Field Ledger Archive

12,928 entries across the years, 2003–2026.

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July 2026
npr.orgJustice Department subpoenas New York Times reporters over Air Force One reportingThe Justice Department subpoenaed four New York Times reporters over their anonymously sourced reporting on Air Force One security concerns, demanding they testify before a grand jury. Federal agents delivered subpoenas to journalists' homes after the FBI had previously asked the Times to withhold t✦ Read ad free and get the full MichaelFilter · $5.50
💬 Comment
June 2026
March 2026
✎ Essay · Culture

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? — A Reading

Financial equity for yoga teachers means building diversified income streams, learning financial literacy, and valuing your labor enough to set boundaries. In Oate's piece, Connie is fifteen, suburban, and already fluent in the art of self-division. One version of herself for the house, one for the world outside it. Her mother sees the home version and finds her lacking. The outside version — the one that moves through malls and drive-ins with confidence — that one she keeps to herself. The split feels like survival. It is actually a trap. One Sunday the family clears out and she's alone with the radio. A gold jalopy pulls in. The driver calls himself Arnold Friend. --- Read the full article: https://theyoga.club/yoga-teachers-deserve-financial-stability/ Original source: https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cofc.edu/dist/d/1041/files/2021/01/Where_Are_You_Going_Where_Have_You_Been.pdf All content: https://mjh.yoga Concepts: Svadhyaya · Aparigraha · Dharma · Tapas #ashtanga #yoga #ashtangayoga #yogapractice #theyogaclub

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✎ Essay · Practice

How to start a realistic home practice as a beginner

This is Ashtanga Yoga Tech Support. Real questions from the yoga community, answered. The Question Hi all, I'm new to ashtanga and I want to start building a realistic home practice with a long-term vision. Where do I start and how do I keep going? I've been going to led classes 2x a week for a few months now with a great teacher. At the same time, don't want to be dogmatic about Ashtanga. Is this possible? I'm still a relative beginner with yoga in general and love exploring different styles, but so far ashtanga has touched me the most. submitted by /u/philosop... --- Read more: https://ashtanga.tech/tech-support/how-to-start-a-realistic-home-practice-as-a-beginner/ All content: https://mjh.yoga #ashtanga #yoga #ashtangayoga #techsupport #ashtangatech

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February 2026
October 2025
in imageWhy great minds change
their own
These examples remind us that
true critical thinking begins at
home. To interrogate our own
assumptions, to stay open when
experience, dialogue, or
suffering presses against us —
that is philosophy at its deepest.
In our polarized age, where
doubt is mocked as weakness,
their lesson is urgent. Can we
welcome change in our own
thinking - even delight in it?
@bigthinkers
💬 Comment
September 2025
Please Read:
DC’s Home Rule was just put at grave risk by the following dems:
in imagePlease Read:
DC's Home Rule was
just put at grave risk by
the following dems:
Every single one should lose their seat.
DC residents are some of the most politically
disenfranchised people in America & these 31
"Democrats" voted to overturn THEIR laws & take
away more of THEIR rights.
No point of a Dem in a swing seat if they just vote for
Trump's agenda.
• Craig Caplan • @CraigCaplan • 1d
31 House Democrats voted Yes for the DC CRIMES Act,
which now heads to the Senate: clerk.house.gov/evs/
2025/roll2...
1. Auchincloss D-MA
2. Conaway D-NJ
3. Correa D-CA
4. Costa D-CA
5. Cuellar D-TX
6. Davids D-KS
7. Davis D-NC
8. Gillen D-NY
9. Golden D-ME
10. Gonzalez D-TX
11. Goodlander D-NH
12. Harder D-CA
13. Kaptur D-OH
14. Keating D-MA
15. Lee D-NV
1k I wnch N.MA
17. Mannion D-NY
18. Min D-CA
19. Moskowitz D-FL
20. Panetta D-CA
21. Pappas D-NH
22. Gluesenkamp Perez D-WA
24. Ryan D-NY
25. Schrier D-WA
26. Soto D-FL
27. Stanton D-AZ
28. Torres D-CA
29. Tran D-CA
30. Vindman D-VA
31. Whitesides D-CA
💬 Comment
in image7
AG Brian Schwalb •
@DCAttorneyGen
We are suing to defend DC home rule and stop
the unlawful deployment of the National Guard.
Our nation was founded on the fundamental
principles of freedom and self-governance that
are stake in this case.
No city in America should be subject to
involuntary military occupation.
ISTRICT
a
DI
COLUM BI
NEOEMA DED
N
@dcattorneygeneral
💬 Comment
August 2025
in imageD.C. National Guard Deployment vs. Providing
Affordable Housing to all homeless people in D.C.
• Nat'l Guard Deployment
• Affordable Housing for all
$1,100,000 per day
$255,166 per day
Source: National Priorities Project
Working people are paying the bills for Trump's
federal takeover of D.C.! Let's declare a war on
poverty, not on poor and working people!
(sL
COA MLHNO
@psldc and pslnational
💬 Comment
April 2025
✎ Essay · Practice

Home Practice Challenges for Ashtanga Yoga Practitioners

In this video, Michael Joel Hall discusses the challenges and benefits of practicing yoga at home without a teacher. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, consistency, and accountability. Hall warns about potential misalignments and the misuse of mirrors or video recordings, suggesting relying on internal systems like breath and mindful repetition. He stresses the significance of the Triana method, which includes breath, posture, and gaze, in maintaining a structured practice. Hall concludes that home practice should be approached with intention, focusing on self-discipline rather than perfection. 00:00 Introduction to Self-Discipline in Practice 00:15 Challenges of Home Practice 00:32 Tools and Techniques for Self-Feedback 00:54 The Triana Method and Its Importance 01:03 Balancing Consistency and Flexibility 01:15 Cultivating Self-Discipline and Awareness

