Tag: #yogateacher

Sunsets are back…in my life!

by Chris Wood, posted in Photography, Sunsets, Yogic Lifestyle

When we first moved to SoCal, I was at the beach for sunset atleast five days a week; that’s when we lived a mile away. A year later we were living four miles away and I made it at least three days a week if not for sunset for a walk on the beach. By year three we were seven miles from the beach and sunsets had become a monthly thing. I didn’t notice at first that sunsets had slowly slipped away and to be honest it wasn’t until last night that it truly hit me. See sunsets had become a big part of my photography and although I have been shooting quite a bit the beach and sunsets had had become a rarity.

Earlier this winter we moved yet again and specifically sought out a place closer to the beach. We found a place that although like many rentals was not exactly perfect, it put us in a position that meant the beach was back within walking and biking distance. Last night was the first time since we moved, a little over two months ago, we took the short jaunt to the beach. Our mission was to clear our gems and jewelry in the ocean with little thought about sunset. So, there I was standing at the waters edge, freezing “SoCal acclimated” since it was only 55 degrees, watching my wife wade into the ocean talking about life cleansing water, when I suddenly noticed a change in the color of everything.  We had accidentally ended up at the beach during the golden hour and forgetting the cold and the wet, along with my extreme displeasure of sand, I soon found myself shoes off, toes sinking into the cold wet sand while laying on the dune, immersed in the color of sunset, taking beach photos for the first time in over a year. What a rush. There is nothing like capturing those last few minutes of the world in the glow of a setting sun on the pacific ocean.

I’ve set a new goal to help rejuvenate my soul and keep me grounded. I will go to the beach for sunset at least twice a week, force myself onto the wet sand to capture as many moments radiant beauty as possible. while there I will use that time in nature to also meditate and allow Gaia and Merlin to talk to me and keep me on my path. I know it’s my duty to shine light into the darkness as the moon reflects the sun into the night sky but if I never take the time to bask in her energy I will not be a brilliant as I need to be in these dark times. Sunsets are back…in my life…let them into yours! Take a few moments out of your week to just take in a setting sun and bask in her glow. I promise, even on your darkest days, she will warm your heart, and lighten your soul.

Below are a few Sunset photos I have taken over the years. I hope you like them.

Pigeon on Huntington Beach Pier – 2013
Morro Bay – 2013
Huntington Beach Pier – 2013
Huntington Beach Pier – 2013
Redondo Beach Marina – 2015
Sunset Beach – 2017
Sunset Beach Dune – 2017

Who’s the Star of Your Life?

by Chris Wood, posted in Yogic Lifestyle

So many of us go through our lives with the feeling that there must be more to life than this. As a result, we periodically have times when we are in search of who we are or what our purpose is in life. I prefer to refer to this as a search for My Path.

Throughout my life, I have found myself off of My Path more often than I care to admit. These periodic diversions often leave me feeling bewildered and asking myself:

  • How did I get here?
  • Where did I step off the path?
  • What decision was it that changed my direction?
    • Was it the job change, the vacation, the conversation with my wife or best friend?
    • Was it even intentional?

This line of questioning is immediately followed by:

  • How do I get back on my Path?
  • What does my Path even look like now?
  • Does that Path even exist anymore now that I have been off of it for so long?
  • How can I tell when I am back on my Path?

I recently graduated from Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training, a journey that I never would have imagined was on My Path three years ago. During my training, a teacher, Guru Singh, gave a lecture wherein I internalized an analogy he used:

We are experiencing our lives like a film, frame by frame. All time exists simultaneously, past, present and future and as time rolls past us, we watch it scroll by and interact with it.

At the time, that analogy seemed like an interesting idea but I didn’t give it much thought until this weekend when I realized how ideal that concept is for divining, “Are You on Your Path or Someone Else’s?”

Ponder that question for a moment.

