Starbucks
Bernalillo, New Mexico –
predawn humidity seeps from luscious overlays of clouds. a peloton of 50+ Canadian Geese take graceful flight from the sandy banks of the turbid Rio Grande. i feel pulled to extract the mystic beauty of my h(om)eland in Direct Lines straight into you like a Padmasambhava shot Dharma arrow. If each state in Turtle Island had their own Theme Music, certainly Baroque Classic would be integrated as New Mexico’s. The rising crescendo of space and sky vivid with indescribable hues which change into riffs of weather induced playfulness superimposed with ancient cultural flows with a quixotic interdance of the massiveness of her natural world.
spent quality time with my biologic family yesterday for Easter. i look upon my little niece and nephew with a new perspective as i played my eyes again and again upon my Beloved Ananda’s swollen belly among the fading fibers of a(nother) spectacularly beautiful sunset. the sounds of little ones, the rush of bosque wind rustling blooming elms. the gurgle of the nearby acequia madre slips into my ears as i watch my brother’s rooster make his herky jerky way through the backyard pen.
New Mexico.
The Land of Enchantment.
The Land of Entrapment, more like it.
i am vulnerable, in a willing way, to her subtle mystique. i love her.
yesterday, after precious time spent with my mother and father, hearing and feeling those latent conditionings within their Word Choices and mannerisms that have impacted me so.
how indelible are the actions, thoughts, and teachings of our parents!
Ananda napped, then awoke as i prepared to go the gym as part of my walking of my talk of the WF Principle of “Earned Sustenance.” This Principle teaches us to anticipate the Gift of incoming food (and Calories!) and make DAMN SURE you DESERVE that food and those calories by EARNING IT through sweat and applied spirit.
To my surprise, Ananda saw me preparing to hit the Iron and said,
“I wanna go.”
WARRIORESS UP!
She With Swollen Belly arose from her midday slumber and was near my side as i took off for my old gym where once i began the Yoga Program years and years ago. A program that now serves the Dharma to thousands each year.
Ripples make waves.
At the Iron Temple i cranked off a version of the EEEG-GAD Workout as Ananda put in 30 minutes on the Elliptical. Then she had the Chi hit her again as she merged into a full body strength workout using light weights yet receiving the immeasurable impact of the Metal Element.
Meanwhile, i met Shawn. He interrupted my comparatively manic flow and focus in the gym to ask me,
“Dude, i couldn’t help but notice your abs beneath your shirt! Damn, you are ripped! How do you get your abs so big and cut?”
i looked into his eyes. must have been a good 20 years my junior.
“Well,” i began, “i am a Yoga teacher…”
“Oh,” those young eyes lit up, “Yoga…a lot of core work, eh?”
“Yeah, a lot of core work. Also, i am an endurance athlete…”
“Oh,” he interrupted again, “an endurance athlete!”
“Yeah, and i also do a lot of different outdoor sports which constantly force stresses upon different angles of my midsection so that…”
“Oh,” again the interruption, “outdoor sports!…yeah dude, i do a lot of sports too but i just can’t seem to get rid of this thick skin or get my abs as big as yours…”
my young fellow warrior droned on. unwilling to hear my Dharma yet enthralled by the pull of possibilities within his spirit.
i showed him my “Go To Abdominal Triset”. As i left my former Iron Temple home, i saw Shawn in a corner of the Temple, Medicine Ball plugged between his thighs as i Taught him, cranking off Medicine Ball Twist Crunches. i pointed him out to Ananda, smiling.
Ripples make waves.
a transition at home as my parents and Ananda drove to my little brother’s casa for Easter Dinner among the pea green willows of the Rio Grande bosque.
i rode my bike, cranking the the 12 mile country route through Coralles and into the bosque along the back roads of New Mexico i love so. i sunk deep into my aero position on the relatively empty roads, thankful for all my HP Yoga Practice which makes this ‘uncomfortable’ position comfortable. at a sleek speed of 21 mph, the orchards whizzed by as fading sunlight pierced towers of luminous clouds swirling and tickling the jagged peaks of the Sandias.
as i sat at the table of our feast, my eyes fell upon three generations of ilgs. i looked with heart opening love at my Swollen Belly Ananda at my side. i looked at her, felt Sister Wind upon my skin, heard the sounds of this Land of Entrapment. i folded my hands to pray my thanks and bowed my head for a Moment of Gratitude before eating, which is the first rule of WF Nutrition; Appreciate Thy Food; It Is Sacred.
as i lifted my head from Prayer, it was my little niece Ella whose voice i heard whispering to my mother,
“Nana, what is Uncle Steve doing?”
“Oh, he is giving thanks for his food.”
“Thanks for his food?” she asked.
“Yes, he is praying.”
“Praying!” she repeated, smiling so utterly preciously. “I want to pray too!” she said, bowing her head and folding her tiny hands to the bounty before her.
Ripples make waves.
May your Practice be strong and radiant and may the Principles and Noble Practices of this Path radiate to All Beings Everywhere.
off to Window Rock, the capital of the Navajo Nation…but first, one more road ride through the ancient pueblos of the Rio Grande…
om so ti,
the mountain yogi
These teachings are the "Rasas" or "sap" of Wholistic Fitness. You’ll find insights to ponder, student chi to keep your own chi topped off, and plenty of proven training techniques to test on your own body, mind, and spirit! Also, you’ll find my very popular Race Reports, and news of our Sangha’s (community’s) latest transpersonal fitness adventures!