Wholistic Fitness

OF STRENGTH TRAINING WARRIORS, YOGI SISSIES, and OTHER DHARMATALK…

NAMASTE NOBLE WARRIORS!

Through my Wholistic Fitness method, i helped steer the blending of powerful gym fitness with the spiritually saturated expansion qualities of yoga nearly 20 years ago. These days, it is pleasing to me that finally, finally, finally there are so many brave gym warriors willing to humble themselves in yoga classes. They are willing to do sometimes humiliating work of breaking down their muscles to transcend those restrictions into something far more beautiful and powerful! They realize that strength without flexibility is nothing but restriction.

But why the hell aren�t those hypermobile, chicken-legged yogis streaming into gyms? How come they are not taking their cherished Practice beneath a damn Squat Bar? Are their Full Lotus joints a bit TOO stretched from too much yoga? Is their peaceful countenance a bit intimated and threatened by a simple Pull Up Bar and the sweaty vapors of the gym in lieu of Nag Champa incense filling pretty hardwood studios? Certainly if holding Sirsasana (Headstand) for several minutes is within their repertoire, a few sets of Staccato Technique Jump Squats should not shake their fearlessness?

If i were only a yoga teacher, i�d feel a bit ashamed by now if i myself wasn�t in the gym, pumping out Dips, Side Laterals, and Leg Presses! I say it�s about time for all those yoga teachers and students who talk all high and mighty about body/mind fitness to face the dragon of a heavy Squat Bar or 5 sets of 1:00 Jump Squats with a 1:00 Recovery Interval! I�ve definitely merged with the Atman during those workouts! So, High Performance Yogi�s UNITE! Invite your friendly Yoga teacher to your next WF leg workout…let me know how their Practice looks in the IRON TEMPLE!

Coming Up in my next DIRECT LINES….3 Wholistic Fitness Strength Training Meditations.

Don�t Miss It…now here are some updates…

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Congratulations to my old New Mexico bicycle racing partner, Mike Longmire in winning the Montana Master’s State Crit! You can see pics of me and Mike doing a little Ilgonian style off season snowshoe training in my book, THE WINTER ATHLETE. Mike is one of the kindest, most compassionate, and easy going guys i�ve ever had the honor to know. Until he gets on a damn bike! Ooooooh boy he and i used to beat up on each other in our training sessions! You go on with your bad self, ML!!!!

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my West LA yoga teaching schedule can be found at:

http://www.MarkBlanchardsPowerYoga.com/schedule.html

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�My HP yoga video is my salvation.�

WF Student Mikel, Ventura, CA

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Welcome new formal online WF Student,

David F. Yahner

Pleasantville, New York

David will be taking training under Teacher Sheader. Good luck, David!

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i started on SUNRIDER products a few months back and i love them and can really feel them working. cool stuff.

Todd, OR

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steve llg is the best and glad i am riding long with the best

joyce sheers, PA

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First, let me start by saying that I really dig Direct Lines. It

works well–perhaps better than e-mail.

WF Student Hantman,

Washington DC

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Some Questions & Answers From This Past Week:

Dear Coach –

Thank you for the great yoga class last night! I�ve noticed there seems to be a number of translations for Namaste. I like this one:

Namaste:

I honor that place in you where the whole Universe resides. And when

I am in that place in me and you are in that place in you, there is

only one of us.

– Student Jim Brown, LA

Student Jim –

yes, like the vastness and paradoxical nature of the major Eastern spiritual traditions, the interpretations of ‘Namaste’ are many.

Jim:Next Monday is Labor day Will there be your class?

Coach: No, i will be back in New Mexico and Colorado, recharging my Mountain Yogi batteries and working on my book. However, the beautiful Trina will be teaching a HP Yoga Class at 9:30 – 10:30 am class on Labor Day. Please come! Bring a friend! Also My tuesday and thursday 6:00 pm classes in West LA will be substituted on the following days:

Sept 3,5,10,12

and at PowerHouse Gym, my september 9 class will be substituted as well.

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Dear Coach –

AI IMAWA IS COOL, IT REMINDS ME OF MY KEMPO DAYS BUT ITS FAR MORE EFFECTIVE AND GENTLE. I’VE HAD SOME STRANGE MOOD SWINGS BUT THEY ARE LEVELING OFF. I’M DOING AI IMAWA AND DRINKING VITA SHAKE, CALLI TEA AND FORTUNE DELIGHT, COULD THIS BE WHAT IS CAUSING A 3 DAY LONG DULL HEADACHE.

– WF Warrior Todd, OR

Coach Ilg: possibly. well, probably. it is good a sign (cihna)…the herbs are clearing out residual, accumulated debris from the cell membranes. hang in there!

TODD: I LOVE THE DIRECT LINES DAILY MEDITATIONS, I HAVE A FEELING THIS IS GOING TO GO FAR FOR YOU.

Coach Ilg: i did not create this Work to take me far…but rather YOU! personally? i’d rather still be living in Durango, immersed in my beloved San Juan mountains, working part time at Pine Needle Mountaineering! i want YOU to in-joy the impact of this Path on your fitness and in your spirit! yeah baby!

TODD: I DONT KNOW YOU YET BUT I FEEL LIKE I’VE KNOWN YOU FOREVER.

Coach Ilg: you have. we are from the same spiritual tribe. we’ve been doing this type of fun stuff for lifetimes.

TODD: THANKS FOR BEING YOU,THERE & NOW. KEEP SHINEN THE LIGHT.

Coach Ilg: doing my best man, just like you!

in sweat and spirit

in focus and fun…

{my book, AI IMAWA; Postures and Practice of Inner Harmony is available at my online catalog at www.wholisticfitness.com}

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Dear Steve,

I was reading the part in the Winter Athlete where you tell a guy to get rid of the chairs in his house and then go on to relate your “climbing bum” days where you squatted all the time and what a difference it made in your flexibility and well being. This got me to thinking and as an experiment, I decided to add squatting to my Beeper Guru routine. Now when the alarm goes off each hour, in addition to taking a few deep breaths and checking my posture I spend a minute or more squatting by my desk. I can already feel a difference in my hamstrings and lower back.

Kevin Burnett, CA

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Dear Steve –

Monday night at class you talked about seeing somebody who is hunched over and saying they are your guru and straighten up. Yesterday I had to go to the mall and I saw a man with beautiful posture. His posture inspired me to straighten up. I was thrilled to see how fast your words manifested! I appreciate having you in my life and am very grateful for the spirit that you are and �who you are becoming!�

Much love,

Jim

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Coach Ilg,

I received all of my materials last week and am enjoying them thoroughly, especially the HP yoga video. Your ability to teach and inspire is a gift. Thanks for sharing!

HP Yoga & the winter athlete….my first impressions were WOW on the yoga and the book is going to take more attention than I’ve given it while reading 2 pages before bed! GREAT STUFF though. The first 3 runs through the yoga just cracked me up (laughing). To go from an innocent standing forward bend w/ toe hold to …..voila! standing w/ leg straight out & doing squats that way. It is amazing how quickly some things come to you though. And then there’s the hip stuff that seems like it’s going to take half a lifetime to accomplish.

Wendy Cooper

ProMotion Fitness

Indiana

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