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Garbage In, Sure! But is There Garbage Out?

29/5/2013

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That's one way of framing it - kinda dramatic, but somehow on point.

In the modern era here, we've all been inundated with an incredible amount of information, perspective and mythology about food. From the production of what we eat, the processing and distribution of food, to what diet we choose to eat. Lots of folks putting lots of time and words into that realm.


And, yes, there is some truth to that sentiment that says "you are what you eat." It's worthy of thinking on, of discernment and positive action. Don't get me wrong. But, what we are eating is not the entirety of what we are ingesting!

In Ayurveda - the yogic science of life -  ama is the concept of anything that exists in a state of incomplete transformation. In particular, it is claimed to be a toxic byproduct generated due to improper or incomplete digestion. Often, the target of internal cleansing is this ama, which has numerous translations from Sanskrit to English: “uncooked”, “un-annealed”, “immature”, “undigested”, “non-nurturing”.

The general principle of is that all inputs, or ahara - food, relationships, environment, entertainment - must be digested as experiences. This digestion depends primarily upon the strength of our agni - the digestive fire that is the product of our tapas in practice. Otherwise they will leave residues that impede function: mental residues, emotional residues, physical residues... undigested stuck matter. A place where illness, discomfort and disease may dwell.

Let's frame it at this - you are what you ingest... ingest nutrition and benefit from it; ingest non-nutritive things and you will have to work a little harder to digest them, appropriately. We can avoid the congestion by ensuring you have time for digestion after ingestion.


Ever practiced on a full stomach?? Just doesn't work (although I used to have a rail-thin student who would tell me right before class "I just ate an entire Cinnabon"... it made me sick to my stomach)!

So, there's the cleansing diets, and the juice fasts and the multiple ways we address the inequities in our diet... but what are you watching and filling your brain with? What music are you just drinking in like Big Gulps? What gossip are you nibbling on like an unending bowl of popcorn? Same thing, we should be digesting and flushing and eliminating, not letting our minds get cluttered with meaninglessness and shite. What's getting taken in, and what is becoming ama?

What time are you putting into digesting that stuff, that ama?? Or, are you just mentally constipated, full of shit? Are you emotionally drained for others because you consume and ingest their dramas and emote them, and then can't actually process them or be involved with helping improve the situation? Are you hungry for others trials and tribulations? In person, through gossip, through the glowing screens in your life?

What are your mental digestive processes? The fire of creativity, imagination and manifestation in images, words, sounds or movements? Discernment through seated silence? Inspection and introspection - what are you doing to ensure there is a moving, flowing digestive process working up top, as well as down under?

Sometimes, we need to make some space... after a big meal, unbutton a button and take a walk. The mat and our practice can be a place where we make some space. You know how it is, you've got a lot of bills to pay and work to do; the stuff is piled all over your desk - what do you do? Well, I make piles until there is a clear space in the center of the desk. Then I bring one thing into it at a time and address it - if I discern it's a distraction, I set it aside and refocus.

This can be the metaphor for our practice - on the mat in asana, or in mindfulness or meditation. Create space, examine items one at a time, discern their import and relevance, keep what is worthy, what wisdom has been gained and learned. Then, process and address the rest of what is in there, and finally release it.

Ingest, process, digest, store, eliminate... then, give thanks and praise!


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Erst kommt das Fressen; Dann kommt die Moral.

24/5/2013

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First the gorging, then the morality... isn't that always how it is??

Have you ever had that experience of listening to a song, perhaps for the hundredth-plus time, and even though you've been singing along each time, you are finally, really hearing the words for the first time?

Feeling them
'land in the body' as we like to say in the yoga world?


Driving around a lot this week - thanks and praise, classes, private clients, leading my Teacher Training - all good, but a lot of time in the car. I have Dead Can Dance in the CD changer, and got settled on this track on a longer drive the other evening... as I am oft inclined to do, I just hit repeat and listened again and again.

Offered for your consideration, from the incomparable and fantastic Berthold Brecht...

