shackin’
up

450 y/o Jagdish Temple, Udaipur

>> Jaipur Udaipur

jaipur

⁣”You have to match their impedence,” @berylbenderbirch so elegantly mused. My ears perked up. As an athlete, I felt seen and heard when ms Birch spoke of facilitating a person like me’s practice of yoga—that being an active, sometimes social individual’s —on The Yoga Talks Podcast with @jbrownyoga . So often the physical aspect of practice gets derided as “low” or something— and in fact it’s through my bodily connection (or lack there of) that I’m able to access interior mind states. That my impedance. ⁣
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She knows a little something about matching impendence— she’s helped thousands upon thousands of runners pick up a long lasting and sustainable yoga practice by offering yoga classes to the New York Road Runners. ⁣
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For a lot of folks, this brings to mind helping overtaxed runners stretch out some achy calves— and it very much is. But, and this is where it gets so deliciously subversive — teaching a class called “Yoga for Runners” doesn’t mean simply teaching calf stretches to marathoners— it means helping them learn how to use a really enjoyable and therapeutic sequence of body positioning to develop deeper states of attention. ⁣
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It’s from those deeper states of attention that the really juicey stuff starts to happen— like when meditation states start to spontaneously blossom out of those deep concentration states. And god, are runners able to concentrate on their poor aches legs. ⁣
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I’m one of the ones that was reached by finding *that* yoga teacher and *that* yoga class at my gym. ⁣
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Come see me at @balancegym on Friday’s at 12. I’m back March 1.

dehli is ok

Parts unknown and beauty unspoiled.

valentines heart openers

What are you willing to put your neck on the line for? Is it justice for all? Are you a Social Justice Warrior?⁣
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It’s Black History Month in the states, and I see and hear very few white people celebrating/ commemorating/ commenting on the past of our black brothers and sisters. ⁣in the Ashtanga Yoga world, I have seen very few of my seniors taking up the sword for feminism, queer rights, or the empowerment of the disenfranchised. Heck, who has spoken up for sexual assault victims in our own community? ⁣
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Why not? ⁣
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Regular yoga practice begins to tear down the boundaries between “you” and “me” and “them” and “us”. It also emboldens and empowers the practitioner to make choices that lead to less long term suffering— as deeply entrenched as some of our own pain pain inducing habits and patterns are — and how precious the illusions seem. ⁣
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Combine the two, the feeling of oneness between creatures and the desire for liberation from bondage and pain, and you almost can’t help but become an ally to those who are marginalized in a society in which you have sway. In fact, to not use your voice to elevate is an act of rite cowardice. ⁣
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I love the term Social Justice Warrior. Take a look at this excerpt from the Bhagavad Gita and tell me if you can see why: ⁣
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O Arjuna, the Atma that dwells in the body of all (beings) is eternally indestructible. Therefore, you should not mourn for any body. (2.30)⁣
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Considering also your duty as a warrior you should not waver. Because there is nothing more auspicious for a warrior than a righteous war. (2.31)⁣
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Only the fortunate warriors, O Arjuna, get such an opportunity for an unsought war that is like an open door to heaven. (2.32)⁣
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If you will not fight this righteous war, then you will fail in your duty, lose your reputation, and incur sin. (2.33)⁣
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People will talk about your disgrace forever. To the honored, dishonor is worse than death. (2.34)⁣ —

Join me at the @eatonworkshop this March for led classes and Mysore with @dcashtanga — hit me up for more info.

“Don’t be extra.”

home is
where the
hut is

Charlie
would
never maybe