http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/ (Practice:Theory) Life is practice...but for what? en Copyright 2009 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:55:39 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Québec 45,9 % Employment situation Unfavorable This from jobboom in my inbox just this morning... http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/11/jobboom_index.html http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/11/jobboom_index.html General Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:55:39 -0500 In a recent email to a friend I wrote this. Even though there's many wonderful things going on in my life right now, this does summarize the situation in terms of the big unknowns... This is the first entry explicitly dealing with no longer working for the big engineering company... what a couple of weeks it's been... how am i doing??? wow... i do indeed wonder about that regularly. sometimes i am terrified, and paralyzed (i have no idea if i will loose my house and car etc), other times i am comfortable and relaxed, that i'm in touch with all this change as a real blessing. occaisionally i feel like i've been set on fire and that my personality/being has been cracked wide open, and that my suffering is exposed and visible to everyone. i feel kind of wild and untammed... sometimes it feels as if my entire life is starting now, and that i'm ill prepared to participate, and i wonder what i will let myself become... http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/11/how_am_i_doing.html http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/11/how_am_i_doing.html General Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:49:45 -0500 when shall the cosmos once again observe in awe and cherish our dance divine?]]> http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/10/cherish.html http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/10/cherish.html General Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:02:47 -0500 god bless the love song]]> http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/08/love_song.html http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/08/love_song.html General Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:59:06 -0500 The bathroom at 295 is still not done I dreampt I rode a Bixi I must make some vacation plans before it's too late I'm having a good life I am still on fire, in the cauldren, as it were Fall is just about upon us, next Friday is a moon http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/08/new_life_lists_4.html http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/08/new_life_lists_4.html General Sat, 29 Aug 2009 10:53:35 -0500 have started work on the bathroom house is a mess am getting ready to try the clippers on the buzzcut feeling quite good and spirits are uplifted ]]> http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/07/new_life_lists_3.html http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/07/new_life_lists_3.html General Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:01:58 -0500 3rd assignment of 2009 #01 Day one of my 3rd (1-month) assignment (in less than 4 months) is over [that didn't leave much time for vacation did it?]. Equipment is set up and ready for day 1 of the course... I offer proof that I am no longer in Italy... Proof 01 Proof 02 Proof 03 Proof 04 Proof 05 Proof 06 3rd assignment of 2009 #02 My first weekend in Charlotte... The yoga class I dropped in on yesterday was a heat-fest. It was 82/28 degrees... and the Ashtanga class followed on the heels of a Hot Yoga class, where they heatup the room to almost sauna temps... it was crazy-hot in there. After the class while walking to the car a stranger looked at me, smiled and asked, too much sun, or a great workout? I simply smiled a blissed-out smile and pointed to the yoga studio behind me. Then I walked straight into the sushi shop right beside the yoga studio for a little treat. Treat 01 Treat 02 Treat 03 Treat 04 And yes there is a Starbucks within eyesight of this studio... Hope you're all well... 3rd assignment of 2009 #02/03 OK... so actually it's #3... due to the last unsubjected email... :-) Some of you have mentioned that reading these updates enable you to live and travel vicariously... On an introspective note; it has occured to me that writing these updates in fact offers me the opportunity to live vicariously as well. Through my Self. Thanks for clueing me in... Roy 3rd assignment of 2009 #03 Hi friends... I'll be back in Montreal during the last week of May... Hope you're all having a great spring! Friday past in bed before 19:00... slept in until 09:00 Saturday... Finally getting some really good rest... (I prefer crab to lobster) This from a good friend... How to make sense of it all... oh the mystery... Send me your thoughts... or your own updates... Give thanks whenever you can... roy 3rd assignment of 2009 #04 This night I have practiced yoga. I devoted my practice to Shri Krishna Pattabhi Jois. This man is my teacher's teacher... and he is the teacher of thousands of yogis all over the world. During both my trips to India I had the opportunity to meet him and speak with him leisurly. Before I went to India I had the chance to practice with him when he visited Montreal, in 2001 or 2002... Recently he has been admited to hospital in ICU. He is 94 years old. The full moon is in 2 days. This is a loose translation of the prayer he offers at the end of practice: May all be well with mankind May the leaders of the earth portect in every way by keeping to the right path May there be goodness for those who know the earth to be sacred May all beings be happy lay down, take rest, smile, wipe your eyes, 3rd assignment of 2009 #05 Well... Can't seem to narrow it down... It just may be the Blue Moon Wheat Ales, the Long Hammer Indian Pale Ales, or perhaps it's the BBQ chicken wings or ribs, or the number of burgers, fried pickles or ice-cream sandwiches I've been eating, but something has certainly been putting on the pounds... I thought simply not eating in Italy would have been enough to stop amassing the mass... The camera has been taking a break... I've got no new photos... I've been joining the guys from work at their local sports bars to watch some playoff hockey and shoot pool... there's a few guys here who live in Pittsburgh, and they are Pens (Penguins) fans... my pool game has almost never been better... I am looking forward to getting back to Montreal... though just today my employer sent notice that there would be 700 jobs cut in the next few days... so returning will be in some way kinda shocking... I'm planning to spend some time on the mountain bike zipping through the trails... it was a really nice reminder I had while riding in Italy... and maybe (if there's a requirement) commuting to work... There's quite a few of you I don't hear from at all... not sure I mean you when I say "drop me a line when you can"? Take the risk... roy 3rd assignment of 2009 #06 Update from starbucks after yoga class... Post yoga 01 Post yoga 02 Post yoga 03 roy 3rd assignment of 2009 #07 I'll send the along long before any of you decide to pose the question again... My arrival in montreal is late Saturday May 23rd. with love, and smiles :-) roy 3rd assignment of 2009 #08 hi friends... saturday afternoon here in charlotte NC, flight leave at 20:30 tonight. am very close to all packed... though i am listenning to the ipod through my portable speakers as i pack... forgot to make space for them... again!! i do that every trip. both suitcases are currently stuffed, not sure where i'm going to jam them in... not in my carry-on that's for sure, i've got the laptop, 4 magazines and all my paperwork from 2 assignments... that bag is already as heavy as balck matter... montreal was full of snow when i left, and now i understand