Yogi Squat Of The Week, plus; Just Another Durango Vibe...

do your Chi a favor; click on each to enlarge...

Yogi Squat of the Week goes to...Dewachen Ilg, who turns 3 this September 11th.

oh, like you're even gonna TRY to throw down a Yogi Squat comp with Dewa?
i think not...your patella's would just shoot straight out through your skin if you tried sinking into this one, i know mine would...yes, Dewa does eat directly from our backyard garden, and yes, those are two Dora The Explorer 'bandies' on my daughter's tummy...but keep reading for a far more impressive 'bandie' shot...

actual shot from one of my training rides on Red Mountain Pass...
and you wonder why i teach FOCUS so much?!?
it's about a 800+ drop...

Dewa takes a break from a yoga practice with her m(om) to display in not so humble demeanor her new PR in 'applied bandies'; 20! a whole box!
Recently reincarnated Warriors always have a peculiar attraction toward bandages...

Taken just hours ago at Haviland Lake, about 15 minutes by car and precisely 43 minutes away by road bike (trust me). many of us domestic gardeners could try for years to sculpt a 'Whiskey Barrel" planter like this natural one on the shores of Haviland, one of my chi-ldhood vortices.

Ananda's production last week from our backyard garden; Summer Squash soup and Kale supplemented by some tofu and rice...YUM!
give it up:
ilg is doing pretty dang go(o)d transforming
our Hollywood Movie Star into a Mountain Momma, eh?

My version of Day Care;
A Haviland rivulet makes for an awesome 40 minutes that seems like 10,
exploration for Dewa and Amma and Abba. Dewa sets the Agenda; we just listen and attempt to learn...

Kale "Chips" from our backyard garden; Dewa LOVES these!
Hey, we ALL love these!

Ananda Ammaji and Dewachen at Haviland Lake just hours ago...Engineer Peak is the high peak in the distant center...

The WF Temple H(om)e Garden...note the Finches pestering the Chard Flowerettes...

Dewa and Austin tour my childhood friend Christina's 'Earthship' she is building in the foothills west of Durango...Austin is Christina's son...
when the Outer World finally discovers the pricelessness of Wholistic Fitness® and i become a millionaire, i'm building our Tribe a Wholistic Fitness Institute from Earthship philosophies and techniques. should we start a donation drive, or what?!

i could not resist the majestic chi of this impeccable Horse Being as we drove down from Haviland...i trust you can't either...wow...ilg can only bow to the Miracle of It All...

Dewa and tall, swooshy grass in a high country marsh skirting Haviland Lake...

i was quixotically touched by this juxtaposition of an anthill and the resplendent Hermosa Cliffs...

"The beauty of training our weaknesses..."

"The beauty of training our weaknesses
lies in the indescribably personal
and penetrating transcendence of them.
Our reward?
Nothing less than Wholeness."

- Coach Steve Ilg
"America's Fittest Yogi" - LA Times

photo by Wayne Williams...click to enlarge my muscles cuz, i only wish it was that easy!

WF Student Profile; Devotee BB!

" Dear Coach,
I want to be able to continue to do all my activities
as i get older and therefore want to make sure my body is in balance, like yours. That is why i trust in your Path."

- Wholistic Fitness Devotee and HP Mountain Yogi; Bryan Bishop
enjoying what he calls his,
"Advanced Summit Pose on Castle Peak at 14,265 feet above sea level."

***

for a 'peak' at how HP Yogi BB 'exited' from this posture,

click here

and enjoy the HP CHI with a quick video and another image,
courtesy of one of our most inspiring young Devotees!

***

here are some other aspects of how Bryan
enjoys his WF lifestyle:

his SUNRIDER Herb Intake (constantly monitored and adjusted by coach):

"i have currently been taking action caps and slim caps for 2+ years. I have been consistently taking ilg supremes for 3 months, but like everything i have begun again and again on those for the last 18 months. I am currently at a very good body weight and fat percentage (6'2" 180 lb and 7% body fat). "


the flow of his current WF Nutritional Practice...

"Wakeup-->BM-->EMR or Kinlani-->2 Sunrider Herb Action Caps, 3 MAP-->workout-->3 MAP and breakfast-->shower-->go to work-->2 more Action Caps, lunch, a Sunrider Ilg Supreme and Quinary cap-->more work-->2 MAP and Dinner-->Ai Imawa and Meditation-->1 Sunrider Slim Cap and Bed."

the flow of his current WF Physical Practice...

