Yoga Hobos

Just a quick update to say that the two weeks of training are over and I’m now a certified Acro Yoga teacher! Woot! It was a physically and emotionally demanding two weeks, but the experience was incredible and I am extremely pleased. I can’t begin to articulate how much I’ve learned and how my overall yoga practice has improved. Sharing my newfound knowledge is something I definitely look forward to doing.

I haven’t had a chance to go through and check, resize, and upload pictures I like from the training, but I hope to do that soon. As of right now, I’m sitting in a hotel lobby in Thessaloniki, Greece. I’m here with my girlfriend, Rebekah and we’re leaving in a few minutes to catch a plane to Rome, Italy. Thereafter we’re going to be traveling through Europe for as long as we desire. One night soon I’ll go through my pictures and begin to upload them. Much love to you all!

Acro Yoga teacher training is in full swing.  After 16.5 hours of travel, I arrived in Athens, Greece on June 8^th.  I headed to my hotel and before long was asleep.  Around 3pm that day, a large earthquake hit Greece (6.5 or so) which I slept through because I was so tired.  The 9th, 10th, and 11th I did a little sight seeing around Greece.  Below are a couple of pictures of me at the Acropolis which is right smack in the middle of Greece.  As you can see in the second picture, they are doing a lot of renovating.

I then boarded a plane early on the 12^th and headed to the island of Lesvos.  I love this island.  The people, the energy, and the beauty are phenomenal.  Below is a picture looking out over Lesvos from the balcony of the room I’m staying in.  Tough life, huh?

I must admit, however, that I haven’t seen all that much of the island because Jenny and Jason (the founders of Acro Yoga who are leading the training) are keeping us VERY busy.  The following is our daily schedule:

6:40 – 7:00 am – Meditation

7:00 – 7:10 am – Chanting

7:10 – 7:30 – Self Practice and Handstands

7:30 – 8:15 – Acro Yoga Asana Sequence

8:15 – 8:25 – Savasana

8:25 – 8:40 – Inversion Max Outs and Stretching

8:40 – 8:50 – Pranayama

8:50 – 9:00 – Chanting and Meditation

9:00 – 10:00 – Breakfast

10:00 – 1:00 – Acro Flying and Thai Massage

1:00 – 3:30 – Lunch and Siesta

3:30 – 6:00 – Partner Flow, Inversions, Acrobatics

6:00 – 7:30 – Dinner

7:30 – 9:30 – Evening Satsang

The Acro Yoga asana sequence is one of the more demanding asana sequences I’ve ever done.  They’re certainly preparing our bodies to be strong enough to perform high level acrobatics.  I’ll write a blog post detailing it sometime in the future.

While I am having an incredibly fun time, I must say, my body is quite exhausted by the end of the day.  I’ve been stealing ten to 30 minute naps here and there during our dining breaks to keep my body reasonably well rested.  Otherwise, I feel like the level of recuperation that it needs wouldn’t quite be there.  It’s nice to have finally learned to listen to and provide my body with what it needs.

All of the Acro Yoga students (and of course the teachers) are absolutely incredible people.  They’re loving, compassionate, playful folks who it is an honor to practice with.  I have no doubt that I am forming lifelong friendships during this training.  That’s one of the things I love most about Acro Yoga.  It builds community and personal bonds faster than anything I’ve ever been a part of.  And spending so many hours a day playing with the same people for two weeks allows one to really connect with others on a deep level.  I’m so grateful for this experience and look forward to bringing it to others in the future. The pictures below are a couple I snapped while other Acro Yogis were training.

I’ll probably  write one or two more blog posts while I’m here, but no promises.  Time is certainly at a premium and I have to listen to the needs of my body first.  Much love to all of you.

On June 6th, a group of yogis and myself came together at Kiwanis Park in Tempe, Arizona for some Acro Yoga. To say that it was fun would be an understatement. The entire set of pictures in full resolution can be seen here. Below are some pictures I thought I’d share on this blog. I’ll miss my Acro Yogi friends while I’m in Europe, but I look forward to sharing what I learn with them once I get back. Without further ado, some of the pictures from Acro Yoga in the Park.

I haven’t posted this until now for a couple reasons but the time is right. I got accepted into Acro Yoga teacher training that will be June 12th through 26th on an island in Greece! Woot! I’m leaving June 7th so that I can ensure I don’t have any jet lag when the training starts and because I want to explore Athens (where I’m flying into) for a few days. After the training, I’m going to travel around Europe for awhile; this summer is certainly going to be adventure filled!

I’ve learned that there will be 25 students in this teacher training from seven different countries. The island we’ll be training on is named Lesvos and is seven miles from Turkey. And the location we’ll be staying at can be seen here. To say that I’m excited is an understatement.

I realize that some people may not know what Acro Yoga is. The official website of Acro Yoga is AcroYoga.org where they state:

AcroYoga blends the spiritual wisdom of yoga, the loving kindness of Thai massage, and the dynamic power of Acrobatics. These three ancient lineages form the foundation of a unique new practice that cultivates trust, connection and playfulness. Our highest aim is to bring individuals into a state of union with themselves, with each other, and with the divine. From this place of mutual support the true self can be realized, honored and shared for the benefit of all.