spring is in full bloom... expecting a high of 21/70. i think it's been close to 10 weeks away... i feel still very far away from home, italy was far from home, and charlotte is very far from rome, and it's a month later so montreal feels far away... though it's only about a 2 and-a-half hour flight... am going to skip yoga class this afternoon... don't want to get a whole bunch of clothes and yoga mats drenched just before flying... last thursday evening's class was my last practice session here and the instructor asked the class to devote their practice to my teacher's teacher, he passed on the 18th, a few days after the full moon... i've met some really good people here in charlotte, and have become addicted to buffalo chicken. speaking of good people, Moses fixed my favorite suitcase. one of the castors broke off, and i never got around to claiming a replacement from the carrier, and i would have had to buy a new one. this is the BIG case i got in tokyo in 2007... it's like a rolling house with handles. i am so gratefull to have not lost the broken wheel and to have it fixed better than new... hope you're all well... roy 3rd assignment of 2009 #09-HOME-SAFE! HOME-SAFE! And staying put for a while… Be well... and thanks for keeping in touch… Roy ]]> http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/07/publishing_past_2.html http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/07/publishing_past_2.html Asana Friends General Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:37:41 -0500 2nd assignment of 2009 #1 Well, I'm in Paris (at the time of writing this update) Actually Paris the airport, not the city... My USAir flight was cancelled due to very high winds along the eastern seaboard... They arranged to have me go with Air France to CDG and then to Roma I'm writing this note just moments after I've conclded there's no wifi here, none free, or easy let's say... I don't want to sign a contract just to get my first note out to you all... I'd probably have to become a member at two different unions and make pension contributions... Takeoff in a 747-400 in high winds was quite an experience... lots of shear... I'm probably about 10 minutes from my first espresso in a proper european country. I'll have quite some time to sample the airport's offerings as it's currently 07:00 hrs, and my flight to roma departs closer to noon... I really am a very lucky guy... the alarm that I so painstakingly set to get me up on time to pack and do last-minute errands was only that; set. Not turned on. I can sleep until well past 10:00hrs with no alarm sounding... By some little miracle I awoke without the alarm and thankfully realized it was at a time which would not put my flights at risk... The result was less than 2 hours to pack and get it all together... Well, in the end, together it all got, no thanks to Union Taxi who, twice, went to 276 Queen instead of 265 Queen... the driver was certain that the school accross the street was also 265, when he saw the numbers our our house amazed to learn that a street could have 2 identical numerical address, he couldn't figure out how the postman would decide who gets what... I had to show the driver the address on the building he had driven to twice, to point out the numbers were different, he went through a quaint cognitive dissonance routine consisting of a rather odd display of facial distortions and quirky gasps with some crazy hand gestures. The numbers on the school's portico are about 1 meter high, they read: 276. The postman was in fact safe from the imagined dilema my driver had projected on to him... I have, as usual, the scantest of directions to follow to get me the ~165 kilometers or so out of roma to viterbo... can't wait to hit the road after the next short flight... la bella macchina sounds like it's warmed up and in the zone, time for coffee... OK... No longer in Paris now... Sometime later, probably only a day, though it's hard to be sure... I travelled 28 hours straight to get to Italy, so I'm a little bit lost for temporal awareness... I've survived CDG and the hour and a half (motionless) delay on the taxiway due to a runway inspection (so it wasn't a short flight after all) and I'm part way through Friday at work on the Italian army base in Viterbo... I've seen blossoming lilac trees and lots of gorgeous countryside on the drive up... having a nice time so far... Software installation so far is going well... Looks like we're off to a good start for Monday... Travel pics soon to be updated with some European food shots and other... I've got a VW Passat and it's a big car for Italy!! I may try driving it into Roma to (get it banged up a bit) do a yoga at Lino Miele's studio over the weekend. And he's got a special workshop over a weekend, I may participate if the $$ (or euros) are there. Be well! roy 2nd assignment of 2009 #2 Hey gang, here's some info on Viterbo: http://www.italytraveller.com/en/r/lazio/s/viterbo Yeah there's thermal-mineralized (sulfer??) baths here... :-) !!! Not sure I'll be able to soak though, I hear they don't sulfer fools easily here in Viterbo (for you Colin... ok and Bernard too). And the travel set has been updated... Maybe off to Rome tomorrow (Sunday)... Hope you're all well, roy 2nd assignment of 2009 #3 Warning, this one is long... yeah, longer than usual... Yep, the Travel set has been updated (including some food shots)... This is my second Saturday in Italy... and apparently I am in hell... By this I mean that Danté claimed (I haven't read Danté btw) in his Devine Comedy, La Divina Commedia, (Hell Book) that the baths and caves of Viterbo, are in fact the physical entrances to hell... why did my travel agent omit to inform me of this? Did she suspect I would refuse my assignment? Did she think I must go to Roma and sample proper southern-Italian food?? First off, the thermal baths in this area are indeed sulfur, they turn your silver jewelry into an ugly hellish mess, they make your skin feel beyond wonderful... and they do have a god-awful stink. Danté was on to something... And even though I am somewhat of a fool, I had no trouble gaining entrance to the sulfur baths... The natural grotto (caves) are incredible... really. Grotto therapy is unlike sauna or steam bath, in that it's not an enter/exit repeat kind of experience... in once, then exit to be wrapped up by an attendant in soft cocoon where you rest on a comfortable bed for about 30 minutes. The wrap actually retains heat, so it's like high-temperature baking in the grotto for about 10 minutes (43 degrees C yesterday), followed by a slow-wrapped-baking in the relaxation room for another half an hour! My heart and cardiovascular system are accustomed to sauna and steam bath... and to a rather quick temperature plunge in the 13 degrees C arctic dunk-pool. There is no such feature as a 13 degree dunk-pool in these underground ancient caves, (go figure)... your body stays heated up, only to return to a normal temperature quite slowly... like after 40 minutes of high-humidity, and heat... Thankfully, I opted for a third service upon entering the Center... the Vascular Treatment... This consisted of a 20 minute walk in 2 waist-deep narrow pools each about 20 meters long. One warm, one cold (24 degrees C). You walk 20 meters in the warm pool, exit, do a 180, and descend into the 20 meter cold pool running parallel alongside the warm one. You greet other bathers with a smile, as you pass them walking in the opposite direction, and in opposite temperature... quite an exercise in mental polarities (indeed a yogic activity by nature as well)... I was lowering my body to chest level while traversing the cold pool. So it's Saturday, I'm well rested. Got to bed before 21:00 Friday and slept in to 09:00 this am. Had a very nice breakfast and am trying to sort out my day. Maybe long drive to the ocean, or maybe another walk