August 31, 2005
COACH COMMENTARY ON A RILKE PASSAGE and TRIBAL CHI PICS 
"Take your practiced powers and stretch them out
until they span the chasm between two
contradictions...For the god
wants to know himself in you."
- Rainer Maria Rilke
photo of Kerry Sheader, WF Warrior extraordinaire somewhere in the Escalante. photo by his dad, WF Teacher "Haku"
*
As i sat in my chair reading the above Rilke poem..that concluding stanza
put such pause in my mind
that i knew by reading Heart Based poets like Rilke, Rumi, and Kabir
i had to set the book down
and allow the passage to take residence in my heart.
"Take your practiced powers and stretch them out..."
Here, Rilke may as well have said,
take that fitness that you have gained in your life and apply that strength of fitness across as many different
disciplines, sports, and activities as you can possibly imagine. in other words, if you enjoy doing yoga,
don't you dare just limit your fitness to a sticky mat! stretch out that yoga fitness into the cardio realms, the strength training realms, go climb a mountain, kayak a creek, climb a rock, dance a ballet! For God's Sake PLAY your fitness!
"...until they span the chasm between two contradictions..."
I am going to have Ananda check my Temple Scrolls...i think Rilke may have been a WF Student for sure! What i hear him saying in this line is that we should preen our fitness not just so that it can allow us to shift from the physiologic contradictions of pure strength to that of pure endurance, he is also saying that our 'practiced powers'
- also known in the Western exercise science as a "training effect," and in the Eastern yogic world as 'siddhis' -
should span the seeming gulf between Body and Mind.
"...For the god wants to know himself in you."
Rilke knows what the sport-specific athlete or the studio yogi does not; Rilke knows that "god hides in the details," of
each sport, each fitness discipline, each activity that we are brave enough to continue to cultivate! Yogically, Rilke is pointing a finger at the union between the Inner Soul (Atman) and the Universal Soul (Brahman). Essentially, Rilke knows
what the WF Student craves and sweats after each day; to know our Highest Self though a multidisciplined and balanced Path of personal training (Practice/Sadhana).
I bow to Rilke.
coach ilg
***
Yoga is everywhere in my life,
for i see Yoga in everything...
even Charlie and Jasper,
the WF Temple Cat Beings...
is it just me,
or have Charlie and Jasper
taken a cat nap in the form of a yin/yang symbol?
May your Practice Jump With Joyful Insight
through Daily Sweat and Stillness...
keep the Awareness cranked Full Throttle, okay?
love,
coach ilg
PAIN and WELLNESS
"The thing is, you are not allowed to take a chiropractor, or anything else that is external to your Conscious Will,
into the Bardo. The key to Self Healing is just that; become your OWN chiropractor, herbalist, occupational therapist,
and physician. Each injury we encounter is also just that; an 'in-Jury'...a concentration of non-partisan Observers just waiting to see how you are going to skillfully LEARN from the "accident" or "circumstance" or "illness" to Rise Above it, thus joyfully absorbing new Levels of Consciousness and Inner Weaponry to thwart the third type of Karma that, according to the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali, "is yet to come and can be avoided." Give Blessings to your in-Juries, Give Blessings to your difficult circum-Stances, i say, give Blessings to your illnesses! They are the most potent and spiritually rewarding Teachers at the Physical Realm level of your life experience."
- Coach Ilg
***
Our beautiful and ever maturing non-formal Wholistic Fitness Warrior, Paul Mount, has written a wonderful piece on a shoulder in-Jury in his satellite version of a WF Blog that i approved. Stop by Paul's WF Blog when you get a moment. I have in-Joyed observing his steady climb toward a Higher Perspective to his personal fitness by his embrace of TOTAL BODY TRANSFORMATION. He is a good chap and it's go(o)d to have this non-Formal WF Warrior receive so much Love and Dharma through a book written for the mainstream fitness Level:
http://wftraining.blogspot.com/
Dharma Blessings,
coach ilg
STUDENT INPUT and WF TRAINING DHARMA!
Do not make the mistake of imagining that the nature of mind is exclusive only to our minds. It is in fact the nature of everything. It can never be said too often that to realize the nature of mind is to realize the nature of all things.
- Sogyal Rinpoche
***
" Hello my coach who embodies WF teachings
Beautiful strong inspiring DL today {8/29; on Pranayama Part Three}
Blessings to you sweet coach and teacher Ananda ...........Wonder Full
to have DL ramped up once again. You continue to serve us
all..........thank you.
-----Thank you
BBU....................becoming blissful unit
- WF Online student shel"
***
Yoga makes my whole body and soul vibrate unlike any
of the other disciplines by themselves. The best is a day of whole foods
and Sunrider, with a PM quadrathalon consisting of asanas into pranayam
into meditation into an MTB race � wow talk abut feeling strong and chi
filled.
- WF Online Student Toby Leeson
***
STUDENT ASH SETS A NEW PERSONAL RECORD! Plus, SECRET HERBS CRANK; ACTUAL TRAINING EXCHANGE
Dear Coach Ilg,
Tonight it behoves me to simply say a heartful thank-you for your advice of last week.
Using a couple of WF 'mantra's' , to anchor my monkey mind FIRMLY on the task in�hand, �took 33 seconds of my personal best in the time-trial tonight. My time of 25:48 is the first time I have dipped under 26 seconds for the 9.2 mile undulating course.
�
I appreciate that by Ilgonian standards this is pretty tame but it has left your humble student feeling very good about life (as well as totally knackered following the event).
�
I might also add that a pre-race mix of 5 SPORT CAPS 45 minutes before and some Raspberry FORTUNE DELIGHT with a generous squirt of VITAFRUIT makes an excellent mix for personal bests.
�
As far as my rock climing; Not only has my reach improved noticeably the biggest gain has been through high stepping and rockovers. Despite my lamentable hip flexibility, I have seen over the last few months a noticeable improvement in being able to place the ball of my rockshoe on higher holds and then stand up on them.
Perhaps the most glaring example of how yoga is aiding my climbing came last thurs. Attempting a climb at the climbing gym that involved standing up on a small sloping (and sweaty) foothold whilst gripping the edge of an ar�te for balance. The balance felt so effortless and the weight transfers FELT so good that I FELT I was never going to fall off; needless to say I didn�t. Watching my non-yogi partner make the move (and I do suggest frequently he take yoga up at his gym) I could actually see the difference in styles.
COACH ILG:
note the FUNCTIONAL FITNESS of the HP Yoga style; not only were you able to get your foot onto higher holds,�
the STRENGTH was there to USE it!� �this is not such a readily attainable form of asana functional fitness using�
other yoga styles;� HP YOGA was created by an athlete FOR athletes;� athletes of the body and SPIRIT!
yeah baby!� your rock climbing is only going to get better and more fun!� GET YOUR PARTNER into YOGA!� �
STUDENT ASH:�
Without question, a lot of the improvement in my hip flexibility has come from the WF Toilet Yoga. As I have mentioned previously, Toilet Yoga is simply a marvellous preparation for the day, calming the mind and forcing me to focus on what I am doing at that moment. This restraint of my monkey mind, stopping it leaping around thinking about what is to come, is SO valuable.
I actually find level two more fulfilling than level one as the �Crapper Catch� works the back more, stretching out a back compressed after a nights rest is a lovely feeling first thing in the morning.
As I have said before, how did I go 32 years without it!
COACH ILG:
Student Ash, there are many other things you have gone without for 32 years.
my job is to slowly, safely, peel away the Mara...the Illusion that clouds your Seeing that your Workout is truly Everywhere!��
***
August 30, 2005
COME SALSA DANCING WITH COACH AND ANANDA!
nearly every night of the week during the warm weather,
Flagstaff has Downtown Parties, free to the general public, at "Heritage Square"...
Tuesdays are SALSA NIGHTS from 7-9 pm!
Wanna Come?
You can, you know...
you can watch Ananda and i dance with the crowd on the Flagstaff Webcam:
http://www.azdailysun.com/news/webcam.cfm
just take control of the webcam and keep it on Heritage Square.
if you ever want a Live Chi Hit of the Sacred Peak above the WF Home Temple,
like the one i just took below?
just use the SAN FRANCISCO PEAKS preset!
One Tribe,
One Dance, baby!
DANCE YOUR FITNESS!
namaste from beneath tonight's Sacred Peak,
coach
CLEANING ROCK, CLEARING SOULS
with over 75 First Ascents preceded by Give Away Ceremonies,
coach ilg has been one of the most conscious leaders of the
rock climbing scene since the mid-eighties. His INTRODUCTION
to BOULDER CLIMBS NORTH (Chockstone Press), is a testimony to his
coaching of younger climbers to embrace the sixth, intuitive sense of
Discriminate Wisdom before changing the face of any rock wall.
Dearest Coach,
I saw in DL that you are putting up some climbing routes near your new home, which will be great for your own practice and for visiting students, I'm sure. I do, however, cringe when I hear someone saying that they are "cleaning" a route, particularly with a wire brush. Often what they are doing is removing native vegetation, including plants and lichens, some of which can be rare. I know that you are tuned into the ways of our plant friends, but others may not be. As you develop these routes, therefore, I humbly ask you to consider urging others to clean in a mindful manner, while protecting native vegetation whenever possible. It would also be outstanding if climbers became familiar with the rare plants of their region that might be found in these environments.
Thanks for listening, and good luck setting up the routes.
Namaste.
student michael
Noble Student MT,
i bow to your Compassion for all things, and trust my response to you will take some of the cringe out of your posture.
please trust that i did not just mindlessly move to town and start shattering the natural rock walls for intent of climbing them. based on my lifelong First Ascent experience, i have steadily considered and applied all precursory biologic, geologic, climbing ethics, and native circles before ever touching the Rock Being.
the rock in question is dacite, very clean to start with only spots of first generation grasses and choss present. No new route of mine will ever destroy endangered cryptogamic crust and the routes themselves will sacrifice as little of this biotic layer as possible.
I asked the Rock Gods via Vishnu first,
the locals second,
and my experience and my Soul third.
again, i bow to you for speaking up for the Inanimate Beings. You honor the WF Path by such a developed
Compassion for All Things.
"Soul of Earth, sanctify me.
Body of Earth, save me.
Blood of Earth, fill me with Love.
Water from Earth's side, wash me.
Passion of Earth, strengthen me.
Resurrection of Earth, empower me.
Good Earth, hear me.
Within your wounds, hide me.
Never let me be separated from you.
From the power of evil, protect me.
At the hour of death, call me
That with your living ones I may thank you
For all eternity. Amen."
- Adapted by Jane Pellowski
From Anima Christi
namaste,
the mountain yogi
A WF HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO STUDENT SHEL!!!
Here is a shot of fiftysomething WF Online Warrioress Shelli crankin'
on her bike, "Hank", named in honor of Coach Henry Steven Ilg, during a
Private Intensive in Flagstaff. As you will read below, Shelli ain't entering the
second half of her precious life with anything less than the Intelligent Spiritual Fitness
wisdom and sweat of WF Online Training, baby! She, unlike the millions of others
in her age range, is rapidly turning back the
Physiologic Clock as the Chronologic one clicks uselessly forward. That is Ananda
keeping an eye on this wonderful Warrioress of the Inner WF Way! Read on and be
INSPIRED by this Goddess of the Graceful Fitness Path; WF!
as you know,
i teach my Online Students that chronological birthdays don't mean shit.
here is what "WF Birthdays" are all about in the words of WF Online Student Shel;
"Sweet Coach,
I had a birthday this month----after 3 years of dedicated practice with
your yoga video two fridays ago during the hip opener series---i was able
to #1 cross my legs--you know ankle bone on opposite knee and go all the
way down and get those legs to touch and #2 i did this while i was
holding my hands clasped behind my back............it was AWESOME and i
don't know if you felt it but i jumped out of my skin and astral
projected and gave you a big HUG............man oh man i love myself !!
My patience and TLC--truly a gift i bestow on myself............"
- WF Online Student Shel
And, to show you what a beautiful MIND is going along with her creation of her new body
(Student Shel has lost 3lbs of fat, and has replaced that fat with lean, new muscles in just
her first WF Online Cycle!) check out
her Willingness to Question Everything and RESEARCH:
"I was going to e-mail you with a question --then a little voice told me
you'd give it back to me as svadhyaya so i decided to find the answer
myself. The question was "why does Strength Training give suppleness to muscles?". i
did lots of reading and research and here's what i found--the short
version----as muscles become stronger they experience superior blood flow
making them more pliable, more elastic , more conducive to allowing the
joints to flex and extend throughout a normal ROM (Range Of Motion). Flexibility is
determined by muscular strength. Am i on the money here-----what else is
key to my understanding here ? This could be why i approached the ST
with such pleasure this cycle as i will in future cycles !
- WF Online Student Shel
BODY and MIND FITNESS, baby!
You see,
Oh OverComers of Duality;
"BIRTHDAYS" should be synonymous with "BREAKTHROUGHS!"
The WF Warrior does not celebrate the arbitrary passing of chronologic years! that is stupid!
Anyone can die while passing time!
Do not celebrate chronologic birthdays;
instead
Celebrate BREAKTHROUGHS!
What is a real WF Birthday?
It's when you have slaved and sweated and purified yourself
in some aspect of your Practice...when you have suffered through so many tiny signs of " progress"
that you don't think your mind and body and Will are strong enough to endure...
then, suddenly; BOOM! A BREAKTHROUGH!
that, my Noble WF Brothers and Sisters is a
WF BIRTHDAY!
BIRTHDAY WORDS:
"This first cycle has been great--challenging me in all
ways and i take it all in----stillness i am finding and plenty of
sweat---could bottle and sell the stuff but then again it's MY sacred
sweat and i love every damn bead of it................looking forward
I am blessed you are my coach and friend...................and i am of
better service in my world because of it.
love student shel"
Student Shel and Coach heading out for a run on the WF Home Temple Mountain Duathlon course.
congrats, B-Day Girl Shel! you ain't getting older, you are turning the physiologic Clock BACKWARD baby!
i bow to all my WF Students dedication to the Steep and Direct Path of WF Personal Training...AIN'T IT JUST SOOOOOO FINE!??!!
namaste,
coach ilg
"WF IS A SEED IN MY SOUL"...TRIBUTE TO COACH AND JOY from Heather
HP Yogini Heather and yogini friends Shaun and Carrie (L-R) hiking above the SF Bay. Those of you who studied HP Yoga with me in LA, may remember Heather's shimmering eyes and radiate presence behind the front desk. Today, she is still imparting the Love and Light (not to mention the unmatched SWEAT) of the HP Yoga Way! Below, Heather offers us such a gem...thank you, Oh Most Noble and Beautiful Heather! Your Light and Love is deeply embraced by us here at the humble Helm of WF!
Head bowed,
Heart Open
Karma Skipping Lifetimes,
coach ilg
***
Dearest Steve, Loveliest Joy,
i woke up early this morning (early for me anyway), puttered around the house cleaning and doing laundry then sat down for a little DIRECT LINES chi hit. It has been a couple of weeks since I last logged on, so I had a bit of catching up to do. After reading about your racing adventures, pranayama guidance, herbs and eating wisdom, and anti-sport specificity teachings all i could think and feel was that i didn't just have some catching up to do, i had a LOT of training to do!! i am so humbled and awed, inspired and overwhelmed by your lighted presences! Beautiful teachers you both are amazing mirrors of what humans can create and achieve in their lives with practiced awareness, discipline, and courage. To create even an ounce of your awareness, discipline and courage in my life would be a true blessing and miracle! Wholistic Fitness philosophy is like a seed that you have planted in my soul. It has grown deep roots and though i don't always nurture this plant the way i know i should, it is strong and resiliant and thrives with even the smallest bit of attention. There is no way to kill this plant for it grows from love, and reminds me to move forward in my life from my heart. i am a pitiful example of WF and HPY but regardless, when i share my space and Steve's words with my little sangha community here, they just love it. Like with me, the energy of the HP based Y we practice resonates with their cells and reminds them of what it is like to feel go(o)d in their bodies and be clearly connected to their spirit. Dearest Teachers, i truly think and feel that regardless of how your words reach the world (legally or otherwise), i know that they are touching the people they need to touch at the perfect moment to make the greatest loving impact on their life and on this world.
