December 27, 2006
Coach In Yoga Journal? The Rumor is Settled NOW!
Is this coach ilg now appearing in Yoga Journal? Below, i settle the rummor once and for all!
A handful of Alert WF Warriors wrote in to ask if that was me in the February, 07 issue of Yoga Journal.
"I don't know," came my reply, "i don't subscribe to mainstream magazines. And Yoga Journal sure as hec never asked my permission."
"I'm sure it's you..you are in Vrkasana balanced on tree roots by a lake. You are in your capri's and your WF Training Mala is on your left wrist."
"I don't remember doing a photo shoot like that," i told another who wrote in.
"Dude, no yogi has a backside like you, it's you. i know it is," wrote one more.
then, Most Noble WF Online Student NWSM took it upon himself to cut out the picture and send it to me. It arrived yesterday.
i will officially end the rumor:
Yup.
dat's me, awlright.
It was taken a few years ago when i still lived in LA.
Mike Powell, a WF Student and former bike racing teammate of mine took that shot. Mike - of Sports Illustrated fame and photog veteran of 3 Tour de Frances as well as the photographer for THE WINTER ATHLETE strength training shots - got that pic of me near Malibu Lake up in the Santa Monica Mountains during a day-long shoot with several top yogini models (yup, that was a Blessed Day indeed!) for Getty Images. During the walk back to the Getty trailer, Mike yanked me aside as his mind created this shot and said, "Ilg, scramble down this embankment and do a pose while standing on those tree roots, the light is great right now...hurry!"
"No worries," i said, dashing through the bramble. the moment i merged with the Tree Energy i recalled my years of doing "Touching Soul Of Tree," in the Ai Imawa Taoist Yoga Postures. Immediately sensing a wonderful union with this cherished Sycamore, my body just went into Tree Pose (Vrkasana). Mike's talent took care of the rest.
Throughout the years, many stock images of your ol' coach doing all sorts of sports and fitness activities have been caught floating around in various books and magazines. Keep your eye out and maybe one will catch you with your Spine Straight and your Breath Conscious.
Great Awareness Tribal Warriors!
December 22, 2006
OF ALL BANDHAS GREAT AND SMALL (aka; Where Babies Come From)
OF ALL BANDHAS GREAT AND SMALL (aka; Where Babies Come From)
by coach ilg, ryt/uscf/cpt
(Note; for Student Use, i will keep a copy of this essay in the WF SanghaLounge within the "Yoga" cave.) 
"As a kid, i used to practice Mula Bandha on long chairlift rides nearly every winter day. Though i did not know the Source of these Inner Instructions, nor even the Intent of these Inner Practices, i still did them. Blind Faith, you might call it. I later realized that i was simply picking up Inner Work leftover from previous lives."
- coach ilg
excerpt from an upcoming book
photo; telemarking at Parajito. photo by Ananda.
Bandha
as in Mula Bandha; the Lock at the Root which seals off and thus prevents the unconscious leakage of our life force. Steve Marlowe, my 'zero-tolerance' bicycle commuter and racing teammate used to shout, "GO Mr. Muuuuuuula BANdha!" when i jumped off the front of bike race or attacked a hillclimb when i lived in Los Angeles. i owe my recovery from spinal fracture and pelvic detonation to a steadfast gripping and training of Mula Bandha.
In forward folds and particularly when doing the "Inner Cleansing Techniques" like 'stomach rolling', Mula Bandha must be activated to ensure proper energetic transmission and purification. photo of coach in a "WF Toilet Yoga" program.
Bandha
as in Uddiyana Bandha; the "Flying Upward Lock" of yogic empowerment science that tends to mystify many Westerners yet promises each of us victory over such massive obstacles like food, sleep, dis-ease, and even death. This Bandha holds us at gunpoint to the bowling bowl of lethargy that resides in our 'pooch' area. This lethargy is actually the Princess Kundala, slumbering awaiting our bravery to arouse and seduce Her upward, thus the name; Upward Flying. 
While you are just sitting and shitting, i am refining my chances for Enlightenment. It's all a matter of Willingness. No better place to train the small muscles required for Uddiyanic development than in my unique "Toilet Yoga" routines, available only to WF Online Students due to safety. These routines are POWERFUL catalysts to the energetics of Enlightenment. photo by Ananda.