to old walled Viterbo. Last week's walk was on Sunday, and practically everything was closed, so it was quite and desolate. If I go today it'll be much livelier... Check out these links: General Photos Grotto Pools Piscina My silver ring after soaking... The Italians have their televisions read the newspaper to them. Each morning as I watch the TV news program displayed on the large plasma screen TV in the breakfast room, there's either a gorgeous Italian woman, or an older grumpy/scruffy Italian man operating a large table-top-touchscreen display computer. The TV angle is typically from directly above the news anchor person as they operate the touch screen. Page-by-page they bring copies of the various newspapers front pages into view, and proceed to highlight in yellow computerized finger-activated highlighter that page's Headlines, and then highlight some of the key text in the article below... mixed media or what?? It's fun to watch, though it strikes me as a bit pablum-ish to have a publication as evolved as a newspaper read to me... not sure if I go for it back home... Imagine watching the TV news back home and having the morning's news from The Gazette, or La Prèsse banged into your head... umm... no-thanks... I have been lent a 3000$ mountain-bike by Cpt. Simoné... we may ride the mountains of Viterbo!!! So the question now becomes; who is Lino Miele? Well he's an interesting guy, first-off. He's based in Roma, and he's an Ashtanga Yoga teacher. Lino's teacher is a man I affectionately call The Old Man. The Old Man is also my teacher's teacher. The Old Man is very close to about 20 of his older and more dedicated students, Lino and my teacher are included in this group. The Old Man is considered to be Ashtanga yoga's Father. I am very fortunate that every assignment my career has sent me on, each one has landed me in the lap of interesting and qualified Ashtanga teachers. I did manage to miss Andrew Eppler in Oklahoma recently, though that's another story... And also another story is about how I've come to befriend an Ashtanga teacher who is based in Chicago. Her name is Lisa, and I came to learn of her when I was researching Ashtanga yoga in Tokyo back in 2007. Lisa writes (blogs) about her teaching, and traveling adventures. In 2007 she was teaching for a 3 month stint in Tokyo, and our paths almost crossed at that point. From what I've gathered about her, she is a concerned, involved, generous person. I can only imagine how much she gives of herself to her students. I have never had the opportunity to meet her in person, only via web-based contact... though I do know she is shy and would be slightly uncomfortable having this update involve her so, I'll keep it to a minimum... Lisa is strongly urging me to go to Lino's weekend's workshop next weekend in Roma... Lisa's teacher is Lino Miele... I met Lino on my first visit to Helsinki. Over the years, he assisted some very fine people there in setting up an excellent Ashtanga school. Lino often goes to Helsinki to do workshops, and he even persuaded The Old Man to visit Helsinki on one of the famous world tours. So in 2006 (I think) I met Lino on one of his workshop visits to Helsinki. In fact he was offering a week-long workshop, with the only weekend activity being a small lecture, with Question and Answer and a film screening, followed by a pot-luck party. The lecture with film screening was the only event my schedule permitted me to attend. I did however manage to do several lead classes with Hanne Sydänmaa who helped me greatly with the arm/hand position of Halasana... yeah another story... The Finns by the way, are quiet and publicly reserved people in general. They keep to themselves, they don't gesticulate wildly (or at all) with the arms and hands when they speak, they don't raise their voices they don't shout in public (unless they are drunk, and they are in fact known to get quite drunk sort of regularly, though they typically remain on the quite side). If you're interested you can get a good idea of drunken Finnish city life in the wonderful movie "A Night On Earth". I heard a translation of a Finnish expression commenting on Finnish culture... When a Finn speaks to you and looks at their own shoes, they are typical of Finnish culture and are introverted, when a Finn speaks to you and looks at your shoes, they are an exception to the rest, and are definitely extroverted... or something along those lines... anyhow off-topic again... Lino, before he started his small lecture, was stressing that the Finns in attendance should be direct with their questions, that they should be comfortable to speak up, and bring their personality into their questions... He broke the ice by humorously suggesting that before adjourning to watch the movie, that someone must ask him about his recipe for "dabesta pasta-sauce-a ina-da world" he said this with both his hands extended in an typical Southern-Italian gesture, conveying both how good his recipe is and how much he as an individual, loves food... (which suggests to me why Lisa connects to him so strongly, Lisa is a foodie) As an an side... ipod is playing The Black Crows, Time Will Tell, where the refrain is "You think you're in heaven, but you're living in hell..." Those of you know me well, know that I suspect the software engineers at apple took special attention to engineer an unusually high level of synchronicity into the Shuffle mode of the ipod... Did they even go to the extents to read Danté? Shuffle is much more rewarding than the Genius Playlist product... but that yet again is another story... Back to Lino... He did a nice presentation and passed on very good information about Ashtanga method (which very often gets misrepresented, even by it's own proponents). It was clear to me that he is a very special person and has a high level of caring for his students and the yoga system he is devoted to... After a couple of quiet and reserved questions from 1 or 2 from the Finnish students in attendance, I piped up to ask a spirited, and direct question to sort of get things animated and rolling... It was along the lines of how Lino feels inside while he is doing his practice... a question which is away from the typical questions about alignment and counting and how to perfect the postures or the method... He grew a very big smile and used his answers as a launching pad to talk about yoga in a very different context... the students of course warmed up to the change in the room and their questions became natural and flowing and animated, and Lino was in his element... and the Q&A indeed went on longer than anyone had anticipated... After some time one could see Lino making efforts to guide the group's attention toward ending the Q&A and to watching the film, it was, after all getting late... after the 3rd or 4th round of "I'll take a-one-a more-a last questee-own-eh..." I put up my hand... again... He looked at me with slight concern, as he suspected it might get long (yes a common theme in my life)... I assured him via gestures it would be a short one... He agreed... "Is basil a necessary ingredient in a pasta-sauce?" I asked him this question with the utmost seriousness devotion and respect, the kind owed to a senior Ashtanga Teacher or any maestro... I asked it with a glow in my eyes while making direct eye contact and I asked it with undeniable passion and sincerely... The crowd broke into loud, relaxed and friendly laughter... indeed I made lots of eye contact with people in the crowd and shared in big friendly Finnish smiles... Upon hearing the question, Lino had cracked an big warm southern-Italian smile too, held his hands out and gestured thankfully and gracefully, looked up, as if to the heavens... it appeared as if he was channeling the divine flavour of his pasta sauce and the beatitudes of all the Roman Catholic and Yogic saints for inspiration and