Honesty, integrity, and staying authentic to one's self are not qualities that are encouraged and rewarded often enough in our society. Steve, when a person of your integrity, strength, and presence comes face to face with another soul it can be a bit intimidating. You reflect back to this person the beauty of their life and spirit once they have confronted and slayed the fears and dragons that rage within themselves. Your beautiful presence pretty much removes any option for denial that these dragons are within. Thus it wouldn't surprise me that you are the recipient of much displaced anger and resentment because it is easier and more comfortable for others to blame you for their plight than take personal responsability for their lives and their fears. To maintain a stance of power and love in the face of this angry storm is no small task. 
Know that while there will always be people who turn away from their fears, the work you have done on yourselves gives others permission and inspiration to find their courage and do the work too! i really want to recognize you and Joy for putting yourselves out into the world, shining your light, staying true to yourselves, moving from your heart, and doing what you have to do to take care of yourselves. i love you both so much! When i have more money, i would love to formally join WF online training and be more financially supportive of this path. Until that time, know you have my emotional, intellectual, physical and spiritual loving support.
from my heart to your hearts,
Heather
August 29, 2005
Two Tree Manor; Temple Enhancements for your next Private Intensive Beneath The Sacred Peak!
Just in case you are picking up even MORE Animal and Tribal Medicine energies in your workouts, you might be receiving the recent Empowerment spin offs from our new Medicine Wheel here at the WF Home Temple beneath the Sacred Peak. Each day,
Ananda and i engage a Native ceremony and Blessings to our WF Tribe...we also use the Wheel to receive Teachings and/or Guidances and/or Empowerments from animal, directional, and ancestor energies. In a future DL, i will show you how to build your own Medicine Wheel, complete with the WF Tribal Blessings! In the Grandfather Sun 'sipapu' you see a Wild Turkey feather, a souvenir from the headwaters of the Santa Clara river where we were sport climbing recently. The medicine of Turkey is the "Give Away"...i will speak more on our auspicious encounter with a flock of Wild Turkeys right after our WF Immersion in an upcoming DL. 
Coach Ilg, with cleaning brush in hand, prepares for the first ascent of "Joy's Delight" a 5.5 rock climb on West Elden that features a crux with a high-step move up a bulge and onto a smooth face. This climbing area is located right across the street from the WF Home Temple. Primarily a 'traditional' area (meaning that the routes are non-bolted and meant to be climbed by placing climbing protection while on lead). Coach is already at work on developing several new first ascents for a 'beginners area' so that private students can learn to enjoy the art of climbing safely and in an absolutely beautiful mountain environment. Photo taken delightly by Joy!
PRANAYAM...PART THREE: OUTER MOVEMENT A BEACON FOR INNER MOVEMENT
{NOTE: THIS THE CONCLUDING PART OF A THREE PART DL EXCLUSIVE FEATURE ON PRANIC EMPOWERMENT; see DL 8/9, 8/11)
"Today, 'pranayama' is usually described in yogic media as a form of breath management. Such a description does dis-Serve-us to the majesty of this most powerful internal art. As Swami Vivekananda asserted, the work of pranayam is directly linked to our Soul Work. In my experience, work done through daily Pranayama - which, by the way, i would define as 'control of the Life Currents' - might briefly be stated as the ultimate oxygenation of the blood currents and heightend fitness of the respiratory diaphragms which, in turn, amps the vibratory state of the Practitioner to a Level equal to that of his or her etheric body (or sheath; pranayamakosha), the latter of which is karmically determined. Repeated joyous and passionate insight then arises upon this individuated mergence of ones physical and etheral bodies. One of the raddest things about Pranayam? You can do it ANYWHERE! Though best to do it as per WF's unique "At-Sink Pranayam" prescriptions, Ananda and i also do pranayam in public restaurants (Immersion Students will now recall my, "Pranayamic Appetizers"!), or while traveling in cars or planes. i use Pranayam as the key inner tool to establish and heighten my link with the Supreme...uh, not to mention unmatched sport performance!" Above, Coach Ilg, glows with Pranic infusion, after a Pranayam Practice within what he calls, "My ambulatory yogic cave; the sealed pod of 'Bala' my Honda Element." Photo by Ananda near Veyo, Utah.
there are three primary Levels of personal fitness attainment;
1) personally;
when you realized that, like riding a bike for the first time, your embrace of your personal fitness granted you great and unique freedom to chase your own star. regardless of motivational integrity, you Know and are devoted to lifetime and lifestyle exercise. you simply will never stop working out. the key here, is to make it to #2:
2) emotionally;
when you realized that your fitness training was an ignition switch that turned on your self esteem and sense of heightened well being. at this Level, you begin to See Clearly that personal fitness is a spiritual Wake Up Call. you find a Teacher (or Teaching) that embodies your standard of intellect, physical fitness, and overall Presence. you dig into your will power and determination each day to Rise Above your predictable inner obstacles toward Self Cultivation such as Doubt, Poor Health, Laziness, Mental Fatigue, Carelessness, Sensual Attraction, Delusion, and Frustration caused by failure to hold the ground. Such obstacles only conquer the Common Man. You have Risen Above such typicity.
3) spiritually;
when you finally "get It." You understand that the real reason behind doing a Barbell Curl or doing Ironman Triathlons was not to grow stronger muscles or win medals as much as it was to purify your weaknesses, strengthen your mind, and prepare for transcendence of your physical body (conquering the fear of death). Only a few Fitness Warriors will ever reach the Knowledge of Navigation of this 3rd Level of Fitness Attainment. This is due to a lack of genuine body/mind Dharma Teachers in Kali Yuga (current era of spiritual dark age). Once such an aspirant does reach this 3rd Fitness Attainment, however, both Past and Future withdraw into Maha-pralaya (the Great Dissolution). Physical, etheral, and spiritual bodies merge into one blissful Unit. Such a state is called, a True Human Being.
***
This three part series on Pranayam is based in physical common sense: All Dis-ease begins from stagnation. The yogi simply keeps things moving by why of exercise, breathwork, and 'secret herbs'. In keeping everything moving, encrusted and decaying food debris no longer cake the digestive organs. Compression of bodily tissues through multidisciplined exercise brings strength and suppleness to bones, muscles, and organs. Pranayams prevent a lack of bodily ventilation to provide oxgen and prana therapy throughout the cells.
you see, Noble Warrior of Wholistic Fitness,
as long as we keep things MOVING we are fine!
Life is change! Adapt!
There are only two creatures on earth that learn to Love instead of push away Change:
A baby who needs a new diaper,
and
a WF WARRIOR!
those of you that already have become Masters of External Movement
must now become more Mature in a Spiritual/Energetic Sense...you must now learn
how to take that Love Of Movement...
WITHIN!
Trust me,
me, "America's Outdoor Athlete" (Outside Magazine)
me, "The World's Fittest Human," (Ultra Cycling Magazine)
me, "Mr. 75 First Ascents in climbing"...
me.. "Mr. Adrenalin junkie of all time,"
i
am telling you now:
what you think you love about external movement
is only a Beacon for the AMAZING
Delight of Inner Movement;
Pranayama!
sorry about the poor lighting here (i really need to get a 'real' digital camera), yet you can see an angle of Nauli (stomach cleansing; see Parts 1&2 of this Series) and the "Stomach Bar" being worked. Nauli purifies the naturally entropic energy (apana) and the natural upward energy (Prana) and can cure all dis-eases.
This stuff is a lot more spiritually mature than relying on external doctors, pills and, even for Fitness Warriors, it is a lot more subtle and demanding than say, doing biceps curls. Yet doing biceps curls is what led me within and gave me the focusing abilities and capacity to break limits that led me within. 
Here is a candid shot of me, early in the morning while most people are still asleep, working the Pran. Note the essentials of HP Yoga teachings; eyes closed to draw Senses Within (pratyhara), spine straight (to keep etheric channels and centers open), i am working three Basics of HP Yoga; Ujjayi breathing, Mula Bandha, and Uddiyana. i am not allowed to Teach, that which i do not Practice. This keeps my Students safe and secure in their Training Effects. Note also, my wearing of YogaToes. I have chosen a most important section of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika below to describe these important internal fitness training movements.
In the shot above, I am doing a particular movement (a variation of Garudasana) in one of my WF Toilet Yoga (registered copyright) programs. Offered only to WF Online Students for safety and strict Guidance, there are Four Levels of WF Toilet Yoga that immediately change an aspirants life for the more powerful. I created this utterly WF Exclusive art of WF Toilet Yoga (registered copyright) because i have grown sick of people saying that they "don't have the time," to go take a yoga class or sit in meditation, or blah, blah, blah. You got a Toilet? Good, then you got all you need for Yoga. In this shot, note how i am using Uddiyana Pranayam (Upward Flying Breath) to produce an upliftment to my upper torso, thereby lightening the load and compaction on the lower back. Uddiyana was and remains absolutely essential to the ongoing self healing of my smashed pelvis. It is soooo hard to stay focused on Uddiyana; yet the fanning of the Pran is priceless to health, fitness, and spiritual progress. Indeed, when we do fitness training from this sense of Engaged Upliftment; we are light, supple, and focused...regardless of what sport or activity we are doing. The WF Warrior, trained in daily Pranayam, can Dance the Dance of all sports, of all activities, of all of life..for we do not train specifically; we train Wholistically! We are Athletes of the Breath! The Pran! The Life Force!
Yoga is not about Peaceful Feelings or Relaxation; it is a RADICAL Path of Self Transformation that has captivated this adrenalin extreme sport junkie...and if this Ancient Art of Self Transformation can capture and cure my addiction to adrenalin and external movement; i KNOW you will take such amazing joy at integrating Pranayam into your Daily Fitness as well.
HATHA YOGA PRADIPIKA: AN ANCIENT GUIDE TO SELF TRANSFORMATION 
My Teachers demanded that i study the Ancient Scriptures, such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the primary 'bible' for anyone who dares call themselves a Hatha Yogi (One Who Practices Forceful Yoga). Hatha Yoga is by far, the toughest 'sport' i have ever done. My Teachers instructed me to attend to Their Words, The Ancient Teachings, not the current pandemonium of glossy magazines and make-a-quick-buck-on-yoga books. Study the Scriptures; the BluePrints of Soul Fitness!
In turn, i too, will demand from you your best effort
...if you so choose to use your Precious Life
- and already attained Fitness Merit -
to race toward Enlightenment.
i am a lifelong competitor...and you and i are in the same race; the Human Race! It is a RACE to learn, to Master our Highest Self in one lifetime! You will need a Wise, Experienced Teacher to help you. I, and my Certified WF Teaching Staff, can guide you capably at least for a while of our Shared Journey...yet,
you must follow the Practices as given by the Ancients.
i have carefully molded WF Online to be the ideal East/West Practice and i truly wish to hear your footsteps in my
humble, yet powerful and experienced
WF Online Training Temple.
i shall now close with the Best of the Best when it comes to the ancient Practice of cultivating our Inner Power and Soul; the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
May your Practice be inspired from these Masters of Life, whose brave innertakings resulted in a string of Enlightened Beings whose Words of Inner Workouts
are more priceless,
more appropriate,
and more
NEEDED
than
ever before
on Mother Earth.
Namaste,
coach ilg
19. When the nadis become free from impurities, and there appear the outward signs of success, such as lean body and glowing color, then one should feel certain of success.
20. By removing the impurities, the air can be restrained, according to one's wish and the appetite is increased, the divine sound is awakened, and the body becomes healthy.
21. If there be excess of fat or phlegm in the body, the six kinds of kriyas (duties) should be performed first. But others, not suffering from the excess of these, should not perform them.
22. The six kinds of duties are: Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Trataka, Nauti and Kapala Bhati. These are called the six actions.
The Uddiyana Bandha
54. Uddiyana is so called by the Yogis, because by its practice the Prana (vayu), flies (flows) in the Susumna.
55. Uddiyana is so called, because the great bird, Prana, tied to it, flies without being fatigued. It is explained below.
56. The belly above the navel is pressed backwards towards the spine. This Uddiyana Bandha is like a lion for the elephant of death.
57. Uddiyana is always very easy, when learnt from a guru. The practiser of this, if old, becomes young again.
58. The portions above and below the navel, should be drawn backwards towards the spine. By practicing this for six months one can undoubtedly conquer death.
59. Of all the Bandhas, Uddiyana is the best; for by binding it firmly liberation comes spontaneously.
The Mula Bandha
60. Pressing Yoni (perineum) with the heel, contract up the anus. By drawing the Apana thus, Mula Bandha is made.
61. The Apana, naturally inclining downward, is made to go up by force. This Mula Bandha is spoken of by Yogis as done by contracting the anus.
62. Pressing the heel well against the anus, draw up the air by force, again and again till it (air) goes up.
63. Prana, Apana, Nada and Bindu uniting into one in this way, give success in Yoga, undoubtedly.
64. By the purification of Prana, and Apana, urine and excrements decrease. Even an old man becomes young by constantly practicing Mula Bandha.
65. Going up the Apana enters the zone of fire, i.e., the stomach. The flame of fire struck by the air is thereby lengthened.
(Note In the center of the body is the seat of fire, like heated gold. In men it is triangular, in quadrupeds square, in birds circular. There is a long thin flame in this fire. It is gastric fire.)
66. These, fire and Apana, go to the naturally hot Prana, which, becoming inflamed thereby, causes burning sensation in the body.
August 27, 2005
FEARLESS YOGA=WF * YOGATOES; AUTUMN STYLE * RESENTMENT=ANGER * DANCING SPINE, FLUID ROCKS
ANOTHER UNIQUELY COACH ILG IDEA; YOGINJINJITOES!
i don't know about where you live, however, up here at over 7,000', the nights are already growing cold. Early morning meditations stun barefeet, yet we would never want to stop wearing our treasured YogaToes, right? All right, then Oh Overcomer of Duality, listen up. This fall and winter, why not combine two of my treasures into one Shining Jewel; YogaToes worn over Injinji socks! Yeah baby! Hey, you already know about the benefits of wearing Injinji socks as described in my DL of 7/2/05 {WF Sacred Workouts; Mt Humphreys} during an 87-minute ascent of a 12,633' mountain. And, any DL Reader worth his or her sweat never goes a day without having their toes spread in YogaToes! Well, if you combine the two, you will be able to go 'semi barefoot' all autumn and winter! the YogaToes elevate a significant portion of your foot off of cold floors while the Injinji socks capitalize on the circulation work already being done by the YogaToes. The more chi to the feet the better for long term organ-ic health and fitness performance! Go ahead and order your YogaToes + Injinji socks today and allow your Practice to become more saturated with Chi-filled meridians! Just tell 'em ol' Coach Ilg sent you!
www.injinji.com
http://www.yogapro.com/ts/toestretcher.html
UPCOMING in DL
(my first coaching priorities lie with my formal WF Online Students, then Sunrider Herbal Warriors, then DL entries, thank you for understanding):
a full report and input from our Chakra Stirring, Head Spinning, Heart Thumping WF Summer Immersion at Red Mountain Spa! Here is a shot of the gathered WF Warriors on the campus of Red Mountain Spa. Note the left background behind WF Most Precious Warrior Award Winner Vito (that's him standing in the unmistakable "Jersey Tadasana" posture!)....see the lava fields quivering beneath the flaming red rocks as the simmering pranic ocean of Utah's high desert permeates our cells? The next time i announce a WF Retreat, don't THINK! just answer the Temple Gong and JUMP into what will certainly be an unmatched body/mind/spirit experience! Just ask these Warriors! 
after i smashed my spine and pelvis to smithereens, i vowed that once i Self Healed, i would never, ever stop Dancing my Life...i don't care how silly i may look, i am just gonna keep Dancing because i know what it is like to lie flat on a broken spine and not be able to move anything but the most important Vehicle of Self Healing; the Breath. 
