come to #slaymyname tonight
at @tradebardc

wtf am
I
even
doing this
chipper

happy Pride!!!

Me:

@pasqualee_g
I stole your video

My friends:

about last night.

Happy Pride!!!

Pride

@balancegym

Coming?

sometimes I practice with shoes and no shirt and I’m pretty sure I’m breaking rules (janu b is the only bummer)

i missed this.

50 kB swings
50 wall balls
59 side to side ball slams

4 min 23 sec

she cute & stuff.
Thx for the inspo
@glaurius

Thinking of you @fitqueenirene

into it.

into

test drive. @emerymargaret

Intro to Mysore, Tuesday & Wednesday, June 11 & 12.
Includes 2 weeks of Mysore at @dcashtanga — Come learn the basics in a comfortable environment with a small group.

Check link in bio.
Proudly in residence at @eaton.dc

one year
full circle
ilu papi @yasmikey

caught ashtanga flow with @madeline.miskie at @eaton.dc practice with
@yasmikey
@verymarybeth
feeling like from
@daniidc

d
A
M
N

@kcbyonce at @smithsonian #saam and #bygays

@kcbyonce —
She is unfuckwithable wait... 🤽🏿‍♀️

it’s shake and bake
and I helped.

bye.

8 years.

This shirt is
20+ years old
so there’s
that this shirt
is 20+ years
old so there’s
that

Feeling super grateful to have someone I can ask for help when I need it— thanks, Paul. @flourishallways does traditional Chinese medicine a ton more. I’ve recommended him for years and still do.

Tighten that core, Hall.

@michaeldumlao find your light. stand in it. You are exemplary.

The jefferson curls: -video is slowed down 3x (one rep took 45 seconds) -start weight low (i’m using 60, but recommend something like 25 to begin) -feel each vertebrae segment individually (like one precious pearl rolling over another! -deep, deep abdominal engagement the whole time. -deeply therapeutic and also useful (but be smart!).

JEFFERSON CURLS

@lashoneearlwilson Fab class at @hotyogacapitolhill
— yes humidity. Juice.

Wednesday:
@eaton.dc
Mysore: 7-10
Flow: 1:30-2:30
Mysore: 5:30-7 Tuesday:
@eaton.dc
Mysore: 7-10
Flow: 12-1
Mysore 5:30-7 Wednesday:
@eaton.dc .

Mysore: 7-10
Flow: 1:30-2:30
Mysore 5:30-7

I (have) had a nice calm Saturday (so far).

make friends—
add
each
other! ps: who did
i miss?? thanks:
#eatondc
@roarborealis
@korikam
@esh421
@emerymargaret @ryanpcathcart

primary. Sapta-Ashtau (7-8) Marichiasana B

taking a
pointer from
@jbottino

ready for today like

3.

2.

1.

contemplating

Sunday

10:30am

@eaton.dc
#ASHTANGA #FLOW all are
welcome

@glaurius i can not wait

If someone wants to practice yoga because they think it looks cool, let them do it. ⁣
⁣
Meeting practitioners where they are matters. Both in a literal physical sense (at their schools, neighborhoods, work places) but also very much demonstrations and presentation. ⁣
⁣
I’m going to paraphrase and addendum a story i heard from @rupaulofficial — a retelling of a similar story from the Buddha:⁣
⁣
Between two islands is a great body of water. The first island is the Island of Sleep, the second the Island of Awake. A young man on the sleepy isle wants very much to awaken, and as such he is inspired to build a raft to take on the sea. ⁣
⁣
Patiently and persistently, he fashions a raft to take on the sea. Astonishingly, he makes it to the other side. ⁣
⁣
Now, having made it to the Isle of Awake, he continues onwards. He makes his way about the island, running into an old man. ⁣
⁣
The old man is surprised to see him still clinging to his raft. “Why do you still carry the vessel, boy? Do you wish to return to sleep?”. ⁣
⁣
“No, but what if i need the raft?”” says the younger man. ⁣
⁣
“If you think you still need the raft, you don’t sound like you plan on staying. The purpose of the raft was to cross the sea. You have crossed the sea.” ⁣
⁣
“But what if i want to go back and help others find their way?”⁣
—⁣
⁣
For me the story is a reminder to let go of the dogma associated with all spiritual practice, that transcendence when it arrives really has arrived. That being said, what if the boy had never been inspired to build the raft in the first place? What good would he have been done staying on the island?⁣
⁣
If you wish to help people across the sea, you better be a damn fine raft maker. And, if you don’t need the raft any more— good for you— but why not give others a hand?

bloop

my fave:
my hottest spot

@yasmikey

my good morning text from this one
came with an
affirmation of love (he drew the heart)

founder of @eaton.dc my spot

Today is my birthday. “Are you excited?”

