December 29, 2003
Namaste Noble Warriors!
The student asked the Master, �How can I practice in order to attain enlightenment?� The Master replied, �When hungry, eat; when tired, sleep.�
- zen
In a few hours i will jet away, once again, from my personal retreat in the high mountains of New Mexico. With a posture and presence uplifted to me by the grace of snow crusted pines, i�ll reset my aims for Los Angeles and continue my sacred duty of bringing the message of mountain yoga and fitness as best i can to those willing to listen and experience and support me.
It�s hard. I want to stay here. Here i feel at h(om)e. The power of my mind pulls me into emotion-studded ego traps whose function is to keep me here, to play again tomorrow upon my snowshoes, following coyote tracks beneath swaying, nude aspens.
So, over the next few hours, when my ego desires pull me toward depression of leaving and anxiety of big city bustles, i will practice what i teach my students: i will return to WF Lifestyle #1; Breath and Posture. The breath and posture reconnects me toward what the Buddhists term, �synchronization of body and mind.� Thus, my way out of anxiety or of sadness remains the same; upright, aware, but relaxed posture. What my Tibetan Teachers called, �strong back, soft front.�
I don�t know how successful i�ll be in this work of everyday yoga, but as that plane approaches LAX and i�m once again a world away from my power place...i�ll just trust that my Breath and Posture will keep me present with whatever is most appropriate for me to feel as i, like you, journey upward endlessly on my sacred travel within this life.
i bow to you,
coach ilg