Wholistic Fitness

i pose with Andrew “Mountain Bantu” Frost…recipient of my 2008 Most Improved Yogi Award and sponsored athlete courtesy of a handful of WF Warriors who stepped up to provide Online Study for Andrew’s upcoming ascent of the perilous “Denali Diamond.” Andrew will be sharing his WF Journey with us as he trains and prepares for this epic dance up a most difficult route. Below, he writes to me of his thanks and i respond. A PDF of the “Denali Diamond” is also found below. You want inspiration to get out there and get it done? Well, stay tuned to the WF SanghaLounge where you can share Andrews Journey beginning now and through the ascent!

***
Steve,
What an unexpected honor, Thursday night. Thank you for thinking of
me and for honoring my practice. I’ll try to reciprocate with
continued mindfulness and breath throughout the next phase of our
relationship. I’m stoked to be working with you and looking forward
to putting together a plan to get my heart, head, and body ready for
the Diamond. A wholistic approach is truly the only way to honestly
and appropriately prepare for such a mountain and such a route. I’ve
attached the American Alpine Journal article from the first ascent, made by my friend and mentor, Bryan Becker…. There’s also a fantastic Washburn photo of
the route.

Would it be all right with you if I sent a letter to those generous
members of your ‘tribe’ who facilitated my 5 month scholarship? Truly
humbled by their gift.

What’s the next step, by the way?

Bowed,

Mountain Bantu
Know the flowers, stick together, travel light.

84_becker_denali_aaj1984.pdf

COACH RESPONDS:

Most Noble Andrew “Bantu” Frost!

welcome to my humble Services of Online Training, consultation, and spiritual support
provided to you by several members of the WF Online Sangha.

you may now forward any or all training plans, questions, and communique to the
“ilg astral base camp” as you continue to prepare for the Denali Diamond.

the only ‘condition’ regarding your Sponsorship is to provide authorization to use
your comments, photos, and updates for use to inspire the WF Sangha.

you are to report to me, regardless of my input or lack thereof, each Wednesday and Sunday,
on your Practices; noting in particular any unique feelings or thoughts of training effect. also,
you are to incorporate a daily pit stop, when possible, to DIRECT LINES, my Subscription Blog,
and once per week take a few moments to peruse the DL Archives, and visit the WF SanghaLounge.
it would be great honor for you to introduce yourself in the SanghaLounge and even better
to stop by occasionally and provide your unique and elite insights and feelings in the various “Caves”.
Most importantly, i want you to HAVE FUN with your Sponsorship!

the handful of Warriors who sponsored you are trained in humility, and wish not to have their
names released. however, they will be reading DL each day and visiting the SanghaLounge. they
look forward to your accounts. i’m thinking i’ll create an “Andrew’s Ascent” Cave in the SanghaLounge
where you can, if you so wish, log your WF thoughts and feelings (TAF, in WF lingo).

***

your first Assignments are to begin the Practices as outlined on your EMR DVD
and to read/study Parts 1 and 2 of THE WINTER ATHLETE.

Temple Manager Ananda (Joy);
please welcome Most Noble Mountain Yogi Bantu to our Online Path and set him up
with a DL Subscription to last through May, 2009.

you are now a part of a Path that has helped thousands of ‘ Ascensionists’ reach ongoing
new heights in their personal summits as well as many notable professional mountaineers
reach the highest and most difficult summits on Mother Earth…

i am deeply honored to take station in your astral base camp,
binoculars in hand,
ready and stoked to watch you bag that beautiful line…
and most importantly, use your training and adventure for
causes of eventual Enlightenment.

Om So Ti,

coach steve ilg
founder/wholisticfitness.com