one day, i’m writing another book; The Healing Energies of Singletrack…
whatever ails thee, a go(o)d dose of singletrack, taken consistently and without iPods, will heal.
i promise…from over 3 decades of direct experience. don’t complicate healing. just get out, breathe, and be.
whenever i get feeling like i want to blow off difficulty; be it holding a yoga pose, holding a wheel in front of me during cycling, holding my tongue during a difficult relationship moment, holding the choice between entertainment and inner-attainment? you know what what i force myself to consider?
I can’t say that “i’ve always dreamed of skiing with a daughter on winter afternoons in my hometown..” However, ilg’s gotta admit; this works too. I’ve lived in Durango most of my life…yet, sometimes, in mOMents like this one? i gotta pinch myself to see if i’ve not already ascended to some Heavenly Realm of the Buddha…i swear, in Durango the rivers, creeks, trees, snow, and birds all seem to me to sing the Dharma in the most seductive of ways…
Then came that Day when my Anahata Chakra opened…
Evening to be precise.
Brahmamuhurti (Yogic hour of God…sunset or sunrise) to be even more accurate. during those years i was the manager of the Center For Self Healing in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Santa Fe is a world-renown spiritual vortex which speeds up whatever Inner Work you may need to accomplish. ilg was at that time a pranic drunk; etherically gorging myself each day from the chronic smorgasbord of delectable world-class spiritual appetizers for which Fanta-Se was known. you name it? ilg was there; Rolfing, Yoga, Kundalini, Re-birthing, Astral Navigation, Zen Sessins, Tibetan energywork, Buddhist chanting, Feldenkrais, Cranio-Sacral, Past Life, Tarot, Sufi Dancing, Men’s Tribal Drumming…whatever it was? SIGN ME UP, baby!
“The only thing we really have is nowness, is now…” “The most effective ski wax i know is Mantra sync’d up with Elbow Grease…” – Coach Ilg breaks out the Wooden Planks for today’s “Wooden Ski Classic” at Vallecito Nordic Area… “I’ll be channeling Snowshoe Thompson for today’s race!”
“It takes the utmost seriousness of intent to realize Self. I guess that’s why they call it mastery. Allow the energy in the hips to flow down through the legs and out the feet. The grounding is necessary for openings in other parts of the system. Or, just in this moment, you could fully drop into the heart and face death. What kind of fears does that bring up??? This is really serious stuff!!!! I bow to you in your intent. This would not be happening if the time was not ripe. Where does your fruit lie???”
Snowshoes on my back (5)
Skis beneath my slip-slide feet (7)
Mind surfs sky-like snow! (5)
– coach ilg
after today’s ski training up La Plata Canyon, 1*29*11
photo essay of 15 incredible Colorado mountain shots…
look closely at my skis and you’ll see a snot-soaked, Blessed Mala-swinging, levitating mOMent from last years’ Mt. Taylor Winter Quadrathlon which i attempt to defend in the Mixed Pairs category next month. Below, i counsel our Tribe’s most recent receiver of WF Blessed Training Mala and tell all current WF Blessed Mala yogi’s when my next Mala re-Empowerment Ritual will take place…
Most teachings are for Wholistic Fitness Members only. Some are complimentary.
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!
You have access to thousands of posts going all the way back to 2002. The Archives makes for ideal Svadhyaya, and if you don’t know what that important term means ... all the more reason to dive into these amazing WF Scriptural Recordings!
Checking out one or two archived teachings every day or so is an AMAZINGLY EFFECTIVE way to stay connected with your Tribe AND maintain consistency and motivation in what matters most: your own practice.
Note: We'll be fixing broken image links, and cleaning up the categorization of archived posts, over time.
Photo of Coach and daughter Dewachen, living the Path (upside down!) by www.jamesqmartin.com
