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Journeys
Yoga and downpours | Well, I've managed to do yoga twice this week. Which I suppose is an advance on the previous few weeks when I was too sick to do anything that put my head lower than my chest ... On Tuesday I just did a really short practice - 1 sun salute (!) and a few standing poses - just testing the waters vis-a-vis inversions and coughing.
But today, I did quite a bit more - our Friday lunchtime yoga sessions started again after the finish of uni exams (which used the room). Just 2 of us were there, but I managed an hour of yoga. I was still careful about anything like downdog, did shortened versions of the sun salutes etc. And it's 3 hours since I did it and I haven't been coughing, so hopefully that means I can slowly build my whole practice up again, and won't need to be scared of inducing coughing fits.
I was supposed to go to class tomorrow in Brisbane, but there's a big thunderstorm predicted for tomorrow afternoon, and I don't think I want to be driving in that. Again! Yesterday I went in to Brisbane after work to have some acupuncture, and when I came out, the skies were black and I had to drive home at about 60kpg along the highway through pouring rain and thunder and lightning! Not fun ... :)
We've had the most amazing weather here these past few days. Huge storms, ripping roofs off, flooding creeks and bridges not to mention houses. I've been OK, no leaks or fallen trees or anything, but I did measure 235mls of rain a couple of days ago. That's 9.5 inches in the old measurement!! My water tanks must be full - it's been too wet to check. It's been great getting all that rain, but I'd like it to stop now please!
And I'm going to see the new James Bond film this weekend - yes! | | 11/20/2008 10:15:00 PM |
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Facing Inward
A Little Boy | | I didn't wait for the blog software to create the entirety of the last post and so it didn't let anyone comment but thanks for the emails.... and here's what I have to say in response. Thank You. Thank you my friends and, you know who you are... thank you for never judging me. Thank you for always being there. Thank you for listening to me when I struggle, when I'm schizo, when I'm centered, when I'm angry and irrational, when I'm calm and in control... Thank you for understanding how challenged I am by reaching out to humanity and people while I struggle instead of doing what I have always done, which is completely retreat and lock the door behind me. Those of you that have known me the longest will know that this pattern of mine has been in existence since before I could drive a car. I've had some stumbling blocks on the way. I've been too open. I've let myself just be exposed and raw completely and that's the wrong thing to do... as I'm quickly finding out. It's some tentative balance that I haven't quite figured out -- how to be open and free but still socially accetable within the hierarchy (and it is a hierarchy) of the social networks in which you roam. And, let's be honest, we all have many social networks... the different groupings of people with whom which we interact... and each of those networks has slightly different basic rules to follow. For the first time in awhile, I'm not feeling like I can do it anymore. I'm overly extended. Presence and breathe. Presence and breathe. Presence...... | | 11/20/2008 9:26:19 PM |
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Alfia
I had enough of this week already | OK, the conference is over, but all the missed work came down crashing on my head. I skipped shala today because my body was exhausted. Hopefully I will make it to practice tomorrow.
The Convention center, where the meeting was held, is an interesting place because of its location. Brand new, very modern and imposing, it is surrounded by run-down buildings:
 It also has some interesting "house decorations":
 All objects were real - chairs, tennis rackets, bikes. There were also guitars and kayaks. Crazy!
I am so glad tomorrow is Friday. I just need to survive it, and then I will spend Saturday in bed. Doing nothing. | | 11/20/2008 6:04:00 PM |
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YogaVita
Yoga Keeps Me Sane | | Ah, yes, so that’s why I do yoga. Daily. It keeps me sane. Or I suppose a better word is grounded- - more calm and connected to reality. Less neurotic. Unfortunately, I had to have a couple months of somewhat sporadic yogaing and increasing crazy-going to remind myself of that. Bleh. That’s over, thank goodness. [...] | | 11/20/2008 6:01:32 PM |
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Ashtanga Yogini
Dance Base - National Centre for Dance | Dance Base is Scotland's National Centre for Dance - they also offer other body movement courses like yoga and pilates. I am teaching a Yoga Course for Dance Base this term during my stay in Edinburgh.
About a month ago Dance Base asked me to be on the cover of their spring brochure. I felt quite honored by the offer because they know I won't be here in Edinburgh next term but wish to take the opportunity to work with me now while I'm here.
The photo shoot was a lot of fun and I just got word yesterday that the brochure is presently at the printer...
Please take a moment to check out Dance Base's website -
http://www.dancebase.co.uk/ - when you click on the SPRING BROCHURE link scroll through and have a look (especially the first couple pages ;) | | 11/20/2008 4:37:00 PM |
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A Lotus Girl
Books for the kids of Karunya Mane..Thank You Wayne and girls!!! | 
A week or so ago I was given a very nice donation from Wayne and his girls~~~ So I put the money to good use and bought four wonderful learning books by none other than the infamous Dr. Seuss!! What child doesn't love and adore Dr. Seuss books...huh??? So, Thank You again to Wayne and his daughters for their kind gesture of giving to my charity "The Colors of Love" 2009 Karunya Mane! I thank you with all of my heart~ Namaste | | 11/20/2008 3:03:00 PM |
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Yogini's Quest
Better days | | Background music if you so wish…
I love my photoshop course, but there’s nothing more frustrating than trying to stimulate my creative edge, pinpoint exactly what I want, and then create it. I’ve been working on a project the last four days, which is due tomorrow. This morning, I woke up and felt unhappy with it, [...] | | 11/20/2008 2:57:42 PM |
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Yoga Chickie
Kapotasana...Now, with TWO feet!! | Yes, today, I easily touched my toes in Kapotasana (with assistance from Val). If you've been reading this blog for a while, then you know it's not the first time I got hands to feet. BUT....it is the first time that they got there without the searing feeling of skin, tendons and muscles tearing, and without the numbness that followed. It was AWESOME!!
