I've been to the Other Side

This past weekend was really good, 12 explorers looking for the "teacher within."
Kinda like a bunch of astronauts on an adventure to the other side of the moon...
The unknown being discovered, light being shone into areas that need illumination.
Exciting to be part of something totally new and spontaneous... surely meant for greatness.

I now feel like a modern-day Magellan...
Mapping pathways for others to follow and find the bliss that comes with yoga.
Creativity holds no bounderies for this exploration...
And I agree with Einstein that imagination is more important!

So since I've "sailed back to my home land"...
I continue to contemplate my journeys inward.
Conceptualizing trails for others to follow me, or actually find themselves.
It definitely is a Hero's Journey

The next step is into videotaping some of my "travels" & insights...
Definitely plans to be unscripted and spontaneous as these blogs.
Probably will only be able to view them once personally,
and then let them float off into the history known as the world wide web...

Forever Young

My life is interesting... always finding clues as I walk my path.
Lately this term has been popping up everywhere... "forever young"
Fascinating how it calls to me from so many directions

I'm not afraid of growing old, this world insures that will occur eventually...
Wisdom that I search for comes with time and experience...
"Youth is wasted on the young" is a quote I've heard before, but wisdom may be wasted on the aged.
So many people accept that as the months are torn off the calendar, so are the possibilities!

Working on a college campus, I am shocked at times by those that feel "24" is old or that someone "my age" is somehow different. I rarely , if ever share a number because I don't fit in their box. The things i do defy the norm and biological aging is very independent of the calendar. I'm like a dog where we have to multiple by 7 to get a "correct age". Except with me you subtract 15 and then use a complex algebra formula that factors in yoga sessions, board & cycle wipeouts, and the number of miles driven in freeway traffic. Usually I just say, "how old would you guess I am?" followed with a "good guess!" I don't care, so why should you?!?!

So it leads me back to forever young. Since the Spirit never dies...
May we remember that "we are not here for very long..."
I pursue excellence, and though hair my gray, wrinkles define, and my memories give me away...
So please don't ask me to "act my age"...
I will be forever young.

Gas Station Yoga Session

OK... watching my dollars trickle into my tank is never very entertaining...
So last night as that ritual was being performed, I slipped into a rather natural flow series.
Of course anything to do with touching something other than my own body is out of the question.
A gas station is not your typical "studio", but isn't asana more about action & personal connection than location?!

A few warriors started the juices going as my big rain jacket gave me a sense of privacy as cars came and left.
In fact I was oblivious of everything but my body's sensations... till the cop car rolled up on me.
The didn't say anything, but there expression was enough for me to crack up...
They must have been so jealous, hahaha :-) Yeah, think hard! What kind of ticket must I be earning right now?!! heehee

I did start comtemplating the Side B training with Kira Made me think of Alana and how she always wants to do hamstring stretches when I'm around?! So the flow went into trikonasana variations with some nice transitions into ardha chandrasana, warrior 3s & some of the star poses from Ganga White's class. Love doing this flow without ever putting my hands on anything but my own leg for support. Cops left when they saw I wasn't a criminal, just some kinda of harmless balance fanatic :-)

For the record...I'm not some yoga exhibitionist, just a guy who enjoys how good life is with movement.
I play hard and the key to remaining youthful may very well be yoga... plus it feels so good!
For me the "yoga mat" isn't a spot, but a state of mind.

The truth will always prevail

I stand before you as an example of this statement...
As today reinforces that day some years ago when it was first revealed to me.
Actually I questioned the statement, "I'm going to be a teacher?" (somewhat incredulously!)
North Shore of Kauai, a Heaven on Earth.

I thought... don't you have to actually be able to stand in front of a bunch of people?!
And not have your throat dry up like you swallowed 30 cotton balls?!!!?
Isn't that something people do if they "can't cut it in the real world?" (Something I remember hearing as a fourth grader from some smart-ass classmate).

With kindness... the Great Spirit laugh that fateful day.

I'm sure I heard that same "laughter" echoing in my ears today as I stood in front of two groups of students.
Intent on learning from my gift of sharing, receiving insights into my surfing lifestyle.
So natural It has now become, whether on a mat, in the surf, on the end of a rope...
I see now how the Truth always prevails...

Honesty is the lubricant, I believe, that facilitates the Truth to Shine.
Sometimes we see it before our eyes are ready for It's Light (as I did that day).
Other times it comes tumbling out of our mouths as sweet as a Rumi song...
How I love to be that crystal stream that breeds such soothing revelations!

