Wholistic Fitness

Steve,

I read your entire book and thoroughly enjoyed it.� I am starting the Green Tara and had a question for you.� I had previously been doing Pilates (mat work only, not machines) and wondered if there was any place for Pilates in your workout.� Does the Strength and Yoga training basically replace Pilates?� Do you think there is any merit in incorporating any of this work?� Thank you.

Norma

Dear Noble Fitness Warrioress Norma –

Thank you for your kind words and go(o)d luck on Green Tara! There is simply nothing like WF!

These days we can obviously see magazines like Yoga Journal nudging their slow acceptance toward strength training and cardio but seem confused by the high intensity required of such training.

Then we see magazines like Outside and Triathlete moving with cow slow speed toward integrating yoga into sport performance training.

Perhaps we will even see spiritual magazines like Tricycle, start embracing fitness training. Myself, my staff of Online WF Teachers, and seasoned WF Warrior Students like Bryan Hantman are dying to know why the hell monks don�t squat! Why limit meditation to a fluffy cushion? How about a barbell across your back?

Since 1983, WF has been way out in front of the body/mind fitness pack. One day perhaps, the masses will eventually trace their way back to the transpersonal roots of Western fitness to our humble Temple. Until then, you and i and our worldwide WF sangha just keep doing what we�ve always done; enjoy our Practices and wonder when the others will Awaken!

Yes, Pilates is fantastic and can be fruitfully interwoven into the Green Tara. You may wish to consider Online Training with us in order to maximize your results.

Yes, my intgegration of HP Yoga + Strength Training will surely outperform – particularly over the long term – a Pilates specific fitness program. No question.

However, the overriding attribute of Pilates is the precontraction of the midsection, a Western attempt, sophomoric as it is, to arrive near the yogic science of Mula Bandha, Ashwini Mudra, and of course, Uddiyana Banda.

Long ago, in the mid eighties, I used to teach Pilates in Beverly Hills under my great, late mentor, Stephan Frease (see DIRECT LINES archive, July, 2002). Believe it or not, there were only 3 Pilates Studios in America at the time. I helped make the third Pilates studio in Boulder, Colorado at Farentinos Gym. I was required to study under Stephan personally for two years before solo teaching.

Now, weekend Pilates certifications and with Pilates studios outnumbering Starbucks, i still remain encouraged, though pensively so, at what Pilates has become. Quick i am to say; as long as the teachers are getting people to safely move and breathe in their bodies and use their minds to explore the inherent joy of breath and movement, i am all for it.

But no, Pilates nor any other singular exercise, including Hatha Yoga, can not even come close to the common sense of WF. One must integrate ALL components of physiologic fitness; strength, cardio, kinesthesia, meditation, and nutrition in order to be truly �fit.� What is more, without proven Lifestyle Principles which draw the fitness disciplines into one�s day to day occupation and actions, then fitness is not truly �personal fitness.�

Enjoy Green Tara.

Keep reading Direct Lines.

Get on the herbs.

Don�t try to fit �fitness into� your life.

Allow your life to be your fitness.

I bow to you, my newest shishya. May all your workouts point within.

namaste,

coach ilg

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NOTE:; the DVD covers are in and my HIGH PERFORMANCE YOGA; Basic Strength DVD is now ready for your order! Go to the Tribal Catalog at either

www.WholisticFitness.com

or

www.HighPeformanceYoga.com

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