And it's all because of the bed-hang-with-weights. Which is all because of my friend, Melissa, who practices at Val's, and Val, who told me that what I needed to do was to open my UPPER back, because my lower back is open enough (for now), but my upper back was barely bending.
So, today, I told Val that I had gotten my right toe on my own yesterday. So, she came over to me and put my left hand on my left foot....and then my right. Made perfect sense. And I breathed. And I breathed!
Euphoria!
Not that any of this matters. But it kinda does. Not that it should. But it kinda does just the same.
YC | | 11/20/2008 2:29:00 PM |
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CRON yogitect
purvottanasana and janus sirsasana C | | quiet practice today, Primary Series to Janus Sirsasana C, then the first three of Third Series. i mentioned to Seven Petal Lotus that i recently learned to not lean the neck back in Purvotanasana and concentrate in lifting the pelvis more, as if it where Urdvha Danurasana. She agreed and suggested that the gaze can be downward as if you were in jalabara bhanda. my left hand was splayed out to the left, so she instructed to place the two hands parallel to each other, then when aloft, to rotate the arms inwards. i got a good lift.
something that Tim Miller said recently regarding Janus Sirsasana C has really helped. i have always thought that only contortionists and die hards could do this. he said that the heel goes to the belly button. i'm sure that we hear this in our first yoga classes. but i really tried lifting the heel, preparing the leg as if it was going to go into a leg behind the head pose, and concentrated in nothing else but bringing the heel to the belly button. the result was that when I brought the toes to the floor, the asana was much better expressed.
i noticed that when Muscleman comes to a handstand when coming to Uttanasana, his neck is craned up and looking at what seems to be the floor boards ahead of him. that's good to know, since i asked Napa Lilac about this yesterday. and noticing Surfer Guy's practice today, i realized i forgot to do Nakrasana yesterday :( that's all i want to say today. om chakka lakka lakka. | | 11/20/2008 10:32:00 AM |
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Finding Om
Potluck ideas from Felons | | They seem to think burrito bowls are the way to go, with everyone bringing one ingredient. Apparently, this is a popular prison treat. | | 11/20/2008 6:30:00 AM |
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Renegade Reality
The Sweetest Thing I've Ever Known | Ah, my brain is finally beginning to fire at an acceptable rate again, post-Detroit Urban Craft Fair.
Sometimes I wish we were filming a documentary or were on some bizzaro reality TV show. Only for the fact that I'd love to be able to share just how intense our life can become and how Angela, with solid intention, weaves it all together. The fact that, going into our third-trimester, she orchestrated a catering job of this size is phenomenal to me. Now, don't take me as chauvinist, I know that many women work their butts off throughout their pregnancy. That being said, there's a requisite focus and stamina to executing a large catering gig like DUCF, and I am again in awe of Angela's ability. Of course, I'd be jaw-dropped at her execution of this project even if we were not pregnant. So, we appear to be in some strange bonus round of Wide Eyed Awe with the baby on the way!
Speaking of Wide Eyed Awe and Aya, or little one, which I've taken to using. I think I've discovered one of the most sublime experiences in my life, and I've specialized in sublimity. Angela has been favoring sleep on her left and we've ended up shifting our positions so that she ends up spooning me. It's been quite cold here in Detroit so we've been snuggling up tightly. It is the sweetest thing I have ever known is to be snug up to Angela and to feel little one kicking and moving cradled between our two bodies. It's a sweetness with great depth, a very mystical depth.
I thrill in waking in the middle of the night in this position to allow my mind to vacillate between meditation and dreamspace. The shifts between these two states being driven by little one's heels and elbows as they thrust into my stomach. I find my awareness drawn to so many of the concepts and ideas I've worked with in the past. It does not surprise that so much of our wisdom and knowledge, not only stems from, but IS birth, regeneration, replication and so on. But, it does surprise that, though I thought I understood them, I didn't really get it until these recent late night sessions with Aya.
Of late, both in these session and in my waking mediation, I've been drawn towards the Tetragrammaton (Greek: τετραγράμματον word with four letters) is the Hebrew name for God, which is spelled (in Hebrew); י (yod) ה (heh) ו (waw) ה (heh) or יהוה (YHWH), it is the distinctive personal name of the God of Israel. Now, please bear in mind that my knowledge of Qabalah is rudimentary. In my teens, I assume like most studying esoterica, I professed a certain understanding of this mystical tradition. I did know a few things back then, but it is my continuous experiential work, now through yoga and shamanism, that has brought a few massive abstractions, like Tetragrammaton, to light.
For time's sake, I'll use this acceptable model from the Thelemapedia:
- The letter Yod is the first letter of the name Tetragrammaton, and this symbolizes the father, who is Wisdom; he is the highest form of Mercury, and the logos, the creator of all worlds. Accordingly, his representative in physical life is the spermatozoon.
- The letter He is the second letter of the name Tetragrammaton, and this symbolizes the mother, who is Understanding; the Universe is here resolved into its ultimate elements. Accordingly, his representative in physical life is the ovule.
- The letter Vau is the third letter of the name Tetragrammaton, and this symbolizes the son, who is the personification of Beauty; an interpretation of the father in terms of the mind.
- The letter He serves double duty, and so it is too, the fourth letter of the name Tetragrammaton. This symbolizes the daughter, who is the Kingdom; the Universe as manifested to our physical senses.
Now, this all seems very blase and Old Aeon, but basically what we are talking about here is the Tetragrammaton being a structural formula that is reflected in all aspects of this material construct, capiche? The father-mother and son-daughter dualism help us to tune into the nature of the structure itself. Insert a duality of your choice though, it's going to follow the same pattern of regeneration. A few of you have heard me speak of dualism as a vehicle or engine and this connection to Tetragrammaton may give us a jumping point for more revealing conversations.
