stay here for six weeks. in april and may he will teach classes in prague yoga (tuesdays and thursdays) a special kirtan and yoga philosophy course on wednesdays at the art of movement studio and a bhagavad gita course on friday evenings and saturday mornings (art of movement and prague yoga).



the newly opened art of movement is the first studio in prague offering gyrotonic and gyrokinesis exercise with a lovely instructor barbora kohoutkova. bara is one of our best and most recognised ballet dancers who was a principal dancer in some of the best ballet companies in europe. she's a most focused, kind and patient teacher and a gem of a soul. i have tried gyrotonic many years ago back in the usa and loved it! having taken a class with bara recently, i'm hooked :-) movement-wise i think it's an excellent complement to yoga - upon which it is based. it's a very therapeutic and organic way of movement and it's fun and joy to do! i'd recommend it to everyone, really (besides yoga, of course;-).



in addition to the above classes and courses, there will be two yoga retreats in the charming samadhi meditation centre in tupadly: may 1-3 together with my humble self and may 29-31 with the lovely lenka nezvalova and my still humble self).


james will be guesting in a couple of my monday classes in prague yoga, too. we are also planning two asana 'focus' classes with james on sundays may 17 and may 24. i'll post the details here as soon as the arrangements for those are finalised... after i come back from golden dahab, that is :)

hopefully we'll see each other in one or more of thoses classes, courses, retreats and workshops with james.

may our presence light the lamps of love and peace wherever we go.

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yoga workshops and teacher intensive with the mohans

it is with much joy and gratitude that i will welcome the mohan family, my yoga teachers from india, in prague again.

some of you had the chance to meet and study with the mohans last year (you can check pictures from their last year's workshops). similarly to the previous year, the yoga courses will be taught by sri a.g. mohan, his wife indra and their son ganesh.

mohanji, an expert in yoga therapy and a teacher with great wealth of knowledge, was a direct student of the legendary yoga master sri tirumalai krishnamacharya. his wife indra is an accomplished yoga therapist and a true yogini with much love and light to share. their son ganesh, a yoga teacher of keen intellect, is also a skilled ayurvedic practitioner trained in both ayurvedic and conventional medicine. i have been lucky to study with and assist the mohans and it has been a truly transformative experience. my understanding, practice and teaching of yoga have been greatly influenced by these inspiring teachers. the mohans present the authentic teachings of classical yoga and ayurveda with much experience, insight and respect.

the mohans will be teaching two workshops in prague between 1 and 5 august 2009. the first one will be focused on yoga philosophy within the context of eastern wisdom and other contemplative practices, buddhism in particular, and the second workshop will focus on ayurveda and yoga therapy as complementary systems of healing (for details click here and here). after that, they will teach a 2-week yoga intensive outside prague (you can download the course brochure). this will be an intensive residential course for yoga teachers and serious students who would like to go beyond the basics and study yoga in greater depth. the intensive will be held between 7 and 21 August 2009.

i look forward to seeing you in one of those courses. or meeting you other time, other place :-)

may your days be filled with peace, joy and gratitude and may your path lead you to light.

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partner yoga workshop no.3

it seems that people can't get enough of practicing yoga in pairs to try out things that work differently than in their regular practice, which is then enriched by these insights.

so with much joy and inspiration, the lovely lenka nezvalová and my humble self are teaching the third partner yoga workshop this year on sunday 22 march 2009 from 10am to 1 pm at the lotus centre.

for details please click here. have a lovely weekend infused with springtime fragrance. may your spirits be uplifted not only by the coming spring but also by the wholesome wisdom of yoga.

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quote of the day

Stand still. The trees ahead and the bushes beside you

Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.

(david wagoner)

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partner yoga revisited

the first partner yoga workshop is fully booked. since that has caused many sad faces we have decided to run another one on sunday 1 march 2009. same time, same place, different people, slightly different thing:)

here's a flyer for those who wish to join us - we'll be very happy to see you and share our enthusiasm for yoga with you in a hopefully inspiring way.

may our days be filled with grace.

