On Enlightenment

Tim Miller

David Swenson 

Tim Miller & The Yoga Sutras

I have such a fondness for Tim Miller otherwise known as Timiji. He has a way of interpreting the Yoga Sutras in tangible, meaningful bites that we can all relate to. Love you Tim!!! 

Weekly Round Up

"Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe is endlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear enough request, and everything your heart desires must come to you."    - Mahatma Gandhi

No matter what stage I find myself in my practice, Fridays are for Primary Series, and Sundays are dedicated for Intermediate. I especially like the feeling of coming full circle on Fridays, ending with Primary. There is something absolutely satisfying about it. Then, after having Saturday off, diving into Intermediate to kick of the week sets the pace for what is up ahead. It's feels good, and necessary to follow this routine, though challenging at the same time. Going through a set cycle is an awesome access point for self observation.

Practice today, felt good, though I was a bit tired. Lately, maintaining the drishte has really started to deepen. I'm getting a sense of how not only do we move the energy or prana internally through the bandhas but also through the gaze with intent and focus, especially during vinyasa. It's all connected.

Tonight is my liver/gallbladder flush session. Yes, I'm doing another one - it's all about maintenance. The seasons seem to be shifting in Stockholm. It's already feeling like Fall. A bit early for my taste. Blah.There is no better time to do a cleanse than during the change of seasons. Our bodies naturally crave this. One reason why people often get sick during season shifts. I've quoted it many times before but the book I follow for the cleanse is The Liver and Gallbladder Miracle Cleanse: An All-Natural, At-Home Flush to Purify and Rejuvenate Your Body, by Andreas Moritz, who has an informative website and blog, by the way. Check it out. He's on facebook too and really says some interesting things.

This week I was alerted to the fact Tim Miller started a blog. For those of you who may not know, I'm a huge fan of Timiji. There is so much embedded within him after over 30 years of continuous practice. He's a gem to all practicing Ashtanga yoga. A true gem. I was a bit confused because it seems he has two blogs. One where he talks of personal accounts and another that is more informational in nature. Either way, I'm loving that he's putting himself out there so candidly, and sincerely. Below are the links. I especially like his post describing what he was going through internally following Guruji's passing.

Tim Miller blog
"Dust" - By Tim Miller

I extracted the following poem from Tim's second blog, as well. I couldn't help it. One thing I remember about his workshops is that he always had the most perfect reading excerpts to share with the group. This is no exception.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend! Enjoy.

The Feast of the Epiphany

Peace Be unto Thee,  Stranger

Peace be unto thee,  stranger,  enter and be not afraid.

I have left the gate open and thou art welcome to my home.

There is room in my house for all.

I have swept the hearth and lighted the fire.

The room is warm and cheerful and you will find comfort and rest within.

The table is laid and the fruits of Life are spread before thee.

The wine is here also, it sparkles in the light.

I have set a chair for you where the sunbeams dance through the shade.

Sit and rest and refresh your soul.

Eat of the fruit and drink of the wine.

All, all is yours, and you are welcome.

  -Ernest Holmes

photo via

The Ashtanga Method

"Yoga is a scientifically based technology that gives us certain techniques
by which we can awaken or uncover our inherent spirituality. The idea is
that we are inherently spiritual but that there are perceptual blocks to
our realization of that. I look at yoga as a way of removing the obstacles
to a perception of our true essence.

It’s what Patanjali talks about in The Yoga Sutras: yoga, chitta vritti
nirodhah—yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of consciousness.
When that happens then: Tada drashthu svarupe avasthanam—then the
true nature of the seer, the inner being is revealed. So yoga is all about
techniques for removing the blocks to our true perception of ourselves.
It’s a scientific method for the realization of the fact that we are spiritual
beings. In that sense it’s obviously a spiritual practice."

"For me it’s been a long process of recognizing the value of the yamas
and the niyamas, the process of making yoga real in my life, how it affects
my relationships with other people, my relationship with myself.
You’re only on the mat for, at best, a couple of hours a day. What are you
doing the rest of the time? You can’t practice yoga for two hours and then
go out and act like a jerk the rest of the time. I mean, I suppose you
could and people do, but I can’t see the point in that. Ultimately, one
needs to—especially if one’s a teacher—one needs to set some sort of
example."

(Tim Miller)

(Extracted from, Guruji: A Portrait of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois Through the Eyes of His Students, by Guy Donahaye, Eddie Stern)

Much Love

Morning is when I am awake and there is a dawn in me... We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability to man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor. It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium though which we look...To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts.

~Thoreau, Walden


I got so much Love for Tim Miller who made his annual trip to Columbus. My picture came out blurry... :( But , I thought I'd post it anyway. He's truly one of my favorites...

Ready, Set...Go!

Its been a long time since I have posted...for one reason only...I was paralyzed. Not in the physical sense of course...in a deeper sense. Just, to update...during Tim Miller's fabulous workshop I had quite a few valuables stolen from my purse (cellphone, digital camera, iPod, LV clutch...and some damn good lip gloss!)...but the most valuable thing taken was my passport and visa...for my trip to India! I would of traded in more just to have that back at the time. So, after this happened I was seriously in shock, and dismay...what am I gonna do? I felt hopeless...! But that inner voice was like...your gonna make that trip...no matter what!
So...of course after this all happened I had to find the meaning behind it. I know...sounds pretty annoying...huh? But, so many things ran through my head...is this a bad omen? What's the lesson? Did I karmicly shit on someone? (I stole that from AY). However, it doesn't have to be that complicated...maybe the lesson is just that...Don't leave your purse unattended!!!! That's a good lesson. But truthfully a couple days before the event I was experiencing alot of doubt about myself...and my journey...and I felt very alone...scared even. I had no idea...no inkling of the flood of love and support that was to follow...even now I am in awe by it. It was almost like the universe was showing me...no,no...you are supported, and loved...and your never ever alone. It doesn't have to be that way...
So, in perfect Laruga fashion...I just barely made it...by the skin of my teeth! My passport and visa had to be hand delivered to me at my layover in NYC. Talk about a nail bitter to the very end. Seriously, when I got on my plane in Columbus...I'm sitting back thinking okay! I'm off! Until, I hear the pilot say..."I can't get it to work!" That is something you never want to hear before your getting ready to take of for the blue skies! So, we had to wait for the mechanics to install a part for the pilot's control panel. I'm just sitting there thinking...I gotta make my check point to meet the courier who has my passport between 8:30-9:00am. Of course, I make it to JFK international late! But, not to worry...the courier was kind enough to wait (he better for $200)...It almost felt like some kind of drug deal...anyway...the courier was super nice and he was kind enough to help me make my connection. Bonus!
Right now I am utterly exhausted from the 12 hour flight from NYC to Dubai...for I barely slept a wink...and I think I watched 5 movies straight. Yes! I started with Little Miss Sunshine, then Dream Girls, following The Queen, The Departed, The Holiday, and The Pursuit of Happiness. Omg! That's six!
Just as a side note...Emirates Airlines is first class all the way! The best airline I have ever flown...and their flight attendants don't walk...they glide! Its too much! So I am patiently waiting to make my connection to Bangalore, India...with little or no sleep.
I am stepping into the unknown...and I can't think of anywhere else I would rather be!!! Peace!