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March 2025
in imageT ONLG
(, e tol)
*k o e-,
have angi
childenset
fend thele.
ss. Transhile
su elaie.a,
disdine ra
st ask u
The call to split the TQ+ from the LGB is not new.
"Acceptable Gays" have tried to distance themselves
from Queers, Transgender and Non-Binary folks since
before those words existed. Yet, Acceptable Gays were
not spared in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s, no matter
how subtle, rich or famous they were. They still got
their ass beat, still outed and arrested under sodomy
laws, still lost their jobs, their names were still printed
in the papers, they still lost their homes under moral
clauses, still couldn't marry or serve. Acceptable Gays
still died of AIDS in droves.
Today's "LGB Gays" are not enlightened or
groundbreaking free thinkers, no matter what social
media says. They're clichéd bootlickers with no sense
of history. They believe this split would spare them but
our persecutors are just working their way backward
through the LGBTQ+. Those who hunt us always
come for the entire alphabet.
@herreraimages
💬 Comment
✎ Essay · Practice

Exploring the Foundations of Wise Practice

## Exploring the Foundations of Wise Practice: A Journey Within Dive deep into the essence of yoga as we uncover the timeless teachings that form the bedrock of wise practice. In this enlightening exploration, connect with the core principles that transcend lineage and style, revealing how each unique journey on the mat can lead to profound self-discovery. From understanding the true purpose behind every pose to embracing challenges as catalysts for growth, this blog invites you to reflect on qualities that foster genuine progress—sincerity, humility, and discernment. Discover how committing to daily practice, even in small doses, can illuminate your path and enhance your connection to self. Let the wisdom of ancient stories guide you, while practical insights help bridge your practice from the mat to everyday life. Whether you're an experienced yogi or a curious beginner, join us in cultivating a space for transformation, where the journey is as rewarding as the destination. Explore the nuances of wise practice and unlock the secrets to a fulfilling yoga experience. Your journey begins here.

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✎ Essay · Culture

The Power of the Ashtanga Community

This is a video about The Power of the Ashtanga Community. If you're looking for coaching, find me at michaeljoelhall.com/coaching 00:00 Introduction to Yoga Practice 00:10 The Deeper Connection in Ashtanga Yoga 00:26 Community and Consistency in Practice 00:54 Systems Thinking in Yoga 01:07 Building Bonds Through Familiarity 01:41 Accountability and Commitment 02:05 The Lifelong Benefits of Community 02:18 Service and Collective Energy 02:28 Global Perspective on Ashtanga Practice

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February 2025
January 2025
in imageunusual whales •
@unusual_whales
"Working from home just two days a week
saves workers anywhere from $305 to
$2,357 per year on travel, parking, food and
work clothes," per MorePerfectUnion.
unusualwhales.com
@unusualwhales
💬 Comment
December 2024
My "home gym" for the last 4 years has been in Playa del Carmen. @impetusfitnesss welcome’d me and my family in as a part of their family-- so patient with me as I learn gym Spanish. @jaimescandont is a great coach, and his skills as a coach are just 👨‍🍳💋-- they're growing faster than my Spanish, too 🙈. Anyway, I just wanted to share a little about what my support system looks like. Gratitude. Global love, y'all.

Mi “gimnasio en casa” durante los últimos 4 años ha estado en Playa del Carmen. @impetusfitnesss nos dio la bienvenida a mí y a mi familia como parte de su familia, muy pacientes conmigo mientras aprendo español de gimnasio. @jaimescandont es un gran entrenador, y sus habilidades como entrenador son simplemente 👨‍🍳💋; también están creciendo más rápido que mi español 🙈. De todos modos, solo quería compartir un poco sobre cómo es mi sistema de apoyo. Gratitud. Amor global, amigos.

Cc: xo @karen_karel
💬 Comment
November 2024
in imageTRUMP AND VANCE'S
PROJECT 2025 WILL
BAN PORN
ENJOY WHILE
YOU CAN.
FTW PAC/Screenshot by NPR
NOV. 1
Meet the Democrats using porn ads to
convince Trump voters to stay home
Wally Nowinski and Matt Curry, two regular
voters with tech backgrounds, discussed how
to help defeat Donald Trump. Nowinski saw
potential in porn sites. They formed a
political action committee, raised $100,000,
and spent $25,000 on ads, reaching 5 million
views in October, aiming to persuade Trump-
leaning, porn-viewing voters to sit out the
election. Trump hasn't endorsed a
pornography ban, though allies have backed
conservative policies calling for one.
n p r
@npr
💬 Comment
October 2024
Sharing a gem that reminds me of @johnschumacheryoga — his audio workshops on iHanuman were my every day classes for a long time when I was first learning to home practice with structure (a time before ashtanga!).

I had memorized all of my teachers faves, and so of course she encouraged me to take his workshops. I was making less than 30k in DC in 2008, ya know? I couldnt really afford it, so I saved. And those recordings helped reach me where I was. When I finally got to the workshop, John complimented “an intelligent lift in the side chest”— to see the pride in my teachers eyes in that moment… I’ll never forget.

I was nervous and i learned so much about boundary setting as a teacher by using some of the moments from the workshop as reflection points— like when he told me i didn’t need to thank him for his instruction as he was instructing. Looking back, it gives me a kind of second hand embarrassment and also the warmest smile

I dont think ive ever bad chance to thank him publicly. His good name opened doors for me with teachers that I admire and respect— simply by being a student of one of his students.

