Not Alone

I'm on the cusp of great success and growth. Or dramatic failure and sadness. I chose to believe the first statement wholeheartedly. Although the other voice creeps in at times. I allow for it to exist as doubt is a part of being human and the voice of fear which we all have. That's doesn't mean it is true.
What we believe we empower. One of my Guru's instructions for Yoga Nidra is to notice how energy follows attention. That which we focus our attention on attracts our energy. Try it now. Focus on the tip of your nose. Let all other thoughts dissolve and only think about the very tip of your nose. Try it now.
I bet before I asked you to you were happily unaware of your nose. Then it became clear that all you could think about was that finite point of your nose as all your energy rushed there.
This principle works the same with thoughts. As the thought of successes comes to mind it is usually shadowed by fear. If we acknowledge the fear and release it, returning all our attention on the feeling of successes our energy will flow in that direction.
Acknowledge,  breathe,  release,  choose to focus on success. No room for anything else. There's one concession to This principle. We can not do it alone. It takes a village. If we isolate there is no power. As a solo act we can only generate a limited amount off power to engineer that belief and bring it into reality. As a solo performer the doubt and fear builds and begins to steal our attention. But by enlisting the help of others,  namely friends and family,  We begin to generate traction for our successes. Insulation to encourage action taken to manifest those successes. Others encourage us and celebrate our victories.
So allow for doubt but believe in your successes and others will too. They only ask that you support theirs in return. I'm so grateful for the love and support of others believing in my successes that I can only see them as successful in return. Watch your attention. Direct it to what you want. See you're energy flow there
Namaste Troy

Guys Suck@Yoga

Oh if I had a dime for everytime I met a dude for the first time who told me all the reasons guys suck at Yoga I'd be a rich son of a $#&*!.
In line at Starbucks this morning I was introduced to a guy visiting from out of town about my age. I had to force myself not to roll my eyes as the convo about yoga and guys started. It usually goes as follows:
"I tried Yoga once and it was so hard and I am just not flexible that I never went back. It kicked my ass dude. I was kinda embarrassed cause I couldn't do anything. I can't even touch my toes man. I hurt so much the next day I couldn't believe it. All the girls were doing like these crazy postures. I thought it was going to be easy but I couldn't do Jack.  So I gave my mat away.  It's just not for me. I'm so not flexible."
To which I politely mutter something along the lines of "Yeah man I couldn't touch my toes when I started either. All I did was lift weights. But now I feel great. You just have to pick the right class. Stay with gentle yoga and work from there. Guys are typically tighter and better at strength poses."
The whole time I'm praying that the pissing contest does not continue and that my facial expression doesn't betray what I'm really thinking. Most guys practically turn red from embarrassment that I dare suggest out loud that they need gentle anything let alone Yoga which is a girls thing anyway.
Really Dude?  These guys crack me up. You're friggin' kidding me?  I always thought I was a teste short or had some record low testosterone production when I hear what most guys do for fun. I've never understood going out and electing to hurt my body like most guys do. Mountain biking,  snow boarding,  surfing,  motor cross, hell even skate boarding. That doesn't even touch on martial arts and hanging off the side of a rock. That shit all scared me as a safety freak and older brother who was often put in charge of my siblings safety.
So really 'bro? Touching your fucking toes and doing a few tricep pushups in a room of girls is so tough that you tried it once and never did it again?  Maybe your little girl shorts rode a little to high that day and you bruised your big guy ego. Please don't now tell me how maybe one day you'll try it again or that you really should do some stretching.
Yep. .. he's going to say it. .."Yea man,  um I'm not sure about Gentle cause I'd probably be bored but one day I'll give it a try again."
Yea,  and that's when I'll go out and get on a piece of fiberglass and throw myself down a rocky cliff covered in powder or slam my head against the reef while a great white chases my wetsuit wearing freezing cold ass. No thanks. I'll take the sweaty Yoga room full of girls touching their toes any day.  After all this body builder went from not touching his toes and shoulders so tight I couldn't hold my arms over my head for:60 seconds without excruciating pain to twelve years later doing the splits and putting my foot behind my head.
Believe me it wasn't easy. I got in there, often the only guy,  and worked my ass off. I took every kind of Yoga out there. I suffered injuries from pushing to far. I had to take time off to heal and go back. Yes I even had to stop lifting so heavy at the gym.  Sometimes I felt like some kind of tall weirdo in the room that couldn't do anything But I did it. And the results are I'm less wired,  my joints move and don't ache,  I can breathe deeply,  people comment on how calm I seem and I feel great. My last check up with a medical professional was eight or so years ago and the Doctor said if it wasn't for what I was doing I would be on blood pressure and cholesterol medication because of my DNA so keep doing what I was doing. I never get sick and have more energy than ever.
Sometimes I get the excuse that it's just to expensive. Really?  How much is a mountain bike,  snow board,  paddle board,  the rack to put it on your giant truck and all the gear and clothing?  I've got a plastic mat and some board shorts and a $12 class and I'm not going to get melanoma.
So ok man,  someday maybe you can make it into my Simply Stretch for the non Yogi. I just hope you don't wait until you're injured like most Yahoos. Good luck 'bro. When your man enough to Cowboy Up,  I'll see you in class. Maybe if you realize how many burly athletes are doing Yoga now our how many money making CEOs are meditating you'll get your mat out of hock. See ya.
Troy Cox
Owner Sun Salute Yoga Center
Dana Point

Head Stand Delight

Head stands have returned into my life. Not that as a busy Yoga studio owner I'm usually left feeling as if standing on my head from the spinning business. But this week I tried actual head stands again for the first time in a year and to my surprise and pleasure,  no pain.
After a neck injury four years ago I was left unable to invert with pressure in my neck. I attribute my recent return to this anti aging and mind clearing posture as a result of monthly massages. And learning the proper use of pelvic muscles.
Every month I weave a theme into my teachings and this month is head stands and arm balances. It's a good lesson about reaction,  fear and what we believe about our abilities, those crazy looking postures. I love encouraging others to reach outside their comfort zone. It is only through falling on our head do we learn to get up and try again or quit. I like to observe how others handle this. Some laugh at their foibles others curse and some cry.
Me,  I jump right in. I need to know the rules of the game or in this case the proper instructions. Then I'm on my way trying it out and learning as much as I can. It's like buzzing down the coast by Big Sur. I can't stand it. Shear cliffs to ocean on side A, rock and boulders and speeding cars toward us on side B. My travel companion doesn't even seem to notice. However just because I'm praying for my life doesn't mean I don't go. I decided a plan that works for me. I look at the yellow line and let everything else wiz by without a never mind.  Then when we get to the destination I enjoy. But I don't let that rough trip or my fear stop me. 
So the next time your Yoga Teacher suggest you try turning upside down on the mat observe your reaction. Find a way to manage. Before you know it you'll be flying down that road to success both on and off the mat.
Yogi Troy
*these are my observations as a Yoga teacher. Any reference to real students are intended as learning tools and not a personal affront.