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quote of the day

(photo by petr könig)

"Whether or not buddhas appear, the truth remains the same. Heaven and hell are not topographies, but exist as states within our own minds."

(buddha)

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partner yoga workshop

my dear friend lenka nezvalová and myself are teaching a partner yoga workshop on saturday february 21.

if you'd like to join us for three hours of yoga done mostly in pairs to explore different facets of the asana and breathing practice which may then inform your own practice, making you aware of some other aspects, you're very welcome to do so! all deets are included in the flyer.

you don't have to come with your life-time partner - partner poses have nothing to do with match-making :) partner poses are meant to allow you help each other "get" some points commonly mentioned in regular classes, and take that understanding to your own, personal practice. if this idea speaks to you, maybe the workshop can be a chance to give it a try.

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april yoga retreat in egypt

in days when the winter will have lost all of its chilly charm and spring will no longer be shy to reveal its tender beauty, our bodies and minds will crave the sun and the warm touch it brings to everything that bathes in its warm light. is there a better time to spend seven days filled with yoga, relaxation and exploration at one of the most beautiful golden beaches of egypt?

those of you who have said "yes", read no further and go and do something useful. or something you like. or both :)

if, on the other hand, you think marrying yoga practice with a perfect holiday sounds like a great idea, why don't you join my dear friend lenka nezvalova and myself to salute the sun, the spring and the south of sinai at our yoga retreat in dahab?

click here for details. there are still a few last spots left, so if you'd like to join us, we'll be very happy to have you!

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quote of the day

v posledních dnech roku 2008 se mi podařilo znovu vidět několik starších, přesto velmi oblíbených, a několik nových filmů. ve všech je něco temného (člověk nemůže tak docela napsat "překvapivě" nebo "náhodou", když v předchozí větě použije slovo "oblíbených", ale laskavý čtenář nechť hnedle nevyvozuje, že jsem osoba veskrze depresivní ;-) to spíš je těch povedených filmů pohříchu méně mezi těmi rozjásanými...) a ve všech je řada obrazů, dialogů nebo záběrů, které se člověku na dlouho nebo napořád otisknou do paměti. na rodíl od control, donnie darko, fight club nebo hotel rwanda ale na jednom z mých předsilvestrovských dvd zaznělo něco, oč jsem se s vámi chtěla podělit a co se mi ( a nejen mně) opakovaně vrací v různých situacích, okolnostech a obdobích celý život.

ve filmu roberta redforda a river runs through it je téměř na konci scéna kázání revereda macleana, presbyteránského kněze a otce dvou ústředních postav filmu. s nepřímým odkazem na život a smrt jednoho ze synů ve svém kázání říká:

"Each one of us here today will at one time in our lives look upon a loved one who is needy and ask the same question: We are willing to help, Lord, but what, if anything is needed? For it is true we can seldom help those closest to us. Either we don't know what part of ourselves to give or, more often that not, the part we have to give is not wanted. And so it is those we live with and should know who elude us. But we can still love them-we can love completely without complete understanding."

ať vás tímto rokem provází nejen toto poznání, ale především schopnost a odvaha vdechovat mu život.

(foto: petr könig)

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quote of the day

STILLNESS

There is a point where in the mystery of
existence contradictions meet;
where movement is not all movement
and stillness is not all stillness;
where the idea and the form,
the within and the without, are united;
where infinite becomes finite,
yet not losing its infinity.

(rabindranath tagore)

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need a breather?

v sobotu 6. prosince 2008 budu mít v jóga centru na rubešce od 9.00 do 13.00 další z dopoledních workshopů.

nazvala jsem ho poněkud netradičně "jógovým dýchánkem." tentokrát se totiž budeme soustředit především na vnímání dechu a práci s ním jak v ásanách (jógových pozicích), tak v pránajámě (poněkud zjednodušeně přeložena jako dechová cvičení).

více informací naleznete v pozvánce. budu se těšit, jak si spolu vydechneme:)

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his holiness the dalai lama in prague

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