Bandha as in Jalandhara Bandha; the seductive Net at the Throat Center which, when grabbed and mastered, captures the dripping of the inner solar energies and luxuriates a busy mind into her analgesic balm of lunar nectar. Nothing quite like the meditative wash of Jalandhara that also prevents immature facilitation of cosmic energies.
MOMMIE AND ME
As a Wholistic Fitness Student, i am trained to "Question All Word Choices." This is a WF Technique used to attain a yogic goal of "Speech Purification." What else has conditioned your Reality besides words? Nothing. Our egoic shell began forming around our True Nature when perhaps our mother first grabbed our tiny hand and gently patted our'self' with it while repeating, "Steve..." then lifted our hand to pat herself while repeating, "Mommie."
"Steve"
"Mommie."
This is YOU and this am ME. (read; "we are different from each other.")
The Separation of Self and UniVerse began there and has only accelerated and intensified for many of us, until our Awakening.
Words. Be VERY care-full with them. If used unConsciously, they are Bombs. Destructors of Unity. Instigators of Duality.
BACK TO BANDHA AND BEYOND
Bandha. In Sanskrit, the now accepted language of Yoga, the word Bandha means, "Restraint" or "Bondage".
Like everything in yoga, the word Bandha is chock full of multilayered meaning. Some range from the gross anatomical gripping of the uro-genital triangle muscles to the more etheric such as the bonding of our base layer mindwaves (manas) to spiritual ignorance (avidya). This is just the start. A more refined meaning of Bandha refers to the adhesion of layers of our consciousness (cit) being glued via avidya to the taking and retaking of lives through a depressing cycle of life, tension, death, and rebirth.
To expound for a moment on that last sentence: have you ever considered why most babies scream like hell coming out into this world? have you ever considered why or studied how the Enlightened Ones are allWays born in very auspicious manner?
An unEnlightened Being experiences (re)birth with a lot of Pain; Pain for Mom certainly, yet far more for the in-fant. The in-fant was just sailing about in In-fantity (Infinity; why do you think they are called "In-fants?). Suddenly, their ageless Soul took another Form (kinda like words except in the Soul Realm). Bingo bango; the overpopulated Human Realm gets another unEnlightened Being!
Before babie-hood, we actually Woke Up during what we grown ups call 'death' only to Realize, 'oh crap, i did not do the Inner Work last time to get Free (moksha)," and well, as we begin our re-Entry into a new incarnation through 'birth' we are still close enough to In-fanity to Realize, "i REALLY don't want to go through all this again! WHAAAA, WHAAA!!!"
And if the realize of our lifelong suffering again ain't enough at the moment of our 'birth' to add more insult to our ongoing avidya, the 'good doctor' slaps us a few times as our Welcome Wagon to the Human Realm.
However, those of you who are going deep into your WF Practices already have Realized all this fundamental stuff and are thus determined to gain the top step of this Human Race; Enlightenment. Freedom from reBirth...Freedom from Avidya.
"The root of all human suffering is (spiritual) ignorance."
- Buddha.
How did the Buddha Wake Up?
Well, He started out by realizing the folly of trying to find Freedom and Happiness in anything or anyone outside our self. He renounced the Outer World, drew His senses inward, and began just like where you and i are each morning: returning again and again to Mula Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha, and Jalandhara Bandha. To Seal Off the outward directed senses and energies is Job Numero One.
As i continued to contemplate the Word Choice of 'Bandha," i drew a slash in the word after the "d".
Band.
As in, "Oh man, i've got these bands in my neck that are killing me!"
Such bands are locks, seals, preventing the flow of Prana in that area.
Make Sense?
Go(o)d.
Now,
go forward, upward, and most of DEEPER into your Daily Word Choices and Posture and Breath and enjoy being a skilled hunter of your Inner World.
It is really the only World that will matter on (y)our final exhale.
om so ti,
your humble coach
Labels: WF Sutra Studies, WF Teachings, Yoga
December 19, 2006
2006 HIGH PERFORMANCE YOGI OF THE YEAR GOES TO...
For the past year beneath the Sacred Peak, Ananda and i have brought the Fire and Light of the Steep, Direct Path of HP Yoga - the yogic subdiscipline of Wholistic Fitness - to a small Warrior Tribe of Seekers fearless to do the Inner Work.
