2023

I stopped posting to Instagram because I felt fairly certain it was responsible for a great deal of harm that has come to a great number of people.

As a teacher of yoga, I felt irresponsible using it to as a platform to promote the work that i do, knowing that it can do such great harm. So, ya know, I only posted to my stories and basically used it as a way to send memes to like 4 of my besties.

But, ya know, I have an awesome little yoga studio @theyoga.club to promote. And, I want to make more money as a yoga teacher.

So, here I am again, knowingly running the risk of presenting half truths, using pictures as commodities, and banking on the fact that good looks and pretty pictures go a long way.

Wish me luck! How do you all make heads or tails of the ethics around this?

“Where’s the yoga here?” is a question folks often begin to ask themselves when they learn more about how yoga actually works.

Yoga as a practice is designed to cultivate deep states of peace and well-being. A state where we feel unafflicted by life’s highs and lows… where we see things as they really are.

What I teach is the Yoga of Synthesis— a framework for personal observation. This requires bearing witness to ourselves.

The five principal of yoga are:
1) Exercise
2) Breathing
3) Growth mindset
4) Diet (food *and* information)
5) Relaxation.

It can be really confronting to realize that we’re underrested and overtrained— or any other combo that highlights personal deficits that interfere with our attachment to gross shapes.

It’s not “do more with less” or “no pain, no gain.”

Its more like “How can I eradicate violence in my life.” And “how can I be a better friend?”

But that stuff, you can’t really see it in pictures. You can’t tell off the bat if you’re inside of a joy factory or a misery machine. Yoga rooms should be Joy Factories— most folks do a good job of creating misery machines all by themselves.

As a teacher of yoga, my job is to teach people to see more clearly by offering them instruction around what we’re really looking at— and, generally it’s not the macro shape— but the subtle forms.

It’s hard to get good data!

The simple truth of the matter is that it’s often in letting go of the big excitements and the construction of the sorrow of defeat. It’s letting go of the highs and lows.

It can be tempting to sell yoga off the backs of pretty people doing pretty poses, or promising transcendental experiences.

It’s all far less exotic than that…

Believe it or not, the Yoga of Synthesis is happening all day long— our work on the mat each morning helps in that process. If you’d like some help finding the yoga in your yoga practice, feel free to reach out.

Holly’s writing moves me. Sign up for her newsletter—- homespun yogic wisdom from a dedicated Christian yogi.

Such
a simple
creature. @theyoga.club new toys

Sometimes tying yourself in a knot helps when you feel like you’re all tied in knots. Feeling grateful for my friends who help with both. We’ve been working hard on making something very special for our ashtanga community. Feel free to message if you’re interested in a training for Ashtanga teachers (and those with established practices) that want to learn how to help support their community.

Me, in between updating my blog.

It's better at
40 (-12 days!)
than it was at 30.

I just care more now 😅

ankles getting better day by day .. and look at that wrist! doin wrist stuff!!

Life is hard on a body… practice teaches us to nourish our body, mind, and spirit.

Grateful for the inherent optimism afforded by love and gratitude so radical it is beyond the boundaries of time and space.

🌟 We are looking for 19 seasoned Ashtangis who want to dive headlong into the system wide study of Ashtanga Yoga with an eye toward cultivating the ability to communicate (i.e., teach) it to others. 🔥

Our purpose is two-fold:

1️⃣ Facilitate a deep understanding of Ashtanga Yoga as a holistic system for personal, spiritual, and communal growth. 🌱✨

2️⃣ Equip you with the essential communication tools to convey the practice to yourself and others effectively. 🗣️💫

Check the link in my bio to learn more!!

🌟 We are looking for 19 seasoned Ashtangis who want to dive headlong into the system wide study of Ashtanga Yoga with an eye toward cultivating the ability to communicate (i.e., teach) it to others. 🔥

Our purpose is two-fold:

1️⃣ Facilitate a deep understanding of Ashtanga Yoga as a holistic system for personal, spiritual, and communal growth. 🌱✨

2️⃣ Equip you with the essential communication tools to convey the practice to yourself and others effectively. 🗣️💫

Check the link in my bio to learn more!!

Alert

How I Feel Using the Vitruvian

“The Unluckiest Generation”
says WaPo

wrote a blog for sweaty yogis on how to get funk outta clothes.

Link in bio.

All 15 are bangers

Thoughts?

🧘‍♂️Exploring Time Delays in #AshtangaYoga 🕰️

Did you see my article (link in bio)

🔄 I intertwine the practice of yoga with systems theory, emphasizing that the fruits of yoga bloom subtly and gradually, embodying a crucial time delay between practice and noticeable benefits.

🌱 It’s like a garden, little changes are a big deal over time— consistent practice nurtures physical strength, flexibility, and mental focus, forming a continuous cycle of growth and discovery. You can’t rush the crop.

🔄 Practice becomes a holistic exploration, intertwining physical, mental, and emotional spheres.

🚶‍♂️ Navigating through the complexities and time delays in yoga involves embracing vulnerability, seeking personalized guidance, and cultivating patience and compassion.

📝 Strategies like maintaining a practice journal and engaging in community practice are highlighted as vital in navigating through the subtle, continuous progress that unfolds over time.

🌟 Remember: The journey through Ashtanga Yoga is not merely about mastering poses but a holistic exploration that unfolds patiently and subtly over time.

🔗 Link to the full in bio

#YogaJourney #Ashtanga #YogaPractice #HolisticGrowth #Patience #Consistency #YogaLife #YogaCommunity #Mindfulness #MentalHealth #PhysicalHealth #EmotionalHealth #SustainableProgress #YogaBenefits #SystemsTheory #TimeDelay #YogaMastery #YogaPhilosophy #YogaWisdom #YogaForLife #YogaEveryday

anytime, really

thank you for sharing — so glad you guys are finding something meaningful in my work.

As always, link in bio.

New Post Alert!

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 @suenodevida_ecu 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.
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Link in Bio.