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The Arrow Has to Be Drawn Back, Before It Can Fly...

31/7/2012

Every once in a while, you come to a time where it all feels like a lull, like and ebb. And, when you've been moving, or need to move in an energetic fashion - to create something new, to make connections, to see things come to fruition - the lack of that momentum is even more greatly experienced; that is when it can all feel so stagnant.

Even more challenging, rather than just static or not moving in the direction you intend, matters can almost seem to draw back, to take steps backwards, to recede.

Fear not, that is the process. There are times we have to empty, more than we'd like, in order to be fulfillled. There are times we must let go of whatever we are so tightly gripping onto, in order to open our hands to receive what we've been so desperately waiting for. And, in any trajectory, there is a gentle pull before the release.

Have you felt this - ever felt stammered, unable to move forward and then on top of it, as if the energy is moving backwards? To be frank, I've been experiencing a lot during this summer of transition, and just when the days are hottest and longest, I felt like things had languished. Like I was simply going nowhere, and out of momentum.

Energy is interesting - I try to pay attention to how I handle mine, and where I feel the effects from others. I was started to feel dragged down, just tired and uninspired. Luckily, I had enough to do to keep me busy and I've been working on a few things. I had planned in the Spring that I would attend the Wanderlust Festivals, so knowing that good time and great tribe, I had something to look forward to, so I soldiered on.

And now, that time at the festival, with my tribe and my teacher, seems to have been the moment when that 'arrow that had been nocked and pulled so firmly backwards' was held in momentary stasis - like time out of time. In that clear space, I was able to just drop in and serve, to spend real time with real people and to play.

Since I've been back, the moment is over, but that means the arrow has flown. I've had great news from all over, I've been in contact with so many great new friends, I'm collaborating on an excellent SEVA event - GaneshFest, and I've got lots of fun teaching and service plans coming up.

I'm also delving into just a few more things, one of which should come to fruition this week. So, it's a mighty time, and I'm flying and I'm trying to stay mindful yet move with the energy. Wanted to share this in hopes that you might see that time where it just doesn't seem to be working as the 'draw back' before your great and true and valiant flight!

Give thanks and praise!

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Vision, Values, Voting!

29/7/2012

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Hey, y'all! Yo Yo from Tahoe, this is the last day of Wanderlust, and like all good things, it must come to a close (no one I know has quads or hamstrings ready for three shining classes a day and then Ziggy Marley until the early hours)!

I just wanted to put a quick post out today - lots went on yesterday, but I was really delighted and surprised to find that the role I resonated with and ended up filling this week was simply assisting Seane in her classes. It's such a pleasure to be in that space - both as student and as assistant. And, to be frank, where else is an amateur anatomy geek going to see up to 450 (yup, imagine trying to work that space - soooo much fun; so splendid to serve and support!) spines, feet, shoulders, etc?

The other highlight of the week, happening last night, was the YOGAVOTES rally - it was an incredible gathering of students where a broad selection of the excellent teachers and presenters accompanied by DJ Drez did a wonderful job creating an experience for body, mind and soul!! And, we rocked it out - Yogi Ravers.... excellent prep for Ziggy.

This brings me to the point of this post - YOGAVOTES... YOGAVOTES is a non-partisan effort to engage the yoga community to exercise our civic franchise. To take our values, and our discernment and our judgement, and figure out how to effectively begin to create constituency. A values-based community that can he recognized as involved, educated and compassionate. To stand and be counted, and to vote our conscience as best we may.

It's not about telling you who to vote for, what to vote for or how to vote - it's about getting all of us (me, too!) past our apathy, past our 'it doesn't matter' and past our disillusionment. In our practice, we learn to let the soft overcome the hard, and to persist in the face of resistance. This is about getting it OFF THE MAT, INTO THE WORLD.

Take a moment - grab your phone and get ready to text!

The number to text is 56512 - then text the word VOTE. This simply takes your pledge that you will vote and work to engage yourself in the info and issues! If you want to bring friends along, please do!

If you're in the ATX, I'm the YOGAVOTES Ambassador for Austin, so I'm looking at some get togethers with other folks who would want to become leaders in yoga studios and community to help us spread the word and get engaged!

