Wholistic Fitness

TEACHER OF YOGA or MERELY A TEACHER OF ASANA? also; LAST WEEKEND’S DHARMA RIDE

“Rest in natural great peace
This exhausted mind
Beaten helpless by karma and neurotic thought,
Like the relentless fury of the pounding waves
In the infinite ocean of samsara.

Rest in natural great peace.”

– NYOSHUL KHEN RINPOCHE
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“A teacher of ‘yoga’ who does not do regular and intense cardio is no teacher of Yoga. They are a teacher of asana perhaps, not yoga. Yoga means “union.” One cannot be a yogin while pushing away the sweat and purushic frontiers within the kingdom of cardio (or strength training). Just because someone has become hypermobile doesn’t mean they have mastered anything except an addiction to asana. Without steadying mental forces over egoic excuses during everyday Cardio, the subtle anatomy – the chakras and nadis – cannot be wisely developed and are damaged. The Bardo will require much more than loose joints! I created Divine Action (High Performance) Yoga to embrace all other fitness disciplines, not push them away! If i am ‘tight’ in a particular yoga pose, great! That means my Edge is that much closer for me to explore! Doing asana while maintaining 7-20 hours of cardio per week is an HP Yoga realm that few are willing to travel, yet i say to you: Exploration of edges must never be limited to asana! Becoming addicted to asana perfection is just as damaging to the purusha (inner Soul) as is being an addict to alcohol or sex or entertainment, etc. Yoga means “All Inclusive.”

When i take a “yoga” class and the perky little hypermobile ‘teacher’ comes to adjust me deeper into a pose after i have just put in 3 hours on my bike, i have to tell her/him “No, i need to honor my edge, right now. thank you.” Just because someone is supple means nothing to a WF Yogin. A teacher of yoga should become symmetrical in their physique…and then, their physiologic fitness should become equally as symmetrical; strength, suppleness, cardio, mental, nutrition. That is Base One of Hatha Yoga; the Forceful Union of the Body/Mind.

Spiritual Growth requires wearing the full experience of being human. Specificity is a Low Chakra addiction. As a Divine Action Yogin, i want to see how strong is their suppleness under a heavy Squat Bar? how enduring is suppleness during multi hour cardio intensities?

One day, this country might just Awaken to their Indigenous form of Yoga that has been right under their ‘Yoga Journal’ noses all along: Wholistic Fitness is a Direct, Traditional Embrace of the Hatha Yogin.”
– Coach Ilg
founder/High Performance Yoga
photo of coach byLA Times. course record/Furnace Creek 508

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LAST WEEKEND’S DHARMA RIDE WITH COACH; Why WF Yogins Do Cardio! Listen To The Dharma!

“Great Vibe, Great Energy, Great Pain, Great Environment & Great Ride. All the key ingredients to feel satisfied for the days accomplishment and on the right track
toward success. Man I look way too heavy right now…
Today was for sure a tougher rider than last week. It was a honor to rider with Coach Ilg and Rick. Thanks guys for letting me tag along.
I also like to know more about the Sunrider herbs. I would like to give them a try.”
– Ming
photo of Ming (who we just met while pedaling along Ventura Blvd) by WayneWilliamsStudio.com

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coach and Rick Baza overlooking the famed, “Rock Store Climb” that they just cranked up. photo by WayneWilliamsStudio.com
“Coach,
It was an honor for me to ride with both you and Ming.� The climb up past the Rock Store brought back some great memories and the descent down Decker was breathtaking.

(you might recognize this place, “The Rock Store”…Jay Leno hangs out here on his motorcycle outings on weekends like this.)
I was yipping with joy down Decker Canyon! We’re so�lucky to have such�beautiful riding so close to us.� I was a hurt’n pup after I cracked on “7 Minute Hill” but I’m still smiling and I’ll be there tomorrow.
I was so inspired by today’s truly awesome ride that I’m going to rededicate myself to cycling and even plan to work in some yoga to get my back and body back where they need to be.� I will be in touch with WW to get started on the Sunrider products and look forward to getting dirty tomorrow!
Have a great afternoon Steve,
�
– Rick

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On Sunday, a gathered group of warriors showed up for the famed Reseda-To-The-Sea mountain bike route. A 30 mile sweat and spirit festival of pain and joy and what i consider yoga to be; a challenging nutrition of the Soul. Especially for Rick who was the only one beside myself to do the two days back to back.

Above L-R is Rick, Mike, Coach, Timari, and Ananda. Photo by Noble WF Warrior, Steve Mackel.

“Sunday’s mountain bike ride was really great as well…..totally different feel and I
really enjoyed the challenge and company. Thanks for enviting me out Steve, I look forward to next weekends surprise ride.

Let’s talk soon when you have a break about getting started with Sunrider.
Thanks again to Wayne for the cool pics on Saturday.”

Rick