Among them was one warrior, whose appearance in the Cave each week was as steadfast as the arrival of Grandfather Sun's and Grandmother Moon's dance across the sensual shape of the Sacred Peak. (photo of the Sacred Peak by coach, last week)
The final HP Yoga Class of 2006 was a well advertised "HP Yoga Strong Flow" that brought out only the Highest of Warriors...including our 2006 HP Yogi of the Year; Dr. Bob. From L-R; top row: chris, ben, sara, maria,valerie. bottom row; L-R: Teacher Ananda, 2006 HP Yogi of the Year Dr. Bob, and coach. not shown; photographer and our newest HP Yogi; Bill.
It is with deep honor that i give to the worldwide WF Sangha; Dr. Bob Morrissey of Flagstaff, Arizona as my 2006 High Performance Yogin of the Year!
Dr. Bob, as is his HP Yogi name, racked up 44 HP Yoga Classes this year,
demonstrating the epitome of Warrior Consistency (Abhyasa), a number which is quite something considering i only offer one class per week.
Dr. Bob received a "HP Yogi Warrior Of The Year" certificate along with a very
special Rudraksha Mala from Coach that has been simmering in the WF Temple Zendo for an entire year. (For the yogic story of Rudraksha Beads, visit the DIRECT LINES cave in the WF SanghaLounge!).
A champion flying disc athlete as well as a devoted distance runner, Dr. Bob is the precise type of multi-disciplined Warrior that hallmarks a HP Yogi. It ain't fancy poses that gets a Warrior to Enlightenment; it is Discipline across the human capacities. And Dr. Bob is unafraid to go for long mountain runs directly into a HP Yoga Class; perfect! His journey through HP Yoga
has produced a long string of insights, muscle aches, and ever ascending chi!
DL was lucky enough to nab a sparse interview with the seemingly yet not really agoraphobic Doctor
before autographic hounds surrounded the esteemed Sadhaka Turned Swami:
DL: Dr. Bob, what do you think of your HP Yogi Award and the special Rudraksha Mala from coach?
Dr. Bob: oh God, that was my worse class i ever. i hurt. that was tough.
DL: Uh, yeah, but what do you think about the recognition?
Dr. Bob: my entire left leg is shaking.
DL: Okay, uh, what was your most memorable moment of the past 44 classes with Coach and Ananda and the Flagstaff HP Yogi's?
Dr. Bob: i think i have to go home now.
Wow, well, there you have it; The Sparse Words From A Tired Champion Warrior Athlete. Hey, this Tribe has allWays been just about the Practice, baby!
COMING UP: The 2006 WF Online Student Of The Year Award! Could it be YOU?!?!
Labels: WF Inspiration, WF News, Yoga
December 13, 2006
The Bod Makes A Blog...
WORK ON THE BOD AND THE GOD WILL FOLLOW
Labels: BodyBuilding, Strength Training, Student Testimonial, Yoga
December 11, 2006
Yoga's Grand Central Station; The WF Physique and Physiology
it is true that asana (the sustained stretching exercise component of yoga) can in fact create a 'longer, sleeker' appearance to the physique than does a strict bodybuilding or weightlifting only program. Asana, i suppose it can be said, creates a 'cat-like' physique as opposed to a 'bulldozer' physique from gym-only training or an anorexic, imbalanced physique common to sport-specfic endurance athletes. photo: coach's "body vehicle this time around," as he refers to his 44-year old 'carriage of the spirit'. as is evident, a firm Practice in asana does not take away the much coveted "ripped" look from a Wholistic Fitness physique. What matters most to a WF Warrior however, is that the balanced physique is also balanced in all of the physiologic capacities of a human body. For most of us, attaining such elite mastery of physique plus world class function in all physiologic disciplines will require the rest of our lives. "Hey," says coach referring to this seemingly endless pursuit of genuine yoga or Balance, "It keeps us off the streets!" photo by www.waynewilliamsstudio.com
***
Dear Coach,
i am 19 and am currently doing your "Cosmic Yang" weight program (OUCH!!!!). it's really hard to explain to my training partners about your techniques and things like, "Being elegant" in the gym. i have not been doing yoga or too much cardio (except on an exercise bike a little) because my friends tell me that if i do yoga or too much cardio my muscles will smooth out from the yoga and get skinny from the cardio. i don't know what to do. i know you are busy, and you don't have to write me back, but i am confused and getting kinda bummed out on everything."