Now, i Dance up rocks, down ski slopes, on bicycles, skates, you name it, i will Dance it...because WHOLISTIC FITNESS training Gifts us the most amazing capacity to DANCE the Physiologic Spectrum; Endurance, Strength, Suppleness, and Stillness. The Great Connecting Link to the Dance of (y)our Life? That's Right, the Breath! Where there is Breath, there is Pran. Coming up in DL, i will finish my 3 Part Series on Pranayam, focusing on Nauli; the great Purifier and, take you along with Ananda and i as we CRANK sport climbing routes in the most amazing climbing park i have ever seen; Crawdad Canyon, Utah! Above, i clip a bolt enroute to another flash of a sport route. This one was called, "SuperFly"...you can see why! You gotta BECOME a SuperFly if you don't want to fall off this one!
"Watching Coach climb so gracefully yet powerfully up these routes, was like watching a ballet," WF Teacher and Coach Ilg climbing partner, Ananda, who also broke through her Fear and climbed a 5.8+ route called, "Corrupting The Natives," in Crawdad Canyon.
You want GENUINE, FEARLESS WARRIOR YOGA?
On the podium of bike races one weekend, cranking Basalt sport climbs the next...
i work hard on myself each day to walk my walk so i can talk my talk over the past quarter century...
i work so hard on my own personal Practice so i can ask you this question from a stance of solidarity:
i ask you, Oh Noble Warrior;
Of what g(o)od is our Yoga if we don't challenge our Edge ACROSS the fitness spectrum?
No g(o)od!
Get out and CRANK YOUR EDGE in as many Ways you can!
Life is too short to confine yoga to a damned sticky mat!
The WF Warrior knows better; we know that our Highest Asana Edge, that Edge that will more adequately prepare us for the Bardo is found by dancing our limits in cardio, strength, suppleness, meditation, and nutrition!
Long Live America's Indigenous Form of Yoga; WHOLISTIC FITNESS!
we've been so far out in front of the mainstream for so long,
we just wish this much:
May all beings be Fearless, Brave, and Compassionate in their Practice of personal fitness.
namaste and may this Gift of DL inspire and empower!
coach ilg
August 26, 2005
**
Dear ILG~~
Do you feel that taking on a SUNRIDER / TBT lifestyle has left you in complete control of your emotions, your ability to stay clear?
or do you still experience anger, depression, anxiety, a feeling of being off balance, at all?
In Peace,
BrandOn
Most Noble BrandOn,
your Journey Toward Awakening is yours.
not mine.
do not compare.
you are young.
much Learning, much Practice, much Sweat and Stillness to be done before you gain the Middle Path of Emotive disturbances.
you took this Incarnation with a unique karmic, genetic, skill, and willpower workload than anyone else on the planet.
i suggest you take the curriculum.
the yogi's duty is to remain even-minded and attentive to the Practices through the Ups and Downs of
human life before Awakening.
"Feel everything, attach to nothing."
- WF Maxim
please read today's DL below, then...go back to TBT and reread the WF Sutras.
you may be manifesting a WF Sangha chakra clearing.
before Awakening you must travel through
Purification
Strength
then comes
Transcendence.
hang in there.
that is all.
love,
coach ilg
COACH IS BACK!!!!*CHAKRA SPIN OFF* STUDENT INPUT!
***
This existence of ours is as transient as autumn clouds
To watch the birth and death of beings is like looking at the movements of a dance.
A lifetime is like a flash of lightning in the sky,
Rushing by, like a torrent down a steep mountain.
BUDDHA
***
Dearest Noblest Fittest Warriors on the Planet!
thank you for your patience during my time away from DL while at our WF SUMMER RETREAT at RED MOUNTAIN SPA.
my heart was so touched by the LOVE that sprang forth from each of the gathered Teachers and Warriors! i never really realized it, yet what WF has unearthed is a completely unique form of heart and sweat based Warrior; a Bhakti Warrior!
right now, BLOGGER is in a technical snafu and not allowing me to post photos. sit tight. i will hit you with some CHI shots from our Retreat plus a few freebies from a fantastic rock climbing trip to Crawdad Canyon in southern Utah that Ananda and i released into after our Retreat.
CHAKRA SPIN CYCLE!
SPECIAL NOTE TO THE RED MOUNTAIN PARTICIPANTS and the Energetic Sensitive:
some of you may be experiencing a type of depression or melancholy feeling after our incredible WF Immersion. energy is a pendulum. what goes up, must come down. waves. if you are feeling like the "Chi has suddenly flowed elsewhere," this is an accumulative yet positive training effect that hit (y)our subtle anatomy on a multi-tiered level during the Immersion.
let me be brave enough to attempt a minor explanation at what hit (y)our cells;
1) you were immersed in more than just a WF Workshop! you were immersed in what i call the Pranic Ocean of the Escalante. the vibration of the red earth land that was hitting your cells during the weekend produces what i have come to call, "The Escalante Chakra Spin Cycle," just ask Teacher Haku or Ananda about it. the moody, depressed, or melancholy feelings are typical astral spin off residue from having your chakra systems worked on in a very powerful way. What to do; enjoy. use the Chakra Meditation that i used in the HP Yoga Class on friday to help filter and harmonize the Escalante Effect.
2) The Sangha (or Namaste) Effect. from the very moment we sat down in the first WF Sangha Circle on Night #1; the combined Transmission effect from the 17 seasoned WF Warriors who spilled out their Loving Embrace of our Path hit all of our subtle anatomy in a Big League Way. Our Soul Energy ripped right through the barriers of skin, abilities, emotion, opinions, etc., and just went right to instant work on ramping up our Chakral Energies. this is how Dolphins communicate to humans; they cut right past the bullshit and into our Chakral reservoirs. some of you know precisely of what i speak. one day, man too, will regain this Noble, Astral communication; if we Practice the Path. What to do; reflect on the memorable moments of the Immersion, smile, and plant a Sunflower in Manipura Chakra (solar plexus center). this will ground and give root to any 'disturbed earth element' effects.
3) The Guru Effect. I ain't talking here about me. What i am talking about is the tremendous Power and Love and Unconditional Compassion from my own Teachers flowing through me, into you. i ain't nuthin. a feeble conduit, if anything. that is all. In the future however, as our Tribe continues to move Higher up into what Personal Fitness really means, i will coach you - when it is safe to do so - in the basic tenets of EnergyWork which will make the above 3-Tiered Effect make more sense. For now, let me just say that what we experienced at Red Mountain has begun and will continue an EnergyWork effect upon (y)our cells that will produce certain paranormal sensations and insights that will Lift your Practice far beyond what it was before the Immersion. (Don't worry, i will not charge you extra for this..it comes to you free as reward for doing whatever it took to get to Red Mountain to get the WF Transmission, baby!) This Ramping Up Effect is based from the ongoing work of the Masters who taught basic yogic EnergyWork comprehension on 5 Trainable Levels: 1) Forms, 2) the Constituents of Forms, 3) Groups, 4) Forces, and 5) Energy. Essentially, the WF Immersion has begun an Atomical (an atom is just a point of energy) Shift in you. Listen closely to insights arising from whenever you Sweat or sit in Silence. Sweat and Silence are the two Primary Contact Realms for receiving WF Seed Transmissions.
Enough? am i losing you?
Okay, enough.
I just felt obliged as a body/mind Coach to let you know that if i am feeling the way i am feeling right now, wow...
some of you might be getting a major Shake Up! and, i consider it a professional duty to let you know that if you are feeling a bit 'peculiar' after the WF Immersion (even if you get 'sick'), that it is more than okay...it is cina; a positive sign of upward Progress on the Path. Specific Adaptation to Imposed Nadic Demands, baby! ...and this Chakra Shift is NOT limited only to the WF Immersion Participants! ALL WF Online Students, fans, SUNRIDERs, and even the occasional DL reader can, if they are Energetically Sensitive, experience an astral 'trickle down' effect from what happened at Red Mountain.
i will close now with some catch up STUDENT INPUT and again,
thank you for being a part of a very rare Breed of of Yogi; a Bhakti Warrior of WF!
i bow to you,
coach ilg
back beneath the Sacred Peak
***
STUDNET INPUT
I believe God led me to your book Total Body Transformation, I started doing yoga about 2 months now and I love it. I became a vegetarian about 2 months ago. I have changed my entire way of thinking since reading your book. Thank you so much for writing.
- Clarietha B.
***
coach,
i read this in DL and was Shifted Instantly:
"WF never tries to re-invent the 'wheel of Dharma' for monetary gain. We respect, bow to, and trust the Ancient Wisdom. What we DO know how to do, is to translate and then actively mold that Peerless Ancient Wisdom of the body/mind/spirit into today's modern society." - Coach Ilg
todays DL was as freakin AMAZING as it gets! you are inspiring a level of awareness and love thru fitness that has no peers.
god bless the moment i saw that Outside cover a moment ago called 1992;)
Chi-Up,
Teacher Q
***
hello my coach in my corner...................today's complete HP Prop Workout
video-----I THUMPED !
from my heart to yours..............
Also your DL's have been touching, healing and providing me with new
ways to journey..........i am blessed.
My dear brave warrior and coach..............Your attempt to draw a few warriors from the comfort of the peleton this past weekend in your bike race reinforces your notion of peleton as metaphor of unawakened society. Your courage and energy are inspiring ! Thank you
Please KNOW that the WF life is a blessed life and that you have drawn this warrioress out of her comfort zone ( personal peleton of one ) as I sculpt the WF lifestyle..............and i give thanks everyday for my WF blessings !
Injoy a mahi mahi burger.............big wheel high rpm hugs
may your dance card be filled !
love
WF Online Student Shelli
***
Dear Coach,
Yesterday�s DL was inspiring � and then student Jennifer�s question regarding skepticism warranted some contemplation.
My feeling is that there is a big difference between the skepticism of which you speak, and Jennifer�s questioning (which is essentially what you addressed with the story of Flagstaff thunder).
The conversation reminded me �The Buddha emphasized that his students were not to accept his words on blind faith, but rather to test everything for themselves through the workshop of their own personal experience. Many spiritual disciplines offer similar counsel.
According to the Kalama Sutra (translations vary widely, the gist remains):
To the seekers of truth the Buddha says:
"Do not accept anything on (mere) hearsay.
Do not accept anything by mere tradition.
Do not accept anything on account of mere rumors.
Do not accept anything just because it accords with your scriptures.
Do not accept anything by mere suppositions.
Do not accept anything by mere inference.
Do not accept anything by merely considering the reasons.
Do not accept anything merely because it agrees with your pre-conceived notions.
Do not accept anything merely because it seems acceptable.
Do not accept anything thinking that the ascetic is respected by us (therefore it is right to accept his word).
"But when you know for yourselves -- these things are immoral, these things are blameworthy, these things are censured by the wise, these things, when performed and undertaken conduce to ruin and sorrow -- then indeed do you reject them.
"When you know for yourselves -- these things are moral, these things are blameless, these things are praised by the wise, these things, when performed and undertaken, conduce to well-being and happiness -- then do you live acting accordingly."
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said: "Rely on the teachings to evaluate a guru:
Do not have blind faith, but also no blind criticism."
And further recommends that:
�A proper disciple should fulfill the 3 requisites:
- lack of prejudice, being open-minded
- intelligence and a critical mind: not blindly following orders
- aspiration: wanting to practice and experience results (not just scholarly study)�
To me, this means that we should indeed question all. Take it into our meditations, take it into our intervals, take it into our lives. Churn it around in the chaotic washing machine of our daily lives. If it passes the test of our personal experience, then we can choose to accept it. This is the inquiry necessary of all students.
The skepticism to which you refer, is that of those whose minds and hearts are already nailed down. It is not the skepticism of inquiry and honest seeking and questioning. It is the skepticism of fear, and of blind faith, and of clinging to their personal vision of reality. It is their defense, and it shrinks their world.
The student�s inquiry expands their world and opens it to the infinite possibilities of the universe.
Thank you for the reminder.
Love,
Student Anne
August 18, 2005
Planning for the future is like going fishing in a dry gulch;Nothing ever works out as you wanted, so give up all your schemes and ambitions.If you have got to think about something�Make it the uncertainty of the hour of your death.
GYALS� RINPOCHE
{coach, working the chi in a southwest canyon. photo by Ananda}
Dear Coach Ilg,
I recently came across your book and was appreciative to find a resource that resonates so completely with the work I do. Using this teaching is not only enhancing my own practice, but also becoming one of my essential recommended resources for my clients. I really appreciate the balance inherent in the work--content and presentation.
Every once in a long while, I discover a teaching--a book, a phrase, agesture, a human being--and I have a visceral response from deep within---a fully embodied yes---an intuitive affirmation that this teaching is resonating at the right frequency for who I am in this moment urging me to pay attention and respond. This is what happened with your book (Total Body Transformation).
I discovered it online- Quite despite myself (forgive me), I clicked on the opening pages somewhat expecting yet
another book that I would have to piece together with other resources in order for it to be of most value, and found instead a beautiful, robust offering in one book---and one that is accessible to a wide audience. And I found myself drawn to your pages like a moth to flame, so of course, I waited a few weeks [grin] because sometimes the first impression is simply an illusory desire, yes?, pointing at some deeper realization, and rediscovered your book and that internal YES at a
bookstore caf�...and I paid attention.
So thank you for teaching me. I look forward to unfolding your work and that YES more completely.
Warm regards,
Karen
PS. Please know that while you are most welcome to respond, I don't
expect a response... I just wanted to express my gratitude and
acknowledge the beauty of your offering.
www.luminacoaching.com
***
Beloved Coach,
thank you my living wonder;) the CHI on DL has been so incredible...all i've been able to do is shake my head from side to side in utter amazement. no worries...i won't just skake...i'll write also;) see you in a few days!
Namaste,
TQ
***
August 17, 2005
OFF TO RED MOUNTAIN SPA!; I LEAVE YOU WITH LOVE and "THE GILA JOURNALS" (and the DL ARCHIVES!)
"In this tiny dawnlit field, I move as though underwater, breathing space and light into body and mind. The external world responds as my inner self awakens. Good omens arise from the theatre around me: a magnificent red-tailed hawk draws great but invisible circles in Father Sky. Nuthatches and pinyon jays seem to harmonize in reverie among the branches of a twin-berried juniper. Wild mustard, yarrow, and morning primrose sway sweetly atop Mother Earth and whisper sounds of an eternal Dance once so common to my life."
- coach ilg, excerpt from The Gila Journals, 2003. Day Five of the Tour Of The Gila.
