A Bob Dylan Inspired Yoga Playlist.
His poetry makes me feel as home as I feel when I practice on my mat. I see my light shining. Thanks Bob.
In The Morning – Nina Simone
Meet Me in The Morning – Bob Dylan
Buckets of Rain – Bob Dylan
Dangling Conversation – Simon & Garfunkel
Wildflowers – Tom Petty
One – Johnny Cash
Shelter From the Storm – Bob Dylan
Cry Baby Cry – Beatles
Man In Black – Johnny Cash
I Shall Be Released – Nina Simone
Just a Closer Walk with Thee – Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash
I Wiwsh I knew How It would Feel To Be Free – Nina Simone
Girl From the North Country – Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash
Son of a Preacher Man – Dusty Springfield
Pale Blue Eyes – The Velvet Underground
Bird on A Wire – Johnny Cash
Suzanne – Nina Simone
After an amazing private session with Leslie Kaminoff, I have really committed to healing, wanting to be patient, work on meditation and develop an asana practice that is healing for my particular situation. The situation at hand is a upper back issue that continues to be aggravated through asana and does not heal.
One particular part of our session sticks out in my mind as my main obstacle to healing my back. Leslie suggested that my strength, which has enabled me to master dozens of inversions and arm balances, is my weakness. I am too strong for my own good. Both in body and mind. Leslie put it best when he said “Just because we can withstand a situation, does not mean we should be in it.”
So after resting for a week, I attempted my first practice today, aiming to breath and experience a flow that was not weight bearing on my arms. Flowing with breath through a few warrior poses and then down to the floor for some pelvic lifts and gentle twists was amazing, simple and freeing. I decided to finish my practice in my favorite, Janu Sirsasana. That’s when I ran into myself.
I have trained my muscles, through gymnastics, carpentry and now yoga, to make my body go where it “should”. My mind and my muscles are so used to that idea that even in a simple forward bend, I could feel myself straining to move forward, down, to lengthen the spine, not with my breath but with any muscle that will get me there.
So I have seen my weakness in my strength and I will strive to let go, and surrender. To what, I’m not sure. But I do know it’s necessary to heal.
I’ll admit and even boast I’m shoe obsessed. I enjoy dressing from the bottom up, working with textures, heights and colors. I spend time looking for the right shoe and make sure it’s the correct fit for my life and my foot.
I’ve had this one pair of boots for years. Faux leather, zip up the side, polished aluminum buckles, flat with rubber soles. Not the classiest but they are so functional, I’ve worn them winter in and winter out, pulling off the biker look whenever I want to be practical, warm and mobile. Finally, after I stepped in my fifth pile of literal shit in them, I decided to retire them and step up my practical, functional look.
I spent two months looking. Each pair either wasn’t the right fit or wasn’t the right look. A slight discomfort sent me packing. Finally, after dozens of shoe stores later, I found them. Rubber soles, real leather, perfect fit, perfect comfort, stylish and on sale! Dreams do come true.
So I took them for a test drive through the snow and down to the beach only to discover one of life’s many truths. There are piles of shit everywhere. Guaranteed, this formerly perfect boot has experienced and will experience many more piles of stinky, sticky excrement. As is life.
Looking Through Darkness :::: Guru
Thugz Mansion :::: 2pac, J Phoenix & Nas
People Going Down :::: Hi-Tek
Get By :::: Talib Kweli
Stand Up :::: Guru
No More Trouble :::: Bob Marley & Erykah Badu
Love Iz ft All Green :::: Erick Sermon
Better Dayz :::: 2Pac & Mr. Biggs
Living In This World :::: Hi-Tek
If I Rulled the World :::: Nas
Guarantees :::: Atmosphere
You Got Me :::: The Roots & Erykah Badu
Liberation :::: Outkast
Stankonia :::: Outkast
I recently purchased the Flip. The main purpose of this is to record capoeira and develop a library of videos on youtube.com. However, I had delusions of grandeur that I might become a famous video blogger or even just make impressive video compilations. Although the latter might be possible, it is more likely that I will continue to contribute to the mediocre at best amateur video segments that exist on youtube now. As you know, a video is only good as its content and, without art direction, a script and the right placement of the video camera itself, no video can be that good. So I’ve become satisfied in my mediocrity. That being said, here are some people I know in video format:
