Hello Again everyone,
Another crazy and eventful week here in the STAN. First off I would like to thank everyone for all of the supportive e-mails and packages that have been sent. My guys and I really appreciate all of the support.
This week started off on a down note though. One of our supply FOBs, (Forward Operating Base), was hit by a suicide bomber. Two US killed, and 7 wounded, plus several local vendors. This occurred on FOB Lightning, about 20 Km away from us. It was at the Saturday and Sunday local bazaar that they host up there. It is an initiative for local vendors to sell some cultural stuff to the soldiers and airmen who are up on that particular base. The bomber was dressed like an AUP (Afghan Uniformed Police). However, the intel we have received was that he was not associated with any ANSF, (Afghan National Security Force). The insurgents do this to discredit the Afghan forces and try and drive a wedge between the Afghan forces and the US and ISAF forces operating here.
I know that this hit the news, because my mother brought it up while I was able to talk to her on a phone this last week. I had been to this bazaar back in October when I first visited FOB Lightning. I noticed that it was an extremely soft target. When my team arrived in late October, I told them that if they were going to go to one of these Bazaars that they would need to go with a battle buddy and alway keep their guard up because of the lack of security and all of the local nationals that were around. In this case the attack took place, and there were several casualties. Several of the vendors were also hurt in the explosion. There is good news about this story which I am quite sure none of you have heard about.
You see, my deployment to Iraq back in 2007-2008 introduced me to a lot of technology which we use to fight the conflict over here, which is really quite spooky. We have the same stuff here, and in fact we even have newer items that I have not even been read in on. However, when you walk around, all you have to do is look up, and look for the different and very cool antennas that are hanging off of towers around the military installations. The cooler they look the more hard core they are. At least thats what I like to believe. Back to the story...
So one of the guys who planned and assisted with this attack just happened to get on his cell phone on his way back to the hideout. Unbeknownst to him, his conversation was picked up by some of this technology, and because he stayed on the phone for 30 mins while riding back to the hideout bragging about his success to all of his little bad guy friends, well, they traced him all the way back to his home. They are called Qalats, which are mud walled compounds with usually one to four buildings in them. Anyway, that night in the middle of their celebrations, they had some unexpected visitors, who rolled them all up, and took them home. If you know what I mean. This goes to show, that even though the bad guys get their licks in once and a while, there really is no place to hide.
Changing the tone of the letter a bit. My team SGT and I were supposed to go out to one of the AFCOPs this week, but between the security changes with the suicide bomber and confirmation that we are having several Afghan Technical Engineers coming to assess the bazaar water tower, we have been quite busy. In the next couple of days we are going out to the family who lost four men to the IED which blew up their tractor. I will be happy to finally put that to rest, and support the local government and CF Soldiers out there to demonstrate their condolences. We had a local Mullah speak on the radio this past week as well. Boy he let the bad guys have it. After speaking from the Holy Quran, he basicly stated that those people who kill innocent or help kill innocent people here in Zormat and throughout Afghanistan are not Muslims, and will be judged by Allah, and will go directly to hell. It was a pretty powerful speech which took nearly 20 minutes. It shows that the majority of people here do not want the insurgents here, and just want to live a quite and peaceful life. Many of the people I have contact with, too include my local assets are tired of war and conflict. Many of the older men have never known peace, and many of the younger kids that we talk to, have never lived without US military being in their country. Kind of strange....
Well that is all for this week. I know not much on our part. Many of the activities that I participated in this week are not things I am aloud to share right now. My team is doing fine, and we are in good spirits. I was able to arrange it that my entire team could go home for the holidays, but that meant I had to stay back. No issue though, it will not be my first holiday season away from the family. Plus, my team chief is staying back up in Gardez and has invited me to dinner up there. So in a week or so, I will be up there for a couple of days. I would like to wish everyone happy holidays in advance. And thanks again for all of your support.
Sincerely,
Tristan
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Holidays are Stressing Me Out.
This week I have been using the theme 'To mine a well, you have to dig vertically, not horizontally' from Bapuji. He is so right, in order to find solutions to what ever may be working or not working, we have to look at ourselves, our habits and repeated behavior. A good hard look will let us know right away if what we are doing is working in our lives.
I hope you are able to channel the Holiday stress into productive exercise in these coming weeks. To make yourself feel better you may want to create a morning/ evening routine that you do everyday to keep you focused. Taking stress to bed? Try to not watch T.V. An hour before sleeping which leaves the brain over stimulated.
Get anxious in the middle of the day? Try three deep breaths, then picture a silver, white ball surrounding you. Feel it protecting you. See your skin glowing from it and repeat 'I am safe and protected' three times.
Do you know any one that needs/ wants training? Word of mouth is the best tool. My business survives on it. Let me know if I can call on anyone and get them fit.
And since your out and about town, if you come across/ see any places that you think I should be teaching for, please let me know. Any suggestions are so helpful and we never know where they lead. And if I can help your business grow too, let me know how.
Stay moving, Troy
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
How to Focus Now
I start every Yoga class I teach with an optional tool or technique that we can use throughout the class to learn something about ourselves. I say optional, because I can see as I introduce the idea that some students are uncomfortable with the idea of doing or learning something other than postures.
Today I opened my Guru's book (Sayings of Swami Kripalu) to a page on meditation: 'Meditation is integral to yoga. Because people are different, various approaches to meditation have evolved to suit their needs. Seekers should experiment with a variety of techniques until they find one to their liking. But if there is no meditation in the practice, it can not be called yoga.'
With this I set the intention to use this in our practice. Any time we feel distracted in life or a Yoga class, we can use a 'meditation' or for this purpose we will use the word 'focus' technique. This can be any tool in our tool box, such as listening to the sound of the breath, feeling the flow of the breath, focusing on the feeling of the body, the temperature of the room, the smell of our environment, the sound of music, or a spot across the room. Noticing when we become scattered by distractions such as a noisy person, a negative conversation, our ego mind, a hot room, or any variety of things that are trying to 'steal' our energy is half the battle. If we practice noticing our attention flowing away from us this is step one. Once we notice that we have become distracted, we can move on to step two.
Finding a 'meditation' or focus technique that works for us becomes a trigger that brings us back to where we want to be. The list is endless and it takes experimentation and practice to find the one that works for you. Once you find your focus technique implementing it is step two. Use it as a method of bringing you into the present moment and draw your attention back to you. For me, I find that breathing a long breath in through my nostrils, retaining the oxygen in my lungs and then taking a long exhale out of my nostrils dials me in immediately. I have used it in the middle of an argument, in traffic, on the phone, in class, and even in the middle of a store. It just takes me right into myself.
Step three is practicing this technique, frequently and often. It can change over time, evolving as you do. I used to just make a Mudra with my hand, but that no longer has the effect it used to.
Play around with this concept, put many techniques into your tool box, see which one works for you and don't be afraid to use it. Keep your focus and stay centered and notice how much happier and unaffected you are by all the distractions in the world.
Troy
Today I opened my Guru's book (Sayings of Swami Kripalu) to a page on meditation: 'Meditation is integral to yoga. Because people are different, various approaches to meditation have evolved to suit their needs. Seekers should experiment with a variety of techniques until they find one to their liking. But if there is no meditation in the practice, it can not be called yoga.'
With this I set the intention to use this in our practice. Any time we feel distracted in life or a Yoga class, we can use a 'meditation' or for this purpose we will use the word 'focus' technique. This can be any tool in our tool box, such as listening to the sound of the breath, feeling the flow of the breath, focusing on the feeling of the body, the temperature of the room, the smell of our environment, the sound of music, or a spot across the room. Noticing when we become scattered by distractions such as a noisy person, a negative conversation, our ego mind, a hot room, or any variety of things that are trying to 'steal' our energy is half the battle. If we practice noticing our attention flowing away from us this is step one. Once we notice that we have become distracted, we can move on to step two.
Finding a 'meditation' or focus technique that works for us becomes a trigger that brings us back to where we want to be. The list is endless and it takes experimentation and practice to find the one that works for you. Once you find your focus technique implementing it is step two. Use it as a method of bringing you into the present moment and draw your attention back to you. For me, I find that breathing a long breath in through my nostrils, retaining the oxygen in my lungs and then taking a long exhale out of my nostrils dials me in immediately. I have used it in the middle of an argument, in traffic, on the phone, in class, and even in the middle of a store. It just takes me right into myself.
Step three is practicing this technique, frequently and often. It can change over time, evolving as you do. I used to just make a Mudra with my hand, but that no longer has the effect it used to.
Play around with this concept, put many techniques into your tool box, see which one works for you and don't be afraid to use it. Keep your focus and stay centered and notice how much happier and unaffected you are by all the distractions in the world.
Troy
Friday, November 26, 2010
Troop Updates
Hello Again everyone,
I know I just pushed off a letter when I returned from Salerno but much has happened that needs to be shared. First you may notice that I have placed everyone's e-mail addresses in the Bcc line. It was suggested to me, to keep all of your information safe that it would be wise to do this. Especially because the list continues to grow. I have done this, so be assured that everyone is still getting the weekly update.
Now for the weekly update. Since returning from Salerno, much has happened, most of which is part of the profession of War. A couple of days ago we had an IED incident down here in Zormat. An IED as many of you may know is an Improvised Explosive Device. There are many ways that these go off. Where we are located they use pressure plates, because our electronic countermeasures defeat the ones that are hooked up to walkie talkie radios and cell phones. However there is always the risk of civilian casualties when pressure plates are used. This is what happened a couple of days ago. Several men and boys were riding on their tractor coming out of the local boulder field, where they get rocks to build houses and other buildings. The dirt road that they were using is not one that Coalition Forces ever use, so it is still a bit of a mystery why one was set on that road at that location. We think it may be a road used by some of the local Afghan Army. Anyway, the tractor was a catastrophic loss. Four of the individuals to include a little boy were killed and two teenagers were injured. They were rescued by ANA and CF forces and EVAC-ed to COP Zormat where they were treated and released. It was a major travesty, one man lost two sons and his grandson, and another innocent family is without their father.
There was much outcry against the insurgent forces since the attack. The bazaar, an area where we get a lot of good Intel and atmospherics was a buzz, of people openly criticizing in public the people who placed the IED. This is very rear in this area for people to speak out publicly on such an issue, especially with so many Taliban in the area. For me it is good that the public is vocal and is outraged, they should be. Damn those who espouse their cause as a religious holy war, and indiscriminately kill innocent civilians who practice the same faith.
My team SGT and I have begun dialog with both the Religious and Cultural Affairs Commander down here in Zormat as well as the family to express our condolences. It is a bit touchy though. Through a phone conversation with the Father how lost the two sons and his grandson, we expressed our condolences, and stated that we would stop by in the near future, when they did not have so many guests at their qalat (house) so as not to interfere with their traditional mourning process. He was greatly appreciative towards our cultural understanding, and would welcome us when it was appropriate. He also said something that kind of took me aback. Even thought he just suffered a massive loss to his family as well as his only means of transportation and livelihood, his tractor, he said that every day he prays for the safety of the ANA and CF (US forces) in the area, because of our sacrifices in providing the people of Zormat safety and security. He also condemned the actions of the people who placed the IED, and was thankful that the US forces have traveled so far and have made so many sacrifices for his family. This blew me away.... What do you say to something like that...?