***
how can i EVEN express to you on this evening, as Grandfather Sun slips beneath a rolling horizon of pine needles and aspen leaves, how deeply happy Ananda and myself am for just being able to gather with our Students and friends at Red Mountain Spa this weekend?!
Truly, WF is all about the Practice.
all-Ways has been.
all-Ways will be.
No Matter What.
WF...She is a tough, tough Teacher...all-Ways in your face asking you if you are being conscious or mindless. Asking if your spine is straight, if your eyes are soft. She asks us to constantly work to improve on our mental, physical, genetic and karmic edges...i love Tough Teachers for They are Ones who truly nourish our Souls...not our Egos! Tough Teachers, the Ones who are brave enough not to pamper, not to preach...just to be There, elegantly and wisely; testing us. challenging us. loving us.
i love WF so much...and i love Her students even more.
for Ananda and i,
along with WF Teachers Haku and Q,
to hang out this weekend at such an amazing Adventure Spa
and talk about this volatile Path with those who Sweat and Sit Still with Her each day, is to me, the Greatest of All Gifts! i created this Path, and now i feel like a proud papa, soon to be surrounded by his children. how Blessed am i to walk in my own footsteps; follow my own Soul, create my own Path...and then be able to have so many others dig it, feel a spiritual kinship with it, and then come take pilgrimage to share it directly with me!
wow...
it is sad that so many of you will not be able to share the Immersion experience with us this weekend. i don't do many Retreats. i shy away from people. i often refuse many of the Seekers who knock on my humble Temple Door. which is why the WF Sangha is so special; we are a rare breed of Warrior.
for to us,
it is lifelong Practice that matters,
not panache.
WF has remained humble, vulnerable, and oh..what a Blessing our rarified Path feels as the Outer World just gets busier, angrier, more greedy, more glitzy.
and less Conscious.
i may not be the best Leader of such a powerful Path
yet tonight,
i feel like a KING!
for beneath me sits the WF Kingdom filled with AMAZING STUDENTS LIKE YOU! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for hanging with a feeble mountain yogi like me and for realizing that there is no Path that can offer your Inner Palace the Pranic Empowerment quite like, WF! 
As a hummingbird dodges and flits to drink from my feeder outside my office window, the last of the evening light slides into the hills. Soon, a pandemonium of stars shall flood Father Sky's dark wardrobe of cold. clear mountain air...and i shall sleep well beneath such a canopy of God tonight...
for i know that soon i will be among my WF Tribal Brothers and Sisters,
among the roadrunners and waxflower bushes,
among that heated red earth smell that makes my cells quiver with joyful appreciation of my Blessed LifePath.
we will be exchanging information, inspiration, and deepening our embrace of that which is most vital to the human spirit;
Practice, Practice, Practice.
As a Gift to you for the next few days,
i give to you the GILA JOURNALS...
i feel it contains some of my best writing (considering the circumstance!) and remains one of my most requested essays. And don't worry if you are not a competitive cyclist as you journey through my five-day racing odyssey because,
like Lance says,
"It's not about the bike."
enjoy and may your Practice remain strong and sincere,
see you next week!
http://www.wholisticfitness.com/gila/
Namaste,
coach ilg
DISCRIMINATING AWARENESS
"The more often you listen to your discriminating awareness, the more easily you will be able to change your negative moods yourself, see through them, and even laugh at them for the absurd dramas and ridiculous illusions that they are.
Gradually you will find yourself able to free yourself more and more quickly from the dark emotions that have ruled your life, and this ability to do so is the greatest miracle of all.
The Tibetan mystic, Tert�n Sogyal, said that he was not really impressed by someone who could turn the floor into the ceiling or fire into water. A real miracle, he said, was if someone could liberate just one negative emotion."
- Sogyal Rinpoche
August 15, 2005
RE: STUDENT ASH's BIRTHDAY...ARE GIRLS NATURALLY WORSE AT YOGI SQUAT THAN GUYS?
Ananda gives some love to Charlie while giving some lumbar love to her lower spine, hips, knees, and ankles courtesy of her command of the yogi squat (malasana). this natural squatting position is often a clear status indicator of lower chakra work. my ongoing endorsements of the Yogi Squat - formerly known in pre-furniture days as Just The Natural Posture Which Humans Are Supposed To Eat In, Poop In, Garden In, and Hang Out In - as a pivotal Life Enhancing Aid always generates some interesting responses. The following was one of a half dozen. Because the yogi squat is so easy to become frustrated in, it is really, really important to keep a sense of humor as you refine both the technical artistry of the pose and more importantly the functionality of it in our Daily Life. As i reported in DL, it required 9.5 years of daily, often quite annoying practice and diligence for me to keep my heels on the ground and toes pointing foward. Enjoy:
"Dear Coach,
Student Ash�s b-day (DL; 8/14) reminded me of a question:
Is there something about the male physiology that allows them to more easily attain toes-forward yogi squat as opposed to female anatomy?
COACH:
sorry.
guess again.
in fact, quite the opposite seems to be the reality.
first, we are speaking of general anatomical deviations within the genders, not physiology. SUNRIDER HERBS and Pranayam affect positively the physiology (both gross and subtle), while asana, exercise, bodywork, and occupational kinesthesia affects the structure of our bodies (anatomy).
worldwide and historically, the female pelvis is graced anatomically with something known as a "Q" angle (relationship of upper femoral head with its articulation within the hip joint) that makes it MORE conducive to the Yogi Squat than guys. in Asiatic cultures, this angle is such that malasana is as easy to drop into and out from as is eating a slice of Bannana Cream Pie is for me. Remember, skeletal tissue is the highest concentration of spiritual energy we embrace during our lifetime. The way our bones are shaped are living manifestations of past spiritual work (or lack thereof) done in previous lives. Thus, the yogis say that if we sit in pasciomottoasana (seated forward fold/Western extended stretch; see TBT) and our back is rounded like a camel hump instead of a flat, elegant spine, that rounded hump is a karmic indicator of resistance to lifelong Practices in former lives. Address the hump through abyhasa (steadfast Practice) with sweat and commitment during this lifetime, and there is going to be great spiritual gain. Ignoring the fact that your spine is rounded is a spiritual/energetic sin. Laziness is never rewarded in the Bardo. 
one of the many reasons why sirsasana (headstand) is considered by yogic Masters to be one of the most medicinal of all asana's is because of the obvious requirement for the spine to be straight; this inspires nadic (subtle energy conduits) fitness. This is all because the inner, subtle spine (sushumna) must be straight as an arrow to channel the kundalini. A rounded back cannot carry prana (life force) very well, thus there will not be much spiritual 'spark' to tempt the kundalini into Awakening. this vital importance of a straight spine is why i created "Breath and Posture" as the WF #1 Lifestyle Principle.
the inverted position also enkindles agni (digestive fire) another facet for spiritual ignition.
STUDENT:
I started to ponder this observing {my husband} G. I�ve been yogi squatting since I traveled in Asia in 89-90. My toe positions still make me quack every time I look down. My darling G started yogi-squatting in February, doesn�t do it nearly as often as I do, can�t stay in it nearly as long as I, yet � toes? Straight ahead, baby! Then I started looking at the hero shots of your (all male) students on DL and in TBT in yogi squat � toes pointing forward. And then I saw a pic of Ananda on DL � hmm � toes almost quacking, certainly not straight ahead. And I started to wonder if the female physiology required more training to reach the sought-after toes straight ahead asana?
COACH:
nope. you probably are referring to this shot of Ananda at "the Pran Hole" at Wupatki:
as you can see the difference between the opening pic of this column and the one above is related to the amount of clothing we were wearing on a cold day at Wupatki. the restrictions of clothing required her toes to be slightly turned out. this is absolutely fine. one, her toes are 'tracking' directly in alignment with her patella (kneecap). thus there is no damaging torque at the knee capsule. Remember me coaching you in Back Squats in the gym? Very few bodybuilders can do narrow stance squats (though they should). Instead, they assume a wide, toes-out position. Fine, as long as the knees do not 'collapse' inward or 'bow' outward. Straight in line over the ankles/toes. Now, the most important aspect about Ananda's posture in this impromptu shot, however, is her functional knowledge of attaining her main priority while doing pranayam (which is what we were doing at the Pran Hole; getting High on Ma Earth's direct Pran from deep within a volcanic fissure): an elegant, flat spine. Remember the priority of Patanjali's yoga sutra; it is NOT a yoga pose unless the spine is an Energetic One; flat. Also, see her hand position? functional. no strain. So, focus on finding a 'backbend' sensation as you continue to work your Yogi Squat and that will help the toes to eventually point forward.
As far as your husband's yogi squat; it is futile and damaging to compare your anatomy with someone elses. bone length, bone magnitude, shaft densities, bony processes, all these skeletal characteristics are genetically and karmically imbedded. the yogi must spend many, many years creating tensile suppleness before giving up on what is their compressive (bone on bone) limitations. both male and female, Easterner and Westerner, come into Malasana (Yogi Squat) with our past and present life choices imbedded within the ligamentous, tendinous, and bony structures. Also, just because someone can drop easily into Yogi Squat does not promise functional strength throughout the hips and lower back. i know scores of limber yogis that find Yogi Squat totally easy, yet their tensile suppleness is not strong enough to Back Squat, hammer out long cardio workouts, run downhill, do lateral and explosive sports, et. al. In HP Yoga, our maxim is: "Strength must deliver suppleness."
***
May all Fitness Warriors spray their conscious breath (pranayam) into their genetic, karmic and WONDERFULLY unique edges within the sacred temple of their souls; their bodies.
May this DL have helped someone re-discover the magic of the natural squatting position; yogi squat!
i squat before you, as humble Server, from beneath the Sacred Mountain,
coach ilg, ryt/uscf/cpt
author/Total Body Transformation
founder/www.wholisticfitness.com
COACH NOT TO DEFEND FURNACE CREEK TITLE; Focuses on Nordic Season!
Above; yesterday Coach arrives back at the WF Temple after Inline Skate Skiing for an hour in an utter hailstorm that hammered Flagstaff with marble-sized hail and torrential freezing rain, "FANTASTIC nordic training! It was BEAUTIFUL!" was all our skin-welted, humble Coach replied upon his shivering return. Note the unique "ATB" inline skates that Coach uses to mimic skate and classic skiing for dryland training. He skates through forest trails and paved streets on these unique RollerBlades. coach was a member of the US Jr. National Nordic Combined Team as a teenager.
DL:
Coach, you've had a struggle in deciding whether or not to defend your current Course Record of the Furnace Creek 508-mile ultra bicycle race...a race with which you have become associated...and the WF Sangha loves to read about on DL. You were on the cover of the LA Times for this race last year...How come you have chosen not to defend?
ILG:
Yeah, well, i spoke with Ron Jones, one of my teammates from last year and my main partner for another attempt to defend. However, the race is expensive to train for and compete in and he and i are both moving through some crazy Outer World stuff trying to Teach what we teach and still make a living. It's very, very tough to attempt to both Protect and Serve the Dharma as a profession. As you know, WF is a relentlessly steep and unpampering Path of Transformation through Fitness. Most students quit, leaving me and my staff without income. And, as you have read in DL, the WF Temple is being bombarded by a few greedy people who are trying to take the WF Temple out from my feet...so, the money i needed to train for such a demanding race through Death Valley is being spent on lawyers and keeping the Temple Doors open. It's okay, though, Jonesy and i will allow someone else to have their moment on the top of the podium in Twentynine Palms {the finish line of Furnance Creek}. We will be back. I already have spoken to my other bro, Mike Longmire who just won the Montana State Time Trial Championships again and he is on board for an attempt next year.
DL:
so, with Furnace Creek off your schedule, what is going to focus your Training for the fall?
ILG:
well, Brahman {Absolute Truth} is what remains the focus and the point of my training for, and competing in difficult athletic events. secondarily, since moving to Kinlani {coach often uses the Native name for Flagstaff, AZ}, i am utterly stoked at the world class level of multisport outdoor training here! since returning h(om)e to my Beloved southwest mountain life this summer, for the first autumn in nearly a decade, i get to actually train for winter sports; nordic ski racing, extreme tele skiing, ice climbing, and of course my ol' friend; winter du, tri, and quadrathlons.
DL:
You are also the current Team Champion of the Mt. Taylor Winter Qaudrathlon with WF Teacher Haku, will you be at Mt. Taylor again this february?
ILG:
(smiling devilishly); let me just say, that although i have not confirmed anything with Haku or Gram Man {See DL Archives; The Mt. Taylor Chronicles/feb, 2005}, the chances are likely. recently i have been gradually increasing my running volumes, something that must be very systematic once you've broken your back and still live with a smashed pelvis. i am so completely stoked to hear my feet running upon upon Ponderosa pine scented Earth again that i have registered for a couple of mountain running races like the old days...so, one of my personal goals is to once again finish Mt. Taylor as a soloist, however, that is not going to happen this Feb. i will take a training trip over to Tsidool {Tewa name for Mt. Taylor} with Ananda and see what the Mountain Herself speaks to me. I make all my athletic choices as a Listener, not a Doer.
Two Faces of Ilg; above, the 'outer world' face...
and the "Bardo Face" the face that faces chronic pain and a lifetime of intense physical and spiritual Practices, "Yoga is not about pleasantness and relaxation. It is the original Path of Fire that is used for radical Self Transformation of our weaknesses, restrictions, and negative habits. Most people cannot sustain a lifetime of Higher Intent for it requires tremendous fortitude and discipline of sweat and stillness. This is why WF remains an austere Path of inner-attainment in a glitzy, over-entertained society." - coach ilg
DL:
with a 87-minute running ascent of Mt. Humphreys (12,633') earlier in the summer, it sure seems like you've turned a corner on your spine injury?
ILG:
hey, you've seen my training stats on DL...the amount of solo HP Yoga practice hours i have poured into my hips and lower back are responsible for me being able to maintain a degree of suppleness and running prowess. that is all. a lot of hard, solo painful effort. WF is all about the Practice. all-Ways has been, all-Ways will be. even if i cannot sustain WF as a business in the future, i will still be evolving the WF Teachings and recording them in some manner for future generations to one day realize what you and the WF Sangha already know and love; Our Workout Is Everywhere!
DL:
finally, weekend before last you finished 4th place in a 2-Day high altitude road cycling event...seems like your altitude fitness is coming back after sucking the sea level "smuck" as you call it in LA.
ILG:
yeah, once it again it boils down to my abhyasa {steadfast Practice} in WF during the decade of WF Missionary work in LA...had i not done daily Pranayam and eat religiously the SUNRIDER herbs, there is no way i could just come here and in a couple of months be beating the local youngsters up at these altitudes. it's all in my books, in DL...the Path Works, yet you gotta Work the Path baby! last weekend was all about Ananda's first race which truly inspired me. it is great to "see" a sport that you've done a lot through the eyes of a beginner. she really, really cranked out a WF Warrioress effort...in fact, we have a Student interviewing her for a DL soon. my race was in-courage-ing enough to maybe sustain my road cycling over the next month to jump into the State Championships in September...just to get my feet wet. if things go well, i might go for a State RR Championship next year or the year after. yet, then again, i might go for the Mountain Bike State Champs...i want to upgrade my Silver Medal with a Gold one...(smiling).
DL:
coach, thank you. an amazing life you've had and continue to lead and share. thank you...i TAF what i learned from this conversation is, "WF is all about the Practice," and also, i've got to get out and TRAIN more!
ILG:
Dharma Blessings to you and may your sweat endlessly feel what is Truly is;
Sacred, baby!