Thanks for making sure your teachings could reach those with a sincere interest in learning. Hope to pay the same forward.
💬 Comment
September 2024
✎ Essay · Culture

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Yoga Industry: Opportunities and Setbacks

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to nearly every industry, and the yoga world was no exception. Almost overnight, yoga studios were forced to close their doors, and teachers and students alike had to adapt to new ways of practicing. The pandemic accelerated changes in how yoga is taught and consumed, from the rapid rise of online classes to the reimagining of yoga spaces and teaching models. While the setbacks were significant—particularly for independent teachers and studios—the post-pandemic landscape also presents opportunities for transformation and growth.

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August 2024
July 2024
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 26 years of shrinking myself for others, I got to just be the big one. You gotta gang up to take the big one down, and that's what was happening in real life. Literal gangs at home on the street, and little yogi gangs jockeying for status in Mysore.

When you question your ability to be loved by the universe, it is very helpful to see real love pouring out of someone else’s eyes.

Rolf didn’t need to know that I was stitched together with laughy taffy and titanium. Marci went to work on putting my physical injuries to bed and Rolf my heart. Neither needed a narrative. it is good, because I was so sick of my own story I couldn’t take it anymore.

As I’ve been working on my book-- it’s almost done -- the only part that I haven’t gotten into is my introduction into Systems Thinking-- through a gang beatdown.

I have known catastrophe again and again and gotten up to go again and again. This might sound like hubris, but check my receipts.

Rolf was able to help me see the interconnected nature of things in a way that makes the big picture possible. He also helped me understand how unspecial I was — while also feeling very very, very special. As Rolf would say, you do as you feel, and every day, the Yoga grows inside of you like a little plant.

In many ways, the development of my practice and the autonomy — the Santosh— the self sufficiency — means that there is less labor for my teacher to take on. Now i understand that my desire to be better in my physical practice was also so that Rolf had to do less for me.

Since he’s dead now, I will have to put my thigh down on the ground myself.
💬 Comment
June 2024
Understanding Scalability:

Scalability involves modifying the intensity, frequency, and even the type of asanas to align with the practitioner's current life situation. This flexibility helps maintain the practice's integrity and relevance, ensuring that it continues to support the practitioner’s health and spiritual growth.

Adapting Practice Through Life Transitions:

Are you practicing to accept reality or are you practicing to fight reality?

Consider a practitioner who has been practicing Ashtanga for decades. As they transitioned into older adulthood, they modified their practice by reducing the number of vinyasas and incorporating more seated and lying poses to maintain joint health and muscle elasticity, allowing them to continue their practice safely and enjoyably.

Strategies for Effective Scalability:
• Personal Assessment: Regularly assess physical and mental state and adjust the practice accordingly. This might involve checking in with oneself or consulting with a teacher.
• Prioritization of Elements: Depending on current needs, prioritize different elements of the practice, such as strength-building, flexibility, or stress reduction.
• Incorporation of Complementary Practices: Integrate other health practices like swimming, walking, or Tai Chi to support yoga practice and address different physical needs.

Take Home:

Scalability is crucial for maintaining a lifelong Ashtanga Yoga practice. By understanding and implementing modifications based on personal circumstances, practitioners can continue to experience the benefits of yoga throughout their lives. Adapting practice ensures that Ashtanga Yoga remains a supportive, enriching part of the practitioner's journey, reflecting the dynamic nature of life itself.



We have one spot left for a dude-double as well as one triple room for the @ashtanga.tech Mexico, Dec 4-9. Wild.
💬 Comment
Understanding Scalability:

Scalability involves modifying the intensity, frequency, and even the type of asanas to align with the practitioner's current life situation. This flexibility helps maintain the practice's integrity and relevance, ensuring that it continues to support the practitioner’s health and spiritual growth.

Adapting Practice Through Life Transitions:

Are you practicing to accept reality or are you practicing to fight reality?

Consider a practitioner who has been practicing Ashtanga for decades. As they transitioned into older adulthood, they modified their practice by reducing the number of vinyasas and incorporating more seated and lying poses to maintain joint health and muscle elasticity, allowing them to continue their practice safely and enjoyably.

Strategies for Effective Scalability:
• Personal Assessment: Regularly assess physical and mental state and adjust the practice accordingly. This might involve checking in with oneself or consulting with a teacher.
• Prioritization of Elements: Depending on current needs, prioritize different elements of the practice, such as strength-building, flexibility, or stress reduction.
• Incorporation of Complementary Practices: Integrate other health practices like swimming, walking, or Tai Chi to support yoga practice and address different physical needs.

Take Home:

Scalability is crucial for maintaining a lifelong Ashtanga Yoga practice. By understanding and implementing modifications based on personal circumstances, practitioners can continue to experience the benefits of yoga throughout their lives. Adapting practice ensures that Ashtanga Yoga remains a supportive, enriching part of the practitioner's journey, reflecting the dynamic nature of life itself.



We have one spot left for a dude-double as well as one triple room for the @ashtanga.tech Mexico, Dec 4-9. Wild.
💬 Comment
Understanding Scalability:

Scalability involves modifying the intensity, frequency, and even the type of asanas to align with the practitioner's current life situation. This flexibility helps maintain the practice's integrity and relevance, ensuring that it continues to support the practitioner’s health and spiritual growth.

Adapting Practice Through Life Transitions:

Are you practicing to accept reality or are you practicing to fight reality?