Who's in?? Let me know, I give thanks and praise!

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Yo Yo, Tahoe - Wanderlust, The Arrival.

26/7/2012

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Got up around 4:30, got my final pieces of packing all done and headed for the Austin Airport... easy check in, breezy security, and a short wait at the gate for the quick puddle jump to Dallas.

DFW, best thing I can say is in at Gate C31 and out of Gate C21 some 45 minutes later - easy and sweet. While I was surrounded by the "OUT LOUD" Family in row 30 something, the 3 hour flight was easy and uneventful.

Unfortunately, I must have picked the wrong day to relapse on crack when I booked my ticket, because my friends were going to come through Reno in the afternoon and pick me up on the way to Tahoe, in the evening.

Well, got to Tahoe at 10:30am local time, which was about 4 hours early. Luckily, ever good resort airport has shuttles, so it took me about 5 minutes to find another half dozen folks with yoga mats sticking out of their bags and we all got on the North Lake Tahoe Shuttle.

Not a bad deal, airport to 'door' of the festival service, in about an hour, so definitely booked a round-trip, since I'll have to be back on Sunday before I'd ask anyone to leave to give me a ride.

Once at the festival grounds, I just headed for the Off the Mat Into the World booth, where I'll be hanging for the festival assisting - there I could drop my bags, meet up with friends and then get a recon.

My friends driving up were about two hours out still, so I had a chance to move about and see what was up! In festival fashion, I connected with old friends every 100 yards, and made some new ones. This one never fails... I travel all the way here, first person I talk to in the OTM booth is from Austin!! Love that, always a sweetness!

Got the scope of the grounds, met up with my 'house-mates' and ate some free veggie burgers. Then, we trekked out to our cabin - Leeah and Jer did a good job picking this place - we're close but not on site. We've got a lovely cabin with a kitchen and two bathrooms - oh, and a hot tub!

Could be 40 degrees tonight!! Looking forward to catching a good night's sleep - on tomorrow's agenda for me: Suzanne Sterling, want to catch a class with Jonny Kest and of course, Seane!! I'll be assisting for Seane for some of the festival, but definitely in line to take FM LIGHT - a blast!!

Thanks and praise for safe travels, good friend old and new, and solid times!

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Yogi - Challenge Thyself!

25/7/2012

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Thought for the practice - give yourself the joyful play of discipline, and bring a new element of observance into your practice.

I've been toying with, teaching to and blogging about this breath attentiveness known as 'sama vritti' or same cycles, same fluctuations. This would equate to an equal inhale and an equal exhale, both complete halves of the full cycle.

I love to use 'sama vritti' because for me this is first and foremost a breath-centered practice. So, we return our attention and the wandering monkey mind over and over again to the breath. And, as I've written, we can use the breath as the edge detector in our practice.

"Sama vritti' - we make the inhale and the exhale the same. A very basic and utilitarian technique is to count the breath - count the beats on the inhale, count the beats on the exhale. If the measure is unequal, then you either move to the lower number in control, or stretch up to the higher number, as long as there is quality of the breath.

When we speak of the quality of pranayama, and especially 'sama vritti', it is said that 'the inhale should have the quality of water sipped through a straw' - consistent and equal draw with no interruptions, creating a consistent stream. The quality of the exhale 'is like warm oil poured in a continous stream, with a viscous nature'. When we can create these unbroken links of breath on the chain of pranayama, that is where we meet true union via linking - one state of yoga.

In your practice, I challenge you in the first five minutes to create a strong yet subtle yogic breath, and while in a resting pose (childs, supine, prostrate, seated) establish a 'sama vritti' - an equal inhale and exhale, one that has quality and a count. Give yourself that metric as a touchstone.

Then, as you move, even through a Surya Namaskar, notice, are you giving your Up-Dog the same beats as your Down-Dog?? And, if you come to standing and seal for three breaths, to re-establish your meter and get on that breath, are you willing to spend each of those same beats on the next exhale in the down energy of Caturanga Dandasana?? Can you slow the momentum, and move at the edge of the breath?