August 14, 2005
TRIBAL BIRTHDAY!..a YOGI SQUAT BDAY FOR STUDENT ASH!
WF Online Student Ash from Great Britain cranking a climbing route enroute to opening his hips via hard practice in the Yogi Squat!
as you know, in WF i gauge 'birthdays' a bit differently than the conventional human. i gauge these days as BreakThrough Practice Days! Days that, after having worked long and hard toward in Daily Practice, finally, finally, FINALLY a breakthrough occurs...Tribal examples include; the first time you cranked a "real" Pull Up by yourself, the first time you realized the Brahmanic Breath (the breath inside the breath...Pran vs. air...) or, like the first time your FRIGGIN' TOES FINALLY POINTED STRAIGHT FORWARD in YOGI SQUAT (aka; malasana) as WF Online Student Ash just related in his Cycle Summation:
"My hips are slowly improving Coach, although this is still a long road to travel yet! Standout reactions from the yoga this month would be in the improvements that I have seen. Just tonight I was able to hold Malasana with my toes straight for about 20 seconds for the first time!"
this, my Noble Fitness Warriors of the multi-disciplined Path Toward Wholeness, is a FANTASTIC BIRTHDAY! i recall my Malasana birthday...toes straight forward, butt low to Ma Earth, hands not wailing about in the air trying to counteract the years of Furniture and Shoe Addiction!
tonight, i eat some Indian Bread in Yogi Squat and BOW to Noble WF Online Student Ash...it took me, get this; 9.5 years to get my Malasana Birthday! Student Ash,...Happy Malasana Birthday! Many long years of lower back freedom from pain await you! you only took 4 months!!! if i were not such an 'accomlished' yogi...i'd be DAMNED JEALOUS!!
Seriously, well done, Noble Warrior Ash! you have just reached an high-intermediate level of WF Training that is sure to be an Inner Springboard for a cascade of chakra clearing, nadic fitness, and long term health!
YEAH BABY!
namaste,
your loving and admiring fan,
coach ilg
August 13, 2005
ON ANY GIVEN SATURDAY; Peletons,Limestone, Wapiti, and Summer Snow!
Front yard Lavender...i gather the precious perfumed leaves from these gorgeous Lavender plants in our front yard
to soothe directly aching muscles from living a WF Lifestyle.
A Gift From Ananda and i to our Beloved Sangha...
a few shots and thoughts from our day...
After morning Practices, i did the Saturday Club Training Ride; 43 miles alongside a string of the most beautiful
alpine lakes you could possibly imagine...though i was in a decompression week from my podium placing
from last weekend, i managed a 5th place before meeting Ananda to spin with
her for an hour.
In keeping with the multisport roots of Wholistic Fitness, on the way back home, we stopped off
at "Priest Draw", a world-class limestone bouldering area to crank a few routes before the afternoon rainstorm...
when i climb, i seek the creative solution from inside. bouldering is music;
dissolution then wholeness, tension and then release, power then surrender to the sweeping, natural lines of ascent. i try to move from the center of my power, i dissolve into the rock. my mind becomes a reflection of the rock's emptiness. As the Buddhists say, "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form." this route, on Triangle Rock, is rated V4...and if you don't know the ratings of bouldering, you better be asking yourself why the hell not. far better to know the ratings of rock climbs than the ratings of car or IRA statistics. Life is short; go climb a rock like you did when you were a kid. why not? "Never let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden.
(John if you are reading; eat one of those "VIPS" pancakes in Tarzana for me, bro!)
The WF Temple H(om)e lies on the eon old habitat of wapiti, some of the largest, most magnificent creatures on Turtle Island. Here is a 8-point buck we saw about 1/4 mile from h(om)e.
"Love animals. God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled. Do not trouble their joy, don't harass them, don't deprive them of their happiness, don't work against God's intent. Man, do not pride yourself on superiority to animals, they are without sin, and you, with your greatness, defile the earth by your appearance on it, and leave the traces of your foulness after you."
- Dostoyevsky
A Pranic sky (this photo is digitally untouched),The Sacred Peak, a field of sunflowers. 
once a Buffalo lover, always a buffalo lover. 
it was just such a priceless day...ice melted from the highest of heavens and fell in luminous curtains of yin, then yang,
then yin again...my body seemed to respond to the turbulent Dance from Father Sky in the most vulnerable of ways. Wind blew most of the day between sky splintering cracks of thunder. By the early afternoon, we returned to our h(om)e Temple...Brahman had scattered snow for us upon the Sacred Peak hanging overhead. Summer snow lay like tendrils, white shoe laces extended onto green alpine meadows...is not nature's Gifts too much to behold? i wish not to comment upon the beauty around me...i wish to let it just be a part of me.
may your sweat from today,
bask in the Light of who you are...
lead your life from within
receive the Joy from without...
namaste,
the mountain yogi
COMING NEXT ON DL: PART THREE of THE POWER OF PRANAYAM
"Nauli; one of the yogic shat-karma (Six Acts) of internal cleansing is like brushing your teeth for your stomach organs...
what happens when you don't brush your teeth or floss? Dat's right, baby; gross stuff that leads to
stagnation and then to dis-ease. Your mom taught you to brush your teeth as a child, now i am
teaching you to brush your internal health now that you are a Fitness Warrior! The shat-karmas are performed by
yogis as a practical application of "Shauca" the first of five NiYamas (moral principles) which prepare the yogi for
asana and pranayama."
- Coach Ilg
August 12, 2005
"THAT IS MEDITATION"
My master had a student called Apa Pant, a distinguished Indian diplomat and author, who served as Indian ambassador in a number of capital cities around the world. He was also a practitioner of meditation and yoga, and each time he saw my master, he would always ask him �how to meditate.� He was following an Eastern tradition where the student keeps asking the master one simple, basic question over and over again.
One day when our master Jamyang Khyentse was watching a Lama Dance in front of the Palace Temple in Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, he was chuckling at the antics of the atsara, the clown who provides light relief between dances. Apa Pant kept pestering him, asking him again and again how to meditate, so this time when my master replied, it was in such a way as to let him know that he was telling him once and for all: �Look, it�s like this: When the past thought has ceased, and the future thought has not yet risen, isn�t there a gap?�
�Yes,� said Apa Pant.
�Well, prolong it: That is meditation.�
- Sogyal Rinpoche
(photo of Ananda in Balasana, a beautiful pose to observe the Arising and Diminishing Thoughts...and, if you are practiced in Spiritual Work, then you are able to witness the Space between them. If you are Awakened, then what is left of "you" dwells in that Thought Bardo Space!...Pleasant Practices!...coach ilg)
August 11, 2005
GETTIN' READY FOR THE RED MOUNTAIN RENDEZVOUS!
Always cultivating his knowledge and 5-Star Spa 'training', our humble Coach goes to all lengths to ready himself to Serve and to present at Red Mountain Spa next weekend for our 2005 WF Summer Immersion Retreat!
NOTE TO IMMERSION PARTICIPANTS: FREE SHIPPING on any WF Product! If you contact me before August 16th, I will be sure to bring your product(s) to Red Mountain Spa and you save the shipping*!
Just let me know: joytrain@npgcable.com
Namaste,
Ananda
* Exception: Coach-Blessed Mala Beads.
MORE LOVE FOR COACH and PITY TO THE SNAKES
The venerable WF Student Dan Salimone using his HP Yoga instilled 'chaturanga fitness' to
get another wave in San Jose, California.
dear coache',
thank-you for the gift of transmitting wf dharma..
thank-you...soooooo much.
you were with me last night doing spin intervals..
taf like i was your super domestique taking on those teams from last weekend...
taking pulls..
and
could hear your voice this morning in the Iron Temple..
telling me to go slower and deeper on squats...and breathe...
look forward to seeing you out in the water with me tonight...
we'll have fun!
those snakes in WF Temple...
oh dearest coache'... it saddens me so that they are that asleep and unaware...
but more so that they feel the need to poach from the WF well...and ridicule you..
how can they...
now i don't claim to be a know-it-all..
i do know this..
i have had a few coaches..
an olympic silver medalist in nordic skiing...
a 10th degree kempo grandmaster, etc..
but none..and i mean none..
have your sincerity, dedication,
truthfulness...
and walk the walk..
period.
i love and appreciate you,
student DanSan
RE: DL 8/10; TRUE WOMEN PLAY HOCKEY TOO!
Dear Coach,
Here I am in response to the hockey DL.
Cough, cough � �and played by friggin' studs that are second only to Nordic Biathletes as being the most capable 'true men' to Grace the planet!�
�True men,� coach? True MEN? I can only trust that your psych at the Great One coaching a team from � argh � Arizona (sigh! What is the world coming to?) momentarily clouded your typing.
True women play hockey too, ya know. WF warrioresses play hockey � or used to before they moved to crazy places like NJ where there�s not enough bloody snow or cold to freeze anything. Sigh!
Student sasso-still-sharp-elbows-san
Noble Student Sasso,
you got me go(o)d up against the boards on my overly masculine entry on hockey...i bow.
the Students all-Ways teach
the Teacher.
in gassho and slasho,
coach ilg
former hockey player, current fan
PRANAYAM; PART TWO: TIMELESS BLESSINGS OF THE ANCIENTS and The Importance of Low Volume/High Chi Nutrition
{NOTE: This is the Second Part of a DL Exclusive featured 8*9; THE CURSE OF SPECIFICITY}
"Verse: 63. Prana, Apana, Nada and Bindu uniting into one in this way, give success in Yoga, undoubtedly.
Verse: 64. By the purification of Prana, and Apana, urine and excrements decrease. Even an old man becomes young by constantly practicing Mula Bandha."
- From the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (Light On The Forceful Yoga) written by Svatmamarma Yogin long before the advent of rubber sticky mats, OM T-shirts, $600 meditation chairs, DVD's, and even..imagine this... before 'Yogilates'!
WF never tries to re-invent the 'wheel of Dharma' for monetary gain. We respect, bow to, and trust the Ancient Wisdom. What we DO know how to do, is to translate and then actively mold that Peerless Ancient Wisdom of the body/mind/spirit into today's modern society.
The Pradipika's eternal wisdom about developing internal fitness was authored around the mid-4th century C.E. That's right, 4th century, bucko. Now, let's get to work...INNER WORK, shall we?! As a society, we have fallen waaaaaaay off the back of the brilliance of developing our inner-space. Sure, we can pat our intellectual selves on the back as we shoot off expensive rockets into outer space, junking up Father Sky as millions of humans are starving to death right down here on the ground. Yep, that's really smart and Appropriate Action, eh?
Until each of us takes responsibility for exploring our Inner Space before we make the conscious choices to have kids, tell other people what to do, shoot off rockets or bullets (same thing), we are bound to make futile and damaging choices in our actions. The current state of our planet, both environmentally and politically, is an apt reflection of our collective laziness and unwillingness in Self-Cultivation. WF has been at the front of Western Fitness modalities since 1982, doing our humble best to get people to use the beauty of personal fitness as an Inner Spaceship to become self-real-ized. Few listen. Fewer even care.
You do.
Thank God for you. I mean that.
I swear, i TAF the WF Sangha will emerge as the Warrior Keepers of the InnerLight once the Outer World blows itself up or whatever it is bound to do! Please, keep your WF Practice strong, okay? Your devoted Practice is needed far more than you may think!
EATING LIGHTLY; THE PRE-REQUISITE OF PRANAYAM:
Above photo: i am in mid-stomach bar stroke during Nauli (stomach cleansing). Not as easy as chomping ROLAIDS...and that is Just The Point! Very quickly, the yogi realizes that overeating is a sin against the body's beautiful and endless spring of energy known as Prana. You simply cannot eat a lot and develop the Prana at the same time; they are two categorically different Energy Systems; food and prana. Prana is the far, far, FAR more powerful of them.
This obvious, yet nationally abused requirement for deeply nourishing yet low volume nutrition is precisely why students of WF use my fully integrated 3-Stage Approach to using the SUNRIDER Herbs. We use the Herbs to Cleanse/Drop Fat in stage one. We Empower the Cells in stage two. Then, in stage three, we surround our skin, body, mind, and environment with innocent, healthy lifestyle herbs, skin care, and household products. My 3-Stage Approach allows the yogin to FEEL, often for the first time in their life, the exhilarating difference between air and ether, the difference between sucking air into their bodies unconsciously, and actually 'eating Pran'...that is, becoming nourished by the Life Force element that is omnipotent.
Athletic resume aside, I do not know how far i could have come to healing and erasing the pain from a smashed pelvis without SUNRIDER. Just the thought of these beautiful herbs disappearing from my personal and professional life makes me cringe at the notion of once again being forced to buy into and eat the paltry crap and confusion of mainstream foods. My purification of pain and the empowerment of cellular fitness, would go rapidly backwards, i am certain. 
...like brushing your teeth for your stomach...
in this shot, you can make out the hard-won "Stomach Bar" critical to developing Nauli. See the edges of my stomach? what i do next is isolate and then 'roll' the Stomach Bar; up and down, right to left, left to right. This creates a fantastic feeling that shoots an energetic cocktail of Prana and Apana all around my stomach and relative organs; clearing them from stagnating matter and toxins. Nauli is like brushing your teeth for your stomach. Every being needs to do it. The Ancient Wisdom seems to be working for me; i 've not seen the inside of a doctor's office since age 14 when my mom last took me. Oh wait, i felt guilty once when i was like 18, so i went for a 'check up'. Jesus. They freaked me out; took a 'muscle biopsy' because the doctor 'was concerned' (sometimes aka; needs to make another payment on his Porsche). Results came back, they wanted to friggin' take me in and cut me up! Fucking vampires, i tell you. Modern Medical System is the number four killer of people in the U.S. Number Four and killing more more people every minute of every day. To this mountain yogi, the only go(o)d thing about a modern hospital? The cool cats in the ER. Now, the ER is where you want Western Medicine; not the Lifestyle side. For the Lifestyle side, you want to listen to the yogis, the guys and gals who are cranking fit well beyond 100 years old.
Caduceus is the official name of the medical profession's symbol, yet many doctors do not even realize that this is a yogi symbol; the intertwining lines of Serpent Energy are Ida and Pingala Nadis (left and right nostril energy lines) where they cross over the 'staff' are the gearing mechanisms of internal subtle energy known as 'chakras' and the main staff itself is the 'sushumna' the "Most Gracious Channel' that i describe as the axial freeway for the Kundalini (latent cosmic power lying at the root of the spine). The wings on top of the Staff symbolize the "Great Pranic Bird of Uddiyana"...the Flying Upward Breath which must be developed to enkindle the internal heat and reverse the downward flow of apana. Hilarious, don't you think? The symbol of Western Medicine is a yogi symbol! Hilarious!
Next on DL i will give you the precise passages from the Pradipika that, if learned and supervised by an experienced Teacher, can turn your physical body into what it truly is; a Vehicle of Light and Energy.
Interested in REAL Personal Fitness?
You want Uniqueness to permeate your fitness efforts every dang beautiful day of your Precious Life?
You want to increase your chances for Enlightenment in one lifetime?
Join WF Online Training today...
keep reading DL; "Electronic Scripture For Awakened Fitness Warriors."
totally free as a Karmic Yogic Service from Coach Ilg since 1982.
oh, and to those who know who you are:
here at my humble Temple,
we know you are reading DL from outside the WF Tribal Firelight and then using my stuff without asking my permission..
we know you are writing books and articles for monetary gain...
so be it...
i ain't like others running around suing people just because they lack Wisdom, Respect, Years of Practice, and CHI!
i leave it up to Lord Shiva;
it's your karmic consequence, not mine.
besides, the true WF Warriors who study in the Online Temple?