guidance for how to dutifully answer the question, and bring his lecture full circle and indeed to a close... (I'm a sucker for the full-circle vibe in a well though out presentation if you hadn't already guessed). Lino gave us wonderful instructions on how to prepare a dark olive-based sauce... My mouth was watering as Lino expounded on the virtues and flavour of the olives which come from close to his home town... I was too much enjoying the presentation of the recipe to have been taking notes to be able to record it... Lisa says I must go to Roma next weekend to do the workshop and be with her teacher... I think she is correct. If I am really really really lucky, I'll come away from Roma with a very special pasta-sauce recipe as well... Workshop Hope you're all in fine spirits and good health... drop me a line when you have the time... with love, roy 2nd assignment of 2009 #4 Everything is indeed relative... In montreal, if I receive compliments when I dress up, it is not uncommon for me to hear that this or that part of my outfit has a European flavour or accent... Here in Europe, dressed up as I was for the first day of class, the going comment was that my outfit carried a definite Mormon style. Go figure... 2nd assignment of 2009 #5 Regarding dressing like a mormon... This witty bit from my friend Gilles: "The Lord is my tailor and I shall not want." 2nd assignment of 2009 #6 So, as I've been saying... the key to a good pizza here in Italy, is to keep the ingredients simple... 2nd assignment of 2009 #7 Bags are packed, route is planned... Drive to Saxa Rubra, park, train to Rome, and tube to coliseum. By 16:00 this afternoon, I'll be finished with day one of the workshop with Lino. His studio is a stones-throw from the coliseum... can't wait... How you all doing? Any news? bewell... r 2nd assignment of 2009 #8 Even though I was one of the very first to arrive at the yoga school, I was the last to enter... I though it was considerate to let all of Lino's regular students, some who've come from quite far away, enter and greet him first... Lino and I embraced and kissed southern Italian style, he smiled realizing 2 things; I have never practiced with him, and he knew my face from somewhere... He said, "we have met before, where?" "Helsinki" I said... Lino smiled, not quite placing me... "I've come to Roma to practice with you, and to write down your recipie for the best pasta sauce in the world." "Ahh yes! 2004 lecture and video, I remember..." he said smiling... Lino's good with faces, and places... Pasta alla Lino Mielle Puttanesca (basically traditional Puttanesca minus anchovy fillets) pure extra-virgin olive oil fresh chopped tomatoes (about 2 per person) black and green olives (lots-more black tha green) cut in slices, or finer dried hot chili peppers (peperoncino) chopped fresh garlic (an ashtanga no-no) capers (rinsed) warm pure extra virgin olive oil (lots) in a pan add garlic and chilipepers when the garlic starts to change state remove it add tomatoes when oil and tomatoes come to light boil add capers and olives and the garlic if so inclined reduce heat simmer a short while serve over spaghetti, or spaghettini add fresh chopped basil A more thorough story from Diane Seed in her book, Top 100 Pasta Sauces (p. 20) ISBN 0-89815-232-1. She says: "My introduction to this famous pasta dish occurred when I overheard two elderly priests discussing the pros and cons of Spaghetti alla Puttanesca ("Whore's spaghetti") as they deliberated over the menu in a Neapolitan restaurant. Made of ingredients found in most Italian larders, this is also known as Spaghetti alla Buona Donna - or 'Good Woman's Spaghetti' - which can be misleading if one is not familiar with the ironic insult figlio d'una buona donna - son of a good woman.[4] To understand how this sauce came to get its name, one must consider the 1950s when brothels in Italy were state-owned. They were known as case chiuse or 'closed houses' because the shutters had to be kept permanently closed to avoid offending the sensibilities of neighbors or innocent passers-by. Conscientious Italian housewives usually shop at the local market every day to buy fresh food, but the 'civil servants' were only allowed one day per week for shopping, and their time was valuable. Their specialty became a sauce made quickly from odds and ends in the larder." 2nd assignment of 2009 #9 Ok... So it's been 4 days since I've had what the Italians call "real" coffee... which of course means espresso. I've been having caffé lattés instead, or at work just lattés (no cafe). I've also consumed 4 liters of grapefruit juice in less than 24 hours. Anybody who knows me closely will know that this is my cure for any bug. I've been having a sore throat, and a cough... but following this treatment and some additional vitamin C, I now feel pretty fine and am well on the mend... It is impossible to find Argento Coloidiale here in Viterbo by the way... Being under the weather of course, means that I did not make it to Paris this weekend, as I was hoping to do. I would have been able to see two old friends Colin and Brendan (brothers). My visit would have been a surprise to Brendan (no thanks to their father almost spilling the beans)... I was going to get myself into a predetermined café or bar, and Colin would have walked his brother there creating, what would have looked like, a fluke crossing of paths... Brendan lives in Vancouver. Instead I spent the weekend in bed recovering... So it's true I didn't write much about Roma... The thing is, it was a whirlwind weekend, centered on the yoga workshop with Lino, so I didn't see much (in terms of what Roma has to offer). An art historian would be horrified and likely disgusted, that one would go to this great city and miss so much. Yeah sure, I did see Roma's Big-O, the Colosseo (I walked 3/4s of the way around it). The 1/4 of it I didn't get close to was the Arco di Constantino side, close to the Palatino. There aren't many people who've visited Roma and not gotten a good look at these things, spitting distance from the Colosseo. By the way I learned, Montreal is not the only international city with an ancient and crumbling stadium. I did see Piazza di Giovanni in Laterano... it was around the corner from my B&B. I did walk quite a bit, and my feet were aching. I was wearing my favorite shoes, the ones I often travel in. There're great really comfortable... though I've never walked an entire day in them (not so great). And on top of that there was the yoga... not such a foot-friendly undertaking. And on top of that there was the pace of the yoga... At home you could say I practice 3 times a week, never on back-to-back days. I practice alone (or with a few friends on Thursdays), and am quite gentle/slow with it. The workshop required 3 back-to-back days of practice... considering that a vigorous session really only hits you on day 3, you can imagine how I ached on day 3 of the workshop, and then the following 3 days. It is a feeling not unlike having been beat up with a 2x4 by some one who is therapeutically gifted in the administration of a beating. And the assistants (God bless them, especially Rrrrosanna), once they realized that my big thick body very readily receives adjustments (ashtanga yoga typically is a hands on practice wherein the teacher administers adjustments in the form of assistance to get into the poses) This link very well illustrates the method. Anyhow... once the instructors figure out that my body gives itself over to them with ease, they really like giving me adjustments, as they see immediate results. Hence the physical sensation of having been in a gang fight 3 days post-practice... My B&B was exactly 850 meters, as the crow flies, to Limo's studio, so likely 1.5km total walk. The guy who runs the B&B is also named Lino... Ashtanga yoga is a vigorous practice, and it leaves