This has been a year of growth. My work, my imagination, and my love. ⁣
⁣
I’m learning how...⁣
... to be in relationship. ⁣
... to compromise — without feeling compromised. ⁣
... to share. ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣I’m learning how...⁣
... to be more patient. ⁣
To be more trusting. ⁣
To be a better partner. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I’m learning. ⁣
I’m growing. ⁣⁣
⁣
In love. In work. In life. ⁣
⁣⁣
Together, with @yasmikey

national rescue dog day

Yoga for Self Inquiry — honing your sacred vision— a workshop... for getting under the surface and exploring the depths of your self. ⁣
⁣
We’ll talk philosophy, meditate, journal, and vision board. Best of all: we’ll be in community. ⁣
⁣
Friday, May 24 at 7pm — @eaton.dc — eventbrite link in bio.

What do you want to manifest?

i'm shook that's real.

Mayan Moon.

my GOD the COLOR

“Like Oscar Wilde goes to Sesame Street.”⁣
⁣
Finding rainbow connections in a Yucatan cave with my favorite partner in crime.⁣
📸 and 💟 @yasmikey (luh ya, papi). ⁣
⁣
Today’s word is “cenote”!⁣

sometimes you need
some time

papi’s birthday burrito

found this on the beach.
800m jog
20 burpees
800m run
10 power cleans

2 rounds.

ok power off

like ya do

a boy loves his shala

10 years .

SO PROUD!!

i never planned
on being the 225lb ashtangi... but here we are.

So, y'all know I've been engaged in the THICCening for the last few months -- wanna know how it's gone?
—

Papi does
good work
—
thx
@michaelgeovanni

@balancegym
does it
right

missing
my
swolemate
@yasmikey missing my
swolemate
@yasmikey

he brought me
a toy, dropped it,
and laid down
to snuggle.

Glad to
catch a
Killer
bootcamp
@balancegym

Whats one thing for sure we know about patterns? ⁣
⁣
They repeat. ⁣
⁣
In yoga practice, we’re attempting to wake up to our patternings— to become cognizant of their presence and to ask ourself, honestly: “is this useful?” ⁣
⁣
In order to change a pattern, we don’t engage in “unlearning.” Why would we want to give up our wisdoms? Instead, we plant seeds. Seeds that will grow into patterns that are useful. And then, after some time, we cycle back and ask again. Is this useful?⁣
⁣
See the pattern?⁣
⁣
One day, the seeds we plant will not require us to plant more. And that’s when we begin to stop the process of karma— and maybe, just maybe, find liberation. ⁣
⁣
But it only comes through a willingness to ask and answer honestly. And it only comes with enough patience to let certain things play out. To, as the kids say, “let go of that which does not serve us.” ⁣
⁣
Like @spaceykacey says, it’s a slow burn.

@balancegym Working
on
balancing
my
imbalances

Rollin thru
Wednesday
like
Madonna
at 60
rolls
thru
JFK

still an accurate reflection
of my priorities.

For @barbellsntacos

X5

265

24”

more of this malarkey

Oh yeah, and 8 good mornings

5 rounds.
There were 8
dB lunges too.

8 8 Cossack squat get ups focusing on hip IR

I did not
let perfection
inhibit proficient.

Chose
pleasure
over
pedantic

There comes a time and place where the voices inside your head shows the crack in the curtain. The place where you can see the wizard. The place where you see that the emperor had no clothes. The stuff of ancient allegory and parable. ⁣
⁣
If we're listening and looking outside and inwardly enough, patiently enough, we can catch it. How much is enough? Enough is enough. ⁣
⁣
When you are able to to divinate between the harsh inner critic and the guidance of our individual, yet universal, deep innate wisdom-speaker, then the journey inside becomes revelatory. Don't worry-- you are already enough. ⁣
⁣
For me, Running was it for a long time. Revelations upon Revelations. Yoga maybe took longer, but was sweeter to the tounge. Vipassana style mediation was the most intense, but worked the best. Turns out I really needed to not talk for about two weeks to start listening. For me, that was enough. ⁣
⁣
That last one, vipassana, actually had broad stroke applications that I was able to use everywhere. ⁣
⁣
It changed my yoga practice. It enhanced it. My enoughness grew. ⁣
⁣
I practice and teach Ashtanga yoga in manner that allows for revelation to occur in an individual way for the practitioner, while utilizing tried and true methodology that has broad stroke application to practice. ⁣
⁣
If you wanna learn to find your enoughness... If you want to learn a practice that is holistic, healing, and enjoyable....⁣
⁣
Come learn with me:⁣ @dcashtanga at @eaton.dc ⁣
M: 5-7pm⁣
T-F: 7-10am⁣
T-Th: 5-7pm⁣
⁣
Vinyasa at #eatondc⁣
T: 12p⁣
W: 1:30p⁣
Th: 1:30p⁣

Valor: great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle.

