In Kuala Lumpur

As we speak I am in Kuala Lumpar. My first time here. Back in Asia after a long break. I arrived last Sunday and will be teaching here for two weeks then off to Taiwan. Discovering a new place comes most welcome. I'm staying in the heart of the metropolis and find this Malaysian city quite interesting and no doubt extremely hot and extremely humid. A departure from Sweden, that is for sure.

My travels here were pretty uneventful. A layover in Copenhagen, as well as, Bangkok. It felt like a long trek and yes my ankles swelled to twice their normal size. The joys of airline travel! Drink water, drink more water. Didn't really help though. In all layovers I made a beeline for Starbucks, haha. I'm so American. My only true indulgence when I leave Stockholm. Funny though, once I arrived in KL I quickly passed up Starbucks for illy instead. Better coffee, more pretentious, and no sizes you can takeaway as big as your head. Thankfully. There is nothing worse than an over caffeinated foreigner. Annoying.

My first impressions of KL?

• Wow, look at that skyline! With the tallest twin towers in the world it is an impressive sight and an architectural achievement. They are truly stunning. 

• The cab drivers are chatty and friendly. Most strike up conversations with me. I love it. It's like having a therapist that runs on a timed meter.

• The heat and the humidity. Geeez. I've turned soft! Sweden has softened my resolve of such extremes. I used to revel in it. I'm doing my best to adjust and stay hydrated. 

• FOOD. I had quickly forgotten the scope and variety of food offered in Asia. It can be overwhelming to have so many choices. At least for me it is. The food is relatively cheap too. Another plus. 

• KL is cosmopolitan and diverse. It feels like a meeting place of East meets West, with a strong mix of the Middle East. 

• Shopping. Loads of shopping. You can find just about every label here and then some. There is an abundance of malls in the city center. Found 50 wants and nothing I need, haha. 

• Did I mention the heat and humidity?

• Traffic. It's epic.

• Where's the fresh air? There is none.

• It's hot here. 35˚+ (Celsius) everyday.

• When I walk around I feel completely out of fashion. The Asian cities have a way of making me feel this way, haha. Maybe I should shop more?

• Yes, it is hot and very humid. Repeat.

•  Service!!! In Asia the service is the best. Hands down. At least, this has been my experience. Always offered a smile and assistance when needed. No eye rolling or hesitation. It is awesome.

  

As the trip progresses I'm sure I'll have more insight. Leading up to coming here I had gotten so busy I ceased blogging so I hadn't mentioned my upcoming trip. It's been off and on all year. Back and forth. Hopefully I can jump back on the bandwagon. I know I've been saying that almost every time I write, haha.

It feels good to be traveling again. I love discovering new places. The world is fascinating!!! 

The Most Astounding Fact

When I think small and limited it never serves me; it never feels right. I think it is important to remember who we are and where we come from, and it still resides in the essence of humility as well as balance. Have a beautiful weekend! 

Plant Power!!!

Health is wealth and the power of plant based nutrition is PRICELESS! 

How to Stop Screwing Yourself!

I love this talk. Yes, I know, I've been posting loads of videos lately. I'll be writing more, don't worry, haha. Anyway, this is a great vid. Too good to pass up. Let's move from FINE, to simply AMAZING. Have an awesome day!

Sharath's Demo

A rare demonstration by my teacher, R. Sharath Jois. 

Yoga Gives Back 2012

September 29, 2012!!!! 

www.yogagivesback.org

Guruji, in Remembrance . . .

Today marks the anniversary of Guruji's passing, and the celebration of a life fully lived, and a love that continues to spread like wildfire. We thank you Guruji, for all that you gave, and for all that you did in service of this practice and for bringing the essence of yoga into our lives and into our hearts. We are blessed because of your tireless passion and the grace you bestowed, offering an example of a life fully expressed, open and unified! 

Ashtanga Yoga Photo Journal

Darby Jumping back to Chaturanga Dandasana

True Grit

True Grit! Does it take talent, hard work, or both?!!! Great stuff covered in this talk. A bit dry at times, but really good stuff is there. :)))

For the article click here

Will Smith, Secrets of Success

I've always loved Will Smith's passion. There is so much truth in what he says. 

Tara Brach, Acknowledging Suffering

CELEBRATE!

I listen to Tara Brach's podcasts from time to time. She always has such a beautiful way of communicating and illustrating core insights into living a more mindful life. For more info visit her website, tarabrach.com, and for podcasts click the menu option "audio talks."

Govinda Kai Talks Ashtanga Yoga

Redefining The Present Moment

I've posted several videos of Michael Stone, and I came across this one as well. I was a bit surprised to see him without hair and a beard. At any rate, I wanted to pass along more information for those who maybe interested in his books, etc. Simply visit: www.centreofgravity.org.

Light On Life

It's been a long time coming. I finally picked up the book "Light on Life," by B.K.S. Iyengar, and it's a book not to be missed. Maybe most of you out there have already read it. I could be one of the last to pick it up, haha.

I love the purity and power of Iyengar's writing. Simple and straight forward, which seems to be the natural way, when communicating to the masses, with as many years of experience as he has. With utmost clarity, you feel his decades of experience and wisdom cultivated through experiential practice. He has lived and tasted everything he writes. You can feel it.

