YogiPod » Places

I Heart Everywhere

YogiPod — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:26:34 +0000

Coming down from a week in SoHo. New York has everything. One would think Point Clear might feel quiet and sleepy compared to the City. The cacophony of birds chirping here is gloriously loud. Do you ever wonder sometimes that your life could have been completely different had you but made the ‘other’ choice that ‘one’ time? Do you ever wonder if you’re missing out by being where you are? Last night I recharged my nerves and senses with a restorative inversions practice. On the iPod… Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. Please listen to this beautiful music. I can’t remember a more ethereal yoga practice – a priceless experience. A floating sensation, high and light, bones settle into the support of the earth holding me. Stepping into the current of grace through a practice of yoga is deeply satisfying. Purna, or fullness is here and now and ordinary because everyday I take the journey to the inner landscape of my heart where Everything resides.

Below, you can sample and purchase the MP3’s of this music mentioned above.

Yoga Off The Mat or Tantra Latte Factor

YogiPod — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:45:00 +0000

It is the eve of my graduation from Yoga Teacher Training at a big studio in Austin, TX. I love yoga and I love to teach yoga and tomorrow after a nine month program, I will, in the eyes of the Alliance that deems us qualified, be certified to teach my art. Certification vs. qualification– another day’s blog.

So we talk alot about yoga off the mat. I am, in this moment, having a truly ecstatic yogic experience–yes– right this second. I don’t normally do it, but since I am on the road, and cruising on foot, I went to the nearest coffee shop –you know the one. It’s on every street corner and 4- lane highway in America.

So I went in for a decaf. I got swayed into buying some dark chocolate covered graham cracker cookies. Not on the ‘yogic diet’. But the pierced, tattooed, cool-chunky- dyed-hair girl barrista was SO Austinite-nice and convincing about how totally awesome dipping the dark chocolate covered graham cracker cookies in the hot coffee is. I was easily sold. Because really, how can chocolate get any better? How can coffee get any better?

I walked back to the apartment where I am staying alone. And I sat down at this computer. I dipped the cookie into the coffee as instructed, took the first bite and OMG–it’s like the union of Shiva and Shakti. The graham cracker softens and dissolves within the chocolate while on your tongue. Then the chocolate slithers all melty-like covering the entire cavern of the mouth. It is a simultaneous textural experience and taste bud explosion. This yoking, or union of cookie, chocolate, and coffee is simple in theory yet multifaceted in experience. This is tantra man! Pure delight in my heart, the free choice of a pleasurable foray (in an area usually ‘disciplined’), and it’s ALL intrinsically good. This is one of the most profound lessons from my yoga teacher training here in Austin. Oh, if the course had only cost $4.71…I would certainly be investing more into my latte factor.

Yoga-ing The Situation

YogiPod — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 23:37:00 +0000

Greetings from Point Clear, AL. I am talking about Lower Alabama (the other LA), on Mobile Bay way down in the Gulf Coast Deep South. This is home and it is beautiful. Breathtaking sunsets, chirping birdies, golf carts as transpo. It’s super nice and quiet. Yoga is nearly non-existent here. Not a single yoga studio for many many miles. But definitely the socio-economic market for it.

I have been practicing yoga for over 10 years. I cut my teeth on yoga in Los Angeles at Yoga Works and The Iyengar Institute in 1996 – 2000. For the past several years I have lived in New Orleans where I was an active yogi all over town. Last week I finished 2/3 Aunsara Immersions. It was 36 hours of intense asana, enlightening philosophy, and delightful kula. I am WAY into it. My experience of yoga here in the other LA has been different. Some people might call me a yoga snob. I just seriously value my time– especially the precious time I devote to asana, meditation, and pranayama practices. I practice alot solo in a home-studio space. I do miss the intimacy of kula. Its the good stuff of life man.

Tomorrow I head to Texas to graduate from a 9-month-long yoga teacher training program at Yoga Yoga in Austin. I have been commuting there from Point Clear. Finally after many years of teaching, I can put the little RYT after my name. Official Yoga Teacher Status. Sounds funny. But I am psyched about it.

I am on a mission to start a yoga community here. I envision a nice room with white walls and a wood floor. A group of good folks navigating their interior space. I know its gonna happen here. Its BOUND to. I’m gonna yoga a yoga community. ICCHA. JNANA. KRIYA. PeacePeacePeace