It's a character trait worth honing. Here's how: 🤜🏽 Stand by your moral code in the face of adversity *and* in the face of overwhelming convenience. 👊🏽 Use your privledge to elevate the marginalized. 🤜🏽 Defy your own marginalization through direct action. 👊🏽 Question everything, and if you see something, say something. 🤜🏽 Do no harm, but take no shit.
If doing the right thing was always profitable, everyone would do it. Just because it isn’t always doesn’t mean it can’t be.
Be brave enough to do things right. Talk is cheap. Action indicates priority.
If you need me, you can find me out here in these streets speaking truth to power. I'll see ya there.
This is yoga.

(and also with you)

YES

4th series research
at the gym.

Been taking
a 5:45am
HIIT class
3x this week #f45ustreet

@kcbyonce
is the
literal best

In order for contemplation practice to work, we must find a place to practice where the conditions are tolerable enough that we can sit long enough to concentrate. Our space at @eaton.dc is certainly that. ⁣
⁣
The physical location of practice can provide that, sure, but more importantly, the actual posture itself must provide that.⁣
⁣
Ashtanga Yoga, taught in the Mysore style, functions very well at creating both an abode for attention and as a physically therapeutic modality for self healing. If we pick variants of foundational postures that target our specific limitations, then we have a chance to heal them. ⁣
⁣
In this way, more “advanced” postures function diagnostically— and then, later, also therapeutically. The practice of Ashtanga Yoga systematically addresses the body. ⁣
⁣
Here, #parsvakonasanab is being performed in a manner that develops internal shoulder rotation, extension, and retraction and also hip flexion in spinal rotation. This has been done to help create more mobility for postures like #pasasana and #marichyasanac ⁣
⁣
This process allows us to slowly adapt. The discomfort of growth must be manageable. It also very clearly highlights that the posture itself is a framework for development, not an end goal. ⁣
⁣
HEYAM DUHKHAM ANAGATAM (2.16)⁣
Pain that has not yet come is avoidable.

What’s that sound in the distance? Chanting. ⁣
⁣
I searched in the birthplace of Ashtanga Yoga in order to discover its most potent form, and what I found made a mess of my sensibilities. I chanted with esteemed professors of the Sanskrit college whilst banana leaves were scanned into computers for posterity. I listened to casual talk about the infinite with men who devoted their lives to the study. And i practiced under the looming and smiling visage of a now disgraced Brahmin “master” who died before I came to the fertile soil of Mysore. ⁣
⁣
What for? For an understanding of yoga, and then later for an accreditation to teach just that. The laugh of it all is that my ranking inside of the authorizing organization has been based on physical accomplishment, not my pedagogical ones. ⁣
⁣
This makes some sense when you consider the selection process... how often you turn up for practice and how deep down the syllabus you are able to dive. Progression by attrition— can you outlast the impetus to turn away. ⁣
⁣
I could. ⁣
⁣
But now, on the other side of having received “the gurus” blessing to teach, i wonder about its value. The heirarchical nature of the guru-shishya model leads to some concerns on my end. I don’t have a problem with heirarchy... i have a problem with blind faith and abuse. ⁣
⁣
For example, was i too fat? The “guru” had certainly told me to stop eating so much if i wanted to make an asana happen. I had been eating my feelings more than the rice for months at that point. No. Thank you. ⁣
⁣
I don’t have a stomach for the “vande gurunam” any longer because it’s this kind of encouraged prostration to authority that leads to the police being quietly ushered away from world tours of retired Sanskrit scholars, young woman being taken out of shalas in stretchers, and gay boys having dormant eating disorders stoked. ⁣
⁣
As director of @dcashtanga i still encourage chanting— but the chants we chant are older than the dirt of mysore’s palace. I still encourage practice in its most raw form— contemplation, breath, movement, and stillness— and I trust that the practice will become self evident of its excellence. ⁣

3 more weeks

oh, it’s pretty. i don’t assign pretty. why do you think I might offer this? for which posture might this be therapeutic? guys: great job, @mikeybs345

four years ago,
I came home.