So, that's a bit of what I find myself wrapped around as we lay with little one in the midst of manifestation between us. I'll share more as it comes and time permits. Blessings, Gregg | | 11/20/2008 5:13:00 AM |
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The Downward Facing Blog
How did I save my low back pain | | I could still feel the pain as I think about the low back problem I had about a year ago. I remember vividly it was a morning that called for Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.
I rounded up the primary series in just under two hours. Having rested and meditated at the end of the practice, I stood [...]
| | 11/20/2008 3:48:22 AM |
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Peace Love Yoga
Kaoshung | 
After several days, I'm feeling settled. Moved further south near Kaoshung. An older couple who own the yoga studio where I'm teaching are hosting me. Lovely people. I live on the third floor of their home...houses are built more up than out here. There are five floors. Pretty cool.
Started teaching on Tuesday. Most are novices, however there is a hunger to learn and an eager enthusiasm. It's great. What more could I ask for? The Taiwanese are tireless and hardworking, and it definitely translates over into their practice. I appreciate the dynamic they bring. It keeps me on my toes.
We've also shared a few laughs. I was helping one student into Supta K, while the woman next to her watched intently...I looked at her and said, you're next...she politely waved and made a face as if to say...no, I won't be doing that. I smiled and laughed...told her not to worry...piece of cake...she was in, in no time flat. I guess it helps not to take it all too seriously, while in the same breath, taking practitioners to their edge...an easing of tension, while still pushing the envelope...bringing one into a place beyond the mind of what I can and can't do. | | 11/19/2008 11:58:00 PM |
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Yoga Gumbo
NaNo Oh Crap | | I’m getting close to 20,000 words which is WAY behind schedule. But! I have faith! I spent some time today sketching out the plot going forward in the novel and came to the conclusion that I suck at plot. I’m great with description! I can describe things all day! But when it comes to having [...] | | 11/19/2008 6:17:46 PM |
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Visions of Cody
Bran Nu Swetta | Or, How I Stopped Worrying and (Briefly) Embraced Hip Hop Culture (A play in 11 Acts)
1
Historically I haven’t been terribly well versed in hip hop culture. The last rap album that I purchased was “Paul’s Boutique” by the Beastie Boys in 1989. That purchase doubled my rap tape collection, joining Ice-T’s “Power”. When kids at school would rave about NWA or Digital Underground I would nod along and pretend that I was interested. But I really wasn’t.
2
My fashion sense has been decidedly non-urban as well. Actually, there was that brief period when grunge and hip hop shared an appreciation of denim and flannel that worked for me. Otherwise, I’ve never been hip. The one time I tried to be hip was a disaster. I convinced my parents to let me buy a pair of red high-top Nikes. They weren’t sure that I would wear them. I insisted that I would. They were right.
3
Checking into the Four Seasons I was surprisingly upscale, wearing a suit and nice shoes. Sure, it was my ‘fat suit’ but they were unaware that my ‘skinny suit’ was still hanging in the closet at home, begging to be let out a smidge. Planning outfits ahead of time isn’t my strongest suit. Thanks to my fancy threads they treated me like a respectable, upscale businessman. That always makes me a little uncomfortable. My inner wookie recoils at such treatment.
4
I need to remind myself that just because I’m not cold at home when I’m packing my black wheely bag doesn’t mean that I won’t be cold in the future. And since I was wearing my suit I already had a jacket on. But I’d soon come to realize that it’s currently very, very cold in Chicago and I didn’t have a jacket.
5
After my meeting was over the need for a jacket or sweatshirt became urgent. I hit a department store hoping for a cheap sweatshirt or fleece. As I was not willing to pay $200 for an emergency sweatshirt I left. Why do clothes cost so much money? The same thing happened in the Puma store – over $100 for a thin jacket or sweatshirt. I was running out of time and it was steadily getting colder.
6
I finally happened upon a store called Urban Outfitters. I’ve heard that the kids like it. There’s one on the corner of Newbury and Mass. Ave. back home but I’ve never been in it, as I’m neither urban nor in need of outfitting. But it was my last hope.
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Urban clothes are apparently no cheaper than their suburban counterparts. I spent a good 20 minutes trying to find that sweet spot between warmth and low cost. On the sale rack I finally found a winner – a beige and brown plaid hoodie jacket sweatshirt ensemble for $30. It fit, it was relatively cheap and it was warmer than nothing. I bought it.
8
Heading back to the hotel I started to enjoy the new hip hop me. Hood up, hands thrust in pockets I dreamed of comfortable baggy jeans and wearing coordinated sweatsuits to work. I pictured myself in crazy hats with straights brims. I saw the future me and I liked what I saw.
9
My new sense of cool was short-lived. My former friends at the Four Seasons turned out to be of the fair-weather kind. Not only did they no longer treat me like an upscale businessman, but they actually treated me like a criminal! People visible shied away from me in the elevator. Even the ladies weren’t hitting on me anymore. How dare they judge me based on my clothes! I’ll show them! Hip Hop Cody is here to stay!
10
(Picking up my wife at the train station the next day, proudly wearing my new hoodie.)
“What are you wearing? You look ridiculous! I wasn’t even sure it was you – I actually had to check the license plate to make sure. Where did you get that hideous thing? That’s going straight in the bum pile.”
11
The End.
“Bran Nu Swetta”/Digital Underground/The Body-Hat Syndrome | | 11/19/2008 1:04:32 PM |
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LI Ashtangini
Vacation | |
I have neglected the blog. Sorry guys. First I was preparing for vacation, then I was ON vacation, then I was back (for a day) and now I’m in LA. However, I have pictures and a Day One Chuck and Maty update.