Consider a practitioner who has been practicing Ashtanga for decades. As they transitioned into older adulthood, they modified their practice by reducing the number of vinyasas and incorporating more seated and lying poses to maintain joint health and muscle elasticity, allowing them to continue their practice safely and enjoyably.

Strategies for Effective Scalability:
• Personal Assessment: Regularly assess physical and mental state and adjust the practice accordingly. This might involve checking in with oneself or consulting with a teacher.
• Prioritization of Elements: Depending on current needs, prioritize different elements of the practice, such as strength-building, flexibility, or stress reduction.
• Incorporation of Complementary Practices: Integrate other health practices like swimming, walking, or Tai Chi to support yoga practice and address different physical needs.

Take Home:

Scalability is crucial for maintaining a lifelong Ashtanga Yoga practice. By understanding and implementing modifications based on personal circumstances, practitioners can continue to experience the benefits of yoga throughout their lives. Adapting practice ensures that Ashtanga Yoga remains a supportive, enriching part of the practitioner's journey, reflecting the dynamic nature of life itself.



We have one spot left for a dude-double as well as one triple room for the @ashtanga.tech Mexico, Dec 4-9. Wild.
💬 Comment
Understanding Scalability:

Scalability involves modifying the intensity, frequency, and even the type of asanas to align with the practitioner's current life situation. This flexibility helps maintain the practice's integrity and relevance, ensuring that it continues to support the practitioner’s health and spiritual growth.

Adapting Practice Through Life Transitions:

Are you practicing to accept reality or are you practicing to fight reality?

Consider a practitioner who has been practicing Ashtanga for decades. As they transitioned into older adulthood, they modified their practice by reducing the number of vinyasas and incorporating more seated and lying poses to maintain joint health and muscle elasticity, allowing them to continue their practice safely and enjoyably.

Strategies for Effective Scalability:
• Personal Assessment: Regularly assess physical and mental state and adjust the practice accordingly. This might involve checking in with oneself or consulting with a teacher.
• Prioritization of Elements: Depending on current needs, prioritize different elements of the practice, such as strength-building, flexibility, or stress reduction.
• Incorporation of Complementary Practices: Integrate other health practices like swimming, walking, or Tai Chi to support yoga practice and address different physical needs.

Take Home:

Scalability is crucial for maintaining a lifelong Ashtanga Yoga practice. By understanding and implementing modifications based on personal circumstances, practitioners can continue to experience the benefits of yoga throughout their lives. Adapting practice ensures that Ashtanga Yoga remains a supportive, enriching part of the practitioner's journey, reflecting the dynamic nature of life itself.



We have one spot left for a dude-double as well as one triple room for the @ashtanga.tech Mexico, Dec 4-9. Wild.
💬 Comment
Understanding Scalability:

Scalability involves modifying the intensity, frequency, and even the type of asanas to align with the practitioner's current life situation. This flexibility helps maintain the practice's integrity and relevance, ensuring that it continues to support the practitioner’s health and spiritual growth.

Adapting Practice Through Life Transitions:

Are you practicing to accept reality or are you practicing to fight reality?

Consider a practitioner who has been practicing Ashtanga for decades. As they transitioned into older adulthood, they modified their practice by reducing the number of vinyasas and incorporating more seated and lying poses to maintain joint health and muscle elasticity, allowing them to continue their practice safely and enjoyably.

Strategies for Effective Scalability:
• Personal Assessment: Regularly assess physical and mental state and adjust the practice accordingly. This might involve checking in with oneself or consulting with a teacher.
• Prioritization of Elements: Depending on current needs, prioritize different elements of the practice, such as strength-building, flexibility, or stress reduction.
• Incorporation of Complementary Practices: Integrate other health practices like swimming, walking, or Tai Chi to support yoga practice and address different physical needs.

Take Home:

Scalability is crucial for maintaining a lifelong Ashtanga Yoga practice. By understanding and implementing modifications based on personal circumstances, practitioners can continue to experience the benefits of yoga throughout their lives. Adapting practice ensures that Ashtanga Yoga remains a supportive, enriching part of the practitioner's journey, reflecting the dynamic nature of life itself.



We have one spot left for a dude-double as well as one triple room for the @ashtanga.tech Mexico, Dec 4-9. Wild.
💬 Comment
May 2024
✎ Essay · Science and Tech

Integrating Systems Thinking into Ashtanga Yoga Community Support

How tailored support networks and practical interventions can not only enhance individual practice but also strengthen our collective journey towards well-being. From fostering collaboration over competition to extending our reach beyond the studio, we explore innovative strategies that enrich our community interactions and extend the benefits of yoga to broader societal contexts.

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✎ Essay · Science and Tech

From Violence to Vision: The Radical Potential of Ashtanga Yoga to Combat Systemic Oppresion

Using Ashtanga Yoga to dismantle systemic oppression and promote healing. Reflections from my enriching experience in Birmingham, Alabama and Nashville, Tennessee, alongside friends like Heather Sullivan and Cory Bryant. Explains the appeal of systems thinking after a life-altering hate crime. Ashtanga Yoga can be a vehicle for inclusivity and empathy, challenging entrenched systems of oppression. Lets talk about it.