Though, I have never met Iyengar, through his writing, something tells me he is as sharp as a tack, and as active as ever, at the ripe age of 93. I would love to see him in action. Even though I don't practice his method, I'm still very much intrigued by the measure of this man. Everything he speaks of translates to whatever yoga practice you may follow. Having the same teacher as Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, I feel the Iyengar method is on the other side of the same coin as Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga.

Everything he writes correlates. The internal relationship to yoga ultimately is the same, with varying shades of color.

I'm loving every word.

Listening to Shame

Daring greatly! Let's do it!By treading the path of vulnerability and empathy. I really appreciate Brené Brown's work.

How Do I Enter My Life?

So much good stuff in this video. Take it in. I highly recommend it. 

Let's Not Forget About Sangha

“Yoga is about giving Love and Light to everybody: Those who love you, those who harm you, those who you know, those who you don’t know. It makes no difference, you just give light and love.”   - Yoga Master Indra Devi

Beyond my own practice one element that becomes important is the sangha (community) centered around practice. Sometimes I feel like this is the missing element in the community or maybe lack of community. What I've observed, often we confine our community only within the walls in which we practice. To me, it goes much further than that. If we cannot connect with each other openly while making this practice a part of our lives, I think we've missed something. If we cannot be open and generous within the yoga community, than what hope do we have to attain this in the outer world? It matters! It truly does.

When I moved to Stockholm I was shocked at the dividing lines drawn. I even got the brunt end of unspeakable negativity while being kept at arms length. Maybe because I was considered an outsider or maybe because I came in with a fair amount of experience. It's hard to tell. However, for me, the sad part is, I came into the scene a bit naive, because I honestly felt if there's any place I'll be accepted, no matter what country I found myself in, it would be in the yoga community, and well, reality gave me a different lesson. It hurt. However, time passes on, and the sting of rumors spread, that were clearly untrue, burned, as I kept quiet to it all. Even though it took time to heal and recover from the resentment, I am thankful to the naysayers, because it forced me to find strength I didn't realize I had. I'm still standing. Now I can say thank you, because the new found determination that came forth through the experience was born.

So what gives? Yoga is an internal quest, not a showcase for external prowess and/or the acquisition of territory. I came to yoga when my body and spirit were broken. A recognition. From then on, being on my mat has felt more like home than any home I've had or probably will have. At the center of it all, practice has been an inspiration of the heart. If it wasn't, I would have done something else. When we layer hierarchies, dividing lines, cliques, and smattering of gossip on top of it, aren't we missing the point?

For a long time I shrunk back and kept quiet in regards to the negative treatment. I'm not sure suffering in silence is always a good thing. And now, I've come to a point where I no longer feel like doing so. As the internal becomes strengthened, so does the intolerance for bullshit. I'm just saying. Through the sharing of honest experience, I can own all of it, and be better for it, because at the end of the day, transforming it into gratitude has healed me. Which begs the point, if we've lost the love, we've lost everything, even the meaning behind why we practice. It isn't a commodity to be acquired.

Truth is a wonderful thing. Transparency is grand.

This energy extends out beyond the limits we manufacture in day to day life. Illusions. Let's cut through them. However, it will only happen if we do it together. Each word we utter carries weight, whether you know it or not. Is what we engage in, through talk and interaction, bringing us together or dividing us apart? A good thing to inquire, and to inquire on a regular basis.

Why limit reality within the walls of the familiar? We must step outside our comfort zones. We must shake free of our labels. If we close the door on learning from others than something is amiss. The learning never stops, especially when there is an opportunity to learn from someone new or to even gain insight on another perspective.

What I've learned is it doesn't matter if someone carries a certain level of certification, or even if they have the means of owning a yoga studio. It doesn't always equal a form of enlightened existence. It took me time to realize this with startling clarity. With that being said, most of us move forward on the path with the best of intentions, but at the end of the day, we must ask ourselves who are we serving? why? And, what for?

The Only Difference

Great overall message here. I don't usually like to sing the praises of a certain dietary lifestyle, however I felt this video was well done. 

Day 5, 6, 7, 8

Day 5, 6, 7, 8. Practice with Peter Sanson. Oooof. It was so hot in the room, and especially hot since I had a later start time. At one point when twisting I gazed over my shoulder and thought I was seeing an apparition. A white cloud of some sort. Is that my aura? Not likely, a closer look, I realized it was actually steam coming off my body. Literally, I was cooking, and I continued to cook for the subsequent days. Oooof. Sizzle. Continuing with my focus and not getting too carried away by the intense heat, like a mantra, I kept telling myself, samsara halahala. Yes, this is why I practice.

It was a great 8 days of practice; 8 days of self-reflection. This is the exciting part. I started the week with Intermediate, per usual, built up to Advanced A, and ended with Primary. I love this cycle established over the week. All postures are really the same. They all translate into one another. What can be learned in the most basic of postures carry hallmarks into the more complicated.

Take care in the smallest of movements, breathing as if it were your last breath. Give attention to everything as if you are tasting something for the first time. There's a boundless amount of depth there.