"My workouts consist of different workouts within your different books, usually 2 cardio, 2 yoga, 2 gym days. My goal is to get stronger and gain more cardio fitness. I hike a lot of mountains, do lots of top roping, and stay in shape for ski season. I want to be able to continue to do all my activities as i get older and therefore want to make sure my body is in balance, like yours (why i trust that the herbs work). My areas that need the most work are meditation and flexibility."

SEND IN YOUR UNIQUE WF PRACTICE TO HELP INSPIRE OTHERS LIKE YOGI BRYAN!

Dharma Blessings upon thy Sweat, Stillness, and Spirit...
coach ilg

Same As All-Ways; Open Hips + Endurance + Strength = Elite Elusive Yoga...

Steve Ilg is the...

same as all-ways;
stunned by how difficult it is for me to keep opening my hips while cranking consistent cardio volumes and intensities, especially peak running...how cOMe so few seem enraptured with this High Endeavor?

i mean; we now have a WHOLE LOT of "yoga stars" preaching about the Kundalini, Sushumna, Mula Bandha...yet...ilg wonders, how cOMe all these fabulous "Yoga Masters" just stay addicted to studio asana instead of finding and cultivating and 'mastering' yoga within ALL physiologic capacities of their treasured bodies?

if SAFE Enlightenment, or Chakra Balancing, Mula Bandha, Sushumna Engagement, or Kundalini Arising is to be attained,
is not cOMmon sense to steadfastly master ALL the capacities of the body across the physiologic spectrum?

i mean, does anyone ever study any more the intensities of the Bardo?

will simply being a 'gumby' really gonna matter in the incomprehensible endurance and strength intensities and shock waves immediately encountered upon our Last Gasp?


head bowed,
the feeblest yogi ever

photo; a hairy chested ilg in a high wind attempt at Cosmic Dancer Posture or Natrajasana as caught by Marc Romanelli near Los Alamos, NM

Can You Find...Hawk Medicine?

click pic to enlarge; can you find the Hawk?
taken this morning during my MTB ride in "Hidden Valley" where, seriously, i had not ridden in over 15 years. Hawk Medicine is powerful. if you are as interested as you well should be, you'll read the below.

head bowed to your Devoted Practice Toward Wholeness...you REALLY shoulda been in my HP PROP class tonight!

Thunder and lightning timed in with my choreographic cues as is on demand..
(Noble Warrior Student JVS remarked afterward, "Damn, that was amazing...each thunder-sound resounded in perfect timing with Coach's dialogue! It was Amazing!")...Father Sky's acoustics sizzled the Pranic Currents outside the Cave of Champions just like Shiva Dancing before you and i and the rest of our Ancient Tribe of Warriors did eons ago...
do you
CAN you
still reMember how you and i huddled two-gether in the Caves
before we found fire?
afraid of the Outside...
afraid of so much...

what has changed since then?

how long shall thee choose to live
within Fear
instead
of
Love and Light?


oh!

How Blessed Are We Who Realize That Sweat IS The (W)Holy Water??!!!???!!

head bowed,
your miniscule ilg

***

HAWK MEDICINE: MESSENGER!

Hawk Affirmation: I am healed and empowered through my visions. My life moves forward.

There are many types of Hawks found throughout the world and each has medicine specific to their individual types. Yet there also characteristics that are specific to all Hawks and those are the focus here.

Hawks are visionaries and messengers. As a totem they help to open the higher chakras so that we may hear and see the visions and messages that Spirit and the Universe are always sending our way. There is never a moment when the Universe is not trying to get a message through to us but we are so often too busy or unaware of what it is we need to be watching for! Hawk helps us to not only be aware that we are receiving a message but how to interpret them. The realm of symbols is also the realm of Hawk for Hawk is able to soar high above the earth to soar on the breath of Spirit, to commune with Spirit and thus understand through the intuitive level what the message means and with their keen eyesight, how to implement it once they return to earth through seeing the broader picture below.

Many of the messages Hawk may bring are about freeing yourself of thoughts and beliefs that are limiting your ability to soar above your life and gain a greater perspective. If one remains earthbound, then the possibilities of life are limited! It is this ability to soar high above to catch a glimpse of the bigger picture that is one of the aspects of Hawk medicine that makes it so valuable: If one is undergoing a difficult passage to know that just over the next hill is freedom and liberation if one keeps going can be a Godsend in supporting the person to keep moving forward! Likewise, if the path is not appropriate, Hawk Medicine can alert one to this and point out a far more favorable path.