That's what I've got for you today - seems simple, but go ahead and really commit to checking your practice. Not in a castigating or condemning way, just in that 'imagine that' sense of wonder as you observe you being you. Check the motion, slow it down, do each thing and asana to the extent of the breath or back off. Honor the breath as the edge and check yourself, again and again.

It's hard and maddening and delightful. I've been really appreciating it on my mat and when teaching - imagine, same inhale in handstand or headstand as in child's pose.... same long and sweet ribbon of breath, the tether than binds you to the practice - find it in vigor and in repose, but make it equal, worthy and honorable.

Give thanks and praise!!

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Intention, Attention, Tension and Intensity - A Weaving Tantric Practice.

23/7/2012

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Ofttimes, we're invited to set an intention - sankalpa - at the beginning of our asana practice. Then, we're invited to refine our attention and turn it inward, to withdraw from the external senses and distractions and move toward our center.

During a great asana practice, you'll be invited to reach and move towards your edge - listening to the breath as an edge detector so that you know, anymore would be too much, but any less is not interesting enough to keep the attention. This is, to be frank, a kind of controlled tension.

In fact, I believe that in the laboratory of asana practice, that we 'intentionally' create 'tension' through the 'intensity' so that we can pay 'attention' to that moment, and how we relate to that moment. And then, how we relate to our relating to the moment.

Once I've tripped that far down the lane, I've got to go to the foundation, to the root, and to discern what this energetic is. A little amateur etymology here and it comes back to turtles all the way down!

'Intention' - 'Intend' c.1300, "direct one's attention to," from Old French 'entendre', 'intendre' - "to direct one's attention". This comes through the French, from Latin 'intendere' - "turn one's attention, to strain," or literally "to stretch out, extend," from 'in-' "toward" + 'tendere' "to stretch" (we're going to have to go check 'tendere' now, since it's the root of both "attention" and "extend" as well). It was only around the late 14th Century that "intend" began to express a sense of "have as a plan".

Related through the same roots of 'tendere' is 'tenet' - as such: ‘Tenet’ – early 15th century "a principle," or more expansively "a thing held (to be true)". This descends from the Latin ‘tenet’ "he holds," from ‘tenere’ "to hold, to keep, to maintain" and this comes from the Proto-Indo-European root ‘*ten-‘ "to stretch".

Here’s where it get’s interesting – this same root is from the Sanskrit, and the word there is ‘tantram’ "loom," i.e. "tightened or stretched on the loom". The same root goes to Greek ‘teinein’ "to stretch;" ‘tasis’ "a stretching, tension;" ‘tenos’ "sinew and tendon;" ‘tetanos’ "stiff, rigid – think tetanus (lockjaw);" ‘tonos’ "string," and from there to ‘tone’ "sound, pitch."

There you go - a little trip around the language lane and right back to the mat. Turn your attention and your intention into 'stretching' or 'extending' and moving yourself into the loom of tantra. Use your tenacity and your tendons to hold and maintain, create your tenets in your practice by making your intention simply paying attention.

Live on the loom - you move the shuttle, your create the weaving. Sure, the warp is set, but by paying attention to the weft and how you weave your intentions into principles and how you observe your Self in that process, you can make any life, cut from the cloth of choice.

Give thanks and praise!

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Resonance - How Long Does the Unstruck Chord Sound?

18/7/2012

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Bear with me, this is going to get esoteric, hit physics and then run through acoustics, but I hope you will resonate with it...

Resonance... "we are with or come back to the sounding" - That sounding, that quality, in the yogic texts is known as the 'naad', or the 'shabd'.

"Naad" translates as 'the cosmic sound' or 'vibrations of the cosmos'. The sound of the Cosmos can resonate within if one tunes into this energy, or as in acoustics... the unstruck string can resonate to the direct vibration or harmonic of another string in action.

"Shabd" is a little more esoteric even, although at its most superficial, it means 'sound'. Shabd employs the Naad (totally balanced universal sound) to remove the constrictions and distortions of the ego. In lay terms, the vibration is 'underneath' and at the source of the sound.