How Fortunate the Man with None
 From the play "Mother Courage"

You saw sagacious Solomon
You know what came of him,
To him complexities seemed plain.
He cursed the hour that gave birth to him
And saw that everything was vain.
How great and wise was Solomon.
The world however did not wait
But soon observed what followed on.
It's wisdom that had brought him to this state.
How fortunate the man with none.

You saw courageous Caesar next
You know what he became.
They deified him in his life
Then had him murdered just the same.
And as they raised the fatal knife
How loud he cried: you too my son!
The world however did not wait
But soon observed what followed on.
It's courage that had brought him to that state.
How fortunate the man with none.

You heard of honest Socrates
The man who never lied:
They weren't so grateful as you'd think
Instead the rulers fixed to have him tried
And handed him the poisoned drink.
How honest was the people's noble son.
The world however did not wait
But soon observed what followed on.
It's honesty that brought him to that state.
How fortunate the man with none.

Here you can see respectable folk
Keeping to God's own laws.
So far he hasn't taken heed.
You who sit safe and warm indoors
Help to relieve our bitter need.
How virtuously we had begun.
The world however did not wait
But soon observed what followed on.
It's fear of god that brought us to that state.
How fortunate the man with none.        

Bertolt Brecht
That's it, that's what I've been pondering, ruminating on, and working towards discernment of...

Wherever, however, find the space, find your fortune and give thanks and praise.
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Conspiracy of Idiocy in the Courtrooms... But, I Like the "Deeper Message".

22/5/2013

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Well, imagine that... someone got a yoga curriculum into some public schools as a physical education credit.

Lo and behold, some parents object because they see this as a organized religious indoctrination, in the public school system!

Imagine the horror - kind of like the rest of us felt about prayer in school, except, there is nothing intrinsically athletic, or physical about prayer. But I digress...

So, in Encinitas, Califorinia, it's come to a head and gone to court. I follow these things, curiousity gets the better of me. I open my email this mornign, and in the news feed, this sensational headline!!


Expert Witness Testifies Teaching Yoga is a Conspiracy

"From the classroom to the courtroom, teaching yoga in public schools has come under fire in Encinitas and now a judge must decide whether or not yoga is a religion."
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Well, well... the story is basic, we've all seen a courtroom drama, where they hire the 'expert witness' (who has probably never even taken a yoga class before) who comes and touts what they know as the facts, and make some bombastic statements.

Folks, this isn't Jody Arias, and I sincerely doubt it's pernicious. I think some well intended folks are taking an exercise and wellness regimen, that is well-suited towards creating more optimal brain states, better self-esteem and higher executive function, and hoping to introduce it to a bunch of kids - who we all know could benefit from any of the former points.

Do some folks take the spiritual philosophy and create a religion around its trappings - indeed. Is it a spiritual pursuit - indeed, for many. Its a philosophy that can be a religion (I see the distinction being that philosophy has a love for questions that can't be answered and religion has a love for answers we should not question...).


Well, timing is what it is - so I was teaching on this anyway, had this theme, and then comes the headline - so you know what - I agree. Yes, it's a total conspiracy - best.word.ever!

Conspiracy - comes from:

conspire (v.) late 14th century, from the Old French conspirer


this comes from the Latin conspirare "to agree, unite, plot,"

literally "to breathe together,"

from com- "together"  + spirare "to breathe" (see spirit (n.)).

There you go - that's what we do, this band of rebel yogis, these plotters and subversives. We conspire, we come together and breath in unison. It makes us better and feel better. We thought we'd share it.

Give thanks and praise!


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Ripen, then Squeeze...

16/5/2013

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That's the meme, the metaphor, the bhavana I've been working on this week... in the practice, in the breath.

The concept of swelling, of building and stretching and growing - of coming into fullness, into fruition, building a bursting sweetness.


The fruit on the vine - first, nothing more than bija, the basic seed.  Shall we say intention manifested in the smallest of forms? Through tending, a solar practice and pranayama (photosynthesis is plants' yoga), we build rasa, the tastiness of life, the amrita, or the nectar. We fill ourselves and as we swell on the inhale, we come to fruition, we ripen...