Ok, now that you’ve thought about it, let’s consider this: In the past when I’ve asked myself that question, I’ve answered with great confidence: “I’m on My Path.” However, when I employ the idea of looking at my life in the past and present as a film or movie that’s passing by one frame at a time, the answers are dramatically different, especially when adding a very specific filter to my perception of the movie. The filter I began applying was, “Who is the star of the movie in this frame?” and WOW did the entire plot change.

When you are truly living your True Self, the Star of the movie is always You and the only time you are ever on your Path is when you are living as your True Self.

We have to remember that in the Movie that is our life, we must always be the Star. When someone else is the Star in our Movie, it is because we have stepped off our Path to become nothing more than the support cast, and in some cases, a character or bit actor. This isn’t to say that we aren’t a supporting character or bit actor as a part of our life, but we should only be playing those parts in the life movies of others, never our own.

Instead of asking yourself if you’re on your path or spending the time anguishing over whether or where you stepped off your path try this: Am I the Star of my own Movie? Am I the Star of my own Life?

If so, rejoice in the knowledge that you are living true to yourself and give thanks to the guru within that guides your path.

If not, rejoice in the knowledge that you can see it, give thanks to the guru within that guides your path, and give yourself permission to be your True Self.

Yogi Bhajan said, “Once you are you, all will be around you as you want. That’s the catch-22.”

 

Be the Star of your Own Life.

Be your True Self.

Settle for nothing less than Your Best

and Everything is Possible.

Soul Clann Glacier NP

Our Yogic Journey Across America – A Wild Goose Adventure following the Light of Inspiration

by Chris Wood, posted in Travel, Yogic Lifestyle

Sat Nam Yogis!
Welcome back to the next episode and Day 8 in our #YogicJourneyandWildGooseAdventure.

The day started strange. We got off to a late start and went into Cabella for the Heat Gear and sleeping bag we have put off purchasing specifically at this location. Cabella’s camping section looked like a scene from a bad apocalypse movie the day after the main characters have gone through, or the way the south prepares for a hurricane.

The propane appeared to be all out, the sleeping bags were mostly gone, boxes open and more than half of the display models were either missing or hanging by one corner. So after 10 minutes of looking at what was available, then another 10 to find an associate, we got what we came for, sleeping bag for us both, isobutane and our under garments and off to the bike we we strolled.

“Hmmm,” I heard Amy under her breathe. Funny thing was I was thinking the same thing. “Where are we gonna put this thing? We obviously need a complete repack.” Turning to her I asked if she could hold it until we got to the restraint for breakfast and we would figure out a solution while we ate. “Suuuure…”, she said as she turned her head and climbed onto Lady.

Minutes later we were in the parking lot of Culver, they were too busy to even entertain eating there but had to do the repack in their parking lot before going any further. What a sight, all of the gear sitting in the grass behind the bike but with some rearranging we were able to repack everything; while putting on a show for all the people sitting outside eating including the bikers parked next to us.

Now we are off and finally the Badlands are within sight as we scream onto I-90 heading due west. Oddly, just as it did the last time I was here 10 years ago, the affects of heat exhaustion crept up on us and we were not destined to see them this evening. So, again we resigned ourselves to just relaxing, enjoying the ride and following the sign and the light as it led us.

Funny thought when we read a sign advertising hotels on a distant town and both of us said at the same time “I would never stay in a town named ‘Murdo'”. Not long after we saw a sign for exit 220 and had to stop as we had run into the number a lot recently. 3 out of the last 4 hotels and decided to see if it was telling us something.

Minutes later as we meander down a small county road through South Dakota, Amy asked me to tell her a story and the background of a story I have been working on began to pour out of me. Just before the road came to an end we passed a sign, ” Welcoms to Vivian.” A name which appears very importantly in the story.

An hour later where did we end up? Yes, in Murdo at one of the places from the signs ealier. If there has been an odder place it would have been in Neverland. This place was right out of the one of Liberace’s dreams. Including the corded off living room with the gold mirrors and satin flowered couches in the lobby of the place to the rooms with the cheeta carpet and the zebra print blankets.

