Hell-Bent

I just finished reading HELL-BENT:  OBSESSION, PAIN, AND THE SEARCH FOR SOMETHING LIKE TRANSCENDENCE IN COMPETITIVE YOGA.

I loved it.  Read it.   Benjamin Lorr can write and he can write about yoga and yogi's.   His insights into the process of power and teachers and people surrendering power to teachers is the best description ever since Stephen Cope's YOGA AND THE QUEST FOR THE TRUE SELF.

He also nails the thrill of yoga obsession and all the pitfalls.    The world he writes about is the Bikram world but everyone who does yoga can relate.

The descriptions of the teacher training will leave you questioning every time you've let yourself be humiliated and even marginally abused.   Hazing is illegal for a reason.

He asks the question does yoga heal?   Through all the misguidance and crap the answer is still yes.

Namaste,

Dean

Foundation

Everyone gets back pain, especially Brawny Yogis. There is nothing like kriyas from Down Dog to Up Dog or Weighted Wide-legged Squats to make me say "ouch." So I was eating lunch at Lemolos---excellent vegan sandwich, the Powerhouse, and the vegan tomato soup---and I saw a woman who used to come to the WRAC regularly. She said she'd slowed down because of her back but was reading this book, FOUNDATION by Dr. Eric Goodman and Peter Park and it was helping.

I downloaded the enhanced version an hour later and I've been doing their series of exercises for three weeks. I'm amazed. I'm feeling my posterior chain---calves, ham strings, glutes, and lower back muscles---in a totally different way. I'm moving better and feeling stronger. Don't you love it when that happens?

Go to their website at http://foundationroots.com/home. They've got a video with their Founder exercise. It looks a lot like Utkatasana, Chair/Fierce Pose, but it won't feel the same. I've been teaching people to get their weight back on their heels for years but this takes it home! Pulling your knees back from your toes and over your ankles changes everything.

Even if you don't have back pain, I recommend you get the book and do the exercises. The first series takes about 15 minutes but consider it your morning practice.

Breathe,


Dean

Book

If you don't already have a copy of MEDITATIONS FROM THE MAT by Rolf Gates get it. It is wonderful way to start your day. He takes you through the Yamas and Niyamas using practical applications. He also covers a lot of other territory. I find it really valuable to help me set my intention for the day. It is available on Amazon.


Namaste,


Dean