#fbf March 9

Love this one.

After seven years or so years of practice, I wondered to myself “where are the mystics? The wizened ones? The enlightened? Those that had reached the highest states of yoga?” ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
In the interest of believing by seeing, i set off on a journey to find the ones who knew the methods that would bring about samadhi— because it had been attained. I had a hard time understanding why I knew so many yogis with so little experience of yoga. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Along the way I learned that enlightenment is a wisdom - truth state that is available to absolutely anyone willing and able to put in the work that will lead to it. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I learned that our ability to stay in the state of samadhi, of deep intertwinement with all things, can come easily but to keep it requires both great discipline and great relinquishing. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I learned that in fact, it is nothing special. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I learned most of all that I didn’t know how to look for what I was looking for. The folks I sought were hiding in plain sight. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Here’s something you must understand: these states of consciousness are available on day one, if only for a fleeting second. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
In fact, it is in our efforts to track as many sensation patterns as we can in that fleeting second that we develop the concentration skills to enter these states. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
If you want it, you can have it. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I do not guard the secrets, I do not gatekeep these altered states. These consciousness states are for everyone— after all, when the tide comes in, all boats are lifted. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Let’s be clear: I can not say that I am enlightened, but I can say for sure that I have tasted the nectar of these practices. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I now want nothing more than to share what i have learned and to continue learning. ⁣⁣
⁣
Real yoga promises abiding peace and freedom and so much more to all devoted aspirants; and all that is required is to try. These are very good reasons to practice. ⁣⁣
⁣
Best of all, you absolutely should not take my word for it. If it is true, all of this will become self evident. Pick your guide wisely, and give it a try— you will see the evidence of its brilliance. My journey continues.

chatting with little bear.

Me at 6am

I often call yoga a wisdom tradition or insight practice. Here's a bit from Daniel Ingram's "Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha”:⁣⁣
⁣⁣
"The primary agenda for doing insight practices is to increase our perceptual abilities so that the truths mentioned by the great mystics become obvious to us. ⁣
⁣
⁣
Thus, rather than caring what we think, say or do, or caring about what altered state of consciousness we are in, when training in wisdom we actively work to simply increase the speed, precision, consistency and inclusiveness of our experience of all the quick little sensations that make up our experience, whatever and however they may be. ⁣
⁣
⁣
Thus, the essential formal insight meditation instructions are : find a place where the distractions are tolerable, pick a stable and sustainable posture, and for a defined period of time notice every single sensation that makes up your reality as best you can. ⁣
⁣
⁣
Just as with concentration practices, more time and more diligent practice pays off.”

when the gym
is closed
but you need
what you need 100 burpees

Find your light. Stand in it. ⁣
⁣
When the universe tells you a little to the right, move. You can't see your blindspots, but you can know that they're there. You'll know when the time is right. ⁣
⁣
Remember: the universe is not here to see you fail.

brrr

in love with life @marisapazik

like ya do at work
#eatondc

On matters of sand (and otherwise)
given a choice between
my feet
and my head,
it’s my feet
I’d rather bury.

This ancient posture is called "triangle," so named because you "try" and make an "angle. "⁣
⁣
Uttithta Trikonasana A might be an all time favorite. It really means "extended triangle" anyway, and the B part is the twisted one in ashtanga yoga nomenclature. ⁣
⁣
Here are a few tips for this particular variation:⁣
🔼 start with the legs about one legs length wide. ⁣
🔺fully externally rotate the shoulders (literally so challenging!)⁣
🔽to come into the posture, internally rotate the back hip a bit while you externally rotate the front. ⁣
⚠️ bend the front knee as much as you need (and keep the muscles on). This posture is all about the hip first, not the hamstring. You can begin to straighten later. ⁣
▶️when you come down to catch the toe , flex the bottom hip-- really feel the spine getting closer to the leg, particularly around the navel. ⁣
🔻keep the lower back neutral on the way out and in so that you can get strong hip work and a psoas stretch out of it. If the lower back gets all sway-y it may not feel as good. ⁣
📐Let the big toe come up, keeping it's knuckle down, so that you can catch it. Then shift the weight a bit into the toe box so that it naturally smooshes back down without scrunching the other toes.⁣
◀️let that bottom forearm roll in some for balance. Don't change the shoulder to do it. ⁣
▶️ make a choice about your balance and needs-- try retracting and depressing your shoulder blades here (retract) to see if it helps you lengthen the spine. ⁣
🔺do you feel both side of your front foot pressing evenly? Keep your abs strong and adjust from the hip till you get the center of mass balanced over the foundion. ⁣
👁 Look at the place where the thumb touches the index finger.