Hey, we know that DL is just the tip of the iceberg, baby!
may this entry inspire your Practice and be of Benefit to all people,
namaste,
coach ilg
***
{Note; due to an steadfast and increasing amount of virile Snakes lodging themselves within my vulnerable Temple, i must be honest (Satya) and tell you that DL may not long be able to exist as a complimentary offering from myself. It's a sad thing; greed and lack of Trust in a Teacher... it destroys the most powerful Vehicle on the Planet; the Sangha. I'll will keep offering for as long as possible, in this you can all-Ways trust. Now, however, might be a wise time to join the Online WF Temple before i am forced by the UnAwakened to close my humble, yet powerful Temple Doors.}
August 10, 2005
HOCKEY UP!
Dear Coach,
DL has been a best friend and training 'partner' for a long time...THANK YOU!
hey, i know from reading DL that you are/were a big Colorado Avalanche fan...
now that the Tour de France is over and the NHL is back up, AND the fact that Wayne Gretzky is gonna be the Head Coach
of 'your' new state team; the Phoenix Coyotes, how psyched are you?!
thanks again,
Chris from Canada
an old hockey player feeling young again thanks to you
Dear Chris,
thanks for writing...
dude, are you KIDDING?!
i am STOKED!!!!!
friggin' ice hockey is about the best most amazing Team Sport ever created! It's traditional, it's the best of soccer at warp speed, the eye hand skills of golf, the power and tenacity of bike racing, and played by friggin' studs that second only to Nordic Biathletes as being the most capable 'true men' to Grace the planet!
so YEAH i'm stoked!!!!!!
besides, my yoga training of a couple new students that i was training for the Big Leagues was just not working out...
see above photo!
namaste,
coach ilg, eh!
ps; devoted DL Reader Karl MacPhee sent in the above pic!
August 09, 2005
RE: THE CURSE OF SPECIFICITY
Dear Coach Ilg,
can I say thank-you for two truly inspiring DL's.
Humbly
Online Student Simon Ash
***
Dear Coach,
Excellent words from the Temple in DL today, and fired, I TAF, by your efforts in the bike race. Thank you so much for walking the talk and sharing the dharma. Know that it makes a huge difference to at least this humble student.
Namaste.
michael
***
Dear Kemosabe,
Fantastic offering on "Direct Line" today - and wow! Those photos of the Coach are pretty incredible! Congrats on the podium placing. "...specialization is for insects!" - I love it! I can already hear my teacher using these words this winter in the gym.
Flagstaff agrees with you - how blessed to have a neighbor like Renee! Children teach us so much (and I'm pleased to see a helmet perched on her prety little head).
namaste,
john
****
Dearest Coach Ilg,
Just wanted to offer a quick note of appreciation to you for everything that you do for me and the entire tribe. Your daily dialogue on the DL is full of insight,inspiration, challenge and always dripping with love. Most importantly, you don't just talk the talk --- you walk the walk (or ride the ride - congratulations to both you and Ananda for your racing efforts this past weekend))!
I love you and am deeply honored to be your student.
Namaste.
Your feeble student,
Cerame
***
Dear Coach,
first, let me say that i mean no disrespect in what i am about to ask. i
fear that my words may come across in a way in which they are not intended,
but i assure you that i come from a place of humility - trying to better
understand the way of WF. i read your DL "Empty Thy Cup Before Knocking"
today, and felt compelled to query further. being that skepticism is a
trait of the unawakened, is it then an act of spiritual retardation for a
student to question the teachings of his/her Teacher? let me be more
specific, to hopefully make this clearer - this Friday i will begin my
pilgrimage to meet you in Utah. i would be lying if i said that i did not
have many questions for you about WF and your SUNRIDER herbs. in my heart i
do not believe these questions come from a place of distrust or inhibition,
but i feel that they need to be asked just the same. i feel that i would
not be true to myself to take walk blindly down a path which i have not
explored for myself (to the extent i am able). there are so many examples
in history where people have followed supposed "Leaders" blindly, and failed
to ask 'why' or THINK for themselves, only to end up at a place of darkness
or evil. while, everything i know of you and the way of WF suggests just
the opposite, is it okay to be curious? is it okay to ask questions (even the hard ones)? is it
okay to trust slowly?
jennifer m.
Most Noble Kalyana Mitra Jennifer,
head bowed, heart open (5)
sacred thunder growls above (7)
awakens within (5)
direct experience is the true teacher,
for in-stance;
i can talk to you about Flagstaff summer thunder all day
yet to have the sheer immensity of it cracking into your cells,
then you know thunder.
the herbs, online training, meditation...it's all the same;
only direct experience is what matters
so all-Ways be willing to experiment and experience before you die!
"Don't die wondering."
remove the "What if's" from life.
Live the 'if's'.
"If i attack this peleton, what would that BE like?"
"If i try the herbs for 6 months, what would that BE like?"
"If my intent was to practice LovingKindness today, what would that BE like?"
"Be what you love,"
said Rumi.
external teachers just point the way within,
the teachers are everywhere;
be it a feeble yogi
an herb patch
birdsong
drifting incense through cold wall of early morning air...
or sacred thunder...trying to Shake Us Awake!
that is all,
your loving coach
***
THE CURSE OF SPECIFICITY//Skepticism//
"Wholistic Fitness; because specialization is for insects."
- Coach Ilg/WF tee-shirt quote, 1986-89
Hatha Yoga Pradipika: II; 19. "When the nadis (subtle anatomical channels) become free from impurities, and there appear the outward signs of success, such as lean body and glowing color, then one should feel certain of success."
Above; Coach ilg, encased comfortably within what he calls his, "Pratyharic bark," practicing 'Uddiyana Pranayama into Agni Sara Pulls' taken the day after he attained the podium of a 2-day high altitude bike racing competition. Using the SUNRIDER herbs and HP Yoga as his Primary Training, not riding bicycles specifically, our Coach has been pulling such unique yogic feats for over 20 years.
"The common denominator in bike racing is cell respiration, breath and heart rate control, so, i base the bulk of my training on accurate nutrition, HP Yoga and pranayam while my competitors spend useless and even damaging hours on the bike. Most of them eat despicably and without reverence. I TAF this has given me a huge advantage over the years. 
If you just examine the physique, posture and the food and word-choices from most athletes, you will see the damaging consequences of sport-specficity. Truth; Any sport imparts imbalance to the body which in turn, affects the mind which in turn affects the Soul Nature. I honestly don't know yet what it will take to get sport specific athletes to train Wholistically. I am doing my best to lead both academically and athletically, yet only a few Warriors out of the millions seem to take notice. Meanwhile, the conventionally trained athletes remain riddled by injury and are virtually physiologically illiterate in anything but their particular sport. Often, when they burn out or can no longer compete, they get fat and their imbalances begin to exacerbate. Worse, perhaps, is the magnitude of the spiritual void which was once being falsely filled by sport.
Sport performance, my fellow travelers on the Path, is only a developmental Tool for the Atman (Inner Soul), not a substitute. My Teachers warned me early in life that sport-specificity, just like intellectualism, will carry a Curse in the Bardo! Besides, being able to do many different activities is incredibly rewarding while we are still alive! Why limit your fun, let alone your fitness and potential for Enlightenment?" - Coach Ilg.
*** EMPTY THY CUP BEFORE KNOCKING
Of the three main Impurities which cloud the Awakened Mind, 'Skepticism' is, according to the Scriptures and backed by Enlightened Masters through the ages, the first trait of the Unawakened.
Ignorance veils the skeptic's ability to comprehend the moment when a genuine Teacher or Teaching or Pathway Tool arrives.
This is why the traditional and true Teacher must test the sincerity of a sadhaka (spiritual aspirant). If Skepticism reigns, then Trust is not established. The Teacher will refuse to Teach or will only teach at a low level. If the Student keeps knocking for more, the Teacher will continue to refuse or test until the Teacher is satisified that the Sadhaka's cup is empty.
This testing period can last from a number of days to several years. Initiatory rites of sincerity are based traditionally upon a Student's 'ripeness' which a Teacher can instantly recognize on several levels; karmically, the way their body looks, moves, and smells, their Word Choices, stuff like that. A true Yoga Teacher will only Teach to the appropriate Level of the Student and is not Attached to losing them as Students.
The best body/mind Teachers are often recognized similarly; by their body, Word Choices, balance of practice and intellect, presence, and by the average attainment level of their Students.
*** SKEPTICISM = SPIRITUAL RETARDATION
There are many who do not take Study in WF Online Training, yet are quick to disdain our Temple's lifetime embrace of pivotal intradisciplinary fitness tools like yoga, strength training, lifestyle principles, and SUNRIDER herbs. their ignorance veils WF's peerless body/mind/spirit integrity and pioneering embrace of ancient Eastern Teachings molded to modern Western society.
People which hold Skepticism at the SUNRIDER herbs is particularly sad, for each day that passes, their Skepticism is retarding their physical health, delaying their Awakening and injuring their Transformation. Most sad of all, their unwillingness to at least test for themselves the herbs, is ruining their most beautiful, potent, and helpful song to the UniVerse. Life is short, yet CHI is endless; i suggest doing whatever it takes to build the CHI. The Temple herbs build CHI like crazy! Yet, though people are quick to buy the best cars or houses or stereos...try to get them to eat the best CHI foods on the planet and they call you a "hypester" or a "fraud"...oh, oh, the UnAwakened! Why should it be so hard to just get people to experience that which nourishes their Soul instead of their Attachments?
My Teachers taught me to Teach.
However, even today after many years helping to pioneer the body/mind fitness field in the West, i find that most Westerners do not like to Trust a Teacher, even one as sincere as a WF Teacher. i still get accused each week as someone who teaches from greed though my Temple coffers are as empty as a monk's begging bowl. I suppose the UnAwakened cannot quite grock, as Ram Dass would say, a yogi's Path of Service. Their ego constructs are too hard, too rigid, too proud.
Too bad.
Well, my Noble Warriors of Body and Mind, enough about the Curse of Specficity and Skepticism! I'm riding down to the climbing gym to crank some plastic.
Next on DL, i want to share with you why
- either with SUNRIDER Herbs or without them -
being able to achieve
Ahara Jaya - MASTERY OF FOOD as Spiritual Practice -
is so important to your life.
I'll talk a little bit about some of the most important pranayams, locks, and use the Scriptures of the Hatha Yogi Pradipika to back up precisely what WF has been teaching and leading the Way for Western Yogis for so many years.
i truly smile at the thought that my feeble contributions in DL today might be of benefit to just one devoted Warrior out there, willing to Rise Above the conventional approaches to personal fitness, to reach beyond the body into their Higher Mind and
perhaps,
just maybe,
begin Trusting in a Teacher
a Teacher that leads them
to what matters most;
Self Inquiry.
"The purpose of science is not to prove,
but to probe."
- Albert Einstein
scientist/bicyclist
Namaste and may your Practice be full of Divine Presence,
the mountain yogi
August 08, 2005
Two Generations of WF Warrioress's
From Left to Right; WF Teacher Ananda, Renee our next-door WF Warriorette with her bike, Samantha and of course,
the mascot of Two Tree Manor, Magdelena The Fawn.
DL is attempting desperately to attain an exclusive interview
with Renee, however she is always playing so hard that we cannot keep up with her!
May our Practice be thus inspired by the natural breath and desire for fun movement of children...
Namaste,
Coach Ilg
ps: our 2005 WF Immersion at RED MOUNTAIN SPA is SOLD OUT.
THANK YOU for the fantastic support and Ananda and i look forward to sharing the Path with you
at Red Mountain Spa! watch for future retreats on our Upcoming Events link!
ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAY; Coach's Elegant Effort in Futility
"Better to fail in originality than to succeed in mediocrity." - Melville. Coach Ilg attacks the entire peleton (squint to see far left of photo) on the first of four separate attacks in an attempt to draw one or two brave warriors from the comfort of the peleton. No one came. This, and all photos by my superb support team; Ananda.
Namaste my Noble WF Sangha!
i trust your weekend was wrung with much spiritual insight from your physical workouts and lifestyle practices.
i know mine was.
again.
what a Blessed life, a WF life is!
guess you all heard the WF Race Wire Reports...i jumped into local 2-Day gnarly ass bicycle race here in Flag. my main focus was to prepare and get Ananda to test her yogic and WF skills onto a Start Line of her first bicycle race...which she did with superb Warrioress chi! more on that later. Saturday was a hill climb, and Sunday was a road race that actually had double the amount of climbing than the hillclimb. i came into Sunday in a surprise 4th place...i say surprise because i was just gunning for a top ten given the fact this was my first high altitude race against the well conditioned local boyz (the finish line was at 9,600' !) To heighten my anxiousness; i had no chance to do any sort of a warm up before the start...coaching duties presided. thank GOD i did my HP Toilet Yoga into my At-Sink Pranayama in the early morning. the combo effect of those two exclusively WF Practices evidently Served admirably well in lieu of a cycling warm up.
Day Two; the Road Race. Coming into this 45-mile road race in 4th place, i had to do something drastic to reach the podium which lingered about 35 seconds away. Each of the three racers in front me had strong teams to protect them. i had none.
Pre-Race Bardo; knowing the tremendous amount suffering to come, on top of knowing that i had to attack the entire peleton solo on a long course with over 2,600' of climbing on it really pushes some deep Fear buttons before the Start Gun goes off. I used Pranayam and Mantra to anchor my Fear-enscounced ego during such pre-race Bardos. my Game Plan was to attack on a steep hill located about 18 miles from the finish line and hopefully draw another solo warrior or two from the peleton to at least make a noble effort at escaping the four large teams that would control the pace of the race. i did not have such a luxury as a team, thus, as my ultra racing bro, Ron Jones told me before this race, "Dude, fuck the peleton and fuck the teams! they are a bunch of pussies hiding away from the real gut-effort...just attack them and when it hurts the most, just stand up and hammer!" Gotta love RJ-wisdom. It's one thing to have a brave Game Plan in the comfort of your home before the race, it is another to actually DO it during the race when you are already hurting like a mofo. I stayed True, though to my plan...on the middle of the hill i planned to attack, i reached way deep down, thought of my Sangha and with a heart rate already in the 180's, i "just stood up and hammered," for about 45 seconds. When i looked around, i had a several second gap. Then, i screwed on my "Zone 3 Blue Collar Work Ethic," found Mula Bandha, put my head down and time trialed away from the peleton. I must say, life is exciting, scary, and horribly hurtful when you are off the front of a peleton that is already averaging 18mph..uphill! Yet, for me, i have grown to view Peletons as a metaphor of UnAwakened Society; they stay huddled close together for their addiction to comfort is thus pacified. No one wants to pull into the headwind (or 'swim upstream' as i say in WF philosophy). There is nit-picky gossip in peletons and quite frankly, i would rather launch away from these aerobic gossip mongers and die solo, out front, at least being brave, quiet, and trying to make a difference.