This is still an ongoing operation, and I will keep you all apprised to the final outcome. It only takes a catalyst like this to occur to change the entire perceptions of a population. It was the same thing that happened in Al Anbar when I was there in 2007-2008 when Al Quida in Iraq assassinated Sheik Sitar, a prominent leader of the Awakening Movement which effectively turned the tide in both Al Anbar as well as Iraq as a whole. We can only hope that the sacrifice and loss of this one family can assist in changing the tide of war here in Zormat. Time will tell....
If that was not all. A day later out Provincial Reconstruction Team Civil Engineers were heading back from a project assessment in the northern area of our province, when they hit a very large IED. The explosion did significant damage to the asphalt road, you can see the ripples in the asphalt away from the explosion site. It also tossed a 10+ ton MRAP (Our new Mine Resistant-Ambush Protective) vehicles we now use. The truck was launched down the road and ended on its side. The truck was a catastrophic loss. But the product lived up to its name. All who were in the truck, though a bit shaken up, they all walked away from the accident with minimal scrapes and bruises. This should be a good example of why it is so important to buckle up when you get into your vehicle. So the day was quite eventful. It was our first kinetic attack which targeted our guys directly. I think it now has woken some of the guys up. Everyone talks tough, especially if they have never dealt with such an event. But once it happens to you, you develop an entire better understanding and appreciation of life, and what our mission is over here for the short time we are here.
On a lighter note, last night was a first in my military career. After our mandatory weekly meeting with everyone in the battle space via the Internet, we walked to the chow hall, only to find out that it was locked. They ran out of leftovers from Thanksgiving, and decided to shut the door. NO FOOD!! What???
By the grace of God, we still had some items from the care packages, so we pulled some stuff out and my team eat what we had. Peanut butter Cheddar crackers, you know the ones that come in packs with the orange crackers, as well as some popcorn, and we had a ChiChi's microwave-able Fiesta Plate. Mind you this is a one person serving but everyone got a couple of bites. It was a bit of an anti climatic Turkey Day. A bit weird too. Anyway we survived until this morning.
This brings me to my next note, several people have asked if there has been any changes in our needs list. So I would like to update that for everyone. Snacks are always welcomed. We have talked to several of our local assets to see what we can expect for winter. They have told us that every other year is pretty hard. Last winter was a light winter, but the year before that was rough, they expect between 4-6 feet of snow by early Jan, and it will continue until it begins to melt sometime in March. We got a report from one of the infantry guys who is up here who was here two winters ago, and stated that they had 7 weeks of red air. This means no air support or resupply. We here in Zormat may have clear weather, but we sit in a bowl between several mountains. If the passes are not clear, or they have strong winds and snow, they cannot fly through. This means no resupply. For this reason, we are all reaching out and stockpiling in anticipation of a long winter, possibly without resupply.
So here is our updated list. There are a couple of things for the holiday season, which we can't eat, but bare with us:
ChiChi\s Fiesta Plates - Any will do (Savory Garlic Chicken) was quite good last night. We had received this from a care package from the Peace Greeters out of NH.
Christmas lights - and extension cords - White / White dangle ice cycle or multi color are preferred.
Fabreeze air spray
Pop Secret or Orvil Redenbacker (sp?) microwave popcorn - Butter or Kettle Corn is preferred.
The Keebler's Orange Crackers with Peanut butter packs
Peanuts
Cashew
Foil packs of star kiss tuna or other varieties
Ramen Noodles (the main stay for people without a proper kitchen)
Pretzels
Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
Jelly Life Savers or Jolly ranchers
Regular Life Savers
Other Keebler cracker varieties
Small cans of Jolly green Giant nibblet corn
Oreo Cookies :)
Cigars (can't be eaten, but always great for moral)
Little Debbie Snack Cakes, Zebras and little suzzies are preferred
Coffee, pre ground would be preferred, we were sent a box of beans but we don't have a grinder :(
A small hand cranked or electric coffee grinder would be helpful for the BOX OF BEANS :)
If there is anything else that you would consider that is good and semi healthy to eat if you were in our predicament, would be appreciated. Just remember, it needs to be non-perishable.
This up and coming week is going to be quite hectic, need to start to prepare for it. I hope that this e-mail finds its way to everyone in good health and spirits. I should have much to update you on by this time next week.
Sincerely,
1LT Tristan Boddicker
Just to let everyone know, now that the new infantry guys are in, our address has changed.
It is now as follows.
1LT Tristan Boddicker
PRT Paktya / DST Zormat
TM D / TF 168 INF
COP Zormat
APO AE 09364
Thanks,
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Support Our Soldiers Thanksgiving Update
The following is an email update from my buddy Tristian:
Greetings Everyone,
I am sorry that I was unable to send off my weekly update on time. Last week was a normal week, nothing much happened until we hitched a ride with the Brigade Commander to Salerno for a briefing we had to attend. So first off, I just wanted to let everyone know, that there may be times that I am unable send this letter out on Fridays, due to Internet connection, mission and the sort. As soon as I am able too, I will shoot it out. Just to put to rest some of the concerns people had about not receiving my update promptly on Friday.
So here we go, last week was pretty quiet like I stated, did a QAQC on a local school and the district center, and had the opportunity to have Chi (tea) with the Mayor, or at least that is the position that I think he retains. Right now it is a bit screwy in our district of who's who in the zoo. We don't have many players right now due to the Taliban threat, so each time these guys are introduces, it seems to be with a different title. I think many of them are wearing different hats, so depending on what he is representing that day, he decides to introduce himself with that title. I digress...
So as I have been to 37 countries now, several of which were developing or third world in nature, (Not all with the Army) of course, I am a master of having a conversation with another person without too much speaking. What I mean by this is, when two people talk and neither of them can speak the other's language, many people become intimidated by this event. I on the other hand love it, for many reasons. First, it is always great to have to play pictionary and talk with your hands and do all sorts of silly things to describe what you are talking about. This is a very intimate feat, and the individual which you are "talking with" tends to reach out and appreciate the conversation more. It is a great way, in a little amount of time to develop a strong relationship. It is also a great way to learn about someone, as well as learn new words.
The other reason why I love talking to people in this way is because a person can not lie to you if they can not speak. When you use an interpreter, two things can happen. One information or emphasis can be lost in translation, the other issue, is if a person can speak to you without hindrance, they are more willing to weave a web of lie and deceit. If you can not understand each others language, you can not lie to each other. Too simple of a concept. So the two people talk about simple things, things that they can relate to each other on the basic human level. This is how the intimate bond and relationship is developed. Anyways, my team SGT and I spent an hour or so, sitting in the court yard of the Zormat District Center drinking tea and talking about the little things in life. The funny thing, is that it took nearly 20 minutes to discuss his enjoyment of pomogranets.
Then came the test of faith. He began talking to me about my bald head, it was kind of funny, so he went to his office and pulled out a bottle of Rose Hair Oil. Personally, I don't understand what it was originally created for, but he basicly told me that if I were to put it on my head my hair would grow think and strong. I personally think if was "snake oil" if you know what I mean, but when in Rome, or in this case when in Zormat... do as the Zormatis. So he sprinkled some into my hand and I put it all on my head. He did the same and then offered some to my team SGT, who by the way has a full head of hair, who with a great big smile put it in his own hair. For the rest of the day we smelt like Roses, and this was not missed when I entered out nightly meeting with our Infantry Commander. A good chuckle was had by all..... at my expense. No issues though, we made a great friend that day, and an ally that we will now be able to use.
That was basically the high light until we went to Salerno. We got word late the night before we were supposed to leave that our helo ride was cancelled. We know that the next day our Brigade Commander would be stopping by for his battle field circulation and would eventually be heading back to Salerno. Late the night before, I received a cryptic e-mail stating the a Chinook helo would be stopping by to sling load some cargo in route to Salerno, and that this might be the way to get to where we were going. However things changed as soon as I was invited in to the brief with our BDE Commander. He asked if we were going to the briefing, and when we were going to leave. We told him that our helo ride was canceled, and that the course of action that was currently on the table, was to dress up in Afghan clothes, barrow a couple of AK-47s from the ANA next door, and drive like a "bat out of hell" across the mountain range, so that we could clear them by dark. His expression was priceless. He said, "Nope, your riding with me." And that was that...
We stopped by a little Combat Outpost in the boarder range between our province and the one which borders Pakistan. Khowst Province, this is where all the bad guys travel through to get to Zormat. Anyway, we landed at the LZ and go off. While we were there two Apache Gun Ships flew over head towards a disputed valley on our Eastern flank. Well they got into it with some of the bad guys. And boy did they let them have it. Strife after strife, we could hear the big guns blasting away, and several hell fire rockets were fired. It was pretty amazing, but the big show came later that night.
The helos came and licked us up and dropped us off at Salerno. We got settled in and hit the dining facility. Once we got back to our transient tens out on the outskirts of the base, we settled in and started shooting the breeze, so to speak. Then it happened, a very large rocked shot right over our tent and landed about 150-200 meters away on the air field with a big thud. My experience when I was in Ramadi was with suicide car bombs, they are very distinctive in their sound and in the explosion concussion blast. Lately I have been introduced to indirect fire in the form of mortars and rockets that make a swishing sound when the fly by. Typically this means they are small and home made. But the one that flew over our tent was a whistling or "Screaming" rocket. It was very distinct and loud as it flew over our tent, and the explosions could be felt in side of our tent 150-200 meters away. This is where the humor comes in. Moments later, one of the civilian USAID guys popped his head into our tent with a panic stricken face, "Did you guys hear that, they are shooting rockets at us." We all looked around as we were taking out time to get our stuff on, and basically responded "Yes, we will be out there shortly, and by the way, who brought the goodies for the bunker party?". Once we got our stuff on we went out to the bunker. All of the civilian guys were hunkered down. For many of them this was their first experience with something like this. But for guys that are on there second and third rodeos, it is nothing new.
Typically these bigger rockets are set up during the day and are connected to an alarm clock. With a base like Salerno, all they have to do is point it in the direction of the base and it will hit something and do some damage. Most of the time, the smaller rockets may be on a timer device, but if they are being shot off by actual people, like mortars and such, they will have only time to drop one or two, before our acoustic sensors find the POO (Point Of Origin). They run off real fast, because once the POO is discovered our UAVs and such will pick up their heat signatures and well, we as a collective provide them the opportunity to meet with their GOD!! if you know what I mean. They don't stand a chance. Now for whatever reason, so bad guys were identified by a couple of Apaches that were coming in from a different mission. Not so good of the bad guys. As the civilians hunkered down in the bunker, and I understand their point of view. Once you get use to the tit for tat, you typically stay outside the bunker to watch the fire works show. Anyways, those two helicopter tore into the side of the mountain. We could see the tracer fire from the helo's main gun, but we never saw the helos. They expended nearly 10 -12 hellfire missiles, and lit the side of the mountain on fire. Literally, the fires were still there two hours later.
Well if that were not all. The next day in the middle of class several mortars fell on the base. The funny thing about that was that everyone heard them, but everyone continued on with our brief, until the voice on the load speaker announced that we were receiving incoming. In by regulation, you must go to the bunker. The next evening, I was on the phone with my father, having my first phone conversation since coming into theater, and of course, what happens, we received one very large incoming round that fell about 200 meters north of our tents, I had to explain to him, that I would have to call him back because we were receiving incoming fire. It was only the one, and did not cause much more then a very large explosion. The POO was discovered quickly and several of our howitzers responded in haste, and that was all for the night.
