Wholistic Fitness

“Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly…”
– John Cage

Coach nearing “Lift Off” in Natrajasasana, the Cosmic Dancer Pose, captured by world famous Marc Romanelli taken near one of my favorite rock climbing areas when i lived in the New Mexico towns of Santa Fe, Teseque, and Pojoaque.

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“Reflect on this: The realization of impermanence is paradoxically the only thing we can hold on to, perhaps our only lasting possession. It is like the sky, or the earth. No matter how much everything around us may change or collapse, they endure.

Say we go through a shattering emotional crisis . . . our whole life seems to be disintegrating . . . our husband or wife suddenly leaves us without warning. The earth is still there; the sky is still there. Of course, even the earth trembles now and again, just to remind us that we cannot take anything for granted. . . .”
-Soygal Rinpoche

When i was doing extreme winter mountaineering and technical ice climbing, the notion of my impermanence was as heavy upon my soul as was my backpack upon my back. Through the Study of Wholistic Fitness® i strengthened my back to carry the heaviest of backpacks with agility and might, and – what is more – i learned how to jettison the emotional baggage of worrying about “hanging onto” things that simply cannot be hung onto; life, houses, cars, money, other people, pets, etc. Thus, “Relaxing into Intensity” began to take shape as a vital WF Training Principle.

One reason why i created HP Yoga® techniques such as the “Hold and Hover” Technique, is to impart upon the nerves a willpower that retrains the neural fabric to “soften” while under physical duress. This is absolutely huge, since the more advanced yogic practices which condition our subtle anatomy – think here of Mula Bandha – begin as mere physical locks, then transform into psychic + physical, before maturing eventually into purely energetic seals which provide the combustion power in the energy of Enlightenment. It’s all Trainable…we just have to…
well,
find a wise Teacher
and
PRACTICE!

“There is only one great adventure and that is inwards toward the self.”
– Henry Miller

May your Practice be strong and sincere today,

coach ilg

PHOTOS by world-famous photographer Marc Romanelli. These shots were taken near one of my favorite rock climbing areas when i lived in the New Mexico towns of Santa Fe, Teseque, and Pojoaque. As a DL Subscriber, you will see many more of Marc’s amazing photos capturing the spirit of WF, baby!