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February 2024
in imageI keep thinking of Nex Benedict stumbling out of
that bathroom. Every Queer knows why the school
didn't call an ambulance or the cops. How fast
would the cavalry be if the blonde homecoming
queen got jumped 3 to 1?
We can trace this to anti-Trans laws and
the
damaged b-tch over at Libs of TikTok, to "the
rhetoric"...but these deaths are so much older. Our
school system has rarely been "safe" for Queers. I
was Nex's age when my bully outed me in front of
the entire class. "He's a f-ggot and we all know it."
My teacher just stood there and shrugged like it
was my fault. Now I have to act shocked and
outraged, call this a "wakeup call" so more straight
people give a sh-t. What I am is numb. Another
one. Another reminder that Queer culture was
built on concussions.
1/2
Leo Herrera
@herreraimages
💬 Comment
January 2024
We’re a week in to the 30 Day Core Fitness Challenge and the 2024 Teaching Immersion over at @ashtanga.tech — and I’m just over the moon. Ashtanga Tech is the ashtanga education platform I built, designed for practitioners and professionals. She’s meant to facilitate development in a variety of different components of the ashtanga yoga system— from core fitness to meditation. It’s amazing to see so many of you guys using it already, and I’m just so over the moon. Can’t wait to see you in homeroom.
in imageYour Step-by-Step Guide:
1. Understanding Body Scan Meditation: Learn how this practice helps in acknowledging and releasing stored tensions. It's a key tool for developing deeper awareness of your physical self.
2. Finding the Right Spot: Lie down in a quiet, comfortable place. Allow your body to feel supported by the ground beneath you.
3. Start at Your Toes: Begin with focusing on your toes. Observe any sensations, warmth, tingling, or maybe nothing at all.
4. Gradually Move Upward: Slowly shift your attention through
This meditation isn't just a cooldown; it's your path to understanding and harmonizing with your body. Embrace each sensation, and emerge more connected and relaxed. 🧘✨🌿
💬 Comment
October 2023
✎ Essay · Practice

Ashtanga for Beginners

Are you new to yoga or curious about Ashtanga's transformative potential? Discover the profound benefits of Ashtanga yoga for beginners in our article. This practice offers an accessible entry point for those starting their yoga journey. From enhanced flexibility to mental clarity, Ashtanga empowers you to embrace a holistic approach to wellness. Dive into our article and explore why Ashtanga can be your perfect introduction to the world of yoga, bringing vitality and balance to your life. Start your journey today!

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August 2023
July 2023
May 2023
February 2023
Holly’s writing moves me. Sign up for her newsletter—- homespun yogic wisdom from a dedicated Christian yogi.
in imageallyhancackyoga
The Bhagavad Gita famously says "Yoga is the
journey of the self, through the self, to the self." At
the risk of sounding corny, I think yoga is also the
journey from me to we. I started yoga to better
take care of myself. I continue to practice yoga
because it helps me take better care of myself and
better care of others. It also helps me put my
guards down enough to let others take care of me.
Yoga is not just about bending over backwards. It's
about reaching out a hand. You never know what-
or who- you might find on the other side. We heal
in community.
throwin' it back with an old pic of me and
@michaeljoelhall
© US7.CAMPAIGN-ARCHIVE.COM
Holly's writing moves me. Sign up
T
for her newsletter-- homespun
yogic wisdom from a dedicated
Christian yogi.
💬 Comment
In December of 2021, I began two months of living in Mexico. My parents moved down to the Yucatán right before COVID hit— my brother and his lady lived down there first. It had taken forever to sell my parents home— and the future was looking bright. Then my brother died. Then Leigh died. And my folks were locked in and locked down.

On the one hand, I was glad they were safer there than here. On the other, I was presented with profound grief. Those months in Mexico, replacing my yearly sabbatical to India, provided time with my first and most influential teachers: my mom and dad.

Plus, yoga on their roof looks a lot like some of my other favorite and meaningful roofs.

Having a consistent practice helped anchor me when things were truly terrible. If you’d like to learn a simple set of practices that match your unique needs, feel free to DM.
💬 Comment
I had the most wonderful time teaching at @yogashalanashville — such an incredible group of people.

Cory— thank you so much for welcoming me into your home and sharing so much with me! Cory (@coryyoga) and Richard (his wonderful husband), are just the literal best. And boy, I even made a new friend (shout out to Heather @magiccityyogi from @birminghamyoga ).

Thank you so much @yogashalanashville for being so much fun, for being so interested in our work, and for being so darn cool.

Until the next time, Nashville!
💬 Comment
September 2022
in imagereddit
OhHoneyBoiler • 1d
Join
NSFW
Drag Race Canada tweets about the crown
being up for grabs, then deletes because of
the Queen Elizabeth news
Queen of Queens
Dratpace
Canada's Drag Race
@canadasdragrace
HAPPY #CanadasDragRace
DAY
This crown is up for grabs... who is
going to take it home???
FINALE
CANADA'S
Dragpace
& Jada Shada Hudson and 8 others
15:09 • 08/09/2022 • Twitter Web App
💬 Comment
August 2022
February 2022
June 2021
The Yoga Club’s very first ad will be right here.

When I first started coming to DC, I would go to a little coffee house at 22nd and P (love to Soho!) to hang out, spending time reading all of my favorite (read: free + edgy) DC newspapers— The Blade, the City Paper... and Pathways.

Each of these publications has struggled to stay in print over the last 10 years. I likely don’t need to tell y’all about the rapidly changing face of media— and how it has adversely impacted queer journalism, alt-newspapers, and trade-zines.

For y’all that haven’t been here for 30 years, lemmie tell ya: Pathways is the OG DC natural living/holistic health trade publication. Last year, Pathways didn’t have a print publication (due largely to the pandemic... and the changing landscape of readership).

One of the reasons i love DC so much is precisely because i was able to find my tribe— and so much of that is due to publications like this. Who knew that the local publications i loved growing up I’d eventually get to work with?