With all of that excitement behind us, be got about a black hawk last night to fly the right route and get back home. The flight was AWESOME.... Very Very COOOOOOOL. It is a bit surreal when you are flying through these mountain passes, and the helicopter can not fly over the mountain because they are too tall. So when you fly through the passes, at times you can look out at some of the smaller ridge lines and see the paths and trees right next to you. As it was a full moon last night, we were able to see everything. The down side was that they could also see us due to the moon, so if someone wanted to invite us to a party, they could have done so very easily. It was an eventful night though, and we were able to see most of our province from the air. Moon light flights are sooooo romantic. :)
Anyway, I am so glad to be back at Zormat, my little slice of the pie. It is always nice to get home and sleep in your own bed. Is it a bad thing that I am referring to Zormat as my home????? Time will tell. Thanks for all of the letters and e-mails you guys sent this past week. And for those how e-mailed me out of concern because I was unable to shoot this letter off on Friday, just remember, sometimes, it might be a day or so late, but we really appreciate your concern. Also thanks so much for all of the support you give to us over here, we really appreciate it, it means a lot to us, and is what keeps us going.
Sincerely,
1LT Tristan Boddicker
DST Zormat Team Cheif (And all around Cooooool Guy)
Greetings Everyone,
I am sorry that I was unable to send off my weekly update on time. Last week was a normal week, nothing much happened until we hitched a ride with the Brigade Commander to Salerno for a briefing we had to attend. So first off, I just wanted to let everyone know, that there may be times that I am unable send this letter out on Fridays, due to Internet connection, mission and the sort. As soon as I am able too, I will shoot it out. Just to put to rest some of the concerns people had about not receiving my update promptly on Friday.
So here we go, last week was pretty quiet like I stated, did a QAQC on a local school and the district center, and had the opportunity to have Chi (tea) with the Mayor, or at least that is the position that I think he retains. Right now it is a bit screwy in our district of who's who in the zoo. We don't have many players right now due to the Taliban threat, so each time these guys are introduces, it seems to be with a different title. I think many of them are wearing different hats, so depending on what he is representing that day, he decides to introduce himself with that title. I digress...
So as I have been to 37 countries now, several of which were developing or third world in nature, (Not all with the Army) of course, I am a master of having a conversation with another person without too much speaking. What I mean by this is, when two people talk and neither of them can speak the other's language, many people become intimidated by this event. I on the other hand love it, for many reasons. First, it is always great to have to play pictionary and talk with your hands and do all sorts of silly things to describe what you are talking about. This is a very intimate feat, and the individual which you are "talking with" tends to reach out and appreciate the conversation more. It is a great way, in a little amount of time to develop a strong relationship. It is also a great way to learn about someone, as well as learn new words.
The other reason why I love talking to people in this way is because a person can not lie to you if they can not speak. When you use an interpreter, two things can happen. One information or emphasis can be lost in translation, the other issue, is if a person can speak to you without hindrance, they are more willing to weave a web of lie and deceit. If you can not understand each others language, you can not lie to each other. Too simple of a concept. So the two people talk about simple things, things that they can relate to each other on the basic human level. This is how the intimate bond and relationship is developed. Anyways, my team SGT and I spent an hour or so, sitting in the court yard of the Zormat District Center drinking tea and talking about the little things in life. The funny thing, is that it took nearly 20 minutes to discuss his enjoyment of pomogranets.
Then came the test of faith. He began talking to me about my bald head, it was kind of funny, so he went to his office and pulled out a bottle of Rose Hair Oil. Personally, I don't understand what it was originally created for, but he basicly told me that if I were to put it on my head my hair would grow think and strong. I personally think if was "snake oil" if you know what I mean, but when in Rome, or in this case when in Zormat... do as the Zormatis. So he sprinkled some into my hand and I put it all on my head. He did the same and then offered some to my team SGT, who by the way has a full head of hair, who with a great big smile put it in his own hair. For the rest of the day we smelt like Roses, and this was not missed when I entered out nightly meeting with our Infantry Commander. A good chuckle was had by all..... at my expense. No issues though, we made a great friend that day, and an ally that we will now be able to use.
That was basically the high light until we went to Salerno. We got word late the night before we were supposed to leave that our helo ride was cancelled. We know that the next day our Brigade Commander would be stopping by for his battle field circulation and would eventually be heading back to Salerno. Late the night before, I received a cryptic e-mail stating the a Chinook helo would be stopping by to sling load some cargo in route to Salerno, and that this might be the way to get to where we were going. However things changed as soon as I was invited in to the brief with our BDE Commander. He asked if we were going to the briefing, and when we were going to leave. We told him that our helo ride was canceled, and that the course of action that was currently on the table, was to dress up in Afghan clothes, barrow a couple of AK-47s from the ANA next door, and drive like a "bat out of hell" across the mountain range, so that we could clear them by dark. His expression was priceless. He said, "Nope, your riding with me." And that was that...
We stopped by a little Combat Outpost in the boarder range between our province and the one which borders Pakistan. Khowst Province, this is where all the bad guys travel through to get to Zormat. Anyway, we landed at the LZ and go off. While we were there two Apache Gun Ships flew over head towards a disputed valley on our Eastern flank. Well they got into it with some of the bad guys. And boy did they let them have it. Strife after strife, we could hear the big guns blasting away, and several hell fire rockets were fired. It was pretty amazing, but the big show came later that night.
The helos came and licked us up and dropped us off at Salerno. We got settled in and hit the dining facility. Once we got back to our transient tens out on the outskirts of the base, we settled in and started shooting the breeze, so to speak. Then it happened, a very large rocked shot right over our tent and landed about 150-200 meters away on the air field with a big thud. My experience when I was in Ramadi was with suicide car bombs, they are very distinctive in their sound and in the explosion concussion blast. Lately I have been introduced to indirect fire in the form of mortars and rockets that make a swishing sound when the fly by. Typically this means they are small and home made. But the one that flew over our tent was a whistling or "Screaming" rocket. It was very distinct and loud as it flew over our tent, and the explosions could be felt in side of our tent 150-200 meters away. This is where the humor comes in. Moments later, one of the civilian USAID guys popped his head into our tent with a panic stricken face, "Did you guys hear that, they are shooting rockets at us." We all looked around as we were taking out time to get our stuff on, and basically responded "Yes, we will be out there shortly, and by the way, who brought the goodies for the bunker party?". Once we got our stuff on we went out to the bunker. All of the civilian guys were hunkered down. For many of them this was their first experience with something like this. But for guys that are on there second and third rodeos, it is nothing new.
Typically these bigger rockets are set up during the day and are connected to an alarm clock. With a base like Salerno, all they have to do is point it in the direction of the base and it will hit something and do some damage. Most of the time, the smaller rockets may be on a timer device, but if they are being shot off by actual people, like mortars and such, they will have only time to drop one or two, before our acoustic sensors find the POO (Point Of Origin). They run off real fast, because once the POO is discovered our UAVs and such will pick up their heat signatures and well, we as a collective provide them the opportunity to meet with their GOD!! if you know what I mean. They don't stand a chance. Now for whatever reason, so bad guys were identified by a couple of Apaches that were coming in from a different mission. Not so good of the bad guys. As the civilians hunkered down in the bunker, and I understand their point of view. Once you get use to the tit for tat, you typically stay outside the bunker to watch the fire works show. Anyways, those two helicopter tore into the side of the mountain. We could see the tracer fire from the helo's main gun, but we never saw the helos. They expended nearly 10 -12 hellfire missiles, and lit the side of the mountain on fire. Literally, the fires were still there two hours later.
Well if that were not all. The next day in the middle of class several mortars fell on the base. The funny thing about that was that everyone heard them, but everyone continued on with our brief, until the voice on the load speaker announced that we were receiving incoming. In by regulation, you must go to the bunker. The next evening, I was on the phone with my father, having my first phone conversation since coming into theater, and of course, what happens, we received one very large incoming round that fell about 200 meters north of our tents, I had to explain to him, that I would have to call him back because we were receiving incoming fire. It was only the one, and did not cause much more then a very large explosion. The POO was discovered quickly and several of our howitzers responded in haste, and that was all for the night.
With all of that excitement behind us, be got about a black hawk last night to fly the right route and get back home. The flight was AWESOME.... Very Very COOOOOOOL. It is a bit surreal when you are flying through these mountain passes, and the helicopter can not fly over the mountain because they are too tall. So when you fly through the passes, at times you can look out at some of the smaller ridge lines and see the paths and trees right next to you. As it was a full moon last night, we were able to see everything. The down side was that they could also see us due to the moon, so if someone wanted to invite us to a party, they could have done so very easily. It was an eventful night though, and we were able to see most of our province from the air. Moon light flights are sooooo romantic. :)
Anyway, I am so glad to be back at Zormat, my little slice of the pie. It is always nice to get home and sleep in your own bed. Is it a bad thing that I am referring to Zormat as my home????? Time will tell. Thanks for all of the letters and e-mails you guys sent this past week. And for those how e-mailed me out of concern because I was unable to shoot this letter off on Friday, just remember, sometimes, it might be a day or so late, but we really appreciate your concern. Also thanks so much for all of the support you give to us over here, we really appreciate it, it means a lot to us, and is what keeps us going.
Sincerely,
1LT Tristan Boddicker
DST Zormat Team Cheif (And all around Cooooool Guy)
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Fatty Blood
Hiya,
so I have been working some health fairs lately as a coach. Looking at the results of people's blood work and telling them about the cholesterol HDL, LDL, Triglycerides, pressure and sugar levels. What I find amazing is those that are not fasting. We need to fast to by the most accurate. But what happens when we do not fast is we see a response, mainly in the Tri's (fats) and the sugar from what we ingested recently.
So when I see someones test who has a high sugar, I ask 'What did you have for Breakfast', (most of the testing is early a.m.) Nine times outta Ten, they will say, cereal. I have been telling people for years of the high and rapid transition of these processed dump truck boxes of food we are marketed as breakfast called cereal and here is my proof. If you want a big sugar rush and big crash, eat a bowl of cereal....mmm, good. Now I wont lie, every once in a while, I will chow on some Muesilix, or some 'healthy' granola, but I know I am lying to myself about it being healthy and still going to get the sugar roller coaster. Every once in a while, like once or twice a week, ok, but how many of us grab that cardboard box of cereal, (which oddly is shaped like a tomb stone) and munch away every day. Read the box. If something say 'fortified' it means added to, usually because there was no nutritional value before it became injected with these 'nutrients'. Come on, boil up some steel cut oats, throw in some nuts and Cinnamon, top with some coconut milk, side it with two low fat oil cooked eggs, and your much better off: tops 10 mins. I make a big batch of oats and eat them during the week.
The other thing I am seeing is the high fats. Blood is water, fat is oil, you know the rule. Don't mix right. They don't mix in a dish, they don't mix in your blood. Do this: get a clear glass bowl, add water, drop in some olive oil. Viola! Your blood after a steak, or after a burger, or any high fat content dish. So those peeps with the high Tri's, I ask them too, 'Whatcha eat last night?'. 9/10 it's a steak, a burger, Chinese take out (whoa- read a sesame oil bottle), or an omelet with ham and charisso (blech). I promise, you do the bowl thing above and you will think about your little thin blood vessels every time you look at that piece of lard (steak) looking back at you from the table. However, same rule as the cereal, we are not here to deprive ourselves and live in a cave, once a week, once a month, then instead of a life threat, it becomes a treat. Treat time!
Take care of yourself, stay healthy, keep moving and for crying out loud, eat with your brain, not your stomach.
TrainerTroy.