When we are full, if we simply hold that state, dwell too long, savor too, too much, then there is the chance for rot, for fetid decay... Ripeness is not to be held, but to be enjoyed in that moment for what it is.

What then, how do we savor the effect of the ripening without rot?? We squeeze... we take our physical form, and in every place the breath expanded us, we contract. As we radiated out from core, we pull and wring back in. As if our body was that ripened fruit, but rather than rot, we would drink the nectar, so we squeeze it out.

Our breath, the juice and nectar of ripeness, wrung from our body; we squeeze in to get that last drop of juice and even some of the zest.

That's how it's been feeling to this fruit... how about y'all?

Let me know, feel it, let yourself ripen and the wring and squeeze - and give thanks and praise!




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Intentions in an Asana Practice - thoughts...

13/5/2013

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I've recently started formally offering my perspective via a Teacher Training that I've created and am leading... I'm taking this first round conservatively, and in the honor of my lineage, I only have one student. We are working together, in direct contact and with merged intent.

He's a good friend, a solid person and a Yogi who goes deeper than Asana practice. It's a pleasure to spend the time with him, sharing my perspective of the Teachings and Krishnamacharya Yoga. And, I know him well enough to trust he will give me some solid feedback and let me know what's working.

Today, we'll be discussing Intentions of Asana - how they create space for experience and what we can hope to faciliate within ourselves and our students.

This is one perspective, so I thought I'd share it with y'all and get some insights or push-back, and be able to work some of that in as well.

Presented for your thoughts -



Self-Awareness ::: Self-Acceptance ::: Self-Transformation


an ever-evolving upward spiral of consciousness, a virtuous cycle of evolution...

Self-Awareness

  • Introspection, using attention to the breath to draw us inward and to give the mind a focus point, a place in which to rest…
  • Looking at the internal landscape, identifying areas of tension or tightness, as well as mental patterns of negative or self-defeating thoughts and behaviors…
  • Revealing self-imposed limitations and internal critiques as well as understanding how the chronic stressors of our lives impact our physical, mental and emotional states…

Self-Acceptance

  • Making conscious decisions not to react to thoughts and thought-patterns or our sensations, but rather to observe and be with the experience…
  • Accepting ourselves where we are, just as we are, but understanding that we are in constant flux and growth…
  • Letting go of our restrictions, limitations and expectations – shedding the garbage that we have imposed upon ourselves or taken on for others – revealing our true selves…

Self-Transformation

  • Change takes place as we let go of our physical, emotional and mental tension…
  • The process of letting go whatever we have allowed to hold us back, with the compassion and courage to face new challenges…
  • Learning to master our own nervous system as we change the way we react to stressors (physical, mental, emotional).


That is what we'll be reflecting and dialoging on today - please, let me know your thoughts, what you resonate with, how it occurs to you, what you don't jive with!

And, give thanks and praise -

be well, celebrate!

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Coasting or Coaxing...

7/5/2013

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There is a very thin margin between the two...

coasting along, taking the ride, going with the flow, versus moving towards something, asking for more, seeking abundance and change.

The thought for today, as while I was teaching that was the riff that came to mind. I think we can see this idea in several forms.


Easiest perhaps, in the physical body; Prasarita Padottanasana, or wide-legged forward fold is an ideal example of this principle. You can think of the posture offering either expression.

As you forward fold at the hips, it's not uncommon for the weight - and the sitz bones - to move backwards, past the heels... then, it's common for folks to keep the weight in the heels, the arches not so active and the back of the legs long, but not stretching. No worries, often times this posture is a great low back release or neck traction or shoulder-opener, so the hamstrings don't have to be super engaged. Coasting a little bit as you focus on the breath.

If you are hanging there, and you move the energy forward, almost to the ball of the foot, almost to "somersault-asana", then the arches activate, the outside edges of the feet ground and the pelvic floor lifts, engaging the hamstrings and getting your attention. Coaxing a little more out of the pose.