You can see some recent pictures of Acro Yoga in action in this post.

In the early evening last night, a group of yogis from Inner Vision Yoga in Chandler, Arizona and myself went to Pecos Park for a little Acro Yoga fun. Other than myself, none of the yogis had done much Acro Yoga in the past, but my god, did they do absolutely amazing! Brian, Julie, Stacy, Lori, and myself grabbed the Acro Yoga manual and dove right in.

If you would like to see all the full size pictures from the evening, go here. Otherwise, the images below are a select few showcasing just how much fun Acro Yoga is.

Stacy, Brian, and Julie started things off with a little triple plank pose action. Each is showing some amazing strength and concentration.

Brian, Lori, and Stacy enjoy a bonding moment. This was the first time I’ve been a part of a group that was able to pull off this pose. I was quite excited.

Lori and I enjoy High Flying Whale.

Julie flies Brian with no trouble at all. Brian is a big, strong guy which goes to show just how strong Julie is and what wonderful technique she utilizes as a base.

Brian and Stacy work towards High Flying Whale with their fliers.

Stacy flying Lori with Brian doing an excellent job of spotting.

The following two pictures show Brian basing and Julie flying high.

Julie and I ready for her to dismount by rolling backwards off my hands. I love this pose

Me with Brian in Super Yogi. His back was a little tweaked so I utilized flying therapeutics to stretch him out.

Lori flying high on my hands.

Stacy pulling off a nice shoulder stand while I based.

Brian and Julie also performing shoulder stand. Isn’t Acro Yoga beautiful?

Julie in throne as Brian bases.

Lori in throne as I base. I love the technique of getting into straddle throne.

Lori, who doesn’t weigh much more than 100 pounds basing me. I weigh about 190 pounds. It just goes to show that proper bone stacking technique can allow you to perform amazing and super fun feats.

We had so much fun. Everyone did incredibly well and were a pleasure to play with. I hope everyone can get together soon so we can play more.

Ah yes, the Game of Life. This journey we call life is much like the board game. When you spin the wheel with the new sunrise, how do you play the game? Are you striving to hit the finish line before anyone else and have the most money? And as you play, if you spin a 1 or 2, do you get upset? Are you constantly comparing where others are on the board in relation to you? Do they already have a wife and kids? Do you wonder if they’re secretly laughing inside at you because you landed on the $18,000 a year job and are thus far single? Are you having FUN playing the game, or are you taking it seriously?

Or when you play the Game of Life, do you not really care who hits the finish line first? Are you happy when your friend lands on the doctor space because that’s what they really wanted? When you land on the attorney job space, do you pass because you want to be a mechanic because, damn, you really like working on cars. Sure, it pays less, but cars rock. When you spin a 1 or a 2, do you smile because it allows you to experience more of the potential spaces in life? And do you enjoy each space you’re on, even those that others might label as “bad” because you know its just part of the game. And this game is FUN!

The following video is creative genius. Is our current generation lost? Can we turn the tides?

We must each do what is necessary to be a part of the solution. Let go of those damaging belief systems and habits. Connect to the courage necessary to rebuke how society says you should conduct yourself. Do what is right for you to find that happiness that IS within you. Your time IS now.

There has always been a part of me that wanted to partake in a sweat lodge. If you’re unfamiliar with the sweat lodge ceremony, you can read more about it here. When Saul David Raye stated that we would be having one during our Thai Yoga Massage retreat, I was quite excited. However, I found myself feeling a little apprehensive at the same time. My body has been undergoing massive trauma and tension releases lately and they were only building in intensity. I pictured myself having major convulsions during the sweat lodge and freaking people out who were around me. After talking to Saul about this concern, we agreed that he and Caspar (our super cool chef) would be on each side of me.

Today was the big day. A Lakota by the name of Eagle Bear was to lead our lodge. At around 2pm or so we began taking wood, blankets, and rocks down to the location where we would have the sweat. The frame of the lodge was alive. The brilliant folks at Casa Barranca had taken the time to plant and shape trees to form a living frame for sweat lodges as seen below.

While the lodge may not appear very large in the picture above, it was big enough to fit about 20 people somewhat comfortably around the sides.

Once we had the firewood, blankets, and rocks down by the lodge, we began our first ceremony. About 30 feet from the hut was a fire pit with the rocks we would heat circling it. We gathered around the pit and Eagle Bear cleansed the area and called in the spirits with various prayers. During this time, the base logs were placed in the fire pit with great care. We were then told to pick one of the rocks that called to us. Eagle Bear then had us each place give our rock to the fire keeper and audibly state our intention for the ceremony. I chose a rock with a large crack in it and stated that my intention was to allow the elements to crack me wide open just as they had to the rock. Everyone had a different intention and all were beautiful in their own way.

Once the rocks were placed upon the base logs, we then chose a small stick and stated a second round of intentions as we placed our sticks upon the rocks. My intention was for my fears to burn along with the stick. Additional kindling and logs were then placed upon the fire and it was lit. I watched as the stick which symbolically held my fears burned away. We then headed off to spend time alone in preparation for the ceremony while the rocks began to heat. Below is a picture of the fire pit.