The root structure of the word gives a deeper definition; the Shabd transforms the practitioner by removing the barriers erected by the needs of the ego. Shabd comes from Sha- and –bd. Sha- means the expression of the ego, the attachments we identify with. -Bd means to cut out/off or to eradicate. The root meaning of Sha-bd is 'that which cuts the ego'. It is not just any sound; it is not just a sound of wisdom or a song of truth. It is a sound that cuts away the ego, which obstructs the truth from you.

Now, back to resonance... first, the simple physics then back to the acoustics. Resonance occurs when a system is able to store and easily transfer energy between two or more different storage modes - such as kinetic energy (if you're going yogic terminology, think of this as the Vayus - energy in motion) and potential energy (think of this as Shakti - all potential energy).

One familiar example is a playground swing, which acts as a pendulum. Pushing a person in a swing in time with the natural interval of the swing (its resonant frequency) will make the swing go higher and higher (maximum amplitude), while attempts to push the swing at a faster or slower tempo will result in smaller arcs.

This is because the energy the swing absorbs is maximized when the pushes are 'in phase' (resonate) with the swing's oscillations, while some of the swing's energy is actually extracted by the opposing force of the pushes when they are not (Inertia, or in yogic terms, one definition of Karma - unbidden work to be done).

Bear with me, we're getting somewhere. We've got a deep, underlying force we represent as sound or vibration brought into sound.... from the Big Bang, perhaps the ongoing Long Buzz. In our practice, we can use this deeper vibration to come into alignment - as in resonate - or to find higher vibrations and frequencies - harmonics. When we feel the resonance, when our unstruck strings simply choose to sing along because of the strength of the tone, then we are in union - one form of yoga.

Acoustic resonance is an important consideration for instrument builders. So should be the same consideration for those who practice asana. Most acoustic instruments use resonators, such as the strings and body of a violin (which mimics in shape and form the nude body of a woman - all stringed instruments started as mimics of the lover's body), the length of tube in a flute (or the length of the Sushumna, our central nadi and internal flow), or the shape of a drum membrane (the resilient and dynamic diaphragm).

Resonance occurs when a system is able to store and easily transfer energy between two or more different storage modes such as kinetic energy (vayus - movement of energy like wind) and potential energy (shakti - all potential energy) which can overcome the inertia (karma - work to be done).

Resonance occurs widely in nature, and is exploited in many man-made devices. It is the mechanism by which virtually all sinusoidal waves (bio-rhythms, lunar and solar cycles, menses and ovulation - all cycles that we measure) and vibrations are generated. Many sounds we hear, such as when hard objects of metal, glass, or wood are struck, are caused by brief resonant vibrations in the object.

The internal noise that normally overwhelms the mind (citta vritti) can be silenced and one can enjoy and hear the "anhad Naad" (unheard sound); this is sound of the cosmos within the mind. It is not to be confused with external vibrations - Naad is vibration within the mind.

And, unstruck, I say again - the sound doesn't start or diminish. It emanates and exists. Our fourth chakra, at the heart-center, uniting the upper triangle with the lower triangle, is known as Anahata - or 'the unstruck sound'. Use your heart, stop listening and start hearing.

Tune in, drop down, go deep, stay well. Give thanks and praise!

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Creating the Balance - Not What You Want, What You Need.

16/7/2012

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I've got a great workshop coming up in August - well, actually two: one at Wanderlust Live that is all about Rocking the Bhakti; the other is at Moksha Yoga on the Square in Georgetown - it's the one I'm thinking about.

I call it Yin-yasa... kinda a mumble of words, but intended to speak to the fact that there is a more 'passive' or 'receptive' energetic, even in the most vigorous Vinyasa practice. As it says in the sutras - "stirham sukham asanam - the posture, or seat abides in steadiness and ease". In the Eastern philosophies, there is a lot that speaks to this balance, the union of oppositions and complements, not detriments. Yin and yang; the two making the whole.

I bring it up because I'm meeting new students and other yogis all the time now. What a pleasure and how interesting to interact with folks and to see what lineages or styles they find they resonate with. As a teacher of primarily vinyasa, I know who to expect in class and what to expect from the 'typical student'. We've all heard about the 'type-A' personality; the go-getter, the driven person, the achiever. Sure, I resonate with that, and see that. And, this is the perfect space to look deeply into how we are, on the mat, and then in our lives.

