Wholistic Fitness

My precious shishya EYT shown here awash in San Juan wildflowers during our run/hike ascent of Engineer Peak last week.  EYT (Elizabeth) is from England, and is taking Pilgrimage to Turtle Island from Germany.  Within m(om)ents, EYT has charmed the Kundala off all us local WF/HP warriors with her inner radiance, fetching accent, and absolute fierceness of chi!  Below, i asked EYT 7 Questions about her Pilgrimage here to the h(om)eland of WF in honor of the 7 Realms…enjoy!

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7 questions in honor of the 7 Realms to Wandering Yogini, WF Shishya EYT…

1) Hell Realm Question:   you’ve experienced several workouts now with Coach after traveling from Germany to San Francisco via London in a hippie van across the Southwest…what’s been your most Hellish Experience here on Turtle Island thus far?

Well, maybe a scary half hour with an uncooperative sat nav in darkest Barstow, CA and maybe five minutes into HP Prop on Wednesday…

Seriously, No Thing hellish at all. All of that had been and gone long before i arrived at WF.

I have learnt so far in my journey that there is no hell Out There – only hell within. I believe that when Hell arises, in the form of fear, anxiety, stress, boredom, negativity, limiting thoughts, etc., that they are presenting me with an opportunity to walk through their gates, use my tools and strengthen my practice to go higher.

On a ‘good’ day, i can attempt to scale the perimeters of their walls…however, there is still So Much Work to be done.

“Wholistic Fitness to me is about improving my conscious contact with God.” – Shishya EYT      EYT, Coach, and Dewa take a m(om)ent outside “Fun Boy”…EYT’s Dharma bus….pic by Ananda.

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2) Hungry Ghost Realm Question:  i’ve noticed…no, have been KNOCKED TO MY KNEES….by your seemingly invincible ‘pluck’ while studying under me through quite steep ‘terrain’…let me ask Thee:  what ARE you craving most?  what brought you to and keeps you in this Tribe?

Craving? Craving?! This yogini craves nothing, coach! Lol!

Wholistic Fitness to me is about improving my conscious contact with God.

WF first came to my attention ‘by accident’ after finding your book, The Winter Athlete, at a friend’s house more than five years ago. The concept of physical fitness as a Spiritual journey resonated so strongly with me – it was exactly what i had been seeking for such long time!

I had practised Vipassana meditation previously and experienced its benefits yet found it too orthodox to completely fit in with my western lifestyle. I had also had inconsistent periods of rowing, gym and running, though found that without a deeper meaning, exercise seemed rather vacant.

Since beginning WF online studies last year, life has radically changed. With Practice came physical, mental and spiritual strength.

My physical appearance has changed as my body developed muscles, became leaner and more flexible. This, though, is just an outward manifestation of the huge inner shifts which have taken place.

With Practise came also Truths and the starting of the disintegration of ancient and out dated thought patterns and beliefs.

With every workout, as i battle against egoic desires, each yoga, meditation, iron temple and cardio session is an opportunity to see clearly more of Who ‘i’ Really Am. For me, it is also a way to thank the Great Spirit for my life.

Today, eyt is stronger in many ways than she ever believed possible. And this only the very beginning.

3) Plant/Mineral Realm Question:  we’ve spent some celestial m(om)ents together in my Durango cathedral…what has struck your heart most about what you’ve drawn, received, been empowered by the land which gave birth to WF?

I have travelled to places in Asia, Africa and Europe and haven’t  felt such a deep (re)connection with a place and with the ancients as i do here. It feels as though my heart has been resuscitated since i arrived here.
Spending time amongst these ancient mountains, trees and rivers, i feel embraced by her energetic flow, rejuvenated by the heat of the sun and cleansed by the rains. I just love it!

4) Animal Realm Question:  during your ascent of Engineer Peak (12,790′) Raven Sister was soaring about you, casting an auric protective envelope up the dangerous peak which has killed many in all seasons….please share with us your perspective on the sonata of yourself with Animal Beings in your life…

Animal Beings are a huge part of my journey. I find their presence highly symbolic in terms of messages from the Divine and their emittance of energy reconnects me to Mother Earth. They also present to me an opportunity to express my own female nurturing energy.

Since beginning online studies, there has been a consistent presence of Bird beings in my life: Magpie Sister has been a consistent presence during the last eight months, appearing, i believe to reMind me that i am on healing and mystical path.

On a hike in Durango, we were joined throughout by Eagle (spirit, vision and strength) and once at the top of the mountain, four eagles circled overhead. I had another one of the Awe-some mOments…

[Eagle’s medicine includes swiftness, strength, courage, wisdom, keen sight, illumination of Spirit, healing, creation, knowledge of magic, ability to see hidden spiritual truths, rising above the material to see the spiritual, ability to see the overall pattern/big picture, connection to spirit guides and teachers and higher truths, great power and balance, dignity with grace, intuitive and creative spirit, respect for the boundaries of the regions, grace achieved through knowledge and hard work.]

“Walk with me…oh, and welcome to Durango singletrack!”  EYT enjoying singletrack dharma on the in-town trail system of Horse Gulch…pic by coach

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5) Human Realm Question:  you’ve mountain biked with me,  took my Mixed Flow and PROP WORKOUT HP Yoga™ classes with me,  we’ve run up a high San Juan Peak together, you’ve met my Clan, my Sangha, my Beloved H(om)eland….we’ve even done Toilet Yoga together for Lord Vishnu’s sake!   so,  tell me;  what is your Human Incarnation “Take-Away Moment” from our first few days together?

‘When in doubt, go Higher’  engineer peak, 23 august 2011

6) Semi-God Realm:  you were a fine and upstanding WF Online Student, you’ve studied my SanghaLounge and Teaching Archives equal to any of my Master Students…what is it etherically speaking that has drawn you toward WF in such a bold manner that you have taken such an extensive (and expensive) pilgrimage to Turtle Island?

What’s so bold about selling all your furniture, quitting your job, leaving your precious Animal Beings, getting divorced and flying to the other side of the world?

Reading that, it looks quite radical!  However, it hasn’t felt like that. At all. Not once. There has been a constant sense of inner knowing that this is right. i am ready to Move Higher.

Truly, i have not experienced one moment of doubt about any of that. There have been just too many God Shots to mention, everything has flowed so perfectly to get me here.  /\

“All i do know is that when the student is ready, the teacher appears.
eyt has been blessed to have The Path been laid before her feet, her eyes opened and her soul, of it’s own accord, began to walk. And once that happens, well, you better just buckle up and say ‘yeah baby!’ ;-)”    EYT dancing up the arete of Engineer Peak. pic by coach

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7) God-Realm:  you’ve overcome addictions, you’ve overcome many inner fears and resistances in your life…offer our Tribe of Warriors Toward Wholeness your TAF’s on becoming Go(o)d…on becoming Enlightened…

‘i’ have absolutely no idea.

All i do know is that when the student is ready, the teacher appears.

eyt has been blessed to have The Path been laid before her feet, her eyes opened and her soul, of it’s own accord, began to walk.

And once that happens, well, you better just buckle up and say ‘yeah baby!’ 😉

head bowed in deepest gratitude

eyt