That's the physical body - easy for me to see from the outside, and easy for the student to feel in the body, with just the most subtle suggestions and cues. But, how about in our energetic, emotional, psychological lives? What about all the richness that is us?

I'm sure you've seen that little diagram floating around on Facebook - there's one small circle in the bottom left with the words "Your Comfort Zone" in it, and then in the opposite top corner, a larger circle wherein it says "Where the Magic Happens!"


Don't you know it - isn't that the same argument? We can find ourselves settling, not making waves, and kind of just resigned to coasting, or take the risk, move forward, feel slightly unstable, and perhaps experience some greatness as we stretch and grow, in the moment.

Think on it - first in practice to embody it. What poses do you coast away, check out, or disassociate in? How can you engage and move forward and coax more out of it? Then, when that work makes sense, look at your life, your work, your relationships and ask the same...

Seek the growth, be compassionate, yet never fully contented... keep moving, stretching and growing and beware the tendency to kick back and wait!

And, give thanks and praise!


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MayDay, MayDay!! Light a Fire!

1/5/2013

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Happy Beltane!
Or, May Day, if that's how you roll.

I am a Heliotheodactylolatrist (a worshiper of the fingers of the sun - Ole Surya), so I honor the Solar days; not only the Solstices and Equinoxes, but also the 'cross-quarter' days. In the eight-spoked (sound familiar) ring of the Year, there are eight total Solar Observances, many of which we still celebrate in some fashion.


May Day is one of these - the halfway point between Vernal Equinox and Summer Solstice. And, the international day of workers; but that's another subject.

With some help from my friends at the Wik, here's some background on Beltane, or as I fancy the most simple translation, Bright Fire! And, as you read, give thanks and praise - be optimistic, allow that which has passed to pass, and look towards what you can create, tend, grow, and cultivate. 

Purify, light a fire and pass yourself before it. Make ritual, create purpose, imbue meaning. The old ways are new again, and we renew ourselves through tradition, owning it and creating it.

The Old Irish Bel(l)taine is derived from a Common Celtic *belo-te(p)niâ, meaning "bright fire" (*belo- might be cognate with the English bale [as in 'bale-fire'] meaning 'white' or 'shining'. Other cognates appear in Anglo-Saxon bael, and Lithuanian/Latvian baltas/balts, found in the name of the Baltics - "Shining"). Think here how Belarus gets translated as "White Russia"...

According to Dáithí Ó hÓgáin the term Céad Shamhain or Cétshamhainin means "first half", which he links to the Gaulish word samonios (which it is thought means "half a year") as in the end of the "first half" of the year that begins at Samhain (what we now call Halloween; originally the beginning of the Celtic year).

Beltane (or Beltaine) is celebrated on the first of May, even though in Solar reckoning, it appears closer to the 4th and 5th; it’s a springtime festival of optimism. Looking forward, counting blessings passed, reconciling and making plans - focus, intention, investment. All worthy pursuits, all supported by this cross-quarter day's inherent energy.


Fertility rituals were practiced, in part perhaps connecting with the waxing power of the sun. Historically, huge bonfires would mark this time of purification and transition, heralding in the season in the hope of a good harvest later in the year.

In many of the Gaelic traditions, on this day the village's cattle were driven between two bonfires to purify them and bring luck (Eadar dà theine Bhealltainn – 'between two fires of Beltane').

In Scotland, boughs of juniper were sometimes thrown on the fires to add an additional element of purification and blessing to the smoke. People would also pass between the two fires to purify themselves. The bonfires were paired with ritual acts to protect the people from any harm from Otherworldly spirits; similar to the festival of Samhain (antipodal to Beltane on the 31st of October), Beltane was also a time when the Otherworld was seen as particularly close at hand.

Then there’s the whole Maypole, or the decorating of bushes, ashes, hawthorns, and oaks – some of the sacred trees of the Gaelic culture. The decorating of trees, or the hanging of boughs on houses and in public places continued in the Gaelic diaspora and still has remnants occurring around the world.

Decorate a tree, light a small fire, bring a bough of something into your home, create space and let the light in - give thanks and praise!

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    Chrispy - Bhagat Singh

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