First things first, for those of you who were curious, here is the color [...] | | 11/19/2008 12:36:27 PM |
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Globie
Red sky at night yogi’s delight | |
I love some of the skies you can get at this time of the year. This was 4.30pm just as it was getting dark, a beautiful red sky. These were taken outside my work, looking (wistfully) towards my house across the valley.
No yoga tonight, my day off, like many I will be glued to the [...] | | 11/19/2008 12:23:40 PM |
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Woke Up This Morning
Visa | I had a quick check on the India consulate site this morning and it says that my Visa's arrived back at their building ready for me to pick up. Yippeeee!!!! One step closer to getting to Mysore. | | 11/19/2008 6:08:28 AM |
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Bhakti Collective
On Reason and Love |  What we maintain is this, that independent of this noble principle there is another higher gift in man which goes by the name of Love. Reason helps Love to maintain its proper bounds in the Spiritual world. Love often tends to degrade itself by exercising its function on objects other then God and converts itself into lust for women, wine, meat and gold. Here Reason advises her to rise higher till she reaches her proper sphere above.
Thus we find that the object of Reason is to help Love and not to create it. Reason may be properly styled as the servant of Love and must always be subject to her in all her hopes, aspirations, and holy works. | | 11/19/2008 5:48:55 AM |
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My Yoga Blog
Yes, good | Sometimes limited time intensifies the practice. There was no time for breaks today. I remained on my mat for the entire practice. I guess I didn't hold all the poses for 4 breaths. I was a bit in a hurry. It was amazing how flexible my body was. No uneasiness in the bones or joints or elsewhere. I blame the food for it. I am again more consequent with my vegan food. And I take magnesium. I even lost a bit weight. The weight is the secret. Really. My insolent answer to the question how someone can improve a pose is simple but honest: Eat less and the pose will improve by itself. (This is not true for the very thin among us, but who is very thin?) And so it happened again that my fingers could hook when I did pashasana. At the end I laid down for 5 min relaxation. This was difficult. My eyes opened, but I remained on my mat till I could hear my meditation watch telling me: It's over now, baby.
I am very content now.
My next practice will happen at an unknown place, somewhere in the middle of Berlin.
I must pack my suitcase, the small one will be enough for 4 days.
I am in a hurry, I am in a hurry. | | 11/19/2008 4:19:00 AM |
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Ashtanga Student
Michael Gannon | Michael Gannon was in town this past weekend and I had the privilege of attending both four hour workshops he held. I like him a lot as a teacher and a person - he's very serious about the traditional practice and very NOT serious about himself. That's always a good combination for me.
Both days we first did some nauli kriya and then some pre-asana breathing exercises. I've never been real big on the whole yogic breathing aspect of the practice, but I really enjoyed the ones we did. It really seemed to flatten out my mind before practice.
He also talked about how he hoped that we would experience the wisdom and power of the whole lineage of the practice and not focus so much on him being a great teacher. I like that idea - that the energy of the collective "us" gets funneled down each time we step on the mat and start breathing.
Out of the 25 or so people attending there were maybe 3 or 4 of us that had a daily Ashtanga practice. Since it was a lead class both days, he spent most of his time helping out people that were just learning the primary series sequence. Truth be told, I was a little disappointed that he didn't hover around those of that already knew the sequence a little more (yes, I'm being selfish), but it was still great to be able to feel the energy of people practicing around me for a change. For the Sunday class, he led us in a full vinyasa practice. It was the first time I've even attempted to do that and even though it was physically very hard, it was a good experience. It sort of made "sense" mentally of where all those skipped and out of order counts came from in the usual counted practice.
He's doing Mysore classes this week - I'm planning on going Wednesday and Thursday. I would have really, really liked to be there for the Monday and Tuesday Mysore classes, but parental responsibilities said otherwise.
Honestly, I don't know if I would have felt all right going anyway. I'm trying to work through feeling okay about being away from my kids and doing something just for me every once in awhile. Ever since my kids' mother left us, I've been having a lot of difficulty giving myself permission to do things on my own. They are old enough and all that, it's just...*shrug* Over-compensating? Yep.
I really need to get to some kind of mentally healthy place with all that. | | 11/18/2008 4:13:00 PM |
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Aum Buddhipriya
The Noble Eightfold Path: Part 1 Right View | 
1. Existence means suffering.
2. The origin of suffering is attachment.
3. The cessation of suffering can be attained.
4. The path to the end of suffering is the Noble 8 Fold Path.
--The 4 Noble Truths of the Buddha
I hear you in my dreams as a song
If only I were awake
then could I see your true being?
Would I be able to walk the path
beside you?
The melody so beautiful
like nothing I had heard before.
Like water cascading down
a mountain stream.
The stones are worn smooth
by centuries of knowing.
These trees stripped bare
of their branches so that one
can see them naked and exposed.
Winter trees unafraid of laying bare
their truth so that we may
learn form and shape.
To understand that all things
must change, be born, die.
That to become attached
is no longer an option.
| | 11/18/2008 11:31:00 AM |
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Blog Dot Luke Dot Org
Super Obama | |
The image above is from a weekly Thai news magazine, what the text says really isn’t all that important, what is important the fact that it made the cover of the magazine. On the day of the election, there was Obama news on the front cover of virtually every Thai-language newspaper. The debates were on [...] | | 11/18/2008 7:57:10 AM |
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Donutszenmom
monday | | Reading about observational realism — the pursuit of likeness. Meh. Not my favorite thing. Not enough recognition of the air quotes it needs.
Still, it’s like looking at a still life. Soothing and seemingly solid. Still.
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“there is equality among you and all beings when separated from prakrti, owing to having one form as consciousness” (Ramanuja)
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Charles Bernstein’s [...] | | 11/17/2008 5:37:24 AM |
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Gaia
motorbiking around... | | H and I rented a motorcycle over the weekend and drove all over Goa. It was so much fun. I really like riding in India.