Cinder Hill Summit; 2 miles from the finish. You can tell which one i am; i've got the lowest, yoga-produced form on the bike. When Ananda took this shot, i was shot. i had stayed out in front of the peleton for 40 minutes, at one point easing my effort so the peleton came to within 10 seconds of capturing me! i did this because i was dying and desperately needed a teammate to help me, so i thought if i drifted back to with a few seconds of the peleton, CERTAINLY ONE of those 60 'racers' would want to be brave enough to come up to me and work together for the win. No one came, so i launched again, and then again. well the peleton captured me about 4 miles from where this shot was taken, i managed to hold onto the top 15 guys, then, started to crack. i drifted back from this group by nearly 15 seconds before reorganizing with some other shattered poor bastards and then i attacked them to finally make contact with these guys. about a mile after this shot was taken, a super steep little roller, i attacked hard, got a gap...thinking again that one of the four guys would come up to me and increase our chances of a higher placing...i knew that at least one of the guys that beat me yesterday was up the road and i was selling my soul to get up there. unfortunately, again, futility reigned supreme. in the final uphill sprint, i was so gassed that each of these guys who 'hid' in the peleton for the whole race, beat me in the uphill sprint finish. i was pissed and confused at why so few cyclists are willing to attack mediocrity! why hide in the peleton and waste your entry fee without even TRYING to be brave? i mean shit, at least go for a good Training Effect!
The best part about racing, is not about winning; it's about yourself and your friends. This is "Tattoo Bob"...one of the few Warriors who attempted to bridge up to me when he saw me up the road suffering like a dog off the front. He and i shared our collective anger at the peleton for a few fun chi minutes then, among the volcanic wonder of Wupatki National Monument...certainly one of the most Pranically Charged pristine portals of the UniVerse, we just felt Blessed to be able to have the fitness to do such fun things like attacking an entire peleton! WAAAAY too much fun! 
Post Race Bardo; the after effects of being brave and all alone into the wind for 15+ miles at over 18 mph uphill.
This week is chock full of amazing, inspirational WF Sangha input, stories, training and Practice insights...all for free, all still utterly exclusively WF since 1982!
i bow to your own sense of Warrior Bravery; be it holding your posture with elegance throughout the day, or looking with Compassion into the eyes of the yet to Awaken to what you know; Wholistic Fitness! The Way of Peaceful Warriors in a Chaotic, Confused Era.
namaste,
the mountain yogi
ps; i don't know my overall finish placing...i'll let you know if i made the podium in the two-day event. yet remember, the REAL podium lies inside. all that matters is testing your faith in yourself, developing self-reliance, and...being brave in your own moccasins! Go, and be brave today, Noble Warrior Of The Inner Workout!
August 06, 2005
WF RACE WIRE REPORT; "Team WF Cranks!"
Flagstaff, AZ - Wholistic Fitness race reports coming in from 9,600' report Coach Ilg is currently in 4th place after this morning's 6.54 mile, 2,000' climbing stage heading into tomorrow's 45 mile, 4,800' final stage at Wupatki/Sunset Crater National Park. Coach, who was aiming for a top ten among the local boys, is now within reach of yet another podium at 1 minute, 23 seconds behind the current race leader, who is approximately 20 years younger than he. At the ski basin finish line, rumors have it that Coach immediately challenged the youngster to a "competitive yoga and pull up contest to determine who is really the better overall athlete," to which the acne-speckled aerobic mutant of 98 pounds looked quizzically at the grizzled ol' master replying, "Uh, no...i don't think so...i'm gonna go play videos." Tomorrow's course is currently in a rainstorm which favors Coach's promise to, "Do something brave," in order to get away from the four Flag Velo racers which currently hold 2,3, and 5th places. Though Coach is racing without a team or allies, he is drinking 3 Ilg Supremes per day to equalize the disadvantage. Coach's time for today's course was 34:12. 
Even more in-couraging is the confirmation that WF Teacher Ananda has successfully completed her first ever bicycle race! Finishing second to last place, this WF Warrioress never gave up and rode superbly considering she entered this race with only two days spent in clipless pedals! Fearless! Ananda commented afterward, "It was my WF mantra and thoughts of the WF Sangha that got me across that Finish Line...i kept saying to myself, 'Do it for the Sangha!" Ananda smashed her personal best time up the relentless mountain climb by over 5 minutes, beating Coach's prediction of her time(50 minutes) in a nail biting, 49:59...her finishing sprint up the final pitch to the roaring crowd was of a world-class effort from this sea-level, city girl! This is one tough WF babe!
STAY TUNED TO DL for more Race Updates!
WF Online Teachers; Coaches That Do, for you!
August 05, 2005
GONE BICYCLE RACING...
Yep, your ol' Coach Is Still Getting Out There, mixing it up with all those damned sport-specific athletes...they are like cockroaches of convention. I'll be out there with them, testing again and again, that what I Teach; WHOLISTIC FITNESS, baby!
featuring the inner weaponary of World Class Fitness Warriors;
HIGH PERFORMANCE YOGA and SUNRIDER HERBS!
Long live FITNESS ACROSS PHYSIOLOGIC SPECTRUM! Hey, SOMEBODY has to stand up for what the Ancients taught:
Embrace EVERY aspect of the body as a temple! strength, suppleness, agility, endurance, focus!
And, get this, Ananda might be doing HER FIRST BICYCLE RACE!...oh, she's a bit nervous...then again, weren't you at your first competition? What? You haven't competed? Well, then, git yo' butt up to something that reads, START LINE and then PUSH YOURSELF, TEST YOUR YOGA, TEST YOUR SUNRIDER HERBS, TEST YOUR SPIRIT BY GOD!!! and DON'T STOP TESTING and CHALLENGING the BEST STUFF INSIDE of you until you drop nearly DEAD, CLOSE TO THE WARRIOR GODS on that beautiful sweet sign that reads; FINISH LINE!
You never know what is enough, until you know what is more than enough!
Prayers that are not uttered to the backdrop of sweat and soaring heart rate is not a Prayer at all!
GET OUT THERE, WARRIORS and RACE! COMPETE! PERFORM! doesn't matter what, just GET OUT AND THROW DOWN until you THROW UP! Geezo, all of this 'training' and 'eating' and 'philosophizing'...ain't worth a snotty nose until you are blowin' snot through your nose after you've nearly passed out and gone cross-eyed with inner effort!
This here is a Warrior Temple; so find your BattleField and get to work on carving down that cantankerous ego that constantly chirps at you with doubt, fear, and excuses...screw that shit, Warrior!
GET OUT AND GO!!!!
Don't let ANYONE or especially Unawakened Ones and their Society STEAL YOUR CHI! Working Out and Competing in some way, shape, or form is absolutely vital to the human spirit's development; so go toe that Start Line and pass somebody!
I'll be back pumping DL on Monday will all sorts of the unmatched splendor of the inner and outer worlds
like No Other Friggin' Fitness Temple on the Planet, baby!
I'm out there doing my best to Brave in my own sweat and spirit...so that each and every one of you
may also cultivate that part of you that is utterly, absolutely, and exquisitely ENDLESS...YOUR CHI! 
get it done from within the OM,
coach ilg
Five World Championships, Four Physiologically Different Sports
Wholistic Fitness: puttin' it out there since 1982
****
DUE TO DEMAND! RED MOUNTAIN SPA HAS MADE TWO MORE SPACES AVAILABLE FOR TWO LUCKY FITNESS WARRIORS to attend our 2005 WHOLISTIC FITNESS IMMERSION at stunning RED MOUNTAIN SPA in two more weeks!
contact Ananda at:
Joytrain@npgcable.com
immediately! First Come, First Served!
what a Tribal Hang it's gonna be!
***
Dear Steve,
A warm welcome back to redrock country and Red Mountain! I am delighted to hear that you will be coming back to bless many of us through your teaching and presence! We are all very grateful for your generosity of spirit.
Our kids are headed back to college the weekend that you will be here, but they wanted to wait to depart until after your Friday afternoon class so that they could attend. Our oldest son David uses your yoga workout tape daily (religiously!) to my delight. You've helped him enormously even without having had the pleasure of meeting you. Our younger son Daniel, who you met last year, also uses it regularly. They and probably two of my daughters would love to attend that class. My kids are pumped to get to enjoy your teachings, as I always do!
Much gratitude for your inspiring and inspired work!
Namaste'
David Tate
{Dr. Tate is on the Staff at Red Mountain Spa as a psychologist, consultant, mindfulness teacher, and one of those wonderful Beings with whom you are just honored to share the Planet! - coach ilg}
THANK YOU FROM YOGA PRO
Coach Ilg,
Wow. That is a wonderful story. We thank you for sharing our product with your readers, and are overjoyed to be making such a difference! It is a great gift to enjoy what you do, and stories like this help make everything worthwhile.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Kelly
YogaPro
Coach's "MAGIC" Powers!
Dearest coach,
Had the funniest experience the other day I wanted to share.
I was in my room going through several sun salutations (after my daily dose of DL). My computer was on the dresser next to me asleep. I came up from a vinyasa and suddenly noticed my laptop had turned on by itself and there on the screen was your beautiful smiling face. (See DL entry 8-3-05) You were sitting with elegant posture, clip board in hand as if noting my progress and encouraging me along. For a second this seemed miraculous and a stared at the screen wondering what secret powers you possessed. Then I realized that in my final vinyasas I had up from downward dog and it was the thump vibrating up to my sensitive laptop that woke it from it's slumber.
I had to laugh out loud and I knew if you heard the story you would laugh too. =)
Thank you coach for your teachings. WF has changed my view of fitness. DL are awesome. I often read them first thing in the am. Yeah baby! What a way to charge up for the day!!!
Continue to hold the light high!
Your most humble student,
John Devlin
Boulder, CO
MORE YOGATOiN GOIN' CRAZY IN THE TEMPLE! 
Dear Yogatoes,
my name is Quentin Vaughan. i am a Certified Instructor of Wholistic Fitness by it's creator and my mentor Steve Ilg. Coach, as we call him, recommends YogaToes to all our WF Students. i must admit though...for a very long time i didn't use them. you see, i have fallen arches since birth. completely flat like a pancake feet! i have suffered some sort of foot pain for most of my life. i've even worn orthodics for many years. finally i tried the YogaToes.....OM-BELIEVABLE!! at first i wore them only a few mintues, now i can wear them for over 2 hrs at a time. let me tell you what has shifted. i have NO foot pain anymore...none! for the first time in my life i am able to spread my toes! this is HUGE as i was never able to do it. my walk is lighter. we in Wholistic Fitness practice many fitness disciplines as well as yoga. My running as improved greatly. i can now FEEL the ground. i don't wear my orthodics anymore.....threw them out! Coach always says everything begins with the feet. and he was RIGHT! on behalf of all our Teachers and Students in Wholistic Fitness...we bow.
In Strength and Practice,
Quentin Vaughan, CTWF, CTHP, CPT
August 04, 2005
THE IMPORTANCE OF DL EVERYDAY, TRIBAL HUGS AND "The WF path feels genuinely ME."
above: Student Shel, a Movement Educator who came directly to the Source
beneath the Sacred Mountain to train with me about learning a new Level to
her beautiful song to the UniVerse:
http://www.joyinmovement.com/
look for more on Student Shel's Private Intensive soon in DL. her words below cracked me up
and illustrate what a wonderful, vibrant Warrioress is Student Shel. enjoy everybody and
may your Own Practice be inspired!
namaste,
coach ilg
***
Dear Coach,
first, a Yoga toes story..............last friday i was in Monterey. i did one
of my self prescibed triathlons----went to a community center for a mile
swim. Then biked into pacific grove---locked up the bike---did a 4 mile
run along the glorious coast---then biked all the way back to the hotel.
Shortly after that we were heading out to a movie. While some WF chicks
may need more time to get ready and put on their make-up or redo their
hair i was complaining i hadn't had enough recovery time in my yoga toes.
As a JOKE emily said "bring them and wear them in the theater !" She
should know me better then that---My eyes went wide---how
brilliant.............i will never go to the theater again without those
YT !!
One new ritual has been to read DL every day. I used to look at them
maybe weekly and catch up with the previous week ---now i am on them
daily and that makes a difference in my chi !
The WF path feels genuinely ME.
You use the term TAF----the other day in a forward bend i realized this
is FAT spelled backwards. In the TAF path that you encourage us along it
is about getting rid of the FAT. Not just on the physical plane. Lighten
up our thoughts and spirits with breath and sweat and movement and
stillness. Drop what doesn't serve us and lighten the load.
Your DL's inspire me and your courage and committment continues through me to
others. You are a blessing and a vital vital voice and your voice helps
us all develop our voices as well................i am yelling from the
roof tops of Fremont, "sport specificity is a CURSE " !
please pass along my tribal hugs to Ananda..................may goodness
come to you today in magical ways !
in beauty and breath student shel
RAGIN RJ on "Thank God For Dummbells, Man!" & �Child obesity is child abuse!�
Ilgbro,
Hope all is well in Flag. Interesting about the runners� conference there�article did not mention much if anything about true functional fitness in terms of injury prevention�but what the hell do we know?!!!!!!! God runners are jacked up�and few want to do anything but run despite mechanical compensations and injury problems.
I was flying home last week and reading the gadget catalog on the plane. I saw this shoulder brace thing to pull people back up into a proper and neutral posture. Of course NO mention of doing any sort of strength work to pull one�s lazy ass back into proper alignment and posture, but again, what the hell do we know?!!!! Add this to the list of Ragin� rj �no nos� like the spring loaded chairs that launch one�s lazy ass up, up, and away, the �dignity� (dignity my ass!) electric scooters, the toilet height extensions so one doesn�t have to squat as low, and the list goes on and on�.thank God for dumbbells man�and the people that use them!!!!!!!!!!
***RJ, one of America's most fit Cardio athletes, knows the Wisdom of pure and functional strength movements like the One Arm Dummbbell Snatch...an exemplary, albeit largely forgotten in this day and age, 'old school' strength training movement that forces balance, phasic, postural, and mental strength from its practitioner. You want functional fitness? Go back to old school strength training and use the WF Strength Training Techniques, do your HP Yoga, and Buddha's sake; question every piece of furniture or device whose intent is to make your lifestyle more 'comfortable'. ***
Going through some meltdown and fatigue issues. Ordering more SUNRIDER herbs with my first �full� check this month when it arrives so I can get back up to speed. New bike ready for me when I get back. Rode here yesterday finally and felt okay. Trying to get used to this crazy schedule of going back and forth. Washington DC called feeble rj today for some help on wellness coaching for our government health services employees�hopefully I can help them out a bit. Got invited to present at the OK State Health Conference next year�pending approvals, etc. on child obesity prevention through fitness�hmmm�maybe I should start out with my warrior quote on child obesity, �Child obesity is child abuse!� Why not?! LaLanne told me to tell people the truth�even if they�re half dead!
Feeble rj
Ron Jones, MS
Atlanta, Georgia
ACSM Health/Fitness Instructor
Licensed Corporate Wellcoach
www.ronjones.org
{RJ and Coach are the current Course Records holders of the Furnace Creek 508 ultra race in Death Valley, along with Keith Kostman and Roy Wallack. photo of RJ in his Atlanta home Iron Temple. note WF Prayer Flag in background for purposes of Tribal CHI!}
August 03, 2005
SCREW THE SNAKES; BRING ME RAMANA!!!
dear coache',
a moment?
to heck with those snakes...
fuck'em..all.
however,
i just wanted you to know
that i keep a copy
of the ramamana maharishi
on the fate of the soul
with me....
sooooooo
powerful...
thank-you for printing this..
is it okay with you
that i did this?
also
when i get up in the am
before toilet yoga,neti, nodi,
and starting the day's wf st or cv activities
or yoga, and work...
i choose to awaken with dl's,
and then at night before i turn in..
i check them again...
thank-you for such
a gift of in-sight.
love you both..lots,
student dansan
Go(o)d Morning Noble Student Dansan!