We went with Pathways first because it’s owned by my bestie’s bestie— and you know I love family owned and friend-ran.

For 7 years, my yoga program, DC Ashtanga, was fiercely independent and grassroots — and while we remain firmly non-commercial, the Yoga Club (my new practice space) wants to help others find community while also supporting and elevating others in our community.

While DC ashtanga will remain a grassroots practice group (as it always has been), we’re now proudly in residence in our new home at theyoga.club, and it is a pro ledge to help Pathways relaunch in print, so that other little woo woo gays can find a copy... and a tribe.
💬 Comment
January 2021
in image"WHEN THE LOOTING
STARTS, THE SHOOTING
STARTS®
- Donald J. Trump
May29,2020
Responding to BLM protests
"Go home. We love you.
You're very special. [...]
I know how youfeel"
-Donald J. Trump
Januany 6,2021
Responding to white nationalists' attempted
coup, breaking into the U.S. Capitol and
forcingu.S. Senators +Congressmen to
Shelter in place under their desks
@turnitaroundproject
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August 2020
July 2020
I wanna point you to my Integrative online Functional Anatomy Training Program. Link in bio.

In September, I’ll be launching a 10-month integrative online Functional Ashtanga Training. We dive *deep* into functional anatomy, contextualized yoga humanities, and a collection of the most potent pranayama and meditation practices I have discovered in my 20 years of dedicated practice. I’ve spent two years developing this program, which includes 4 functional joint assessment for each participant (so you can measure your progress), 150+ 20 minute learning videos (I’m still recording!), curated readings, and measured learning objectives (homework + quizzes). Of course, I’ll have office hours. It’s capped very, very small for this first cohort, and costs 3,000— but I’m gonna take 500 off if you sign up early. With a $500 deposit, I’ll offer a monthly payment plan for 10 months (with no upcharge— gross).
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June 2020
in imageMichael Joel Hall
34 mins •
...
So much "can't erase history" stuff, and l am gonna take it on face value
that y'all don't really understand ( a VERY charitable read rn).
Lemmie break this down for ya:
Say you came over and put a statue up in my front yard-- one that was
in the image of the men who have verbally and physically assaulted me
over the years. How do you think it would make me feel?
Now, lets make it spicy: that statue, lets say it was built to highlighting
the virtuousness of the men who harassed, hospitalized, and hurt me?
Do you think I'd wanna come home? Do you think I'd wanna be
anywhere near it?
Would you like to see the face of your tormenters every day comin' and
goin? "History is history" really feels like "suffer, bitch."
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So much "can't erase history" stuff, and I am gonna take it on face value that y'all don't really understand ( a VERY charitable read rn).

Lemmie break this down for ya:

Say you came over and put a statue up in my front yard-- one that was in the image of the men who have verbally and physically assaulted me over the years. How do you think it would make me feel?

Now, lets make it spicy: that statue, lets say it was built to highlighting the virtuousness of the men who harassed, hospitalized, and hurt me?

Do you think I'd wanna come home? Do you think I'd wanna be anywhere near it?

Would you like to see the face of your tormenters every day comin' and goin? "History is history" really feels like "suffer, bitch."
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May 2020
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I drew a line in the sand a few years ago to no longer hold close to my heart those who could not hold my community in their own. What community?

"Other." The marginalized. My community lives in a second America.

If you want to make America great, it means dismantling systems of oppression. That starts at home, with you.

Dear White folks, Straight folk,Christians.

Give this a read, tell me what you think.

https://sojo.net/articles/our-white-friends-desiring-be-allies
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What does it mean to go to a place like Ecuador in order to create and participate in economy? And how does one do that in a respectable, regenerative, respectful way?

Ask Kristen.

She and her partner Juan are growing cacao and heirloom cacao in a regenerative food forest with zero waste.

The optics in this post hit close to home.

I try not to dress up in a costume for the purposes of selling you the product of yoga. I can’t actually sell yoga yoga— and sell you my time.

My time as a practitioner, a seeker, a student, and a finder. And as a yoga facilitator/teacher/guide, it’s why you don’t see me in my dhoti very often... And why i tend to only wear my mala when I meditate.

There are so many ways to signal your desire to be seen as aspirational— biceps and bindis and baba harem pants. Andean throws. The thing is, when you have something valuable to share, you want to share it.

When you have devoted your life to something, you hope that you can make enough money to keep devoting your life to it. And, you might even try to sell the image of the thing using appropriators prints.

It’s a tricky thing... this authenticity piece. I love that Kristen and Juan encourages folks to make of all of it what you will.

In the mean time... should I teach you to handstand, shirtless?
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in imagerookieindc
-GirLsru
FLe
@BALANCEGYM
@MICHAELJOELHALL
When trying to sneak
in a live online yoga
class with
@michaeljoelhall
@balancegym but
have to pause/take
breaks for a
combination of
science experiments
and at-home music
class (nice to have
Iris singing singing
for part of it).
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in imageStanislav Zak • Purrtacular
8 hrs • m
...
Last month my cat disappeared. A week ago
I found him and brought him home. Today my
cat came back. Now I have two identical
cats.
6.2K
685 Comments
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April 2020
cooking at home like
in imagecooking at home like
Learn how to
make sushi
First, delicately roll up the
rice and salmon in the nori
seaweed, and then....
Fuck, you ruined it, just
like you ruin everything.
This sushi is like your life,
you do everything wrong
You start a bunch of things
and never finish anything.
Nobody loves you.
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March 2020
@DCASHTANGA
#HOMEPRACTICECHALLENGE

UTTHITA HASTA PADANGUSTHASANA
in image@DCASHTANGA
#HOMEPRACTICECHALLENGE
UTTHITA HASTA PADANGUSTHASANA
@DCASHTANGA
#HOMEPRACTICECHALLENGE

UTTHITA HASTA
PADANGUSTHASANA
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January 2020
117 homeless Washingtonians have died in the last year. This is up more than 100% compared to the previous last year.