Come back soon for Day 9 to find out more about the Badlands, ditching our leggings and getting rained out.

May Truth, Light and Love Guide Our Path

Our Yogic Journey Across America – A Wild Goose Adventure a Cruising Day…

by Chris Wood, posted in Travel, Yogic Lifestyle

Sat Nam Yogis!

Welcome back to the next episode and Day 7 in our #YogicJourneyandWildGooseAdventure.

The initial days of the ride I struggled getting accustomed to “Lady” as she’s come to be called, she most definitely has a personality of her own and it’s going to take a while to fully understand her. In the meantime, I am simply respecting her power and listening to her as she takes us through corners, curves over big bumps and down sudden drops. She never lets us down as long as I allow her to lead.

When we arose this morning we decided that today was just going to be about putting on miles and closing the gap between where we were and where we intended to be by now. In setting this intent we prepared the bike, which has become quite routine and set out quite early for us.

Our routine has become stopping about every 100-130 miles. The difference for bike travel is we are constrained to much shorter durations between stops due to her five gallon tank. Loaded down and two upper are averaging about 40 mpg and without an actual gas gauge, we have to plan stops based upon her range and gas stations then, watch the trip odometer closely.

Finally, we are on the road. Heading north along the I-35  I am reminded of one of the benefits of being in the Midwest, which is that you can spot a storm miles away. Seeing the dark cloud north of us we made a sudden correction and turn west into a small four lame divided highway 30 and resolved our path to simply cruise along inatead of hoofing it as fast as possible. Next thing we knew, we had cruised our way across the state and into Sioux Falls following highway numbers on a hunch from Amy. The best part was that we just cruised for the first time. Just laughing, telling the jokes, pointing out scenery, doing some chanting  and occasional singing.

Finally arriving in Mitchell, SD late, we packed it in and missed our first day of Sadhana and the stretch pose challenge. Crap! We had the first stress free relaxing day 7.

Come back tomorrow to find out more about, following the light and yet another parking lot repacked!


Look, we found Arlo!

May Truth, Light and Love Guide Our Path

Our Yogic Journey Across America – A Wild Goose Adventure Travel Trials…

by Chris Wood, posted in Travel, Yogic Lifestyle

Sat Nam Yogis!
Welcome back to the next episode and Day 6 in our #YogicJourneyandWildGooseAdventure.

We have discovered on the trip, which impart was about resetting our diet and Sadhana to our previously managed yogic structure, that living on the motorcycle is not attuned to eating and drinking healthy. The plan was to once again drop the sugar from our diet, continue on our new Vegetarian/Pescatarian way of eating, while adding in more yogi tea and water.

Recently we’ve been experiencing lows in our energy levels attributed to what was thought as diet changes, they magnified ten fold with the heat and humidity in New England and the Midwest. So, the intent to improve upon the changes in our diet have turned into every 50 to 100 miles hitting the convience stores for soda, water, candy and coffee to keep our energy levels up.  This afternoon we had a  revelation,  even though the feared dehydration was a non-issue, our energy was being sapped by all weather jackets that have been fundamentally required as part of our riding gear. The heat under the four season jackets was the equivalent of either an easy bake oven or a personal sauna. This means we will be looking for some relatively inexpensive mesh riding jackets first thing tomorrow. Not sure if this will help the pace any but surely will make the ride cooler! 

We ended our Loopy Snickers day in Iowa City!


Come back later this afternoon or tomorrow to find out more about, following our hearts, the numbers and just slow cruisin’ our way to bliss.

May Truth, Light and Love Guide Our Path

Our Yogic Journey Across America – A Wild Goose Adventure Back on the Road

by Chris Wood, posted in Travel, Yogic Lifestyle

Sat Nam Yogis!

Welcome back to the next episode and Day 5 in our #YogicJourneyandWildGooseAdventure.

After a morning of repackage, loading the camelback with Yogi Tea and a long goodbye to Grandpa we were back on the road.