one very hungry, and in need of sleep. So when in Roma, I think I did as most Romans do... ate, and rested... I even turned down a very kind offer from one of the workshop participants. Debbie reminds me very much of my good friend Hannah (yes HH) Debbie is from New York and works in Roma, she drives a scooter, and has a spare helmet. She offered to bring it in to buzz me around Roma and take in some of the sights. Likely her spare helmet wasn't big enough for my meloné, and neither was her scooter. Sure, it would have comfortably fit the 2 of us, though there's the issue of the 250cc motor.... I'd be adding about 95 kilos to the load (me and my shoulder bag thank-you-very-much). Small-motored two wheeled vehicles don't perform so well with such a heavy load directly above, or behind the rear axle... The workshop was great. I was the second person to arrive on the Friday. The first was a guy named Taro, he is from someplace close to Milan, we had a bit of a chat while we waited for the crowd to show up. Taro asked me which series I was working on. I said early part of the first... told him where I usually stop (in the sequence) and what my regular practice was like... he seemed kinda amused. He chuckled and with a big grin said... "dey-a-maybe-gonna-kick you out!" Taro is 54 years old and has one of the most advanced/beautiful practices I've ever seen (sorry Darby and Charles). We ended up practicing next to each other in the crowded room. I, possessing the most asana-resistant body in the room; he the least. He's got a 2 hour-plus practice where he's doing 2nd (intermediate), and 3rd (advanced A) series. For reference. Though these poses look challenging enough, the pictures do nothing to illustrate the movement which the practitioner goes through to get from one-to-the-next. And bear in mind that doing the Advanced A poses come after these ones are completed: http://ashtangayoga.info/asana-vinyasa/intermediate-series/index.html It was a treat to watch him practice... There was a party Saturday night for one of Lino's teachers, Sergio. He turned 50, and there was a yoga demonstration during the party. Lino called it the over 50 group. Lino is 56, Taro 54, Sergio 50, Tony 52, and Roberto 52. I took a video of the demo, which was set to music, We Will Rock You, Twist And Shout etc... I gave a copy to Sergio as a small Bday gift, he said he'd upload to youtube... details to follow???... there's photos on my flickr page in the yoga set of the teachers in the studio crowded around the door to the tiny office watching the video on the Sunday... Lino was in there crouched down in the middle... It's funny to be at a party with ashtanga-yogis, they're a particular bunch. The guilt as they munch down the hors d'oeuvres... and the pleasure... most of those people would be shocked to learn the details of what goes on back home during our regular Thursday night yoga practice. I have already posted pictures of my weekend in Roma. There's pix of a grilled pork meal, which I had after Saturday's practice, and before a power nap and the party later in the evening. I'll bet no other workshop participant had such a meal that day! I've decided to stay here in Viterbo to vacation and rest after my assignment. I really like traveling (being in distant lands), but really don't like traveling (getting to distant lands). I am simple, and I move slowly, sometimes too slowly for the world around me. I am currently in a very nice place, and I'm going to stay put. I'll do some day trips, some walking on the mountain and soaking in termé, and venture more into ancient Viterbo where the real beauty of this location is found. I've booked a nice B&B there which is affordable right inside the ancient city... Speaking of B&Bs and traveling I'll be going back to Lino's place in Roma (not the yoga teacher) next weekend to see a bit more that fine city, it is Easter weekend. I've put a few calls in to the Pope to see if he'll meet me for tea, or espresso, but he hasn't returned my calls, I suspect he may already have a full weekend planned. BeWellGodBless, Roy P.S. I'm scheduled back in Montreal last week of May... ]]> http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/07/publishing_past_1.html http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/07/publishing_past_1.html Asana General Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:32:53 -0500 1st assignment of 09 Hello my friends... It's that time again... Prepare yourselves, and your inboxes, for some stories and photos from another trip... Oklahoma City this time... I've got the opportunity to work with the FAA, I'm stoked! I'm also exhausted, and not packed yet. Weather permitting, (20+ cm of snow fell here today) my flight is scheduled to leave in less than 8 hours from the time of my writing this note... Alarm is set for 03:30 and will pack shortly after it rings... cab is scheduled for 05:00 gotta find my passport before I sleep as well... hope I don't skimp on the vaccuum job in wee hours of the morning in the little red suitcase (winebottles broke on my return from Germany) and miss any tiny glass shards... At least I know which suitcase to not put the underwear in... For those of you I speak with regularly, you know I've been on a pretty rough emotional roller-coaster ride for the past while... and now am thrust into loads of time out-of-town... I agree with you all that this trip will provide well deserved break. I am doing OK and am looking forward to this assignment... and the following ones, with healthy enthusiasm. It might take me a few weeks to get into the usual creative groove of writing these updates... Wish me luck and don't be shy to drop me a line... How does it get better than this? How does it? :-) roy 1st assignment of 09 #2 OK.... so I'm safe in OK... Have been getting tons of rest... long overdue... indeed... There's been a little delay in getting our equipment onsite, so I'm a bit delayed in getting this assignment started... feels kinda strange being on site to provide a service, and to not be able to do it in the form I was sent here for... I've been out to Zeke's. It's located about a 7 minute walk from my hotel, which is not near anything in particular... the walk takes me past a Best Buy and across a huge parking lot... Zeke's is a sports bar. You can play the horses at Zeke's or just sit and watch sports on the big screens. It's not fancy like Cage Aux Sports, just a simple American bar really... I dropped in Saturday afternoon to see if they'd be showing the Georges St.Pierre UFC fight later that night. I had me a lunch, home-made chili and a Boulevard Wheat Ale... I got back there by 7:30PM (after a well-deserved mid-afternoon power nap, to be sure I had a good spot at the bar to watch BJ Penn take a beating... and take a beating he did... Before the fight I was again sipping on a Boulevard and watching women's tennis... I'm sure these 2 characteristics (basketball was on most of the other big screens, and most everybody else was drinking Bud) [bud by the way is not served in a conspicuously tall frosted stein adorned with duo-slices of lemon] coupled with my unusual attire (I'm guessing kinda out-of-sorts for Oklahoma standards), made my Navajo buddy named Glen, and his buddy, a local Oklahoman named Denver, exchange glances and smirks, leading of course to the question I get asked most by newly-made acquaintances: "...are you gay? I mean it's ok if you are, and I ain't gonna hold anything against ya, cause it's a free country and all..." If I had a dollar for every time I've been asked... My clothes still stink, as in America, smokers can still smoke inside... and smoke they do... Sunday morning was another opportunity to get loads of rest... perfect to re hydrate from several Boulevards at Zeke's, to be ready for the 4PM yoga class with Maggie www.yogamaggie.com. That's the first time I've