I started with a focus on the softness, the "Yin", the 'sukha' or ease. It's imperative, especially in this day and age! Our times and lives are already hyped up and type-A enough! Everything is an adrenaline rush, all the thrills have to be thrillier, the highs most highest and with triple Xs in the "EXXXTREME". it's enough to just blow your mind anyway - then we take that week and try to 'work it out' while working in, and mostly by being just as driven, just as vigorous.

There's a basic premise - and I do great reductionism here, so bear with me - in Ayurveda. We seek what we innately are - so for folks who have hot and fiery dispositions, we like hot and drying foods and vigorous and hot asana... and so we just keep feeding the fire, or sharpening the sharpest knife. It feels satisfying in the moment, it reinforces some of our most basis comforts, but it may well be leading us further out of balance.

Think of it this way - if you are lonely and depressed, get out and interact with people. Don't feel needed, go volunteer and give service. Don't feel lovable, go out and give unconditional love. If we seek the opposite of our experience, we can change it; if we simply sit in it, it only abides and deepens and becomes like a rut, a samskara.

So, in the past few years, i've heard it from all the wisest teachers and in the most 'flow-based' places; an emphasis on slowing down, on doing more restorative and "Yin" versions of yoga (passive, still, long-held poses that work on the more deep connective tissue layers), and even Yoga Nidra (deep guided relaxation)) is greatly stressed. And I pun - we have enough stressors, we don't need the onslaught of a daily brahmanic, vigorous asana practice as well!

Where can you place more stillness, more intentional motionless breath, more concentration or mediation into your practices?? If doing a Deep Relaxation or Restorative class gives you nightmares, then do it, Yogi!! That's where your edge is, so seek that place of deep investigation and self-care!

Give thanks and praise!

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Get Your Executive Functioning!

13/7/2012

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Sometimes you just get on a riff. As I was teaching this morning, I found new perspectives on the concept of containment: how the practice teaches us, how we apply that, how these concepts are both physical and yet can become metaphoric as well. And, how you can fix that brain of yours, so it starts working for and with you!

Containment, pretty easy to break down. Con - with; tain from tenere - to hold; ment - the state of. Thus, containment is to be "in the state of holding", or "being held". We know that in words, what is it like to experience that in our asana practice.

I have suggested in yesterday's post that there is an elegant, interdependent series of 'containments' in the asana practice. Pranayama, breath control, is like the 'envelope' into which all else fits. The 'envelope' of pranayama holds the 'love letter' of the asanas practice. Within that 'love letter', there is a story composed of 'words' or asanas. Those asanas in their own right are the vessels for experience, much the same way a kind word lightens our load, and a well-placed bit of nastiness in our tongue cuts as sharp as a knife.

In the asanas, we have experiences; I think it's safe to make that statement. All kinds of experiences, 'good' and 'bad', bidden and unwanted. Experiences that are of us, within us, with us, and often times, at our own hand and by our own creation, as unpleasant as that is to admit. We process these, using the breath and it's ebb and flow to release the stressful elements of tension we encounter. We may or may not understand how pranayama and asana create this internal landscape, but we know they allow us to process.

Physiologically, one of the functions of the mindful breath is to soothe the nervous system. By calming the nervous system and bringing our glandular system back into a healthy level of activity, this enables us to transcend the limbic brain and begin to move to 'executive function' - or higher decision making processes. Amongst all of the processes that executive function support, is the one I like to call discernment.

How this applies to our day to day experience can be approached through yogic anatomy via the Chakras, or through behaviorism via Maslow's "hierarchy of needs"; they support and mirror one another. That's one of the lovely things about brain science; discoveries are made on an ongoing basis that uphold some of the most basic premises of the asana practice and yoga practices in general.

We know that when a human being is trapped in survivalism, in being hyper-vigiliant to their own security and needs - not having the 'root' of Muladhara, or in Maslow, basic security of safety, shelter and food - this leads to a near total shutdown of the pre-frontal cortex and any higher thinking and processing. This leaves that person operating almost completely instinctually from the limbic system - fright, fight, flight... Addressing disproportionality and basic human rights and needs is another topic, but suffice to say in this example, we're talking about jacked up brain chemistry that leads to poor decision making.