After about three hours, the rocks were heated and it was time to begin the ceremony. Prior to entering the lodge, we were cleansed with smoke from a plant whose name I can’t remember. The women went in first followed by the men. You entered the lodge on your knees with reverence. The lodge with the blankets in place can be seen below:

Once inside the sweat lodge, we commenced the ceremony immediately. There were four rounds of prayers prior to which 5-8 rocks were brought in by the fire keeper. We would welcome each rock as “grandfather”, give offerings, and then the round would begin. Each prayer round was a bit different and involved song, each person around the circle offering prayers, and a lot of sweating. All told, we were in the sweat lodge for about four hours, so it was quite intense. After each round, the door would be opened but we did not exit the lodge.

While I didn’t have an intense release as I was too physically uncomfortable (I was situated on a decline which made sitting difficult) many other people did. There was crying, laughing, shaking, and every other release under the sun. In the end, I realize what I experienced was exactly what I needed to experience. Overall, the sweat lodge was an amazing ceremony and I would definitely partake again in the future if the opportunity arose.

At one point in my life, I would have been morbidly obese if fear was fattening. Keep that potential bias in mind as I make the claim that we are a society that lives in fear. We fear the microscopic microbe we try to kill with anti-bacterial cleanser. We fear other people as we lock our doors, turn on the alarm, and keep the gun loaded. You know, just in case.

We live in fear of the potential. “It might; he may, they could”. We live in fear of the inevitable (such as death). And I must ask once again as I did in my zombie entry, if we live in fear, are we really living? Once again, I find the need to quote Albert Einstein who said, “The fear of death is the most unjustified of all fears, for there’s no risk of accident for someone who’s dead.”

No more. So much fear can be dissipated if we no longer live in ignorance and illusion and simply trust. I choose to trust. Rather than fear the microbe, I choose to trust that my immune system and infinitely wise body will protect we as necessary. And when the universe decides I should fall ill, I trust that I will be able to ascertain the message. I choose to trust others. My doors shall remain unlocked and my heart open.

I trust that all events serve a purpose. I will no longer fear the potential. I choose to trust and be grateful for whatever the universe delivers to me in this moment.

The Presence Process, A Healing Journey Into Present Moment Awareness, by Michael Brown might not be considered a yoga book by many, but it is for me. What would constitute a “yoga book” anyway? Pictures of various asana? Discussion of the eight limbs? Considering the fact that The Presence Process has helped me experience Samadhi, I have no problem writing about it here.

A friend I met at a consciousness group meeting recommended The Presence Process to me and I’m glad she did. Should you decide to pick up this book, my guess is that you’ll either decide that it is brilliant or a load of crap. While it speaks truth to me, we’re all experiencing slightly different realities and need different tools, so it may not be truth for you. Allow me to copy a passage to see if it pulls at your heart:

Because we were not unconditionally loved as children, we became uncomfortable within ourselves. This set off a chain of events in which we began to seek that which would restore our inner peace. Because we were not accepted for who we are, we turned away from our authentic Presence and went in search of who we were supposed to be. Our parents asked us, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” We believed that if we could live a life that would supply the correct answer to this question, we would then receive the unconditional love that we did not receive as children. This search set in motion the endless “doings” that became our adult life. We tried to prove that we were worthy of being alive by succeeding or by not succeeding. Even though we were already alive, we went in search of our purpose so that we could “earn a living”. The truth behind it all is that what we have really been trying to accomplish is attempting to, “earn a loving”.

The consequence has been imbalance, confusion, separation, lack, and all that stems from the trinity of fear, anger, and grief. The consequence has been a poisonous quest to find meaning and purpose in all that we “do”. Because we have seen no importance in our Being, our inner Presence, we have sought to realize this importance in all our outer “doings”. More than that, we have sought to place great importance on all “the stuff” that we do things with. By believing that all our doings and all the stuff we have enlisted to serve our doings could be the source of our liberation, we have inadvertently used them to build a brick wall between us and what is real. We have used it all to manufacture an illusory gap between our sense of wholeness and ourselves. This gap is the source of all our fear, anger, and grief. This gap is not our purpose, and our purpose can never be found in it. This gap is something we did. This gap is something we made because we could not, were not, and have not been shown how to recognize and appreciate the value of our own Inner Presence.

If The Presence Process has set out to accomplish anything, it has been this: to facilitate us in rescuing ourselves from our endless unconscious array of doings and instead invite us to return to our authentic state of Being. From the beginning, this Process has asked us to stop. To stop and breathe. To stop and watch. To stop and respond. To stop and feel. To stop and pay attention. To stop reacting.

The Presence Process drops a bomb on you about 40-60 pages in. If this bomb was alluded to on the back cover or told to me by my friend, I would not have read the book. I wouldn’t have been open to it. But Michael Brown draws you in so quickly that you come to know that what he suggests needs to be done. This is done over a 10 week process, and for me, the results have been nothing short of miraculous.