participated in a full lead primary class (for all you non-ashtangis, that means 90+ grueling minutes of non-stop yoga-postures with no breathing other than the breaths which go with the postures the teacher [drill-seargent] calls out) in probably over a year, or more. Wow... today I kinda feel just like I've been in a gang-fight. Well... the good news is that I won't be waiting that long again to do another full primary class, as I've persuaded Maggie to add 3 early morning classes to her, and my, week. So Monday, Wednesday and Friday's I get to do it all over again... for the next 4 weeks... oh yeah and of course Sundays at 4:30... wish me luck... luck I'll need... I've been downloading, and am about to watch another TED talk. I've chose this one... "Vilayanur Ramachandran tells us what brain damage can reveal about the connection between cerebral tissue and the mind, using three startling delusions as examples." TED.com really is a goldmine for those of you who aren't aware... This weekend I'll be off to Pops on historic route 66. Thanks again to Gilles for having been here before and getting me the lo-down on where to go and what to do... maybe Sunday before yoga I'll visit the museum... Hope you're all doing superfine, roy 1st assignment of 09 #3 They were 2 huge red-tailed-hawks... I mean huge, bigger even than you're imagining right now... They were the largest that Terry (one of the students) has ever seen. I can't say if I've ever seen birds that big before... We were on our way during lunch hour, to get a teddy-bear and a card for Hans. Hans is a wonderful guy, today was his last day at work before major reconstructive knee surgery. The second round in less than 2 years. God bless him... I spotted these great birds as soon as they were in my field of perception. At first I thought they were eagles, that's how big they were. I suspect they were a couple, they were certainly male and female, one was distinctly more colourful than the other, I saw them perch simultaneously atop neighbouring power lines. They looked like they were scouting a lunch of their own. Perhaps tag-team hunting, maybe trying to find the living relatives of the road-kill racoon we were at that moment, passing... I could see their powerful talons from the pickup as we ambled by ... what a sight... Terry, who's spent a significant amount of time with the Oklahoma natives, and participated with them in their healing ceremonies and vision quests, was conveying just how sacred and significant a creature the red-tail is... The teddy-bears were in fact on sale at WalMart... 2 big ones for 20$. We bypassed the end-of-isle sale display to find the bears on the shelf where they normally lived. They were 10$ each. We got Hans a Panda, we told him it was the symbol of the epitome of Chinese good-luck. As far as I'm concerned, the Chinese know their way around luck... Ricky (one of the FAA engineers) mentioned that Hans regularly brings teddy-bears to kids at the hospital after their own surgeries to pick up their spirits. Ricky suggested that getting Hans a teddy-bear was, for this reason, probably a better idea than getting him a good luck/speedy-recovery cake to be shared over coffee with colleagues. That in addition to the fact that Hans is diabetic... We got all his colleagues to sign the card and gave it to him along with the Panda, just as he was finishing up his last bit of work for the day, he was clearly touched... Time is flying by here in OK... I did in fact get to Pops and there's some photos up in the travel set in addition to some pix I took at Zeke's on fight-night 2 weekends ago... you can see my buddies Glen and Denver there too... also a couple of nice early-morning shots leaving CYUL from the plane, in really excellent light... While at Pops on historic route 66, I drank two Irish Creams (soda, not beer), and a root beer (again soda, not beer). These served to wash down a bowl of chili and a really tasty burger. All that prep 'd my senses for an ice cream sunday and a peanut butter cookie and a coffee... Imagine I only needed one meal that day... I haven't been back to Zeke's... waaay too smokey... I have however been back to the Texas Roadside Grill, right beside my hotel... I've tried almost everything on the menu, it's smokey in a different way (I can imagine the reprimand that this news will generate from my good buddy Gilles)... I am doing yoga Wednesday, and Friday mornings with Maggie as well as Sunday afternoons, and Tuesday and Thursday lunch-hour yoga with Dr. Avery, the resident PhD mathematician statistician at the FAA. Actually Dr. Avery is not the lunch-hour teacher, she is a colleague of the guys I'm working with and she's a recent yoga convert/fanatic... Jay is the lunch-hour teacher, he's mid 50's with a background in Judo I think. He's great... the FAA is lucky to have him teaching at their gym... in any case, my yoga mat barely gets a chance to dry out before it's back in service... Oh yeah today I found a great bakery near the yoga studio which opens early enough for me to have an espresso before class and which sells really amazing baked goods (photos to come)... funny... no Strabucks in that part of town... what good is a yoga studio without a Starbucks just a stone's throw away??? What is the world coming to? I am waking up cheery just moments before my alarm rings, that's a nice change for sure... And I'm enjoying working with the group of guys I've got on this course. I'll likely do a museum visit this weekend (if it's open on President's day long weekend)... let's see if I can get some cool images from inside... By the power and grace of the American red-tailed hawk, and all else which is divine and sacred, may you be happy and in wonderful spirits and health! And don't be shy, drop me a line when you can... roy 1st assignment of 09 #4 Hi gang... Am currently working on a new written update... Though if you'd like to see a few updates in the mean time, the travel set has been updated. Photos of todays lunch include an arugala salad with brie-wrapped apple, encrusted in walnut; and a sweetpotato-mushroom-spinach-stuffed crèpe with sunny-side-up eggs on top... with a duo crème-brulé (one vanilla and the other pumpkin) and a knockout espresso for dessert... not pictured was the excellent Californian pinot-griggio... I am doing well, I am stuffed and am very busy... I have newfound strength and flexibility (from 4x yoga per week) ... despite also sporting a newfound beachballbelly... life is a dance of balance, is it not? :-) I've post waaaay too many shots of the Chihuly exhibit, but I found the pieces wonderful and dazzling and didn't feel like resisting (by the way that tower is 55 feet tall)... Only 3 weeks away from 2nd assignment of 09 (Italy). miss you all... enjoy... roy 1st assignment of 09 #5 My students are stunned, dazed and confused. Their manager is pleased and thankful... only in America :-) Actually the students aren't confused at all, they're now quite capable and enthused with newfound software skills. Their manager took time to thoughtfully express his gratitude to me for my hard work and flexibility, and he indicated that he's received feedback that I've done an outstanding job. That goes sooo far for me... Yeah, that means I'm grateful to receive thanks... :-) It's mid-afternoon Thursday, tomorrow is the last day of the course, and Saturday I'll be leaving... on a jet plane... Early Sunday I'll be home again... Joe!!! Congratulations on your wedding and thanks for sending fabulous photos, they brought a big smile to my face!! You and Nat look great!! Truth is, it's I whose a bit stunned, dazed and confused. You see, I ate at Del Rancho's today ... We went to the one in Mustang Oklahoma. Check out the old-school style phone ordering system... really neat... That's Terry (not Vince) putting in the order. Yeah that's a fried steak burger... with