- Terrance, NY
Most Noble Young Warrior T,
first, i bow to your Devoted Practice.
second, it is true that asana (the sustained stretching exercise component of yoga) can in fact create a 'longer, sleeker' appearance to the physique than does a strict bodybuilding or weightlifting only program. Asana, i suppose it can be said, creates a 'cat-like' physique as opposed to a 'bulldozer' physique from gym-only training or an anorexic, imbalanced physique common to sport-specfic endurance athletes. as you know, Strength Training is the FIRST Fitness Discipline of Wholistic Fitness. before even Cardio (to build balanced joint health) and even before Yoga. why? because besides imparting a vital infrastructure to the human capacity, Strength Training builds something even more beautiful and powerful than a balanced, lean physique; Strength Training builds GUMPTION! Gumption to blast through doubts, perceived limits of mind, and most of all, Strength Training teaches us the CHI of at least become aware of if not demolishing our "granthis" or pyschospiritual blockages.
in the WF Medicine Wheel of Life; Strength Training is best served under while young. the Iron Temple imparts many profound astral Teachers for a young warrior or warrioress. in mid-life, Strength Training can often be minimized while yoga and cardio are prioritized. as we grow older, Strength Training must again be re-elevated, although not so high as when we are young.
with enough Training, the WF Warrior achieves a physique and more importantly a physiology that is utterly balanced and capable within all the human capacities. this physiologic fitness must be gained through steadfast training (abhyasa) on the physical (gross) level first - which will probably require most of our current lives to attain- then, in a Divine Training Effect, our Balanced, Wholistic Physique and Physiologic Fitness trickles into and transforms our Subtle, then Refined sheaths.
thus, if a 355 lb Back Squat comes "easy" to some folks, they should not harbor too much pride, because they must always develop as much fitness in their endurance and suppleness fitness as well.
we must never forget that it is through our multi-disciplined fitness, actions, words, and thoughts that we have achieve genuine yoga or union with Balance. if we choose to remain infatuated only with our performances in the gym or on the yoga mat or in cardio or even on the meditation cushion, we cannot put an end to our suffering and the causes of our suffering because our true potential, our buddha nature, is to awaken ALL of the human capacities in us. Until our Wholistic Fitness is completely awakened and we are freed from our ignorance of sport and/or physiologic specificity to merge with the deathless, enlightened mind/body/spirit, then there can be no end to the round of life and death.
if we only do 'yoga' for instance, we can get very high and mighty and we meet certain Teachers and we think that we have 'found our guru'...usually some old guy from India. that is all great, fine, and dandy. yet i say unto you, Oh Noble Young Warrior, the Teachers that you meet in only ONE DISCIPLINE can only introduce you to your Inner Teachers from ONE OF YOUR SPIRITUAL FAMILY!
there are as many Inner Teachers as there are human capacities. thus, to gain liberation, we must assume the fullest possible responsibility for ourselves now in this body. if we choose only to develop fitness in one of our capacity categories, our suffering will go on not only for a few more lives but for thousands of lives.
it is this humbling knowledge that makes even the most expert athletes or yogis turn and run away from Wholistic Fitness. in this Path, we do not elevate or even consider spending precious time enjoying that which comes easy to us naturally or even the mastery of a once difficult physiologic category. instead, we in this Path are trained to constantly hunt down our restrictions and weakness and imbalances and negative tendencies and sport or discipline addictions that we intuitively know we need to overcome. we prize that which the Ancient Masters prized; that our future lives are more important even than this one, because there are many more that await us in the future. As Sogyal Rinpoche taught, "This long-term vision governs how they live. They know if we were to sacrifice the whole of eternity for this life, it would be like spending our entire life savings on one drink, madly ignoring the consequences." 
No shortcuts around the body; WF Rule Number One!
most athletes and yogis sacrifice the whole of their eternity for becoming 'good' in one area of their capacities.
the WF Warrior is content to be discontent with anything except the Highest of All Summits; The Grand Potential of Being Human...Enlightenment.
om so ti,
coach ilg
5 World Championships in 4 physiologically diverse sports
senior registered yoga teacher; International Yoga Alliance
{final photo by Ananda}
Labels: Strength Training, WF Philosophy, Yoga