This ancient posture is called "triangle," so named because you "try" and make an "angle. "⁣
⁣
Uttithta Trikonasana A might be an all time favorite. It really means "extended triangle" anyway, and the B part is the twisted one in ashtanga yoga nomenclature. ⁣
⁣
Here are a few tips for this particular variation:⁣
🔼 start with the legs about one legs length wide. ⁣
🔺fully externally rotate the shoulders (literally so challenging!)⁣
🔽to come into the posture, internally rotate the back hip a bit while you externally rotate the front. ⁣
⚠️ bend the front knee as much as you need (and keep the muscles on). This posture is all about the hip first, not the hamstring. You can begin to straighten later. ⁣
▶️when you come down to catch the toe , flex the bottom hip-- really feel the spine getting closer to the leg, particularly around the navel. ⁣
🔻keep the lower back neutral on the way out and in so that you can get strong hip work and a psoas stretch out of it. If the lower back gets all sway-y it may not feel as good. ⁣
📐Let the big toe come up, keeping it's knuckle down, so that you can catch it. Then shift the weight a bit into the toe box so that it naturally smooshes back down without scrunching the other toes.⁣
◀️let that bottom forearm roll in some for balance. Don't change the shoulder to do it. ⁣
▶️ make a choice about your balance and needs-- try retracting and depressing your shoulder blades here (retract) to see if it helps you lengthen the spine. ⁣
🔺do you feel both side of your front foot pressing evenly? Keep your abs strong and adjust from the hip till you get the center of mass balanced over the foundion. ⁣
👁 Look at the place where the thumb touches the index finger.

a boy loves his shala

when i dip you dip we dip

Tension gets a bad wrap.⁣
⁣
Oh, sure: when it’s misplaced, it’s awful. But, imagine yourself over a chasm, with an old suspension bridge from side to side as your only route. Which kind of bridge would you wanna cross? The one that’s all loosey-goosey or the one that looks taut and firm? ⁣
⁣
Imagine your feelings in that scenario. Without structure, there’s so much extra space for insecurity. Risk, risk, risk. Inside of a yoga pose, things are not so different. You will feel better when everything is balanced and strong. ⁣
⁣
Ashtanga yoga helps you figure out what to tighten up, so that you can relax some. Sometimes it’s our body (often), sometimes it’s our mind (often). Regardless, when we strike the right balance of integrity, we get cool, calm, and collected. And after having done this same process of assessing and testing, it gets easier and more dynamic. Less thinking more doing.
This process helps us develop discernment over time. Our intuition and problem solving skills ratchet up. And we chill out. This is good! ⁣
⁣
You’ll be ready for damn near any bridge ya come to.

@propertopper

It’s a helluva thing to lick your wounds and count your blessings at the same time. ⁣ ⁣
⁣
⁣
Cuts sting worse for a moment when you clean them, after all— but thank whoever-you-fucking-thank that you have this chance to fucking clean them at all. ⁣⁣
⁣
Ashtanga Yoga specifically asks you to table your “woe-is-me” narrative and sobermindedly go about the work of suffering less.⁣
⁣
As @gratefulweirdo ‘s Bubbie told her, “if you push it down from the top, it’ll come out the sides”— and the practice of yoga asks you to put your sorryies in a sack and deal with your shit. ⁣
⁣
We don’t cut off whole parts of ourself in yoga— we don’t shy away. No, we hold space for pain so that we can heal ourselves from the inside. ⁣
⁣
The process starts with noticing and befriending the ignored and blocked— and one of the things i love most about Ashtanga Yoga is that it allows you to do so from so, so, so many starting points— which is great, cause folks are coming *from* so many different starting points. So many wounds.⁣
⁣
But it all unfurls and unfolds from just right where you are. ⁣
⁣
For me, it has been a process of learning to love my body. My tummy. My voice. ⁣
⁣
Like Mama @rupaulofficial says, “if you can’t love yourself, how the hell ya gonna love somebody else?” ⁣
⁣
Listen, real talk: that process takes just as long as it takes. But, like I said, it starts right where you are. ⁣
⁣
#survivor

@ericalmartinson
might kill me