2 million dollars was spent on an art installation designed to keep homeless people out of an underpass— not for safety, but because of community aesthetics.

The building the crew club is in on 14th street sold for 2 million.

I’m all for public art commissions— but c’mon. We can hang shitty LED lights, but not help our most vulnerable at the very least stay safe from the elements?

How much housing can 2 million buy?
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October 2019
About ten years ago, i set a goal for myself to be on the cover of yoga journal. Today, i made it to the homepage.
10 years in, I think that's about right. Time and dreams change. Markers of success evolve.
Back then, I imagined that my perfect form and smiling face would make a valuable representation -- and mark an internal validation.
As practice is wont to, I eventually had a realization: I could do better. I wanted to share something more substantive than just form. The marker for validation had shifted dramticay.
I wanted to share some part of what practice had shared with me-- something that has helped me grow and thrive and that I have seen do the same for others time and time again.
Well, here we are. I talk about resilience. I share a modified primary series. I tried to use explicit language so as to maximize value and minimize confusion. .
I'm honored and thrilled. Simply in existing, it represents those who might feel marginalized.
I'm out, I'm queer, and I'm big. I'm a yoga practitioner. What I've shared is what I know to be a powerful and potent practice steeped in tradition and that has a veracious efficacy.
I hope you find it useful, for yourself or for others.
Link in Bio.
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https://www.yogajournal.com/practice/a-sequence-for-political-resilience

About ten years ago, i set a goal for myself to be on the cover of yoga journal. Today, i made it to the homepage.

10 years in, I think that's about right. Time and dreams change. Markers of success evolve.

Back then, I imagined that my perfect form and smiling face would make a valuable representation -- and mark an internal validation.

As practice is wont to, I eventually had a realization: I could do better. I wanted to share something more substantive than just form. The marker for validation had shifted dramticay.

I wanted to share some part of what practice had shared with me-- something that has helped me grow and thrive and that I have seen do the same for others time and time again.

Well, here we are. I talk about resilience. I share a modified primary series. I tried to use explicit language so as to maximize value and minimize confusion. .

I'm honored and thrilled. Simply in existing, it represents those who might feel marginalized.

I'm out, I'm queer, and I'm big. I'm a yoga practitioner. What I've shared is what I know to be a powerful and potent practice steeped in tradition and that has a veracious efficacy.

I hope you find it useful, for yourself or for others
💬 Comment
https://www.yogajournal.com/practice/a-sequence-for-political-resilience

About ten years ago, i set a goal for myself to be on the cover of yoga journal. Today, i made it to the homepage.

10 years in, I think that's about right. Time and dreams change. Markers of success evolve.

Back then, I imagined that my perfect form and smiling face would make a valuable representation -- and mark an internal validation.

As practice is wont to, I eventually had a realization: I could do better. I wanted to share something more substantive than just form. The marker for validation had shifted dramticay.

I wanted to share some part of what practice had shared with me-- something that has helped me grow and thrive and that I have seen do the same for others time and time again.

Well, here we are. I talk about resilience. I share a modified primary series. I tried to use explicit language so as to maximize value and minimize confusion. .

I'm honored and thrilled. Simply in existing, it represents those who might feel marginalized.

I'm out, I'm queer, and I'm big. I'm a yoga practitioner who shares a powerful and potent practice steeped in tradition and that has a veracious efficacy.

I hope you find it useful, for yourself or for others
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August 2019
@roll_hard_or_roll_home
in image@roll hard or roll home
roll_hard_or_roll_home
•••
*adds vodka to White Claw*
You know, I'm something of a scientist myself.
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April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
It’s 2019 and things are same same, but different. ⁣

I’ve arrived in India to spend the next month as a student of yoga under the guidance of my teacher, Rolf. I’ve made this trek many times, but one thing I know for sure: no two years are the same.⁣

I’m different. Life is different. This trip will be different. And when I come home, things will be different. ⁣

But also, the same. Inside of the inevitability of change there is also the polar opposite: that which remains constant. I am still me. ⁣

I look forward to discovering and clarify that which is immutable—the things that are constant.⁣

—⁣

Friends, what do you want to see here? In my insta stories, I’ll share the random goings on of my day, but what would you like in this space?⁣

Please let me know!
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November 2018
The comments give me faith in god above.