*I am not a Dr. and this is for your entertainment only. Do your own research.
so I have been working some health fairs lately as a coach. Looking at the results of people's blood work and telling them about the cholesterol HDL, LDL, Triglycerides, pressure and sugar levels. What I find amazing is those that are not fasting. We need to fast to by the most accurate. But what happens when we do not fast is we see a response, mainly in the Tri's (fats) and the sugar from what we ingested recently.
So when I see someones test who has a high sugar, I ask 'What did you have for Breakfast', (most of the testing is early a.m.) Nine times outta Ten, they will say, cereal. I have been telling people for years of the high and rapid transition of these processed dump truck boxes of food we are marketed as breakfast called cereal and here is my proof. If you want a big sugar rush and big crash, eat a bowl of cereal....mmm, good. Now I wont lie, every once in a while, I will chow on some Muesilix, or some 'healthy' granola, but I know I am lying to myself about it being healthy and still going to get the sugar roller coaster. Every once in a while, like once or twice a week, ok, but how many of us grab that cardboard box of cereal, (which oddly is shaped like a tomb stone) and munch away every day. Read the box. If something say 'fortified' it means added to, usually because there was no nutritional value before it became injected with these 'nutrients'. Come on, boil up some steel cut oats, throw in some nuts and Cinnamon, top with some coconut milk, side it with two low fat oil cooked eggs, and your much better off: tops 10 mins. I make a big batch of oats and eat them during the week.
The other thing I am seeing is the high fats. Blood is water, fat is oil, you know the rule. Don't mix right. They don't mix in a dish, they don't mix in your blood. Do this: get a clear glass bowl, add water, drop in some olive oil. Viola! Your blood after a steak, or after a burger, or any high fat content dish. So those peeps with the high Tri's, I ask them too, 'Whatcha eat last night?'. 9/10 it's a steak, a burger, Chinese take out (whoa- read a sesame oil bottle), or an omelet with ham and charisso (blech). I promise, you do the bowl thing above and you will think about your little thin blood vessels every time you look at that piece of lard (steak) looking back at you from the table. However, same rule as the cereal, we are not here to deprive ourselves and live in a cave, once a week, once a month, then instead of a life threat, it becomes a treat. Treat time!
Take care of yourself, stay healthy, keep moving and for crying out loud, eat with your brain, not your stomach.
TrainerTroy.
*I am not a Dr. and this is for your entertainment only. Do your own research.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Yogi Gossip!
Hi there, it is Tuesday and already I have witnessed some crazy stuff in classes. Here is my teachers view point. I try to keep love in my heart. Most times people think I am stoping and breathing for them, usually I am, but several times, it is to calm and center myself.
It is a delicate balance as the teacher between doing and leading. Recently a mentor, Yogi E, taught me, by example, to embrace my strength as a teacher. Not to shy away from being direct and to the point while leading students toward a postures potential. I can be strong and present while holding love in my heart. I have learned that a teacher can not 'do' Yoga while they are leading. Being a student takes surrender and trust. Being a leader means having a vision, holding your students best interest in mind, and being fearless.
In Yoga this week, I have seen people stop moving 1/2 way up their mat from Down Dog because the rest of the way to the front of the mat must be to far. I have observed people coming to the front of the mat and popping up to standing, blowing off forward fold. People forcing their legs straight in Down Dog, rounding their back because of tight hamstrings, even though I remind them to bend their knees, arch their back. I have reminded people to 'bend their knees' over their ankles, over and over, even demonstrating it in front of them, while they keep their legs straight. I have work shopped how to place your hand in Dancing Shiva posture at the beginning of the class, arm at side, palm open, thumb facing backward, only to see arms twisted around, bent backward, holding on to the outside of their feet.
I remind myself what one of my teachers said. 'People are doing the best they can do at that moment in time'. I radiate love to them and smile in their direction. I thank my Guru and see him spread peace and understanding to them so that they do not create struggle in their lives like they do their Yoga postures.
Try to listen to the cues and remember they are for your safety. Know that a great Yoga teacher will not 'do' Yoga postures with you, they will lead. I pray I can do the same.
Thank you for allowing me to give what I have received.
Jai (Victory)!
Troy
Get a free gift, sign up for my newsletter here:
http://www.trainertroy.com/
It is a delicate balance as the teacher between doing and leading. Recently a mentor, Yogi E, taught me, by example, to embrace my strength as a teacher. Not to shy away from being direct and to the point while leading students toward a postures potential. I can be strong and present while holding love in my heart. I have learned that a teacher can not 'do' Yoga while they are leading. Being a student takes surrender and trust. Being a leader means having a vision, holding your students best interest in mind, and being fearless.
In Yoga this week, I have seen people stop moving 1/2 way up their mat from Down Dog because the rest of the way to the front of the mat must be to far. I have observed people coming to the front of the mat and popping up to standing, blowing off forward fold. People forcing their legs straight in Down Dog, rounding their back because of tight hamstrings, even though I remind them to bend their knees, arch their back. I have reminded people to 'bend their knees' over their ankles, over and over, even demonstrating it in front of them, while they keep their legs straight. I have work shopped how to place your hand in Dancing Shiva posture at the beginning of the class, arm at side, palm open, thumb facing backward, only to see arms twisted around, bent backward, holding on to the outside of their feet.
I remind myself what one of my teachers said. 'People are doing the best they can do at that moment in time'. I radiate love to them and smile in their direction. I thank my Guru and see him spread peace and understanding to them so that they do not create struggle in their lives like they do their Yoga postures.
Try to listen to the cues and remember they are for your safety. Know that a great Yoga teacher will not 'do' Yoga postures with you, they will lead. I pray I can do the same.
Thank you for allowing me to give what I have received.
Jai (Victory)!
Troy
Get a free gift, sign up for my newsletter here:
http://www.trainertroy.com/
Monday, September 27, 2010
Stress Free Life
I have sent so much time helping people with stress they do not even realize they are carrying around on their shoulders.
The best reward for me is when people tell me that they did not even know they were holding on to stress after we resolve it. I love to hear people tell me that they feel a weight has been lifted off their shoulders. It feels so good to know that they are lighter. They are free.
It is a simple matter of trust. People feel comfortable and relax. We do some stretches that anyone can do. I share a secret breathing technique for relaxation and then walk them through an amazing experience. It all depends on the mind space of the client, but if they are open and really want to feel good, they let go. I do all the work. I and they keep their mind busy with the mental exercises we do. They relax, breath and let go. Before we realize it, the hour and half has passed and they are amazed at how good they feel.
This sacred and ancient technique has been handed down for generations, Kept as a secret from the rest of the world, it has only been introduced to the Western world within the last hundred years. It amazes me how fast it works and how good people feel after.
If you want to feel great this week, let me know. I need a special group of people to be a test group for a series of recordings and teaching I am trying to develop at this time. Email me and I will tell you about my offer. I only have space for 5 people to be in this group/
Thank you,
stay moving, keep healthy.
Troy
trainertroy@dmz.net
The best reward for me is when people tell me that they did not even know they were holding on to stress after we resolve it. I love to hear people tell me that they feel a weight has been lifted off their shoulders. It feels so good to know that they are lighter. They are free.
It is a simple matter of trust. People feel comfortable and relax. We do some stretches that anyone can do. I share a secret breathing technique for relaxation and then walk them through an amazing experience. It all depends on the mind space of the client, but if they are open and really want to feel good, they let go. I do all the work. I and they keep their mind busy with the mental exercises we do. They relax, breath and let go. Before we realize it, the hour and half has passed and they are amazed at how good they feel.
This sacred and ancient technique has been handed down for generations, Kept as a secret from the rest of the world, it has only been introduced to the Western world within the last hundred years. It amazes me how fast it works and how good people feel after.
If you want to feel great this week, let me know. I need a special group of people to be a test group for a series of recordings and teaching I am trying to develop at this time. Email me and I will tell you about my offer. I only have space for 5 people to be in this group/
Thank you,
stay moving, keep healthy.
Troy
trainertroy@dmz.net
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Pain and Suffering.
This is my interpretation of a very complex and intricate subject matter. I am speaking from my experience and it may or may not relate to your experience. Whatever your experience is, I would love to hear it. Feel free to comment below.
For most of us, we have experienced what we would define as pain. An uncomfortable feeling that is past what makes us feel good now. A lot of us have had an experience of the opposite of what we would cause pleasure.
Pain is the feeling you receive physical or emotional in responsee to an event or occurrence within or without of your self. When I am in an Asana and am instructed to keep my arms extended parallel to the floor for an amount of time that is beyond the comfort level of my musculature I feel feedback from the body in the form of sensations that could be uncomfortable. When I am running, I feel sensations in my legs once I reach the four mile mark that let me know the body is reaching its maximum capacity for movement at that time. Last week I went running with my client Michie. I reached a mileage that was the limit of my legs at that time. Sure I had run further in the past, and had the expectation that I could run further this time. I noticed the sensation and allowed it to go on for sometime, pushing through it the best I could. Once it became to much and felt like pins and needles, I pulled back and walked for a few minutes. When I noticed the feeling subside, I pushed on again and ran a few more minutes. I kept this up, until the pain was past the level I felt was safe for my legs, then I just walked most of the rest of the way back.
I knew at that time that I had a choice. Here I was with my client who had out run me by a mile. I was supposed to be the experienced runner having run two marathons and I was walking. My choice was this: I could be ok with that, or I could push my body past the level of safety and risk re injuring an old injury just to look good to her. I could have got to my car and really punished myself with guilt and shame. I could (and would have in my 30's pre-Yoga self), told myself a huge story about how embarrassing that was, and how out of shape I was, what a failure I had been and how I know I could have/ should have done better. I could have become angry and drove recklessly, blinded by disappointment and shame. Then I would have gone from pain, into suffering. Suffering to me is the story we tell ourselves about that event which took us past our comfort level, or the place where we felt good.
Many of us experience pain, but suffering can be optional. Through experiencing this option in a Yoga class I have been able to apply it to my life and end the story before it begins, or subvert it when the tide of the mind tries to rise into a tidal wave. My hope is you can begin to recognize this building up of a story and subvert it from happening to you, saving yourself from suffering and creating more Happy in your life.
I hope Yoga can teach you this and much more too, see you in class.
Jai (Victory!) to you,
Troy
Sign up for my free newsletter at http://www.trainertroy.com
a once a month newsletter filled with all kinds of fitness secrets to help you feel healthy and happy!
For most of us, we have experienced what we would define as pain. An uncomfortable feeling that is past what makes us feel good now. A lot of us have had an experience of the opposite of what we would cause pleasure.
Pain is the feeling you receive physical or emotional in responsee to an event or occurrence within or without of your self. When I am in an Asana and am instructed to keep my arms extended parallel to the floor for an amount of time that is beyond the comfort level of my musculature I feel feedback from the body in the form of sensations that could be uncomfortable. When I am running, I feel sensations in my legs once I reach the four mile mark that let me know the body is reaching its maximum capacity for movement at that time. Last week I went running with my client Michie. I reached a mileage that was the limit of my legs at that time. Sure I had run further in the past, and had the expectation that I could run further this time. I noticed the sensation and allowed it to go on for sometime, pushing through it the best I could. Once it became to much and felt like pins and needles, I pulled back and walked for a few minutes. When I noticed the feeling subside, I pushed on again and ran a few more minutes. I kept this up, until the pain was past the level I felt was safe for my legs, then I just walked most of the rest of the way back.
