Wholistic Fitness

A private student experiencing genuine hip opening under the lovingly fierce feet of coach ilg in the WF Temple Zendo. photo by Ananda

STUDENT:
Dear Coach,
In the process of pairing down various aspects of my life, I’m jettisoning my endurance-centric focus and am going back to the basics: breath, posture and more specifically, my hips.

COACH:
the Way Higher (upper chakral fields) leads through the Hips (lower chakral fields).
glad to hear that your Journey of Awakening through WF is making it clear that your Next Step Higher is a dive deeper into your Hips. Many warriors shy away from this formidable headwall along the Steep and Direct Path of Transformation.

STUDENT:
Apparently, my lack of hip flexibility is what is holding me back from various inversions and hand/head balancing asanas in yoga. It is also a major challenge in my return to martial arts (more on that later).

COACH:
get ready for Anger, Pain, Sadness, and Attachment issues to be danced with, honored, and conquered as you commit to your opening of thy hips.

STUDENT:
What I want to do is focus my energies on improving my hip flexibility over the next two years with a very intensive jump start from 9/1-9/30.

COACH:
Young Warrior,
i have Taught you; No Spikes On The Graph.
do not repeat the your Pattern of “very intensive jump starts” which soon deflate in the face of daily life. integrate your hip opening efforts wisely within the context of your Sadhana which should still be pivotally centered on your
current “Code Red Sadhana”; namely your EMR (Early Morning Ritual)…including alternating TY, Rock Vinyasa, Medium Form, and Hallway Yoga. each of which requires only minutes.

you will then need to set aside two Solo Sessions/week to attack the hips like never before through Asana.

i will help Guide you here.

STUDENT:
Where I would appreciate your counsel:

1) What should I focus on during the month of September?

COACH:
September; nail consistency with EMR/Code Red Sadhana as described above with only ONE Solo Session with your hips…you’ll need to write me immediately after these Solo Hip Sessions for me to adjust the asana sequence…in time i will provide a Personal Mudra for you to use to break through the psychospiritual tensions in your hips. You must furnish the Trust and Sweat and Perseverance. This is the Way of the Ancients; Teacher/Student. This is the Way that is has all-Ways been on the true tracking toward Enlightenment.

STUDENT:
2) What litmus test(s) (asanas?) should I use to measure the openness of my hips?

COACH:
do not “measure” anything.
commit to the Sadhana; and observe and enjoy.
appreciate the fact that you will NEVER travel this Terrain again as you make steady progress!

head bowed,
ec