June 09, 2004
WF Online Student Tobe Leeson shows precisely where devoted WF Students express the teachings of Steve Ilg; at the front of the pack, baby! Student Leeson, of Steamboat Springs, Colorado has taken initial online training through WF Teacher Sheader for mountain bike racing and now heads under the wing of Coach Ilg as his practice matures along the Wholistic Fitness Personal Training System.
"You may be stiff in your body, but you are probably stiffer in your mind."
- Coach Ilg
As a yoga studio owner, you would not believe how many excuses and rationalizations i hear from the general public in regard to why they've let their bodies become such inhospitable terrain for their day to day living. I know all too well how damned hard it is to begin stretching into the parts of us that are weak and brittle. I first came to yoga as an endurance athlete whose toes seemed further than an ultra marathon away from my hands. Then i softened and gained some much needed real estate in my hamstrings and lower back. My toes became my friends. After switching sports to rock climbing, i gained flexibility quickly with help of wise nutrition through SUNRIDER herbs. Soon i was climbing highly gymnastic routes with Spiderman like suppleness and reflexes. Then, i broke my back. Wanna talk about 'stiff?" I've been there...twice. Big Time Stiff. As in paralyzed stiff. It would require another decade of concentrated inner work, but i have managed to regain a certain amount of elasticity and freedom from pain. I've walked away from both wheelchair and back surgeons through WF and one of her sub disciplines; High Performance Yoga. You can too. Don't give me your rationalizations. Give me your effort and your indomitable will. Then you will succeed. But you must begin. Again and again and again. Endlessly beginning from where you are. Then, you like WF Warrior Tobe Leeson pictured above, will crouch low with cat like flexibility and leap to the front of the race, baby....the Human Race!
May your sweat be sweet today,
coach ilg, RYT/USCF