I knew at that time that I had a choice. Here I was with my client who had out run me by a mile. I was supposed to be the experienced runner having run two marathons and I was walking. My choice was this: I could be ok with that, or I could push my body past the level of safety and risk re injuring an old injury just to look good to her. I could have got to my car and really punished myself with guilt and shame. I could (and would have in my 30's pre-Yoga self), told myself a huge story about how embarrassing that was, and how out of shape I was, what a failure I had been and how I know I could have/ should have done better. I could have become angry and drove recklessly, blinded by disappointment and shame. Then I would have gone from pain, into suffering. Suffering to me is the story we tell ourselves about that event which took us past our comfort level, or the place where we felt good.
Many of us experience pain, but suffering can be optional. Through experiencing this option in a Yoga class I have been able to apply it to my life and end the story before it begins, or subvert it when the tide of the mind tries to rise into a tidal wave. My hope is you can begin to recognize this building up of a story and subvert it from happening to you, saving yourself from suffering and creating more Happy in your life.
I hope Yoga can teach you this and much more too, see you in class.
Jai (Victory!) to you,
Troy
Sign up for my free newsletter at http://www.trainertroy.com
a once a month newsletter filled with all kinds of fitness secrets to help you feel healthy and happy!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Importance of Teachers
Lineage Holders What does it mean to hold the teachings of past masters? Links in a chain that stretches back in time,we walk the fine line between honoring what came before and birthing a new vision as vast as the dance of the deities. What keeps a lineage vibrant,enlivens practices with the energy of truth and transformation? What weaves individual souls into the whole cloth of tradition, and a great work moving forward through the ages?It is remembrance and the willingness to let go of form. It is bold dreams and fearless action. It is taking the teachings into the fray of everyday life,saying yes to what the moment holds. It is intractable chaos and creative commitment. It is blazing a trail,bushwhacking in the dark without a flashlight. It is riding a wave of truth with the power to change the landscape and the lives of all it touches. Whether we chose the path or it chose us,we can shake the dust from our feet and walk forward - each step a part of the lineage unfolding. -Danna Faulds
Monday, June 21, 2010
Listening to my heart
It has been three weeks since I came back from an amazing Yoga training in Florida and each weekend has been full of unexpected surprises. On the flight back I saw an ad for a Cd release party of the chanting husband and wife team, Govindas and Rada, happening at their studio in Santa Monica. I had heard of them a couple of years ago in passing from someone at the Yoga school, but forgot until I saw the ad. So I called a friend who lives in Venice and sure enough she wanted to go. They were beautiful and their studio was so inspiring. I never know so much love could exist in L.A. It was a magical night of song, dancing and beautiful singing and a good friend.
The following week my friend Ann Marie, also from the Yoga school surprised me with a visit to California to take me to another chanter, Bhagavan Das. We had an amazing experience which I blogged about in Mystical Menagerie.
Then this week I randomly went to a mediation my friend Jennifer was teaching and she said she was going to see the living saint Amma in L.A. on Friday and would I want to go. Sure enough, Ann Marie and I had seen her poster the week before in San Diego and I had pondered if that would be the third weekend of chanting for me since all things happen in threes.
Jennifer and I met up almost two hours later than we were supposed to because of a turn of events. My friends were already there at the hotel where Amma was and let me know that it was full and everyone just showing up were going into an overflow room and would not get to see her live until much later. Somehow Jennifer had no traffic on the 405 and flew there in what seemed like a time warp. Five p.m. and no traffic on the highway, weird. We arrived at the hotel and my friend told me what room they were in but that we probably could not get in. We tried anyway and sure enough, they let us in with our friends. We got into the main room with Amma and even were sat a section in front of our friends. It was an amazing and fully realized evening. Two days later and I am still buzzing thinking about it. I got three hugs from Amma, which is amazing in its self too. She hugs you and it feels like you are being wrapped up in the arms of the universe. She radiates love from her pores and seems to glow blue. To cap it all off, as I was leaving, in walked Govindas and Rada. I approached them to say hi and compliment them on their Cd, especially track nine that does something magic to me every time I hear it. I talked to Rada for awhile while Govindas was talking to other people. I had only met him for the first time, the three weeks before at his studio, and only for about five minutes. He shook my hand and said hi Troy. I could not believe he would remember my name. All I can do is surrender to Prana and follow its divine light.
I am practicing the teaching that I have tried to absorb of leaving it all up to the universe and it will guide me to where I need to be. It is important to be open to these possibilities as the mind will want to interpret or desire will want to cling to ideas. Being open to me means standing in witness to these events without attachment to or choosing for and against. My teacher's teacher is said to have worshiped Prana. He didn't practice it. He worshiped it. For me the promptings of Prana lead me on these fantastic journeys. As soon as I begin to make choices or take actions against the promptings I feel a shift away from the path. The difference for me is between following a well worn path a light is guiding me down that is smooth and has many wonders, or me going into the bushes by choice and hacking my way out a new path I insist on creating. I choose the less struggle of following the light. The challenge for me is the path is so subtle and the light is flickering. I guess that is why I have this heart, if I listen closely inside my heart is attuned to the flickering light and will tell me if I m on the path or pushing my way through the thicket.
The following week my friend Ann Marie, also from the Yoga school surprised me with a visit to California to take me to another chanter, Bhagavan Das. We had an amazing experience which I blogged about in Mystical Menagerie.
Then this week I randomly went to a mediation my friend Jennifer was teaching and she said she was going to see the living saint Amma in L.A. on Friday and would I want to go. Sure enough, Ann Marie and I had seen her poster the week before in San Diego and I had pondered if that would be the third weekend of chanting for me since all things happen in threes.
Jennifer and I met up almost two hours later than we were supposed to because of a turn of events. My friends were already there at the hotel where Amma was and let me know that it was full and everyone just showing up were going into an overflow room and would not get to see her live until much later. Somehow Jennifer had no traffic on the 405 and flew there in what seemed like a time warp. Five p.m. and no traffic on the highway, weird. We arrived at the hotel and my friend told me what room they were in but that we probably could not get in. We tried anyway and sure enough, they let us in with our friends. We got into the main room with Amma and even were sat a section in front of our friends. It was an amazing and fully realized evening. Two days later and I am still buzzing thinking about it. I got three hugs from Amma, which is amazing in its self too. She hugs you and it feels like you are being wrapped up in the arms of the universe. She radiates love from her pores and seems to glow blue. To cap it all off, as I was leaving, in walked Govindas and Rada. I approached them to say hi and compliment them on their Cd, especially track nine that does something magic to me every time I hear it. I talked to Rada for awhile while Govindas was talking to other people. I had only met him for the first time, the three weeks before at his studio, and only for about five minutes. He shook my hand and said hi Troy. I could not believe he would remember my name. All I can do is surrender to Prana and follow its divine light.
I am practicing the teaching that I have tried to absorb of leaving it all up to the universe and it will guide me to where I need to be. It is important to be open to these possibilities as the mind will want to interpret or desire will want to cling to ideas. Being open to me means standing in witness to these events without attachment to or choosing for and against. My teacher's teacher is said to have worshiped Prana. He didn't practice it. He worshiped it. For me the promptings of Prana lead me on these fantastic journeys. As soon as I begin to make choices or take actions against the promptings I feel a shift away from the path. The difference for me is between following a well worn path a light is guiding me down that is smooth and has many wonders, or me going into the bushes by choice and hacking my way out a new path I insist on creating. I choose the less struggle of following the light. The challenge for me is the path is so subtle and the light is flickering. I guess that is why I have this heart, if I listen closely inside my heart is attuned to the flickering light and will tell me if I m on the path or pushing my way through the thicket.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Mystical Managerie
As I recommit myself to this blog to replace my daily diary I am in awe of the life I am being lead into. Such peace and bliss filled with love and life. I am engulfed in love and learning beyond my comprehension. The arms of knowledge and understanding enfold me like a great hug from Amma. People, places and happenings arise in my field as I listen to the inner promptings of prana, that leave me in awe of the greatness of the universe. I am seeing God as alive and in the fiber of everything that moves and exists. Glimpses of his greatness shimmering through the fabric of reality, reminding me of where I am headed.
Listening to Prana guide us, my life and soul partner Ann Marie and I walked what seemed to be a random path down a street we knew nothing about having been guided to what seemed like the wrong spot by Sprint Navigation. We 'decided' to stop for coffee and sit by a fountain watching a family with small children play in a fountain that a homeless man was picking coins out of. Ann Marie and I spoke of great things, lives passed, lessons learned. Prana guided me to ask us to walk down the street towards the great beacon of the SRF gate. Arriving at the locked gate on the wrong side of the gardens at the same time as two nuns. They glanced at us staring at the gate and proceeded to unlock the lock to let themselves in. From somewhere inside a voice rose up and I heard either myself or Ann Marie asking where the entrance to the gardens were. With a great smile one of the nuns turned and offered to meet us on the other side of the street and show us the garden. What unfolded was awe inspiring. She met us and let us in after hours and graciously let us on a private tour of the gardens and up to the house, introducing us to other nuns and telling us of the life of Paramahansa Yogananda. At one point, making a silly joke as I often do, she giggled what can only be called the sound of an angel laughing, the sweetest sound of joy and called me a 'divine child'. Ahh, sweet love of God. His light is everywhere. Never could we have planned such a special moment, never could this have 'happened' by chance.
As I begin to re read the Autobiography of a Yoga and The Second Coming of Christ by Paramahansa I am reminded of when I first was guided to his book so many years ago in a sad time of my life, when I needed guidance, long before I was guided to the path of a Yogi. Many full circles have been completed in this year so far. I am inspired to listen to inner promptings and enjoy the ride for the rest of the year.
Jai Guru
TrainerTroy@gmail.com
http://www.trainertroy.com
(818) 415-9554
Sign up for my fitness newsletter on my site!
Listening to Prana guide us, my life and soul partner Ann Marie and I walked what seemed to be a random path down a street we knew nothing about having been guided to what seemed like the wrong spot by Sprint Navigation. We 'decided' to stop for coffee and sit by a fountain watching a family with small children play in a fountain that a homeless man was picking coins out of. Ann Marie and I spoke of great things, lives passed, lessons learned. Prana guided me to ask us to walk down the street towards the great beacon of the SRF gate. Arriving at the locked gate on the wrong side of the gardens at the same time as two nuns. They glanced at us staring at the gate and proceeded to unlock the lock to let themselves in. From somewhere inside a voice rose up and I heard either myself or Ann Marie asking where the entrance to the gardens were. With a great smile one of the nuns turned and offered to meet us on the other side of the street and show us the garden. What unfolded was awe inspiring. She met us and let us in after hours and graciously let us on a private tour of the gardens and up to the house, introducing us to other nuns and telling us of the life of Paramahansa Yogananda. At one point, making a silly joke as I often do, she giggled what can only be called the sound of an angel laughing, the sweetest sound of joy and called me a 'divine child'. Ahh, sweet love of God. His light is everywhere. Never could we have planned such a special moment, never could this have 'happened' by chance.
As I begin to re read the Autobiography of a Yoga and The Second Coming of Christ by Paramahansa I am reminded of when I first was guided to his book so many years ago in a sad time of my life, when I needed guidance, long before I was guided to the path of a Yogi. Many full circles have been completed in this year so far. I am inspired to listen to inner promptings and enjoy the ride for the rest of the year.
Jai Guru
TrainerTroy@gmail.com
http://www.trainertroy.com
(818) 415-9554
Sign up for my fitness newsletter on my site!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Lot of Learning
I am learning that although I have been teaching Yoga for 8 years, I know so little and there is so much to remember, ie: learn. The information and experience is never ending and so enjoyable. Learning this week about prolonged holding in postures, how to get out of the mind and into the body, be lead by a higher voice (whatever you want to call it), and how to love and not judge others for their version of their experience.
what I learned in March is knowledge by itself is useless, it takes experiencing the lesson and then there may be understanding. This time I am in understanding that we all have a different experience and that is ok, at the root it is all the same lesson, it just shows up differently.