Hawk medicine unites Heaven and Earth. Because of their ability to soar, they are able to reach up to the heavens to extract needed information and bring it back to earth. Much of this information is also very practical for use on a daily basis! It is not only higher concepts or ideas that are relayed, but also information we need to make our material or mundane lives more prosperous and fulfilling. For those who have difficulty attracting financial well being due to false or negative beliefs about money and success, Hawk can help to understand the true spiritual intent and purpose behind money and guide one in establishing new beliefs that are more joyful and abundant in nature.

Hawk can alert us to those times when we should NOT take action because we do not yet have all the information we need. For example, someone is thinking of about becoming involved in a relationship, personal or business, yet they get the feeling that something is "not quite right". This needs to be heeded and Hawk sent forth to gather the appropriate information to help the person make the best choice. Sometimes the person finds that Hawk was telling them to steer clear for very good reasons!

Hawk can also help balance those who are more attuned to the lunar sides of their nature and have trouble expressing the solar side in pursuit of their goals. It helps the person to activate the positive aspects of their sun sign and to balance it with the lunar needs.

Let Us Be Thankful...

"Let us be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us be thankful."

- Buddha

artwork; Alapadma by Paige Bradley
source; www.inspirationz.com

Conception & Perception; Has Your Fitness Clarified Them?

click to enlarge the Chi Hit. taken from my cell phone camera during a recent training ride on my road bike over Molas Pass (10,910'). when i say "Blue Sky"... what do you Perceive? what do you Conceive of as a "Blue Sky"? Qualities of mind are rarely explored among the popular, convetional fitness paths. Here in Wholistic Fitness? Such explorations of mind are our bread and butter along the Path of our Awakening Through Sweat and Stillness.

Noble Sangha,
in this forum i have Taught you about the two qualities of Mind.

to review, there are only two qualities of Mind:

1. Awareness
2. Clarity

in this forum i have Taught you about the Ways of grounding and the skillful means of deepening these two mental qualities.

out of Awareness,
arises two further aspects:

• Perception
• Conception

Perception is a training effect, if you will, of the Five Sense Consciousnesses and, of course, your own developed layered fitness of your Sense Consciousness.

Conception is a refracted measure of mental recall.

Let me explain:

You walk outside tomorrow morning to fetch the morning paper (after, of course enjoying the pranic afterglow of doing EMR!) and see a bicycle Cardio Commuter ride by your house, you see the paniers fully loaded, your ears hear the rolling of tire rubber atop asphalt and gears dancing in the early morning light.

you Perceived that cyclist through your sight sense and your hearing sense.

that's Perception.

now, let's say you are out here in Durango, taking advantage of a half-day Intensive with me. you and i are scrubbing a brew, listening to the Sacred Animas after a fantastic training ride on the Hermosa Creek Trail.

if i describe to you my memory recall of that early morning Cardio Commuter, the manner in which you conceive of my description is your Conception of my recalled Perceived experience of encountering that Cardio Commuter while i was picking up my morning paper.

believe it or not,
your understanding of the difference between Perception and Conception is HUGELY important to your sadhana. there are only Happy Feelings, Unhappy Feelings, and Neutral Feelings toward your Perceptions and Conceptions of your developed Awareness.

i'll need you to contemplate this.

you may pose questions to me on this iDL in the WF SanghaLounge. i'll elaborate on this very important Teaching in that forum.

***

How deeply your practice of Wholistic Fitness has delineated these Awareness aspects discussed above, reflects your willingness, consistency, and temperament toward the Teachings i've laid before you all these decades.

The most popular fitness methods these days, do not even come close to Teaching you such differences of mind. Not Pilates, not Certified Kettlebellers, not Stroller Strides, not Crossfit.
not even in the ballpark, dude.

Rare too, ironically, do the most popular yogic paths come close to imparted to you such categories of mind.

if you appreciate the Noble Effort and Intention of Wholistic Fitness to re-store a Higher Consciousness right where it belongs:
Within The Sweat

then, it's time for you to consider again your monthly gesture toward generating positive karmic mOMentum by offering your WF Temple Tithe right now.

prevent the negative karma of killing mosquito beings.

and see it as a critical part of your Personal Fitness Training.

if those above two sentences stirred your Higher Wisdom Self?

it's time for you to get cracking on the Green Tara Program again and DO THE WORK, YOGI!