Saturday, we took the back roads to the beach. Well several different beaches and unfortunately didn't even lay in the sun. But it was super fun just being on the bike. Goa is so totally different from the rest of India. The people are more laid back, the houses are so cool, the old Portugese style. the small winding roads and the super tropical landscape...
Sunday we went east. Again on small roads, through villages, along the river. The roads are as wide as one car, so if a car is coming in the other direction, we have to pull over. H and I both really love doing this. he said to me, " I always imagine doing this, driving through the villages, as we look out the train windows." But we did it yesterday and the whole day was so relaxing and fun. We wound our way around and over to the Savoi Plantation. It is a 200 year old working organic farm. It was awesome. Apparently, it is rare for people to "cold knock" like we did. Most of the people who visit are from tour groups and they book in advance. We lucked out, because a tour group had booked for the day and the plantation made a wonderful Goan Thali of food from the farm. yum... Then, we got the tour. it was so cool. It wasn't like an organized farm. It was more like a jungle walk with trees here and there. We saw pepper, nutmeg and mace, curry leaves, clove trees, tumeric, rubber, chocolate trees, ginger, cardamom, Indian gooseberry, papaya, cashew, jackfruit, chickoo, guava, cinnamon, betel nut, pineapple, and more, I can't remember right now. but we also saw small crocodiles and a snake slithering throuhg the jungle. it was so cool. Our guide was absolutely hilarious and then we drove home, again on the back roads. it was amazing... I really would love to tour india by motorcycle.
off to the spa then work this afternoon.
| | 11/16/2008 10:58:32 PM |
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Living Breathing Yoga
Scarcity and Abundance |  “Ever desireless, one can see the Mystery,
Ever desiring, one can see only the Manifestations,
And the Mystery itself is the doorway to all understanding.”
Tao Te Ching
Over the pass three months we’ve been traveling all over North America, and then through parts of the Middle East, and finally we have arrived in Goa, India, where we will be teaching several yoga retreats over the next five months. It has been a very interesting transition moving from the “financial crisis” that is consuming the minds of North Americans, to observing the huge amounts of ridiculous wealth in cities like Dubai and Doha, which are drastically contrasted by the obvious poverty of the workers building these metropolises up from the sand. It was a refreshing breath of sea breeze that washed over us as we arrived in Goa, clearing the clutter and commotion of all our traveling over the past few months.
All this moving about has made me think about one of the gifts that this practice of yoga brings. A daily practice creates a space in our lives where we can sit in the silence of a moment and start to perceive ourselves more clearly. We come to the mat each day and create some stability within the chaos that surrounds.
After visiting so many different places, it seems to me that the common problem for people all over the world is that we have been conditioned to believe that scarcity is the cause of all our feelings of despair. There is a general attitude amongst the many that without obtaining some type of external object for gratification they “just won’t get no satisfaction.”
The common thought seems to be: “without this person I’ll never find love or happiness, without this possession I’ll never be contented, without this job I’ll never have security, without this experience I never feel pleasure, without being in this place, I’ll never find fulfillment.” We are stuck in this cycle of feeling excitement over the thought of the possibility of attaining something, anxiety over the idea of loosing it, and we end up angry or in total despair when we realize it has been taken away.
This is the sequence we fall into when we allow craving and aversion, attachment and dependence to rule our lives. We develop varying degrees of attachment to people, places, and things, and we start craving for what we don’t have, and feeling an aversion to what we don’t want, and this pattern produces endless amounts of pain, sorrow and suffering.
The interesting thing is that when we really stop and take a look at our attachments, we begin to realize that they are merely fantasies and stories that we’ve created in our minds, and somehow, in the process of creation, we’ve convinced ourselves that they are real and true. We’ve tricked ourselves into believing our own made up illusions about the world around us, and our role within it.
Nisargadatta Maharaj says, “As long as you identify yourself with the body-mind, you are vulnerable to sorrow and suffering.” The ego believes we are defined by “what we do, what we own, who we are friends with, who we love, who loves us back, and what others think about us.”
The truth is that no-thing can ever really bring us happiness, and no person can ever really make us feel loved, no new experience can provide lasting peace, and no place or job will bring ultimate satisfaction. We have to start to transcend the cage of our ego-mind and move beyond our limited self to experience the ‘Source of Peace,’ which is our Highest Self.
Unhappiness is a condition. It is a pattern of thinking and feeling that we’ve become addicted to, and so we continue to recreate those situations in our lives that will reinforce a subconscious believe that we don’t deserve to be content, and that happiness is something that exists outside of ourselves instead of inside.
We can start to deprogram ourselves by remembering that contentment is a choice and cheerfulness an attitude. They are not dependent upon anything outside our own mind. We can learn to eliminate feelings of despair through cultivating an attitude of non-attachment and gratitude for what we do have.
In our daily yoga practice we need to develop a habit of moving inwards, instead of running outwards to the manifestations of the material world. Chasing after postures is simply another form of craving, and reinforcing that old belief that “we are not good enough.” It is acting from a framework of scarcity again instead of recognizing the abundance that exists within.
India is a beautiful place for reminding us that it is not scarcity that creates despair. So many of the people here live off very little, and yet, they are some of the happiness, most beautiful individuals we’ve ever met. Somehow they’ve learned to see beyond the illusion of the material world, and to act outwardly while remaining firmly established in the center of peace within.
Value is not created by what we add to ourselves, the value is inherently in us, and gets realized when we can honestly see that nothing needs to be added at all, for we already have everything we need. | | 11/16/2008 3:08:00 AM |
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99 To 1
on the road and keeping in touch 03 | | Hey amigos...
So yeah, this time I had a map (thanks again Gilles), but did I look at it enough before leaving???
No... not at all...
On the suggestion of our project manager I rented a GPS/SATNAV for the car...