Ananda and i both bow to your Arjuna-like Warrior pledge to stand beside your ol' coach
standing among the Snakes, devoted to swinging the Dharma swords for as long as possible!
i want you to work on cultivating Compassion for the Snakes whose venom seeps like acid
into our beautiful Temple...for, as my MahaNidraRishi teaches about the Unawakened Heart of such Snakes, one day,
they will Realize;
"At any given moment we choose love or fear... AT some point a shield will be ripped from the chest...fear or love...facing it and letting it go...The eventual death will come, finally realizing that which cannot die... After acclimation of the nervous system, that which does not die will become your new identity...the consciousness reconnecting to the source...Talk about mastery...Home study course...Take care...Maha"
so, did your HeartSpace jump at the picture of Ramana above?
oh! His eyes! The Soul of an Enlightened Master just leaps like Divine Lyrics through the eyes of the Awakened Ones
do they not?
we must Practice more!
more Meditation!
more Willingness to study the Scriptures!
less FEAR to be BRAVE in our workouts, both within and without!
yes, you are allowed to keep that posting of mine from Ramana near you...
i also want you to print out this DL, cut out the picture of Ramana and tape it to
the cupboard where you reach to get either coffee/calli cups or water glasses.
let me know when this has been done,
for there is something else that i have to Share with you upon its completion.
head bowed to the Enlightened and Awakened Ones...
They did the Work
we can do better then where we are right now...
swim upstream, Noble One!
that is all,
el coache
August 02, 2005
SNAKES IN THE TEMPLE and (FAR, FAR MORE IMPORTANTLY...) SANGHA INPUT!
"i am sending you this message to tell you that the one workout in which i maintained consistent over the past 2 months was reading Daily Lines. Each day, twice a day i faithfully read your messages and those of your students. As a fitness coach myself, i know/understand the amount of time you have given to all of us through FREE guidance, motivation and humble messages amounts to many thousands of dollars. i want to thank you for your steadfast dedication to the WF Path and her principles. Your leadership is worth more than dollars, and i am working at spreading your work throughout the Edmonton area as thanks.
Thank you again for your work,
Namaste,
Karl MacPhee
Edmonton, Alberta"
Noble Brothers And Sisters From A Different Mother,
beyond the zafu (5)
there is Wholistic Fitness (7)
sweating Buddha's Light (5)
if only you knew...
how much your Words, your Practice, your Engaged Consciousness means to me as we
keep finding and cultivating my WF notion that
"Our Highest Workout Is Everywhere."
there has recently been a paradigmatic Higher Shift from you all flowing into the WF Temple these days.
it is a Tribal Chakra experience...it is a Shift toward a Higher Understanding of Love-based appreciation
for what WF means...
and i TAF i know why...
i need it...
Ananda and i need it...
my humble Temple and LifeWork
which i send unprotected and freely into the UniVerse
needs it.
i will tell you this much...yet do not inquire further or spend your potent mental energies about it;
for some time now,
a few vipers have nested within our humble, vulnerable Temple
they have been relentlessly attacking me and shaking the foundations of the WF Temple
through their lower than unawakened muladhara chakra actions.
they have been ripping at my LifeWork, attempting to tear It away from not only me,
but the public's eye as well.
they do this due to lack of their own spiritual development...
perhaps,
if i was a better Messenger of the Path that cascades through me,
perhaps i could have Taught the Snakes a Higher Way than their greed.
i feel only for their karmic impurity and their Conscious Choice to attempt
damage to a yogi as feeble as i
and a Sangha as powerful as you.
foolish, foolish snakes; they lie so low in the grass
they cannot See the Higher Consequences to their ignorant, lower chakra actions.
what a great paradox;
what these Snakes seek is something they can never, ever have;
my Chi,
my Sangha's Love and Light which burns within me
so much Brighter than their personal Darkness.
so, they think that by seeking money from me, they will somehow attain inner gain...
that is a Great Illusion of these ignorant, Attachment-addicted ones.
They are brainwashed into thinking that a celebrity as minor as i
comes complete with instincts for greed and money like they.
the greedy Snakes cannot "grock"
in this day and age,
a real yogin; one who does not see the difference between a lump of dirt and a lump of gold
(in fact, i would choose the former...at least i could mountain bike on it!)
thus,
when any one of you takes Sacred Pause to write me that a particular DL or one of my books, dvds, cds has touched you, helped you, or in some small Way was of Benefit,
is is inDeed your Spoken Word of Appreciation and Love
tha keeps me Here Now,
Sharing only what i have to Give; my time, effort, sweat, and InSights along our Shared Way
chugging along
ever onward,
ever upward,
and
endlessly
inward.
to all of you who choose to do the WF Work with respect, sincerity, and sweat
to thee
i
bow:
you honor the Light from which
Love Is All There Is...
namaste,
coach ilg
***
Noble Coach,
Thank you very much for the (8*2) DL submission was tremendous. I�m committed to opening my OH SO tight and specifically worked hips, progress is slow and steady, I will keep you up on my progress.
Have a wonderful day Coach!
Love
Student Sammy
***
Dear Coach Ilg and Coach Haku,
Today's DL, "THE POISON BETWEEN OUR HIPS...and the GATEWAY TO BLISS!" is so
wonderfully well said.
Open hips and heart have made all the difference in my recent climbing, snow
skiing and Argentinean tango. It is amazing that such completely different
activities are all the same; hips and heart.
WF has enabled me to dissolve much of the ignorance (guilt, hurt, anger,
frustration and then the fear). In just the last three days I have known the
serene joy of flowing through the slalom gates and gliding tango ladies
across the dance floor, to a level never before experienced.
Open hips brought my upper body into the slope's rise line.
Open hips lift my body to an upright tango leader's "frame".
Leading with the heart invites my tango partner to the next lovely movement.
Leading with the heart allows my body to lead my skis forward, down the hill
and around the gates.
Soon I will take my WF fitness everywhere in my life.
Gateway to bliss indeed!
Student karl (Haku Clan)
***
Honorable and Noble Teachers,
the time spent seeking (5)
is of little importance (7)
once the path is found (5)
For years I bounced from one thing to another. Zazen and other various forms of spirituality, stretching (yoga in disguise), running, weight lifting, diet after diet. I looked at Atkins, he was no picture of health. Pritikin, same. These where money making deitmagicians barking thier shiny new midway show to the screwed up masses. I was one of them, moving from kiosk to kiosk, flashing my denaro and embracing my disappointment. Then, with no support, direction, VALUE, no shining beacon, back to the donut feast I went. Sad, belligerent, bored, angry, chaotic, tainted by the self-sotted grasping world. The years do not matter. , things changed.
Thank you. For all that you strive to accomplish in the world by being true to the blessed nature of existance. For weaving the five principles together so that those who need to find this path can recognize it when it floats by on the stream of time. So simple, so profound. I smiled on sunday...all day...for no reason. Do you know how different that is for me? How my soul has missed it? Seeking the right way I embrace the nutrition of body and mind, embrace the sweat and the breath, the beautifacence of all elements working together to shift the oppressed soul into the light of true living. I bow to your metta.
My early mornings are traded for meditation beside the pond in the backyard. It is a circle of water. I bow to you there each day; Om mani padme hung!
within the circle (5)
I bow to loving kindness (7)
peacefulness is here (5)
meditate and run (5)
stretch and strengthen the muscles (7)
this is nutrition (5)
I bow to you within the circle of water,
feeble finder
ThOMas (Ko SR Clan)
***
Dearest Coach,
i do realize that you are quite busy tending to e-mail from your many followers of the path, and i fear that i am taking up more of your (free) time. However, every once in a while i feel the need to send you a message.
As you know, upon reading your book TBT in February, i followed the 4 months worth of programs and experienced an amazing transformation in my life. Over the summer months, i made some attempts to continue through the cycles and found that i only wanted to get out and pedal! So i struggled with trying to hit the iron temple and i sat on my mat here and there, and my nutrition habits were on par.
i am sending you this message to tell you that the one workout in which i maintained consistent over the past 2 months was reading Daily Lines. Each day, twice a day i faithfully read your messages and those of your students. As a fitness coach myself, i know/understand the amount of time you have given to all of us through FREE guidance, motivation and humble messages amounts to many thousands of dollars.
i want to thank you for your steadfast dedication to the WF Path and her principles. Your leadership is worth more than dollars, and i am working at spreading your work throughout the Edmonton area as thanks.
Thank you again for your work,
Namaste,
Karl MacPhee
Edmonton, Alberta
{photo of coach by waynewilliamsstudio.com}
RAVAGED BY REGRET/ Coach's JULY Practice Stats
How sad it is that most of us only begin to appreciate our lives when we are on the point of dying. I often think of the words of the great Buddhist master Padmasambhava: �Those who believe they have plenty of time get ready only at the time of death. Then they are ravaged by regret. But isn�t it far too late?�
- Sogyal Rinpoche
***
COACH's THAT WALK THEIR TALK:
COACH ILG's JULY's WF PRACTICE STATS
Strength Training = 2.25 hours
Cardio = 48.25 hours
Asana = 30 hours
Meditation = 18.25 hours
Nutrition = 37,025 calories (average; 1,194/day...do NOT try this at home!)
Bodyfat % = 2.8
THE POISON BETWEEN OUR HIPS...and the GATEWAY TO BLISS!
i call Students of Wholistic Fitness "Noble Warriors" for go(o)d reason; it requires tremendous bravery to create the time (not one of us "has the time"...warriors CREATE their Practice time) to sit still, day after day, run after run, workday after workday,and breathe into the locked up energetic gunk that lies deep within our hips known as the "Root Granthi" or the psychospiritual energetic blockage that results in tight hip musculature. 
while opening the hips, the Noble Warrior may be quite surprised at the volume of undigested anger, frustration, annoyance, and a host of other defilements which lay like ferocious Dragons protecting our ego, our fear, our addiction to comfort instead of what the genuine yogi lives for, trains for, is devoted utterly toward; "tivra mumuksha"...the intense burning desire for liberation! WF only appeals to the real yogin; the seeker of Union transcendent beyond all duality and destroyer of all separation. As Sogyal Rinpoche relates; "One of the most important revelations of the near-death experience is how it transforms the lives of those who have been through it. One man said:
�I was transformed from a man who was lost and wandering aimlessly, with no goal in life other than a desire for material wealth, to someone who had a deep motivation, a purpose in life, a definite direction, and an overpowering conviction that there would be a reward at the end of life. My interest in material wealth and greed for possessions were replaced by a thirst for spiritual understanding and a passionate desire to see world conditions improve.�
reaching deeper in my HP Yoga approach toward the pose known as the "cow face pose" or gomukasana. in HP Yoga, i do not Teach students to use their hands as crutches upon Mother Earth in seated postures; i Teach what the Scriptures teach; use focused pranayam (half of Hatha Yoga means 'breath development'), mudras and bandhas to create internal floatation and proper energetic conditioning. it is appalling to see what is being taught as "yoga" in most classes, yet...i suppose if the 'teacher' is guiding his or her students safely, then the Light Of Yoga will eventually be illumined if the student is sincere. this shot was taken mere minutes of blasting a 3 mile mountain trail run...the endurance athlete must work triple time compared to "studio yogis" who do not yet know or are willing to train across the physiologic spectrum like the WF Yogin! these studio yogis will be quite disappointed when they Wake Up enough to realize; the true definition of Yoga is to Learn from and Embrace ALL aspects of the human body...not just suppleness! 
another Granthi is located precisely where we are most afraid to lead our life; our Heart Center or Anahata Chakra. most of us lead our life from our hips... the Fear Line. this is why so few beautiful Posturally Strong people exist compared to the slumped shoulder, hip leading (lower chakra addicted) masses. once again, the WF Yogin must pour volumes of solitude into the opening of the shoulders and heart the places where we 'shoulder' the burdens of the Outer World and shrink away from Inner work of opening toward Compassionate Love. 
If a person opens his or her hips, heart, and shoulders, the poisons of the common man; greed, fear, need for security, possessiveness, and ignorance would dissipate like a finished kirtan chant into the embers of growing starlight.
May this entry Serve All Beings to free their own poisons and to Awaken for the benefit of all Beings everywhere...
workout hard today
breathe softly tonight...
it is a long way h(om)e yet, with each other...
we can do it,
My Noble Warriors of Wholistic Fitness!
namaste,
the mountain yogi
photos by Ananda, photo of the WF Garden Buddha by ilg
August 01, 2005
WF Temple Approved Book Input
He recovered to level flight and was quiet for a time before he spoke. "Very well," he said, "who are you?"
"We're from your Flock, Jonathan. We are your Brothers." The words were strong and calm. "We've come to take you higher, to take you home."
* From, "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach...a Coach Ilg "LifeTime Embraced" and WF approved book and required reading assignment for many WF Online Students since the inception of Wholistic Fitness. Coach Ilg and Richard Bach were friends in the late seventies and exchanged author to author communication. Bach is from our Tribe, you might say. Can you notice?...WF Online Student TaMara sure did! Read books often, watch TV less. WF Online Students receive WF-approved and Teacher assigned books. Because reading is becoming a lost fundamental element of a human's wisdom capacities.
***
"Dear Teacher Ananda,
Thank you for assigning Jonathan Livingston Seagull as my reading assignment. Wow what a story! The parallels to the WF path are so blatant you have to ask; Did Coach Ilg write this? I am really enjoying reading it."
- WF Online Student TaMara (Ananda Clan)
Dear Student TaMara,
Coach Ilg loves Jonathan (and so do i). We even have it on audio to listen to on our long road trips.
Coach can, from memory, share highlighted passages that move him, right on the spot."
- Ananda
QUESTION ON EEE-GAD WORKOUT
Coach and Student Stein cranking the "Amitahba" Strength Training Workout during her recent Private Intensive here in Kinlani. Amitahba is an advanced exploration into elite WF Strength Training. it is several Levels Higher than the EEE-GAD workout which appears in my latest book, TOTAL BODY TRANSFORMATION. the Amitahba Workout is reserved only for seasoned WF Online Students for professional reasons of safety. a high demand of focus and use upon yogic internal locks and pranayams is required to travel the land of the Amitahba! Training with a priority of inwardly turned Awareness during EEE-GAD Workouts, however, will certainly appropriately condition the devoted WF Yogi to one day crank out workouts like Amitahba with Masterful form!
***
Coach Ilg,
I hope this message finds you well.
During the EEE-GAD workout of TBT, I have been doing one set of dumbell press at 15lbs, and then the second set at 12lbs. This past weekend, at the end of the first set, I was feeling strong, and decided to challenge myself by staying with the higher weight for the second set. I was doing well, until right at the end: with about 10 seconds left, my form broke down entirely. I knew that I was at the threshold of muscle failure, and I could not have continued, so I stopped there.
Should I have done anything differently?
I thank you in advance for your always sage advice.
Namaste,
Paul
Noble Warrior Paul,
Less is More.
Postural Elegance and Conscious Breathing is Top Priority in WF Strength Training workouts.
Never quit, however.
You are not allowed to quit in the Bardo.
You must maintain skilled and conditioned Consciousness for as long as Eternity...
what do you TAF i am training you for, TiddilyWinks?
Next time, just drop down to the 12 lbs (have them "on deck" as we say in WF Iron Temple lingo), or 10 lbs, or 5's or just fucking press your empty hands up and down until the 1:00 mark is reached...the summit must be gained!
however,
never
ever
quit.
Namaste,
coach ilg
Ed. Note; Paul is a beginning student of WF, using and documenting his initial excursions into WF on his own Coach Ilg-Approved blog: http://wftraining.blogspot.com/