Be assured that Truth does not need justification from another or your own ego.
Trust is the Altar that It shall rest upon!
Be strong and brave for you are a beacon of the Beloved that has chosen to express...
Humbleness shall carry this Vibration for eternity... so release the moment and allow it to linger on your Heart...

Anywhere Yoga

OK, i've come up with a name for my style of "private" yoga practice... "anywhere yoga"
Like zen muffin will contest, it all adds up :-)
As I have reported in the past, it works great for passing time when waiting for things to happen...
Allowing time to always appear productive and supportive to my well-being.

So today as I slipped into a session as I "helped" my friend pick out a new bikini...
Only second time we've hung out, so i was still feeling out the situation...
I realize my yoga practice also works to calm me in places of uncertainty.
A swimsuit shop sounds like "heaven" to most guys, but its a little awkward for me :-)
Kinda reminds of those days mom dragged me around the mall as I would try to sneak away to the tool or sports section.

So as I did a little "shoulder flossing" that Noah taught while politely suggesting "this one?" "or i like that one" :-)
I've come to realized how much i rely on my practice... almost subconsciously now, though I did become self-conscious of my "flow" when the helper girl caught me doing a couple of warrior IIs by the front door while my friend was in the changing room, hahaha!!
Went outside a dozen times so it was obvious i wasn't a perv! hah!!

Nothing like a few deep breathes outside the shop to ground me and some board groping in the shop next door to increase that testosterone flow again... Sidewalk crowd looked confused as I was in eagle arms to cactus/swamp monster chest openers. Thats the beauty of "anywhere yoga", you develop this inner island of "this is absolutely normal, have a nice day confidence." Though I still keep it pretty basic.
I did take it to a spicy level when i found this great handrail that allowed me to work on my peacock pose... though if I fell out of it I'd land on my head. Reminded me of the later days of teacher training when we worked on arm balances, having showed off to friends on the street my peacock pose that had me land on my nose, heehee!
Nothing like a little fear of bodily harm to help pull off a posture!

Well, I look forward to where my next session will find me.

resolution??

wow... first post of the year?!
i'm wondering... was that one of my resolutions? no typing of my feelings?!! haha!
Or is because of the revolution... "America is now saved," thanks Obama.
No I'm not going political with this blogspot!!!!



This year its all about the music!
Been banging on my djembe
It's like another form of yoga, finding that inner rhythm is so profound with a skin instrument.
Breathing... effortless flowing... relaxing those shoulders, as the music pours from my soul :-)

I attended my first drumcircle at this "godess temple"
Was fun and I was glad to have my buddy Albert there to back up my beat...
It gets chaotic in that type of session, especially compared to the traditional lessons I've been getting.
Loving my drum Matilija... she is a beauty to see and hear!

The Day of LOVE

This "Time" of the year always seems so special...
No, it's not because we are out of school, or having time off from work, or getting to open presents, or that winter snow is falling for our snowboard adventures, or that summer time is brightening our days of "shrimps on the bar-bee"!!

It's the Magnification of the LOVE that is being shared...

Of course, we go through so many experiences of these "Times" through the years...
I can remember being, as my niece & nephew now express, "is there another gift to be opened?" :-)
I now know that "thirst" really could never be quenched, because it isn't the objects we need.

I remember adolescence, pretending for my siblings that I too think I heard someone on our roof and wonder how HE got in when we didn't have a chimney!
Last night, I put two round pieces of chocolate outside by the dish of hay... to show the twins that "the reindeer pooped after their treat" and I also had the honor of leaving the cookie crumbs as well :-)
I still choose to believe in that MAGIC!!!

I have grown tolerant in this ritual of "madness" that retail brings during the last month of the year...
And patient with those that have forgotten the SPIRIT of the Season...
There still is LOVE that gets transferred anyways :-P
My "knowings" allow me to find IT easier and be content to "drink IT" in for all ITs worth.

I am able to participate with compassion and wisdom, not frustrated that some toys break after only one use.
And to be able to silently witness the need of "stealing" a gift during the White Elephant, instead of risking opening the unknown bag of uselessness!
Also be able to rejoice seeing someone else give that gift I saw, but didn't buy for that special person :-)

So I respect what you & what you choose to "call" this Day(s), this "Time", this Season...
And how you go about expressing YOUR LOVE...
Somehow I am effected and fortunate to get a "hit" of IT, even if ITs indirectly received.

May you sleep well tonight and may WE ALL remember to re-create THIS LOVE again tomorrow!!