Tonight I had a major understanding from a highly versed and well researched and experienced teacher. Pain, weather physical, mental, or emotional is only greater than or less than according to the perceived. For me that means that mental pain or emotional does not have to be any greater than nor have any more impact than a physical pain unless I choose so. In going into witness, I can perceive the pain on the level I need for my understanding. In other words, an emotional pain can have the potential to effect me no more than the pain in my foot, unless I choose for it to effect me more or less.
In this understanding, I am free to allow an emotional or mental challenge to exist at varying degrees according to my perception of that pain. For me this means that I can no longer view from the witness perspective, a mental or emotional pain as something that needs or can cause me any greater discomfort than holding a posture for a longer time than my physical body is comfortable with. Thus I can evaluate and say to myself, this pain is not greater than any other pain I have experienced, I can allow it to exist without affecting me and breath into it and release when ready.
This is amazing to me, the practice of it will be a challenge, but I am ready for the challenge. I imagine myself experiencing an emotion disappointment and viewing it as no greater than a bump on the head, and I survived that pain when I fell of the bike and lived to tell about it and keep doing my Yoga. Therefore, no perceived pain from someone being rude to me, or saying something hurtful, or suffering a loss will be greater than a physical pain that I can easily let the sensations of pass, unless I want it to be.
Revolution of the mind, I love this Yoga stuff.
Troy
what I learned in March is knowledge by itself is useless, it takes experiencing the lesson and then there may be understanding. This time I am in understanding that we all have a different experience and that is ok, at the root it is all the same lesson, it just shows up differently.
Tonight I had a major understanding from a highly versed and well researched and experienced teacher. Pain, weather physical, mental, or emotional is only greater than or less than according to the perceived. For me that means that mental pain or emotional does not have to be any greater than nor have any more impact than a physical pain unless I choose so. In going into witness, I can perceive the pain on the level I need for my understanding. In other words, an emotional pain can have the potential to effect me no more than the pain in my foot, unless I choose for it to effect me more or less.
In this understanding, I am free to allow an emotional or mental challenge to exist at varying degrees according to my perception of that pain. For me this means that I can no longer view from the witness perspective, a mental or emotional pain as something that needs or can cause me any greater discomfort than holding a posture for a longer time than my physical body is comfortable with. Thus I can evaluate and say to myself, this pain is not greater than any other pain I have experienced, I can allow it to exist without affecting me and breath into it and release when ready.
This is amazing to me, the practice of it will be a challenge, but I am ready for the challenge. I imagine myself experiencing an emotion disappointment and viewing it as no greater than a bump on the head, and I survived that pain when I fell of the bike and lived to tell about it and keep doing my Yoga. Therefore, no perceived pain from someone being rude to me, or saying something hurtful, or suffering a loss will be greater than a physical pain that I can easily let the sensations of pass, unless I want it to be.
Revolution of the mind, I love this Yoga stuff.
Troy
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Girls...excuse to go to the mall....tell your husbands.
Ladies,
this is from my client Michie who I got on the BodyBug armband to track her calories. It is such a good device that is acurate to a fault and does not let us get away with much. We can tell minute by minute how many calories we are burning and know which daily activities burn calories. Let me know if you want to order one, I can get you a good deal at 24 Hour Fitness on sale. Email me for more information. trainertroy@gmail.com or call me up 818) 415-9554
Troy,
>
> I forgot to talk to you about this today.
> Recently, I found even just a small grocery shopping on my way home
> from work makes a lot of difference with my exercise and stress.
> Only 30 mins or so shopping will burn a lot of calories and release stress.
> I went to Macy's yesterday and just looked around about 40 mins and
> checked my calories, it is just like working out at the gym.
> Also, I felt much lighter and better even after the busy day.
> Even after hanging around Macy's, I still had enough time to cook
> dinner and to do house hold stuff.
>
> Thinking about when I was in Japan, I did the same thing almost every day.
> Because there are some shopping malls at each station in Japan and to
> change the trains/subways, I had to pass by or even walk through the
> mall.
> During this time, I was looking around a lot of things, released some
> stress I got at work and did some cardio.
> Here, we don't have those culture, just drive to office and back home.
> Only once in a while, do some shopping and that is only for necessary
> things.
>
> I know hanging around shopping malls is really risky...hehe.
> Sometimes I will spend a lot of money...
> But still, I think this is really much better than holding stress and
> jump into stress eating.
> I was joking with Sean, maybe I should go to Costco every day and
> walked 1 or 2 circles then I can burn at least 200 calories or so.
> LOL.
>
> How do you think?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Michie
this is from my client Michie who I got on the BodyBug armband to track her calories. It is such a good device that is acurate to a fault and does not let us get away with much. We can tell minute by minute how many calories we are burning and know which daily activities burn calories. Let me know if you want to order one, I can get you a good deal at 24 Hour Fitness on sale. Email me for more information. trainertroy@gmail.com or call me up 818) 415-9554
Troy,
>
> I forgot to talk to you about this today.
> Recently, I found even just a small grocery shopping on my way home
> from work makes a lot of difference with my exercise and stress.
> Only 30 mins or so shopping will burn a lot of calories and release stress.
> I went to Macy's yesterday and just looked around about 40 mins and
> checked my calories, it is just like working out at the gym.
> Also, I felt much lighter and better even after the busy day.
> Even after hanging around Macy's, I still had enough time to cook
> dinner and to do house hold stuff.
>
> Thinking about when I was in Japan, I did the same thing almost every day.
> Because there are some shopping malls at each station in Japan and to
> change the trains/subways, I had to pass by or even walk through the
> mall.
> During this time, I was looking around a lot of things, released some
> stress I got at work and did some cardio.
> Here, we don't have those culture, just drive to office and back home.
> Only once in a while, do some shopping and that is only for necessary
> things.
>
> I know hanging around shopping malls is really risky...hehe.
> Sometimes I will spend a lot of money...
> But still, I think this is really much better than holding stress and
> jump into stress eating.
> I was joking with Sean, maybe I should go to Costco every day and
> walked 1 or 2 circles then I can burn at least 200 calories or so.
> LOL.
>
> How do you think?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Michie
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Really Rude
So teaching Yoga reveals so much to me about communicating with others something I love and have learned. I see so much at the front of the room. I have always been a 'watcher' and notice all the little details. This week so far I have seen more guys in Yoga which is a good sign, we guys need to loosen up. I had a student say to me that they took another teachers class and the teacher hurt their back. I asked how and they said they told them to do this posture and it hurt her back. All I could say is do not do the posture, but I was thinking why would you do a posture just because someone told you to? I always tell everyone to do their own postures, to make it their practice, but whatever you do, make it to the end of the class. Which brings me to my next point. I subbed for a teacher this week and about 1/2 way through people would get up one by one, about five of them, making a lot of noise and roll up their mats, take time in the middle of class to put their shoes on ect. and leave. Who knows why they were leaving, but if they knew they had to go, wouldn't it make sense to be by the door doing your practice? If they had no reason to leave, they just did not care for the class, they could have learned so much more in patience by staying until the end and doing other postures they liked. I am so glad I have learned to let reactions within me pass without attaching to them so it did not bother me. Secondly, funny lady came in to class half way, walked up front, threw out her mat on the floor with a big bang, startling me, and began to practice. I just smiled...gym Yoga.
Happy Yoga to you.
Happy Yoga to you.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Diary of a Yoga Instructor
Tuesday a.m. class:
Class was full, not much space. Lots of smiling faces. The class before was over 5 mins late which gave us a late start. Funny, no room up front for me to put my mat down except just in front of the stereo which means no one can see me in the mirror should I do a posture example. Started class with a breathing exercise, which I have heard many teachers do not do at the gym, but regardless of where it is taught, breathing is the foundation of Yoga and we are not really doing Yoga if we are not breathing properly. So I do it anyway. Class seemed to go well. I explain that a Mudra is a sacred hand gesture with a purpose. You don't go to reach for something over head on a shelf and kind of bend your arm and have a weak wrist and make a feeble attempt to take whatever your reaching for down, so why would we do a weak armed overhead reach? In ½ Moon Standing I have to continuously remind people to extend the arms and grip the hands. It is a challenge as an instructor to know when to shut up and just let some in the class do the postures incorrectly. That explains why when I take some peoples class the instructor just says three or four generic instructions and then are quiet and ½ the class is doing the posture incorrectly and potentially hurting themselves.
I was inspired to teach Warrior three on the right side in the flow and forgot to instruct it on the left side. So my class is probably feeling imbalanced all day and wondering why they are walking in circles…joke. Wonder why everyone claps at the end of Yoga, feels awkward to me as if I had just done a performance. A thank you means so much more, not to be ungrateful; it just does not seem to fit with Yoga.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Confessions of a Yoga Instructor
So, I keep hearing that if I want to have a blog it needs to be me being 'real'. I have been trying to figure out what might be interesting to others that may know me. I am pretty much a home body when I am not traveling the world so was not sure where to go with this. Then it dawned on me, the reason I teach Yoga is because I learn so much about Yoga from seeing and hearing what others are going through. So I decided I would try to blog about my experiences, good and challenging as a Yoga Instructor.
So starting today, without being to specific or naming names, I am going to share little insights of the Yoga classes I instruct on a daily or weekly basis, what I see from my perspective from all four corners of the room. As my friends can tell, not much slips past me.
First a little background. I had studied meditation with Diane Ross in Orlando after a tragedy in my life as a coping mechanism for many years. I knew the benefits of getting still. After leaving L.A., I reevaluated my life to find something I could do in relation to my passions, art, theatre, and fitness that would help others and that I could make a living at. That led me to Personal Training. Being a Gemini, I knew I wanted something else to go along with training or I would get bored and a friend in Kansas of all places, suggested Yoga. The very first class blew me away. Even though it was a 'gym' Yoga class I instantly went into meditation while moving and before I knew it I had completed crazy postures I never thought I could do and the class was over. I was hooked. Turns out there was a teacher training coming to Whichita, I went and loved the technical aspects of the postures. I got absorbed in the technical and forgot about my meditative experience until years later in my first Hot Yoga class. I hated it, it was 'hell' Yoga in Key West and swore I would never do it, but secretly knew that I had had to meditate to get through it and was again hooked. I became obsessed with Hot Yoga and thought about being a Hot Yoga instructor and dreamed of owning my own hot Yoga studio. I know that the discipline and mental focous I learned from hot Yoga is what got me though my marathons But the further I got into Hot Yoga, the more I realized that it is pretty much devoid of the deeper, meditative side of Yoga and the marriage of the two is what I seek.
So I started to look for a 'real' Yogi. Through many trials and many Western teachers I deducted that I wanted to find an 'original' Yogi from India and learn the real deal…………..
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
What Have You Learned?
A friend of mine asked me these very good questions about my recent trip to India and I wanted to share them with everyone. I hope they are of interest to you. If you are inspired or can think of any questions related to your health and nutrition path, send them to me via email and I will answer the best I can. Join my fitness newsletter and get free fitness tips monthly at:
www.trainertroy.com
So...India. Lots of Lingams, Yoni's, too, I would imagine? So many Lingams and Shiva temples, they are all really a blur at this point. I had no idea such ancient places still were accessible to people. Temples that predate recorded history, an ancient trading port with Rome, just amazing. You really feel and see the effects of time on the planet.