a fried okra side... My dazed state is not due solely to Del Rancho's, there's a fancy little espresso maker here on site as well, and I bought some nice beans for it and have been enjoying 5 to 6 double espressos a day... for the past 4 weeks... bbuuuuzzzzzzzzz... Those of you in montreal, consider yourselves warned!! Our paths may soon cross... Thanks to everyone who took some time to write back, it's good to hear from you indeed... Hope you all are well, Looking forward to being in touch... roy 1st assignment of 09 #6 HOME SAFE!!! Count-down is on... 8 days 'till I leave for Italy... Wonder if I'll be able to get Chicken-fried-steak over there? I Might have to settle for somethng less tastey!! Hope you're all well!! Roy ]]> http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/07/publishing_past.html http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/07/publishing_past.html General Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:28:12 -0500 i have finished roughly one week's vacation (and am back at work) i still love cycling (after ~3 year break) and camping i've got a great backyard life is grand i am grateful to new friends and old i have a 10 class pass at sattva yoga shala darby already almost knocked me on my ass (utthita hastpadangussthasana sp??) he uttered "be careful there" and briskly turned away as i thumped to recover balance and not crash down on the girl next to me doing kurmasana sequence some things don't change http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/07/new_life_lists_2.html http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/07/new_life_lists_2.html Asana General Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:58:14 -0500 i am on vacation i have been reminded about abundance and about fun i am grateful i will turn my attention to writing the novel http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/07/new_life_lists_1.html http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/07/new_life_lists_1.html General Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:39:46 -0500 I am starting with simple lists once again to ease into regular writing... almost all my belongings are out of Loren's house bike stuff persists in her garage... maybe until summer's end i've got too much stuff to fit in a condo i know this because i've got too much stuff to fit into an entire 1950's bungalow i have been continuously shuffling things around and cleaning since returning from Charlotte i am a bit sad, and lonely i'm confidant it was the right thing to do i have made a small start on writing a book http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/06/new_life_lists.html http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/06/new_life_lists.html General Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:10:55 -0500 To find a way to begin writing again... http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/06/trying.html http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/06/trying.html General Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:36:17 -0500 Interview with Shri K. Pattabhi Jois. http://www.yogasite.com/pattabi%20jois.htm Intervew with K. Pattabi Jois: Practice Makes Perfect By Sandra Anderson (This interview was origially published in 1994) Just in case the internet fails in maintaining a permanent link... "Happiness on the face, light in the eyes, a healthy body-these are the signs of a yogi, according to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the classic Sanskrit text on hatha yoga. Such a description fits K. Pattabi Jois, who at the age of 78 has the straight spine and smooth face of a much younger man. He laughs easily, beaming when we are introduced in a steamy New York studio, and asks if I would take yoga with him. According to the Pradipika, hatha yoga is taught for the attainment of raja yoga, also known as ashtanga yoga, the complete, eight-limbed path to self-realization, but few emphasize the importance of attaining perfection in posture and breathing as a means of achieving the other limbs as clearly as Jois does. Born in 1915 in southern India, K. Pattabi Jois met his guru, Krishnamacharya, who was also B. K. Iyengar's teacher, while still a young boy. He has been teaching yoga since 1937, and students from all over the world come to study with him in his home in Mysore, India. He has visited the United States several times, and although this is his first visit to New York, most of the students in this morning's class seem to know the sequence he teaches. It's hot. The windows are closed, and the already humid air is thick with the labored breathing of 35 sweating bodies. The students groan and sigh. For some, the sequence appears to unfold effortlessly, but still their bodies glisten with sweat. Jois is everywhere encouraging-a hand here, a foot there, a joke wherever it is most needed. He calls out the sequence of postures in a strong deep voice, using their Sanskrit names. There's no laziness here: only determined hard work and a grace born of strength and flexibility, as the class moves from one posture to the next, pausing only to hold the pose, and linking the postures with a spine-flexing sequence reminiscent of the sun salutation and similarly coordinated with the breath. "Exhale, chatwari (chaturanga dandasana), inhale, pancha (urdhva mukha svanasana)." Jois establishes discipline but tempers it with gentle humor and affection, as he teases students, verbally and physically, into places they didn't realize they could reach. And if the coaxing, the energy in the room, and the peer pressure aren't enough, there's the heat. In spite of the mats, there's hardly a dry spot left on the crowded hardwood floor at the end of this rigorous two-hour session. The sequence of postures continuously flowing with the breath is designed to stoke the fire of purification-to cleanse the nervous and circulatory systems with discipline and good old-fashioned sweat. "Practice, practice, practice," Jois says later, addressing a small group of students gathered in a loft in Soho. He spoke at length about the method he uses, emphasizing that he has added nothing new to the original teachings of his teacher and the Yoga Sutra. Where did you learn yoga? From my guru, Krishnamacharya. I started studying with him in 1927, when I was 12 years old. First he taught me asana and pranayama. Later I studied Sanskrit and advaita philosophy at the Sanskrit College in Mysore and began teaching yoga there in 1937. I became a professor and taught Sanskrit and philosophy at the College for 36 years. I first taught in America in Encinitas, California, in 1975. Now I'm going all over America. I will teach anyone who wants the perfect yoga method-ashtanga yoga-just as my guru taught me. Do you also teach your Western students Sanskrit? No, only asana and pranayama. You need Sanskrit to understand the yoga method, but many people, even though they would like to learn Sanskrit, say they have no time. It is very important to understand yoga philosophy: without philosophy, practice is not good, and yoga practice is the starting place for yoga philosophy. Mixing both is actually the best. What method do you use to teach asana and pranayama? I teach only ashtanga yoga, the original method given in Patanjali's Yoga Sutra. Ashtanga means "eight-step" yoga: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi. The Yoga Sutra says "Tasmin sati svasa prasvasayor gati vicchedah pranayamah (II.49)." First you perfect asana, and then you practice pranayama: you control the inhalation and the exhalation, you regulate the breath, you retain and restrain the breath. After asana is perfected, then pranayama can be perfected. That is the yoga method. What is perfect asana, and how do you perfect asana? "Sthira sukham asanam (YS II.46)." Perfect asana means you can sit for three hours with