With less than 90 seconds to familiarize myself with it, (and with less time than that route planning with the actual map) I started off!!
To where?? Trier of course (thanks again Gilles)... I had flown from Montreal to Luxembourg through Zurich...
And now from Luxembourg to Lutzerath, through Trier... I had no idea how to even exit the airport...
Well I had figured that I'd be able to change the language on the GPS/SATNAV ( I am after all a systems engineer)... but the sub 90 second prep-time yeiled no resutlts... So I accepted the active default language, Itallian (go figure)... Sinistra, is left, I think... adretta, right... maybe, oy is and (perhaps??) and other words which I'm sure meant "you went the wrong way again idiot"
Well before I realized that by mistake I had it set to give directions to return me to the airport, it made getting out of the airport very difficult, and kinda frustrating in sort of a loop-di-loop fashon... especially when simply reading the highway signs would have easily gotten me to Trier...
Then, once i figured how to activate a programmed destination, it defaulted to the fastest route (not the prettiest). This didn't suite me, as I had intended to drive to Lutzerath via the Mosel Valley... Following in Itallion I got myselfe to Trier...
After Trier... my solution was to set the destination to very close villages along the Mosel, and either reprogram it as I arrive, or continue along the valley...
In the latter case listening to the the system find new ways to get me back to the old (surpassed) destination, and continue to insult my driving/orientation competancies...
Well not 20 minutes folowing the Mosel north (I thought) it dribbled to a small stream, then creek, then kinda a broad marsh... All the while on really spectacular roads... This was decidedly not the way it looked though when I pre-visualized the trip on GoogleEarth... Not travelling the the right direction for sure...
Imagine my surprise, when I finally got it speaking english, programmed it for Lutzerath, and relaxed my exigence on the pretty route, when I got on the major highway and I saw signs to Trier, and Luxemberg... I had been heading south-ish???!!! WTF???
Any how...
Got myself to Lutzerath (which is apparently very near the Nuremberg Ring Course, see (for historical reference), booked into A1 at Hotel Maas, and had a wonderful meal (including some really nice glasses of Mosel white wine)... well on my way to gaining 10 pounds in 2 weeks for sure... I even said hi to Steffie for Gilles...
I've decided instead of swamping your inboxes with attachments, you all can visit my flickr page, found here.
And in particular the Travels set. which currently has entries from this trip only... once back to Montreal I'll upadate it with other destinations...
Engaged friends, enjoy, marrying friends enjoy even more!!! Single friends enjoy even even more!!!!
All the rest of you...
BeWellStayOuttaTrouble!!!
And keep in touch...
V, send my your phone number and I'll be sure to call you when I get back!!
P.S.
This reminder from Gilles who is a wealth of world history (and reams of other old-world knowledge), who received a quick preview of my story...
"GPS in Italiano?
No wonder ragazzo, you’re on the march of the Holy Roman Empire !
The Germanic tribes that Romans called Marcomanni, who battled the Romans in the 1st and 2nd centuries were simply the "men of the borderlands." Constantin left Augusta Treverorum and the Mosella to found Constantinopolis in 330, remember?"
I wish I had...
Love ,
roy
| | 11/14/2008 2:12:24 PM |
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Chai And Yoga
Does Milk Affect Antioxidants in Tea? | | Chai without milk is like soup without stock. It just doesn’t make sense. I like to add a splash of milk to regular brewed teas, too. Unfortunately some studies say that adding milk to black tea might reduce some of its healthy properties. The worry is that the antioxidant catechin binds with the milk protein casein, decreasing antioxidant absorption in the [...] | | 11/13/2008 8:19:16 PM |
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movement
i love, my life | 
i'm riding a very positive wave for the past few days
chaos is in its natural order all around me
and i am not coping but riding, choosing not moving along.
thoughts and thoughts and thoughts don't cloud my brain but colour it
and it is all mine | | 11/13/2008 9:52:00 AM |
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Daily Cup of Yoga
Yogic Action ~ Yoga Sutra 2.1 | | One translation:
Yogic action has three components–discipline, self-study, and orientation toward the ideal of pure awareness.
Another translation:
Burning zeal in practice, self-study and study of scriptures and surrender to God are the acts of yoga.
| | 11/13/2008 6:12:41 AM |
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Tree Dweller Jess
Living Vertical | | A reading from: “The Book of Secrets,” by Osho
“We divide time into three parts–past, present, future. That divison is false, absolutely false. Time is really past and future. The present is not part of time. The present is part of eternity. That which has passed is time; that which is to come is time. That [...] | | 11/12/2008 7:03:10 PM |
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driste
breath | | There are moments in life that take your breath away. There are moments of incredible joy, those times when it feels as if you could transcend beyond such a mundane thing like an exhalation. As if you could stop time in this blissful moment by just holding in the breath.
For me, I have been fortunate [...] | | 11/12/2008 1:33:38 PM |
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Ashtanga Journal
The black cat is dead! | This morning was not easy to wake up. I was still tired and my body was achy… Still crawled out of bed and then I did some hip openers because I am having knee pain… It was my right knee when I arrived and as I expected the right knee pain went away after few weeks practicing in the shala but then my left knee began aching… It is different kind of pain than the right knee had. For the right, the pain was at the back of the knee, with the left, pain is more inside of the knee… so I am just watching it, taking care of it… So if I do just basic hip openers by the wall, it helps a bit.
But lets come back to the body after Acroyoga. I began thinking that I am not cut for acroyoga. Maybe this is not right… it was just my first time yesterday… well, yesterday, I could feel my legs getting achy… this morning, my upper arms, my right wrist, my buttocks, my legs were all achy and I Was tired so the practice was not easy… I did not have that vibrancy I had yesterday morning… I guess taking this course was not the best decision in my last week at the shala. Well, I was not expecting such dynamic class, since it said Mysore massage and acroyoga etc… but it is what it is… Going back to practice, after I did my last backbend on the floor, Sharat came and smiled and did a gestures with his hands which I interpreted as he was pleased with my Kapotanasana… then he waited me to finish my drop backs with which I got a bit nervous because he was in front of me waiting… then the holding the ankles. He is very smooth with that, and today I could balance on my own after he got me there…
So, to go back to acroyoga or not? Well, I went back today… This time, I paired up with Donna… she was having difficulty working with Chris as I was having difficulty working with Scott… well, just being able to hold up men is much more difficult because of strength and weight differences. I can say it was better with Donna but still, I feel like I am the weakest link. I cannot hold her up much long. But I went through another day.
By the way, this afternoon, I stopped by the shala to tell Sharat that this Friday will be my last day. He said "ohh okey" and I thanked him and told him that I want to come back when he is teaching again (the rumors of him taking a break etc.). I asked whether to check on his web site and he said yes and he asked whether I know his website or not and then he went inside to give me his card. His card is very nice, full of the wild life photos he has taken...
What else there is? Ohhh you mean the title? That is the black cat. You remember the black cat which was waking up in the middle of the night and pissing on my window? He is dead because someone poisoned him. My sister called few minutes ago in tears. She said that she found him in her garden dead with foams in his mouth which means someone poisoned him. My sister had been feeding her along with other street cats and as you all know, he liked to hang out in her garden so he came back to the garden to die because it was like his home. I wish that he is peaceful wherever he is now... | | 11/11/2008 4:07:00 AM |
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Malaysian In Mysore
Thanks For The Inspiration, Mysore! | Since I've been back from Mysore, I felt I have carried back a bit of its magic with me. I'm managing to practice on my own - which is great for the days I can't make it to the yoga studio. The last class I went to, I'm binding in Marichyasana D on BOTH sides (with help, of course).
The trip to Mysore has certainly inspired me. Practicing in the shala, one could feel a certain energy that is quite special. The Jois family, the students there, all add to my inspiration. Also, reading about the blogs of other people's practice, their dedication is also very inspiring.
So, I like to share a Malay song from Malaysia with you all. It's called "Kau Ilham Ku" (which is translated as "You Are My Inspiration")
Translation -
Thousands of stars in the sky now disappear
Leaving the darkness to caress me
The drifting moon now starts to fade
My inspiration vanishes and leaves me lost
A flash of your face appears in this silence
A flicker of ray appears
Is it merely a star or a ray of moonlight
And I express my gratitude
Allow me to steal a shadow of your face
Allow me to steal a dream with you
Forgive me ...oooo....
If this song disrupts your life
Your smile ...oooo.....
Is a figment of my memory within this arena
You are my inspiration
You are my inspiration
Allow me to steal a shadow of your face
Allow me to steal a dream with you
Forgive me ...oooo....
If this song disrupts your life
Your smile ...oooo.....
Is a figment of my memory within this arena
You are my inspiration
Allow me to steal a shadow of your face
You are my inspiration
You are my inspiration
Allow me to steal a dream with you
You are my inspiration
You are my inspiration
Allow me to steal a shadow of your face
You are my inspiration
You are my inspiration
Allow me to steal a dream with you
You are my inspiration
Credits to Youtube users Adeputera and Greenie85 | | 11/10/2008 8:15:00 AM |
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No Idea Generator
New pose! | 
Someone called it 'side rooster', which fits oddly enough. I was thinking svayayasana, which is 'the posture of self-study'. It's rough, and sooooo worth it. | | 11/8/2008 5:30:00 PM |
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Lymphoma Journey
It's true - I'm really feeling a lot better! | Just a short note to say that the CT scan of my chest showed signs of a chest infection - nothing else! So I was prescribed some antibiotics for the infection which I started taking at the beginning of last week. Also last week I went back to the acupuncturist I had been seeing in the intervals between chemo treatments last year. I'd suddenly remembered him and wondered if acupuncture could help get rid of this infection/virus/whatever.
And - one or both of them have had a significant effect! I didn't say anything for a few days, because in the course of this illness I have thought I was getting better a few times, only for it to come back with a vegeance a day or two later. But I really am feeling so much better - yippee!!
I am looking forward to teasing my doctor when I see him again just before Christmas, by telling him that I don't know if it was his antibiotics, or the acupuncture treatment that fixed me up!! | | 11/2/2008 9:29:00 PM |
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Between Ease And Effort
Fat is good...I want it back!!!! | I have pretty low body fat. 2 years back I was around 18%. Now, its probably around mid to low teens. Besides yoga, I don't do much other exercise, I did almost try a triathlon, but gave it up cos I thought it tightened me up too much.
Anyway, now that I don't have much fat, I really want it back..I've been eating quite a bit, and supplementing with fish oil and other stuff to make sure I don't have too little fat in the body, but the fat ends up going to the wrong place..;(
My weight it exactly the same as before, the only difference is that I've managed to replace it with muscle mass..and whatever additional weight I put on ends up where I don't want it (ie the hips). I don't know if this is a natural part of aging, but I suspect that losing too much body fat is NOT a good thing..and I really wish I had not.
Anyway, I'm contemplating cutting down practice more to see if it helps me get back to what I was before, but at the same time, I'd miss my practice so much...I wonder if this is a sign of ashtanga addiction...
Anyhow, this is a strange post I guess, but it is related in part to the physical changes I see taking place in myself (I suspect because of my practice) and I think it does have a place here. Not everyone will have the same problem as me I guess, some of my friends don't seem to lose much weight despite practising like a fiend, but I have a naturally high metabolic rate as well, which compounds the issue.
So yeah, I want my fat back, even if it makes lifting up and arm balancing much harder to do! | | 11/2/2008 12:28:00 AM |
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The Big Squish
Wandering around in a fog | After consulting with the physician and nurses, the family decided to discontinue meds and mechanical life support of Dad. He wasn't making any improvement since being admitted, and as time passed, his chances of getting better were diminishing. My main concern was that he be in as little pain as possible and that we should not prolong his suffering needlessly. We all took our turns to say our goodbyes. I was feeling so many different emotions, but mostly, I was numb with shock.
Sometime before 4:30 pm, the nurses started "the process" of giving him morphine and taking him off the IVs and ventilator. His heart continued beating faintly and irregularly for about an hour, then his breathing completely stopped.
I think he was ready to go. His friends noticed that he was a little down during the last couple of weeks. His angiogram did not have great news and it was clear that he needed to have bypass surgery. He was likely thinking about how much he could tolerate the surgery itself and whether he was going to be really out of the danger zone afterwards. Little things he said lately made me think that he was preparing us for what might happen.
It's been good for the family to distract ourselves from the grief and focus the arrangements for the funeral service. I'm going to say a few things and get some help from a friend to work up a segment in formal Chinese (similar to what I did for my mom two and a half years ago).
It's going to be challenging to summarize this remarkable man's life. He was a hardworking entrepreneur who lived and pursued his dreams with intensity. | | 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM |
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Eat, Pray, Love... the Kim Smith Version
Bangalore Airport - October 30, 2008 | 
I’ve left Mysore. It hasn’t really hit me yet, or maybe I’m just so tired. I haven’t gotten a lot of sleep over the last two nights with the fireworks and over-stimulation from getting ready to leave.
Nice last day. Very long, leisurely breakfast at Alias. Several people turned up to see me off.
Then a day of pampering (manicure, pedicure, etc) before a few last minute errands, lunch at Tinas (palak rotis...mmmmm) and a 4:30 car to the airport. It took 4 hours to drive here and I absorbed the last of India. The chaotic traffic, the families of 4 on scooters. That distinctive smell of burning something and the ever present pollution (worse as we neared Bangalore.) Then the airport. I feel like I’ve entered another world. It’s brand new and very, very modern. It’s clean with great western toilets with toilet paper and no bin...do you actually flush the paper? What a concept! I’m not the only westerner here. Not by a long shot.
It’s funny, in Mysore the only westerners tend to be yoga students. If you go into the city you may not see a westerner during the entire trip, depending on where you are. I’ve gotten used to standing out in a crowd. I’ve also, apparently gotten used to seeing nothing but beautiful people in terms of westerners (mostly young with great yoga bodies). Here westerners come in all sizes and it’s kind of freaking me out. I feel very disoriented actually. My mind is starting to go crazy as well with a lot of fear as I get ready to enter the real world and to pick up my life. My very disjointed life at the moment with a new country, new job, no permanent place to live at the moment and new friends to make. It will all be fine, but in my current state I am focusing on the negative. I’m very grateful that I have the tools though to calm the chitta vrittis and to realise that that’s just where I am right now...this too shall pass.
My practice today was absolutely awesome. The best ever and that’s no exaggeration. I was not at all stiff. I really flowed. I worked so deeply into my hips during the sitting poses. I bound fully and deeply in Supta Kurmasana and crossed my ankles over my head and then I got back up and balanced on my hands without having to come out of it. I touched the floor with my palms facing out during Prasarita C. But the best news is that I dropped back by myself. Only once and with a lot of coaching from Sharath but I did it! I was waiting to be dropped back. Sharath was dropping Jen back who was right next to me so I didn’t even think I’d have the chance to practice, but he was taking awhile so I started to go back. He started saying, “more back bending, bend your neck” over and over again. Then he went to the person in back of me. I had come up and decided to go back down. He said the same and then I got to the critical point he said, “now straight arms”. I did and bump! I hit the floor...with my hands and not my head. In the end it seemed effortless. It was amazing. Then he tried to get me to come up. That wasn’t happening. Neither was the second drop back. I was shaking and crying in relief and disbelief and completely oblivious when Saraswati actually did drop me back. She smiled though and said, “good day!”. I said, “It’s a Mysore miracle.” I cried through the finishing poses. Bawled actually. It was so bitter sweet. I love this practice!
This practice changes you. It just does. You can’t practice this regularly and this intensely and continue to define yourself in the same way. I’ve realised very intensely over the last few months how I’ve defined myself as a weak person. Not physically, mentally or emotionally strong. But you can’t do this practice if you’re weak. That adjective just doesn’t describe me anymore. In any way.
If you’re lucky, not only with the practice in Mysore redefine you, so will the people. I’ve been lucky. I’ve made several soul connections. Some I know I’ll stay in touch with the rest of my life. Some were only meant to be fleeting connections. Brief in duration but not less important. I’ve changed lives and mine has certainly been changed.
I know over the coming days, weeks and months I’ll start to define and redefine this experience. I know I’ll parse it over in my mind and categorise it. I know I’ll lose some of what I’m feeling now and that I’ll carry much of it with me forever.
I know for sure that Mysore has changed me. The place, the practice and the people and for that I’ll be eternally grateful. | | 10/31/2008 3:12:00 AM |
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On The Ashtanga Path
After the break | After a one-week-break I had again an Ashtanga practice today. Last week I practiced some Vinyasa freestyle for giving my hamstrings a break: No forward bends and much hamstring-strengthening. And I put some castor-oil on the areas where it's hurting most. I have no idea if this will help anything but Arjuna once recommended it and so I try it. Perhaps it will help if I believe so :-)
Practice today was ok. I was extremely careful, did all forward bends with bent legs and so on. Actually it was better than I thought before. I felt a little pain in Uttitha Trikonasana and Prasarita Padottanasanas, but these were always the difficult poses related to my ham |
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