Was it worth it? It changed my life and as was explained to me, expanded my circle of safety as Gurudev teaches, to include more that I feel safe with. I do not know about that analogy as to me it feels more like my ideas of what make me feel safe were destroyed and that what safety means was re defined.
Would you go again? All I could say when I was getting on the plane was, I will never come here again, and now all I want to do is go back to Bapuji's temple at Kiyavarohan for forty days, but not for awhile. I would like to be in that holy spot, there was one other Ashram in Pondicherry I would like to go to again and study, but I really want to see North India which is supposed to be so different. We were in the oldest part of India down south and not much has changed in eons.
What did it teach you personally? Very good questions. I answer this in my next newsletter.....sign up for free delivery at:
www.trainertroy.com
www.trainertroy.com
So...India. Lots of Lingams, Yoni's, too, I would imagine? So many Lingams and Shiva temples, they are all really a blur at this point. I had no idea such ancient places still were accessible to people. Temples that predate recorded history, an ancient trading port with Rome, just amazing. You really feel and see the effects of time on the planet.
Was it worth it? It changed my life and as was explained to me, expanded my circle of safety as Gurudev teaches, to include more that I feel safe with. I do not know about that analogy as to me it feels more like my ideas of what make me feel safe were destroyed and that what safety means was re defined.
Would you go again? All I could say when I was getting on the plane was, I will never come here again, and now all I want to do is go back to Bapuji's temple at Kiyavarohan for forty days, but not for awhile. I would like to be in that holy spot, there was one other Ashram in Pondicherry I would like to go to again and study, but I really want to see North India which is supposed to be so different. We were in the oldest part of India down south and not much has changed in eons.
What did it teach you personally? Very good questions. I answer this in my next newsletter.....sign up for free delivery at:
www.trainertroy.com
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
To Tomorrow
I have so much resistance to merging my meditation with my Yoga which is what we are learning to do, but tonight I got a good explanation that it is and was never separate. Which of course I knew subconsciously, but was struggling with for some reason. We have a great teacher who hits the nail on the head, he hits it hard, but he always nails it.
Today we had the gift of Gurudev leading us in guided yoga, so powerful. I felt that his words were a healing salve for my body and soul. His energy was radiating out like a white light.
This afternoon, four hours on four postures. Tonight was the most fun I had in an anatomy class, we played a guess what is wrong with this posture game. Things are relaxing and sinking in. It is fun everyday to wonder what Gurudev will be talking about in the morning.
To tomorrow, cheers.
Today we had the gift of Gurudev leading us in guided yoga, so powerful. I felt that his words were a healing salve for my body and soul. His energy was radiating out like a white light.
This afternoon, four hours on four postures. Tonight was the most fun I had in an anatomy class, we played a guess what is wrong with this posture game. Things are relaxing and sinking in. It is fun everyday to wonder what Gurudev will be talking about in the morning.
To tomorrow, cheers.
So Far So Deep
So far things are amazingly challenging, both in thought, body, and spirit. But through challenge we are forced to stretch deeper and come out stronger. I am practicing everything I have learned on the mat in my personal Yoga practice but off the mat here. I have been faced with challenging ideas (seen to me as being in a new posture on the mat) and had to know when to press forward and when to pull back, know my edge and go there then 'soften' in the conversation. I am physically exhausted from sitting, eating and talking and doing slow motion postures. I am learning new cueing for postures, different ways of doing or getting in and out of the postures and reasons for mis alignment. The postures are where I have always learned the most both on a physical and metaphysical reference.
Hearing the Guru talk is why I came to the training. I feel like his words and method of transfereing experience and knowledge speaks directly into my heart. Today we were blessed with a posture flow directed by Kamini, his daughter and prana (energy) flow directed by him. His directions were a direct connection to our energy bodies and as he spoke we unfolded. I actually could sense when my mind was trying to get me to some movement and when my energy body was guiding me. At then end I was able to use the new breathing techniques and body locks to keep my energy in and not drift off away from everything. Beautiful. I can not wait to share with others the best I can.
Hearing the Guru talk is why I came to the training. I feel like his words and method of transfereing experience and knowledge speaks directly into my heart. Today we were blessed with a posture flow directed by Kamini, his daughter and prana (energy) flow directed by him. His directions were a direct connection to our energy bodies and as he spoke we unfolded. I actually could sense when my mind was trying to get me to some movement and when my energy body was guiding me. At then end I was able to use the new breathing techniques and body locks to keep my energy in and not drift off away from everything. Beautiful. I can not wait to share with others the best I can.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
2nd Full Day at Yoga School=Phew!
Well, another beautiful and full day here~ Started with a great practice at seven a.m. and a beautiful talk with Gurudev and some powerful sharing. I asked him if what I thought I was understanding that by learning the Yoga tools that we are learning I can connect my higher self and my physical self together and use them as one was right. He responded by telling me there is no higher self and no physical self, that all is one but yes that I could raise my energy with these tools.
This afternoon spent four hours learning and practiced listening to Prana and breathing techniques along with Bhandas, or locks in the body to keep our energy inside instead of it leaking out and use it to strengthen.
Tonight we talked about the principals of Karma for two and a half hours. My head hurt and while I can intellectually understand what the theory of Karma is, I do not think that I have enough proof to confirm or deny this as a law of the universe. I do know that my Christian background disagrees and holds firm to the idea that what separates man and the animals is the ability to freely choose our actions. That on a daily basis we have the choice of good or evil, and depending on the choice we make our consequences result in actions and we and others pay the price of those actions. After all we have a justice system built on deciding if the choices people make are right or wrong. We do not have a karma court that decides if someones karma let them to the point that brought them to the jail. We judge them on the choices they have made. We were told not to try and believe in Karma, that it needs to be tested in our lives and if we are open to it, we will see that it is the way things are.
I wanted to be open to the Karma idea and was fine with the discussion as it went from deep to silly and then even deeper, until it was finished with the statement that it did not matter if I believed it or not, that is the way it is. LOL, guess that is my Karma, to be confronted with this......
Missed the Oscars, Karma...Phew!
"Karma" literally means "deed" or "act", and more broadly names the universal principle of cause and effect, action and reaction, which Hindus believe governs all consciousness.[11] Karma is not fate, for man acts with free will creating his own destiny. According to the Vedas, if we sow goodness, we will reap goodness; if we sow evil, we will reap evil. Karma refers to the totality of our actions and their concomitant reactions in this and previous lives, all of which determine our future. The conquest of karma lies in intelligent action and dispassionate reaction. Not all karmas rebound immediately. Some accumulate and return unexpectedly in this or other births.[11] We produce Karma in four ways:[12]
This afternoon spent four hours learning and practiced listening to Prana and breathing techniques along with Bhandas, or locks in the body to keep our energy inside instead of it leaking out and use it to strengthen.
Tonight we talked about the principals of Karma for two and a half hours. My head hurt and while I can intellectually understand what the theory of Karma is, I do not think that I have enough proof to confirm or deny this as a law of the universe. I do know that my Christian background disagrees and holds firm to the idea that what separates man and the animals is the ability to freely choose our actions. That on a daily basis we have the choice of good or evil, and depending on the choice we make our consequences result in actions and we and others pay the price of those actions. After all we have a justice system built on deciding if the choices people make are right or wrong. We do not have a karma court that decides if someones karma let them to the point that brought them to the jail. We judge them on the choices they have made. We were told not to try and believe in Karma, that it needs to be tested in our lives and if we are open to it, we will see that it is the way things are.
I wanted to be open to the Karma idea and was fine with the discussion as it went from deep to silly and then even deeper, until it was finished with the statement that it did not matter if I believed it or not, that is the way it is. LOL, guess that is my Karma, to be confronted with this......
Missed the Oscars, Karma...Phew!
"Karma" literally means "deed" or "act", and more broadly names the universal principle of cause and effect, action and reaction, which Hindus believe governs all consciousness.[11] Karma is not fate, for man acts with free will creating his own destiny. According to the Vedas, if we sow goodness, we will reap goodness; if we sow evil, we will reap evil. Karma refers to the totality of our actions and their concomitant reactions in this and previous lives, all of which determine our future. The conquest of karma lies in intelligent action and dispassionate reaction. Not all karmas rebound immediately. Some accumulate and return unexpectedly in this or other births.[11] We produce Karma in four ways:[12]
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Back in Yoga School
First full day of year two of my Masters in Yogic Studies at the Amrit Institute in Ocala Florida.
Yoga practice started at 6:00 a.m. with an intense Yoga Nidra session.
Nidra being: The literal translation of Yoga Nidra is Yogic Sleep. It is an ancient form of meditation that will take you into the deepest levels of relaxation while still remaining fully aware. When practicing the Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra, your brainwaves drop into the alpha and theta state. As you progressively enter deeper and subtler brain waves you become more relaxed, integrated, expansive and present. Eventually, you completely shift out of identification with the body, mind and ego. In this deep state beyond ordinary waking consciousness, you naturally re-align with spirit, allowing you to effortlessly disengage from restrictive physical, mental and emotional patterning. Here, you are free to create a life that is an expression of higher consciousness, rather than acquired conditioning. (Amrit Institute)
That flowed into a posture series while maintaining the Nidra state of mind. Gurudev talked after for two hours that felt like five minutes it flowed by so fast. We are investigating the principal of managing Nidra in our practice through awareness of it rising and falling. We got to share our transformative experiences since last years training.
So many miracles have been happening for me since I met Gurudev that it is hard for me to comprehend let alone translate into words. But I did share with him how since coming back from India I have felt cleansed and have not wanted to eat fatty food, or restraunt food and that I can not drink alchohol the way I used to enjoy it. Now I can not finish a glass before I get a migrane and do not want any more. I shared how since returning I feel that I can 'hold a space for people' when they are telling me about challenges or upsets in their lives and allow them to relate their experiences and emotions without it negatively affecting me. I feel like by holding a space for love around people their stories travel through me without it attaching to me and I am able to relate to them from stillness with love. Finally I shared how postures are spontainiously coming to me in the middle of the night and how a cat adopted me and is teaching me much about patience and non attachment to material things like my once nice couch.
The afternoon and evening sessions were very eye opening for me. I think I have realized that I relate to the world from a removed perspective and am detached from most of my physical experiences almost to a hinderance. I can easily 'float out of my body' to a different plane as a means of escape, but that is not what meditation, or Yoga is about. I have had a misconseption. Yoga is a discipline, an investigation in to techniques like prana management or breath controll as a means to tie the physical and energy bodies together for a more powerful experience. Not as a means of escaping from the physical world. This is a new awareness and concept for me. Most people identify with the physical experience as a means of relating to their energy self, I guess I approach things in reverse. So my practice this week will be trying to stay attached to my body in a greater awareness of present time and combine my energy experience with my physical. We shall see. Happy Edge hunting.
Troy
Yoga practice started at 6:00 a.m. with an intense Yoga Nidra session.
Nidra being: The literal translation of Yoga Nidra is Yogic Sleep. It is an ancient form of meditation that will take you into the deepest levels of relaxation while still remaining fully aware. When practicing the Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra, your brainwaves drop into the alpha and theta state. As you progressively enter deeper and subtler brain waves you become more relaxed, integrated, expansive and present. Eventually, you completely shift out of identification with the body, mind and ego. In this deep state beyond ordinary waking consciousness, you naturally re-align with spirit, allowing you to effortlessly disengage from restrictive physical, mental and emotional patterning. Here, you are free to create a life that is an expression of higher consciousness, rather than acquired conditioning. (Amrit Institute)
That flowed into a posture series while maintaining the Nidra state of mind. Gurudev talked after for two hours that felt like five minutes it flowed by so fast. We are investigating the principal of managing Nidra in our practice through awareness of it rising and falling. We got to share our transformative experiences since last years training.
