Self Practice and Grief

Self Practice and Grief

When I got to Goa, I felt anonymous again. In Mysore, I felt like everyone had heard. I was the ashtangi who got hate crime’d in the face after his house burned down. I wanted to be the tall pretty one. Or the smart one. But for now, I was very much the tragic one. Luckily, Rolf wasn’t watching the news. I was just one more 6’3 drop back for him to do. And he was happy to oblige– quietly sharing lite bits here and there in my ear about his work. But not so happy with it that I didn’t get assigned sone extra. Great. After 27 years of shrinking myself for others, I got to just be the big one. You gotta gang…

Rolf Naujokat

Rolf Naujokat

“Easy come, easy go,” Rolf would say. My teacher has passed. Rolf taught along the Arabian Sea, between the psytrance and the sand— just in from the jungles of Goa. As complex as he was simple and straightforward, he lived and led by example. He changed my life. He made clear that liberation was available to each of us, starting with the malarkey of our present condition. I want nothing more in this life than to make him proud. He’d likely rather that I be gardening, swimming, praying— anything other than typing. Especially not posting photos. Rolf would say how unimportant it was for your guru to even know your name— that your guru just needed to know you. It meant something to me when…

Embracing the Chaos Muppet Within: The Art of Teaching Ashtanga Yoga

Embracing the Chaos Muppet Within: The Art of Teaching Ashtanga Yoga

Are you a Chaos Muppet or an Order Muppet? Explore the challenges and joys of being a ‘chaos Muppet’ Ashtanga Yoga teacher. I discuss finding a balance between the structured discipline of Ashtanga and a spontaneous, adaptable teaching style. The piece highlights the importance of being true to oneself in teaching and the advantages of blending structured methods with creative freedom. This approach fosters an inclusive and dynamic learning environment.

The Dharma Talk I Couldn’t Give: Conscious Consumerism

The Dharma Talk I Couldn’t Give: Conscious Consumerism

Confronting the farce of conscious consumerism, this week’s dharma talk became a journey into stark reality. As an Ashtanga Yoga teacher, I grappled with the hypocrisy of our consumption patterns. From the Washington Post’s strike to Kristen Krash’s radical shift in Ecuador, these contrasting scenarios reveal the deep chasm between minor lifestyle changes and true liberation from consumerism. Acknowledging Carl Jung’s wisdom, we explore the unavoidable pain inherent in our societal system. This article delves into making conscious, albeit limited, choices while fostering compassion for our constraints. It’s a candid exploration of the struggle to find balance in an imperfect world

The Paradox of the Yoga Flame

The Paradox of the Yoga Flame

In this piece, I dive into the heart of yoga’s transformative journey, examining the balance between the intensity of practice and the tranquility it nurtures. I challenge you to rethink what we truly seek from our yoga journey – is it the relentless pursuit of physical intensity or the quest for inner peace and harmony? Whether you’re a long-time yogi or just starting out, this article offers a fresh perspective that resonates with practitioners at all stages. Discover insights that might just change the way you view your yoga practice.”

From Fervent Flames to Steady Glow: A Yoga Odyssey Over Time

From Fervent Flames to Steady Glow: A Yoga Odyssey Over Time

Inspired by a conversation with Caroline Weaver, this piece delves into the evolving nature of yoga — from reflections on intensity to age. It questions our relentless pursuit of intensity in practice and invites us to savor its current state and the internal transformation it ignites. Join Caroline and I as we explore the shift from seeking external intensity to finding internal fulfillment and wisdom. If you’re intrigued by the deeper aspects of yoga beyond physicality, this article offers insightful reflections on balancing vigor with inner peace. Read now and discover how true transformation in yoga lies within us.

On New Moons and Nose Rings

On New Moons and Nose Rings

My first full day in India fell on a new moon. One of my favorite things about following a lunar cycle is the tiny bit of joy I get turning my iphone’s little green “alarm” switch from it’s perpetual “on” to it’s quiet white off. There is a visceral unraveling of inverted anticipation. Prone to waking up a few moments before my alarm, this very rarely happens on a moonday. My body just *knows* what the deal is. My loving partner Michael is generally pretty glad that we ashtangi’s take no practice on this day. Before he’s jealous he can’t stay in bed with me, he’s firstly tickled to not have to hear the synthed out buzzer. I cuddled with a travelpillow and cardigan and…

Time Travel

Time Travel

Is it telling that I slept on the car ride from Bangalore to Mysore? The last two times, I was wide-eyed, heck, WILD-eyed, sitting on the edge of my seat. Not unlike my dear pooch Sebastian with his head out the window, I couldn’t help but marvel. Everything was so foreign! I had never seen anything like, well, anything I was seeing. It was all so new. It was all so different. How had some of it become a bit… pass the salt? I’ve brought a plethora of books to read. Unfortunately, other than a 30 page smattering on the Mirror of Yoga, the only thing I got a really good read of on this trip was the back of my own eyelids. If all…

Bonsai and the Gita: The Living Art of Letting Go

Bonsai and the Gita: The Living Art of Letting Go

[quote style=”1″]be intent on action, not on the fruits of action. avoid attachment to the fruits. — (Bhagavad-Gita 2:47)[/quote] The walls shook, the windows shattered. Each and every family member was sliced by the implosive force of the atomic bomb. In the back of the Yamaki home was a garden full of exquisite trees. Not cloud piercing orchards full of fruit-bearing blossoms, but a collection of diminutive  trees and gardens of cool water-rubbed stone. Some gave a sense of whimsy, the kind of tree and knoll atop which a fairy might read her latest tome, whilst others would look right at home in a forest of their size dissonant kin. For an island so small to have a wall so tall was one of a…