creating false dichotomies and clinging to societal standards is further sealing the cracks in the proverbial box where the air can come in. the air the keeps you from pretending that the world isn’t burning and that any kind of exploration on unboxing won’t get you killed. At your church, your synagogue, your discotech, your yoga studio, running up 12th street, or coming home from a restaurant opening in eckington.
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September 2018
in image•8
LAT&T LTE
10:36 PM
Instagram
• * 67% C*
C
7
3i
NGA YOGA SC
RALEIGH
aysraleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Southern word of the day
"Namaste" As in: "Y'all
gonna evacuate?"
"Namaste here"
Liked by yogi_beckyp and 24 others
aysraleigh #homepractice tomorrow folks! AYS Raleigh will
be closed tomorrow, Friday September 14th due to... more
4 HOURS AGO
Ifinnan
JEPL0, ZUTÕ
A
+
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May 2018
March 2018
What do you think of when you try to imagine the most ideal circumstances for practice? Perfectly even floors? Temperature just right? Body totally on point? Supportive teacher by your side? I think those are pretty common. 🤷🏻‍♂️🤔 I, for one, hate practicing in the cold, and don’t like practicing in a stuffy room (gimmie that air flow!). ❄️☃️ This year, many of my students took up home practice while I was studying with my teacher. From a business perspective, this is scary... what if they don’t come back? For the sub, it’s disheartening (why don’t they like me???). Not to worry-- from my own experience, this is one of the great joys (and dare I say essential factors) in cultivating a personal relationship with practice: the ability and desire to just go do the damn thing. You can do it anywhere, anytime. Not when, ya know, everything's perfect... (It helps to visit a bestie in miami tho 💁🏼‍♂️ ). My teacher, Rolf, is about a foot shorter than me. To help me help him, and to help me help myself, he's equipped me with ways to work on things that allow me to learn and work independently.
At @dcashtanga we teach one-on-one in a group setting on a daily basis, empowering people with the skills to execute a physical contemplative practice with safety, skill, and longevity. 😍

For those who live just a bit (or a lot) too far, I like to travel on occasion and bring techniques and ideas that may be fresh or useful or different so as to help them develop a functional toolkit-- so they can practice anywhere. 🔧

Just like with my time away, where conditions can be near perfect, it's nice to work on the hard scary stuff in a supportive environment with clear direction -- but it's also great to develop the ability to work solo.
After all, yoga is a journey from the self to the self through the self. So, don't be afraid to work with what you've got... Like a palm tree between your legs. If you'd like to explore the backbending and hand balancing techniques going on here, join me at @mindthemat March 29 (click the link in bio to join me for a supple spine workshop 😉
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Mayurasana: the posture named for the peacock.

This one doesn't get its title from the full plume of the birds tail feathers, but because your elbows dig so deeply into a soft tummy, it's said to give the yogi the digestive power of the beautiful bird. 😱

I came home from my trip wishing I had those powers. 🤢

Peacocks are able to eat venomous snakes and be totally a-ok. Watch out, Taylor Swift! (Please don't come for me, Swifties!! It's a joke!! 🐍

On a less gross 💩 note, how useful would it be if you could digest the toxicity of something in order to ultimately find nourishment? It'd prolly make eating a salad in Goa a little easier 😉

One form or ignorance that's super common is a misidentification of pain as pleasure-- so how do we heal? The snake is only poisonous to those susceptible to its venom.
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February 2018
💪🏻💀The body is a phenomenal tool for understanding the phenomenal world. Just as gravity and relativity help us explain and predict, so too can our bodies do the same for our individual relationship with the here and now. 🤸‍♀️💪🏻Am I breathing? How am I balancing? 🥗I shared falafel with three French woman this evening -- strangers. Each over 50, and world-wise. 🌅They asked me questions about the overlap and intersection of Shankaracharya and Hatha yoga.
Its a topic I find fascinating -- and so do they. The conversation, like the falafel, was excellent and nourishing. I can't wait to come home and continue to share. "Parampara!" said one of the ladies, as I dodged a question's straight answer. I'm so grateful for this stream of knowledge.
I teach my first public class on the subject of hips and explicit directive @kaliyogadc on March 10, in DC. See ya there.
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January 2018
December 2017
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October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
June 2017
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May 2017
Maybe the cicada is my spirit animal? Some of y'all are monarchs, others painted ladies-- that's well and good.

"They have an exceptionally loud song. Most cicadas are cryptic, singing at night to avoid predators. The periodic cicadas spend most of their lives as underground nymphs, emerging only after 13 or 17 years, which may reduce losses by starving their predators and eventually emerging in huge numbers which overwhelm and satiate any remaining predators.

Cicadas have been featured in literature since the time of Homer's Iliad, and as motifs in art from the Chinese Shang dynasty. They have been used in myths and folklore to represent carefree living and immortality."
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April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
Went to an event called "Ecstatic Dance" -- a jungle pavilion overlooking the sea with an excellent DJ. Only allowed to share love & movement. No talking, no drugs, no booze. It was lovely & inspiring. Like dancing at home when no ones around... with friends.
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December 2016
October 2016
September 2016
July 2016
Home practice, at the folks. It's rainy, and kinda has a chill. Reminds me of Goa just before dawn.
My body is stiff from sleeping outside on the ground. I normally do standing at home. Today? I decided to enjoy the challenge of chattering aunts, roaming little cousins, and the less-than-strong coffee Dad makes.
I'll be practicing yoga all day, with a loving family with diverging opinions on every subject you can have an opinion on.
any-who! helluva thump! huh? Sooooooo distracted.
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June 2016
May 2016
"Morning Milkshake"
aka: how to tell if Michael can focus--
One avocado
1 tablespoon homemade sunflower seed butter
3 cups kale
One scoop plant fusion chocolate protein powder
seven ice cubes
One and a half cup almond milk
three packets Stevia
---
Thinking of @esitzler and @sipnglo -- my philly favorites.
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April 2016
January 2016
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If only I had snapped faster. That, friends, is a dog on a scooter.
My scooter at home says "no pets" in the boot-- this is much more logical.
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June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
November 2014
"Why is Other Daddy not home? It's Monday!" Because he works @thetombs now. "Can I go? I'm a service animal!" Let's give it a while before we harass @mroike at work, okay? It's only day 3!
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September 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
September 2013
Pop Francis continued: “A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: ‘Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?’”

“This church with which we should be thinking is the home of all,” he said, “not a small chapel that can hold only a small group of selected people.”
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August 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
12

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