So many miracles have been happening for me since I met Gurudev that it is hard for me to comprehend let alone translate into words. But I did share with him how since coming back from India I have felt cleansed and have not wanted to eat fatty food, or restraunt food and that I can not drink alchohol the way I used to enjoy it. Now I can not finish a glass before I get a migrane and do not want any more. I shared how since returning I feel that I can 'hold a space for people' when they are telling me about challenges or upsets in their lives and allow them to relate their experiences and emotions without it negatively affecting me. I feel like by holding a space for love around people their stories travel through me without it attaching to me and I am able to relate to them from stillness with love. Finally I shared how postures are spontainiously coming to me in the middle of the night and how a cat adopted me and is teaching me much about patience and non attachment to material things like my once nice couch.
The afternoon and evening sessions were very eye opening for me. I think I have realized that I relate to the world from a removed perspective and am detached from most of my physical experiences almost to a hinderance. I can easily 'float out of my body' to a different plane as a means of escape, but that is not what meditation, or Yoga is about. I have had a misconseption. Yoga is a discipline, an investigation in to techniques like prana management or breath controll as a means to tie the physical and energy bodies together for a more powerful experience. Not as a means of escaping from the physical world. This is a new awareness and concept for me. Most people identify with the physical experience as a means of relating to their energy self, I guess I approach things in reverse. So my practice this week will be trying to stay attached to my body in a greater awareness of present time and combine my energy experience with my physical. We shall see. Happy Edge hunting.
Troy
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Updated India Stories
Everyone keeps asking me how my trip was and I am stumped for words. The only thing I have been able to come up with is Incredible (Incredible India was painted on our bus) and or enlightening. I am exhausted more than even when I ran the marathons, mentally, physically, and spiritually. It takes all the senses, morals, ideas, beliefs about life and being human on a rollercoaster ride. We were in little villages that really look like the dark ages, if they had plastic trash in the dark ages. What I keep getting when I close my eyes are images of children smiling, pretty little faces, big white teeth, shining eyes, in spite of the unfathomable surroundings.
I think I will remember it as finding diamonds, precious moments that shine in my mind as happy moments, and just like hunting for diamonds, one has to go through a lot of mud and dirt to find one. But oh how it shines.
Jan 08 2010:
As I left California I was filled with excitement and uncertainty. I knew that I wanted this trip, but was not sure I was prepared. Newark was a tight connection and I just made it to the group as the plane to Brussels was boarding. It was fun meeting some new people and seeing some old faces. The total fly time for me was 23 hours. We made it into the Chennai airport ok and stepped out into the India air for the first time. The smell hit me first, then the begging people and the dirt road and parking airport. The smell was very heavy, like dirt and diesel fuel, and garbage. Our guide led us to our bus and we drove through town on the way to the beach resort. Looking out the windows was over whelming. I was excited and stunned. The first think I noticed, even in the night, was garbage everywhere, on every street by the pounds and this is a major city. Then the cows hit me, walking random, here and there in the traffic. We arrived at the hotel, beautiful, away from the road, looks like Disney, the room is three times the size of the room I stayed at Walt Disney World, the grounds are manicured and plants everywhere, we are right on the beach and the staff are so nice. In the morning I got up early and did Yoga on my porch that is huge, strolled around, had a great breakfast (scrambled eggs and the weirdest waffle) and we all met later to talk about our day and meet with the Guru.
Tonight we took our first trip into town. There really is no way to describe it to our Western minds. It is overwhelming, but I just watched as it all passed by. We got out at a temple. They really do come right up to you en mass and try to sell you everything. I found if I look down and keep my hands in prayer at my heart they walk off or walk by. I just say not buying souvenirs and they move on. You see the tiniest children to the tiniest adults selling everything, most wearing hardly any clothes and no shoes. Animals everywhere all starving. Then a group of giggly girls go by wearing the prettiest red saris laughing and smiling. That is the thing, everyone seems happy. One of my clients gave me a culture book and it helped me see that this is their life and according to their beliefs, they do not see it as a misfortune, just their life. I am keeping that in mind. The temple was from 700 ad. The Romans, Indians and Persians all were there.
We got there with only thirty minutes left to see the whole temple grounds, which was a long walk. The temple was so old and the stone so dark that it all had an eerie feeling about it. W took pictures and I got the first glimpse at our teacher (Gurudev) being casual, talking, sitting, posing for pictures. I got the sense that this was going to be a really special trip.
On the way out we went to some shops full of my first taste of what we would see for sale all over India. Gurudev was in a shopping mood and has an eye for antique or unique statue art. It was a treat seeing him bartering with the salesman over which two statues were the best deal and what was a fair price. It was also a great chance to see him with his son, who we all love, Malia. I felt a great affection for this group and looked forward to the adventure ahead.
Jan 09:
Well, second day, a lot to see, three trips into town, sacred Shiva Temple more than 1500 Years old, fun clowning around. Morning Yoga class was so needed and beautiful. A red cow walked behind Priti while she was teaching, never saw that before. It was an amazing day. India is intense, not for the faint of heart. Dirty, smelly, packed, animals everywhere, but it has a charm. We went to a cultural center and saw some great dancers, watched a video about the history of Southern India and walked around the craft market.
We went into town again later and my buddy Scott and I went ‘Edge Hunting’ looking for our edge of comfort and walked down a side street to see what we could find. These two begging women walked towards us, barefoot. I will never forget this one lady. She was looking right at us, stepped into a fresh deposit made by a cow, looked down at her bare feet and just shrugged her shoulders, shook her foot off and kept walking, like it was no big deal, that she did not even mind. Just how matter of fact she was about it, made me realize that I am definitely in a whole other world and that no matter what I see or do I want to be like that lady, shake it off and keep on walking.
Scott and I found a tailor and ordered custom made Yoga clothes from a tailor in town. It was my first time bartering and it just feels silly to me. Arguing weather I wanted to pay fifteen dollars for a shirt custom made to fit, or twenty when it would cost me double back home. We made an agreement and then we would have to wait and see if they get delivered or if we get stiffed.
We left and I found a jewelry shop looking for a pendant for Karen back home who asked me to find her something. It seemed impossible to pick something out of the mass amounts of jewelry and gem stones that the nice guy from Kashmir insisted on showing me even if it was not in my price. I picked Moonstone, indigenous to India, hoping that she would love it. It was getting dark and the bus was going to leave.
Walking down the street we found Chanda alone which really impressed me at her bravery and together we had to hunt for the bus as it was not where it was supposed to be. I noticed the huge groups of men starting to emerge on the street. They must have just got off work, but seeing them standing around in packs was intimidating.
It felt good to be around people from Yoga school.
I think I will remember it as finding diamonds, precious moments that shine in my mind as happy moments, and just like hunting for diamonds, one has to go through a lot of mud and dirt to find one. But oh how it shines.
Jan 08 2010:
As I left California I was filled with excitement and uncertainty. I knew that I wanted this trip, but was not sure I was prepared. Newark was a tight connection and I just made it to the group as the plane to Brussels was boarding. It was fun meeting some new people and seeing some old faces. The total fly time for me was 23 hours. We made it into the Chennai airport ok and stepped out into the India air for the first time. The smell hit me first, then the begging people and the dirt road and parking airport. The smell was very heavy, like dirt and diesel fuel, and garbage. Our guide led us to our bus and we drove through town on the way to the beach resort. Looking out the windows was over whelming. I was excited and stunned. The first think I noticed, even in the night, was garbage everywhere, on every street by the pounds and this is a major city. Then the cows hit me, walking random, here and there in the traffic. We arrived at the hotel, beautiful, away from the road, looks like Disney, the room is three times the size of the room I stayed at Walt Disney World, the grounds are manicured and plants everywhere, we are right on the beach and the staff are so nice. In the morning I got up early and did Yoga on my porch that is huge, strolled around, had a great breakfast (scrambled eggs and the weirdest waffle) and we all met later to talk about our day and meet with the Guru.
Tonight we took our first trip into town. There really is no way to describe it to our Western minds. It is overwhelming, but I just watched as it all passed by. We got out at a temple. They really do come right up to you en mass and try to sell you everything. I found if I look down and keep my hands in prayer at my heart they walk off or walk by. I just say not buying souvenirs and they move on. You see the tiniest children to the tiniest adults selling everything, most wearing hardly any clothes and no shoes. Animals everywhere all starving. Then a group of giggly girls go by wearing the prettiest red saris laughing and smiling. That is the thing, everyone seems happy. One of my clients gave me a culture book and it helped me see that this is their life and according to their beliefs, they do not see it as a misfortune, just their life. I am keeping that in mind. The temple was from 700 ad. The Romans, Indians and Persians all were there.
We got there with only thirty minutes left to see the whole temple grounds, which was a long walk. The temple was so old and the stone so dark that it all had an eerie feeling about it. W took pictures and I got the first glimpse at our teacher (Gurudev) being casual, talking, sitting, posing for pictures. I got the sense that this was going to be a really special trip.
On the way out we went to some shops full of my first taste of what we would see for sale all over India. Gurudev was in a shopping mood and has an eye for antique or unique statue art. It was a treat seeing him bartering with the salesman over which two statues were the best deal and what was a fair price. It was also a great chance to see him with his son, who we all love, Malia. I felt a great affection for this group and looked forward to the adventure ahead.
Jan 09:
Well, second day, a lot to see, three trips into town, sacred Shiva Temple more than 1500 Years old, fun clowning around. Morning Yoga class was so needed and beautiful. A red cow walked behind Priti while she was teaching, never saw that before. It was an amazing day. India is intense, not for the faint of heart. Dirty, smelly, packed, animals everywhere, but it has a charm. We went to a cultural center and saw some great dancers, watched a video about the history of Southern India and walked around the craft market.
We went into town again later and my buddy Scott and I went ‘Edge Hunting’ looking for our edge of comfort and walked down a side street to see what we could find. These two begging women walked towards us, barefoot. I will never forget this one lady. She was looking right at us, stepped into a fresh deposit made by a cow, looked down at her bare feet and just shrugged her shoulders, shook her foot off and kept walking, like it was no big deal, that she did not even mind. Just how matter of fact she was about it, made me realize that I am definitely in a whole other world and that no matter what I see or do I want to be like that lady, shake it off and keep on walking.
Scott and I found a tailor and ordered custom made Yoga clothes from a tailor in town. It was my first time bartering and it just feels silly to me. Arguing weather I wanted to pay fifteen dollars for a shirt custom made to fit, or twenty when it would cost me double back home. We made an agreement and then we would have to wait and see if they get delivered or if we get stiffed.
We left and I found a jewelry shop looking for a pendant for Karen back home who asked me to find her something. It seemed impossible to pick something out of the mass amounts of jewelry and gem stones that the nice guy from Kashmir insisted on showing me even if it was not in my price. I picked Moonstone, indigenous to India, hoping that she would love it. It was getting dark and the bus was going to leave.
Walking down the street we found Chanda alone which really impressed me at her bravery and together we had to hunt for the bus as it was not where it was supposed to be. I noticed the huge groups of men starting to emerge on the street. They must have just got off work, but seeing them standing around in packs was intimidating.
It felt good to be around people from Yoga school.
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