One immediate, accessible and universal method of slowing down and correcting this detrimental neurohemical response is mindfulness - which is a really comfortable word for pranayama - directed breath control or mindfulness on the breath. A simple breathing practice that is at the base of yoga, mindfulness, meditation - all of it.

In addition to helping us achieve the higher functioning states - turning on and refining 'executive function' or as I say, simply making better decisions, we can apply this to our practice. To use the pranayama as the access point to the asana practice; to use the asana practice as an investigation into the Self, and to carefully guide and grow the being we are through the interlaced practice of breath and asana. Moving into higher function, higher purpose, more deep discovery and discernment.

Here's how it was taught to me - if this works for you, take it into your practice and grow with it, or teach it in your own way. I'm working with this, inside my practice and through my teachings. Enjoy...

Pranayama is the edge detector of the practice; if we can remain in sama vritti and not yield to a disturbed mind, we can find that union, the communion, our own yoga. If we too desperately seek the sensation in the asana - go for the 'deeper expression' and begin to pant and lose our control - then we are not in union. Likewise, if we simply go through the motions but don't truly engage and rub up against the edge, the resistance, then we might be getting a good stretch, but no real work toward the yoga.

The most delicate balance, the most detached engagement, for the purpose of purposefulness, not achievement. Right at the edge, where asana and pranayama consume the 'citti vritti' - the fluctuating mind - and give it temporary cessation and absorption. A noble goal: our bodies are vessels for our spirit - that which animates us. Asana is where we experience self, pranayama is where we meet Self.

GIve thanks and praise!

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Contain Yourself! Or, Your Practice is a Love Letter!

11/7/2012

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Teaching today and sharing some of my favorite concepts from some of my beloved teachers. As I was working the information in my head, and then into words and cues, I realized that it was a literal Matryoshka doll - Ok, I looked that up! That's those Russian nesting dolls... where there is one, inside of another, inside of yet another.

It's a series of containers. In the tradition of the practice, this is expressed in yoga anatomy through the Koshas - again, sheaths, or coverings. This idea of layers and containment. We can use our practice as a method of discernment, or going in and peeling away the layers. Going deeper, going more internal in search for essence and clarity.

However, perhaps the Matryoshka illusion is apt, because not matter how deep we go, it's the same us, the same image; holographic in that the smallest still contains all that the most gross presents. Perhaps an idea of inherent essence or spiritus - it remains consistent and unchanging.

For me, in the classes today, the layers were about how we approach asana, pranayama and the asana practice. Had a new student today - give thanks and praise - and she seemed to have a really shallow breath, but a good practice. I was encouraging her to seek some 'sama vritti', or 'equal-cycles', the evenness of same inhale and exhale durations. I'm really big on this in the practice - getting a really metered, strong and long breath, and keeping it as the focus of the practice. Not trying to achieve more than to breath - pranayama must inform the asanas!

Some folks resonate with it, some love it, for some it's a real challenge. So, the themes that I was presenting were two-fold, but equal. Asana is a container for experience, that is the first precept. We create the shapes with our bodies and then dwell and abide in the sensations, be they what they may. We can approach asana as physical since ultimately we are using them to assist with pranayama and meditation - the more subtle practices; but we can't simply force asana to be.

As asana is the container for experience, then pranayama is the vessel for asana. Meaning, the breath should surrounding and permeating and containing the asana. As we create and envelope the pranayama around the asana, we then charge the asana as the container for experience.

Further, the pranayama adds the alchemical catalyst that helps create the deep changes - emotional, mental, physical - that our practice can foster within. We know this to be true, but we also know that it is not simply the posture, but rather the entirety of the practice. The multilayered containment, the dolls nested one inside another.

Discernment, sensation, introspection, compassion, resolution, surrender and liberation: those are some of the experiences we have through the practice. Asana, that's where we become sensate - to that which is and often to that which remains for us to process. Pranayama, that's the catalyst and the solvent for the alchemical work we are doing in those asanas.

Pranayama is an envelope, it holds the asana like a love letter. The asana is a love letter, it holds the sensations of your life and your wholeness and your fragility, like sweet written words of poetry. The words are written from and in moments and make a bridge for your spirit to cross over. Layers inside of layers, dolls nested inside of dolls...

It's turtles all the way down... give thanks and praise!

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The Yellow Rose of Texas - I Prefer Helium Capital!

9/7/2012

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Good morning from beautiful Amarillo, TX, where I spent a long night catching up on sleep and getting some oxygen back into my system.

The YOGAVOTES rally and group class on Saturday night at Wanderlust was fantastic - over 300 yogis flowing together, sometimes literally. Teachers just free-forming off of each other, Seane, Shiva, Sienna, Janet, Rod, Suzanne and MC Yogi, throw in Congressman Tim Ryan and it was just an incredible celebratory flow. We did an hour practice where all those folks got us moving, chanting, dancing, shouting and then moving just to a heart-beat groove around the space encountering the other souls.

It is always such a pleasure to be around a large group of like-minded and mindful folks, but when you bring compassion, engagement, service and the desire to step into our lives more fully into that mix, it's like a sweet critical mass. I'm proud to have been part of something so powerful, yet purposed.

What can you top that with -well, after 5 days I'd caught my breath, so after a little chill, back out for Ziggy Marley. To cap off a great week and after that incredible day, it was just such a righteous space to get down to some deep grooves, way up high in the mountains. And, you know yogis know how to groove, get deep on the bass, but we also attract the best hoola-hoopers in the world, so that show itself was mind-stirring.

A great chance to groove around and see all of those new 'best-friends' whose name you don't know that you've just made this week. Celebration in the elevation. Stuck around afterward for DJ GRAMATIK, he was incredible and got it thumping, but I'm an old man, so I huffed it up the hill to be home by 2am.

Just had to split it yesterday morning. I was blessed to have some great experiences, but between the oxygen, the emotions, and 5+ hours of dancing, I was spent. Hit the road yesterday, crossed the Continental Divide, and just headed down through the high plains. Made it to Amarillo last night, and crashed mighty.

Here's what I can tell you about Amarillo - thanks Wiki - and then I'm on the road to ATX, for a late afternoon swim, and a walk with my doggy!!

The city was once the self-proclaimed "Helium Capital of the World" for having one of the country's most productive helium fields. The city is also known as "The Yellow Rose of Texas" (as the city takes its name from the Spanish word for yellow), and most recently "Rotor City, USA" for its V-22 Osprey hybrid aircraft assembly plant. Amarillo operates one of the largest meat packing areas in the United States. Pantex, the only nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility in the country, is also a major employer. The attractions Cadillac Ranch and Big Texan Steak Ranch are located adjacent to Interstate 40. U.S. Highway 66 also passed through the city.

See you down the road, happy trails and keep working your purpose as you give thanks and praise!!

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The Arrow Has to Be Drawn Back, Before It Can Fly...

Vision, Values, Voting!

Yo Yo, Tahoe - Wanderlust, The Arrival.

Yogi - Challenge Thyself!

Intention, Attention, Tension and Intensity - A Weaving Tantric Practice.

Resonance - How Long Does the Unstruck Chord Sound?

Creating the Balance - Not What You Want, What You Need.

Get Your Executive Functioning!

Contain Yourself! Or, Your Practice is a Love Letter!

The Yellow Rose of Texas - I Prefer Helium Capital!

Chrispy - Bhagat Singh

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chrispy bhagat singh
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Email:
rockstar@rockstaryoga.us

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Connect with me:Facebook: chrispy bhagat singh Facebook:RockStarYogaFacebook:RaSaYana YouTube:chrispy bhagat singhInstagram:petrastellaTwitter: petrastellaEmail: rockstar@rockstaryoga.us

Archives

Categories

Connect with me:
Facebook:
chrispy bhagat singh
Facebook:
RockStarYoga
Facebook:
RaSaYana
YouTube:
chrispy bhagat singh
Instagram:
petrastella
Twitter:
petrastella
Email:
rockstar@rockstaryoga.us