steadiness and happiness, with no trouble. After you take the legs out of the asana, the body is still happy. In the method I teach, there are many asanas, and they work with blood circulation, the breathing system, and the focus of the eyes (to develop concentration). In this method you must be completely flexible and keep the three parts of the body-head, neck, and trunk-in a straight line. If the spinal cord bends, the breathing system is affected. If you want to practice the correct breathing system, you must have a straight spine. From the muladhara [the chakra at the base of the spine] 72,000 nadis [channels through which prana travels in the subtle body] originate. The nervous system grows from here. All these nadis are dirty and need cleaning. With the yoga method, you use asana and the breathing system to clean the nadis every day. You purify the nadis by sitting in the right posture and practicing every day, inhaling and exhaling, until finally, after a long time, your whole body is strong and your nervous system is perfectly cured. When the nervous system is perfect, the body is strong. Once all the nadis are clean, prana enters the central nadi, called sushumna. For this to happen, you must completely control the anus. You must carefully practice the bandhas-mulabandha, uddiyana bandha, and the others-during asana and pranayama practice. If you practice the method I teach, automatically the bandhas will come. This is the original teaching, the ashtanga yoga method. I've not added anything else. These modern teachings, I don't know. . . I'm an old man! This method is physically quite demanding. How do you teach someone who is in bad shape physically? Bad shape is not impossible to work with. The yoga text says that yoga practice makes you lean but strong like an elephant. You have a yogic face. A yogic face is always a smiling face. It means you hear nada, the internal sound, and your eyes are clear. Then you see clearly, and you control bindu [the vital energy sometimes interpreted as sexual energy]. The inner fire unfolds, and the body is free of disease. There are three types of disease: body disease, mind disease, and nervous system disease. When the mind is diseased, the whole body is diseased. The yoga scriptures say "Manayeva manushanam karanam bandha mokshayoho," the mind is the cause of both bondage and liberation. If the mind is sick and sad, the whole body gets sick, and all is finished. So first you must give medicine to the mind. Mind medicine-that is yoga. What exactly would mind medicine be? Yoga practice and the correct breathing system. Practice, practice, practice. That's it. Practice so the nervous system is perfect and the blood circulation is good, which is very important. With good blood circulation, you don't get heart trouble. Controlling the bindu, not wasting your bindu, is also very important. A person is alive by containing the bindu; when the bindu is completely gone, you are a dead man. That's what the scriptures say. By practicing every day, the blood becomes purified, and the mind gradually comes under your control. This is the yogic method. "Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah (YS: I.2)." This means that yoga is control over the modifications of the mind. We've been talking mostly about yoga practice as asana and pranayama. How important are the first two limbs of ashtanga yoga, the yamas and niyamas? They are very difficult. If you have a weak mind and a weak body, you have weak principles. The yamas have five limbs: ahimsa [nonviolence], satya [truthfulness], asteya [non-stealing], brahmacharya [continence], and aparigraha [non-possessiveness]. Ahimsa is impossible; also telling the truth is very difficult. The scriptures say speak that truth which is sweet; don't speak truth which hurts. But don't lie, no matter how sweet it sounds. Very difficult. You tell only the sweet truth because he who speaks the unpleasant truth is a dead man. So, a weak mind means a weak body. That's why you build a good foundation with asana and pranayama, so your body and mind and nervous system are all working; then you work on ahimsa, satya, and the other yamas and niyamas. What about the other limbs of ashtanga yoga? Do you teach a method of meditation? Meditation is dhyana, the seventh step in the ashtanga system. After one step is perfect, then you take the next step. For dhyana, you must sit with a straight back with your eyes closed and focus on the bridge of the nostrils. If you don't do this, you're not centered. If the eyes open and close, so does the mind. Yoga is 95 percent practical. Only 5 percent is theory. Without practice, it doesn't work; there is no benefit. So you have to practice, following the right method, following the steps one by one. Then it's possible. The term vinyasa is used to describe what you teach. What does it mean? Vinyasa means "breathing system." Without vinyasa, don't do asana. When vinyasa is perfect, the mind is under control. That's the main thing-controlling the mind. That's the method Patanjali described. The scriptures say that prana and apana are made equal by keeping the ratio of inhalation and exhalation equal and by following the breath in the nostrils with the mind. If you practice this way, gradually mind comes under control. Do you teach pranayama in the sitting postures also? Yes. When padmasana [the lotus sitting posture] is perfect, then you control your anus with mulabandha, and also use the chin lock, jalandrabandha. There are many types of pranayama, but the most important one is kevala kumbhaka, when the fluctuations of the breath-the inhalation and exhalation-are controlled and automatically stop. For this you must practice. Practice, practice, practice. When you practice, new ways of thinking, new thoughts, come in your mind. Lectures sound good; you give a good lecture and everyone says you're so great, but lectures are 991/2 percent not practical. For many years you must practice asana and pranayama. The scriptures say "Practicing a long time with respect and without interruption brings perfection." One year, two years, ten years . . . your entire life long, you practice. After asana and pranayama are perfect, pratyahara, sense control [the fifth limb of ashtanga yoga], follows. The first four limbs are external exercises: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama. The last four are internal, and they automatically follow when the first four are mastered. Pratyahara means that anywhere you look, you see God. Good mind control gives that capacity, so that when you look, everything you see is Atman (the God within). Then for you the world is colored by God. Whatever you see, you identify it with your Atman. The scriptures say that a true yogi's mind is so absorbed in the lotus feet of the Lord that nothing distracts him, no matter what happens in the external world. What is your parting advice for those who have a desire to pursue yoga? Yoga is possible for anybody who really wants it. Yoga is universal. Yoga is not mine. But don't approach yoga with a business mind-looking for worldly gain. If you want to be near God, turn your mind toward God, and practice yoga. As the scriptures say "without yoga practice, how can knowledge give you moksha [liberation]?" Sandra Anderson is a contributing editor to Yoga International. As a student of yoga she has studied and practiced a variety of approaches to asana over the past decade." ]]> http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/05/interview.html http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/05/interview.html Asana Thu, 21 May 2009 01:06:30 -0500 lay down, take rest, smile, wipe your eyes, ]]> http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/05/smile_wipe_your.html http://blogs.ashtangi.net/99to1/archives/2009/05/smile_wipe_your.html Asana Mon, 18 May 2009 11:17:32 -0500