Still being on California time has its ups and downs. Downside: morning is too damn early on EST, the sun comes up too soon and well, we don’t like mornings, but I don’t guess that’s a time zone issue as much as it is that we are just night owls. So the upside is well, we can ride later into the night as our bodies tend to ignore the fact the sun has disappeared and we keep going like the energizer bunny.

Not having any concrete plans can make for  a great adventure as well as adding moments of frustration. While giving both the freedom to get up and go when you feel the need it adds a bit of uncertainty as to when you’re going to reach your destination. Bring us to today’s lesson on this adventure. Life isn’t about the destination it’s about the journey and what you experience on the way.

We had a grand plan of making 250 to 350 miles a day and that is great as a goal but sometimes we go slower than planned simply because we are enjoying the view. Then there is the problem of hitting the wall and being done for the day. Tonight was one of those nights when the only hotel in town was as good as it got. Luckily, Amy checked out the room before we lugged all the gear to that end of the hotel, because the room was far from ready and they switched our room across the building. We were so tired we pulled out the shower flops and did sadhana on cleanest spot in the room, the bed.

Come back tomorrow to learning about the trials and tribulations of our yogic diet on the road.

May Truth, Light and Love Guide Our Path

Our Yogic Journey Across America – A Wild Goose Adventure a Day of Rest

by Chris Wood, posted in Travel, Yogic Lifestyle

Sat Nam Yogis!

Welcome back to the next episode and Day 4 in our #YogicJourneyandWildGooseAdventure.

Since Day 3 bled into Day 4 and we were at my Grandpa’s we decided to take it as a much needed day of rest. To be honest we had not decided what we were doing when we passed out in the early morning hours of the forth day but having slept through all six of our alarms to finally arise a little after 1pm, our decision was made for us.

Groggily we both got up. Amy headed for the bathroom to get the toiletries unpacked and Chris off to get the coffee started so they could be ready to head out for a late lunch with Grandpa. Soon they were off and thus far nothing yogic happened. We both stuck to our yogic diet which wasn’t that hard at Olive Garden. We were pretty disappointed in Dick’s Sporting Goods for their complete absence of any warm base layer gear, lack of double sleeping bags that would not require its own SUV to transport it and the lack of customer service shown by several employees. Never again!

Upon returning empty handed, no warm base layers, no pads for Amy’s jacket and no double sleeping bag or blanket, I set out to make yogi tea whilst Amy began the ever illusive search for long lost photos. A few hours later after dinner had settled we moved the coffee table and completed our Stretch pose challenge and daily Sadhana with grandpa looking on. I’m pretty sure he thought us a bit nuts but he simply watched and muse quietly to himself. Done and Done!

Another late night, but aren’t they all when you don’t get to see family often. While Grandpa and I talked for hours, Amy fell fast asleep on the sofa under our newly washed blanket. “It’s so nice to see you both happy.” He said looking over at Amy, then continued, “I love that you found someone that shares your sense of adventure.” I just smiled and nodded. He’s right of course. I am a truly blessed man.

“This life is not for wasting. It is for reaching the wonderland of your own consciousness.”

~ Yogi Bhajan

Our Yogic Journey Across America – A Wild Goose Adventure the Ride

by Chris Wood, posted in Travel, Yogic Lifestyle

Sat Nam Yogis!Welcome back to the next episode and Day 3 in our #YogicJourneyandWildGooseAdventure.

This turned out to be our first real day of riding. After spending the day in the sun and prepping the bike yesterday we needed a good sleep and sleep we did. Waking at 9:45 am realizing we had missed our first two alarms. We quickly jumped into action, completing both our 40 Day Stretch Pose Challenge with our 40 day sadhana before starting the bike pack.

We set out to find a way to minimize the number of individual tie downs needed and make the overall pack more secure. Reviewing the supplies and a short conversation later we realized the cargo bag we used for the plane trip East was a perfect fit for the bike rack and would confine the major part of our camping gear. In one small move we reduced the time for pack up and refined the number of tie downs and the stability of the gear all in one step! Woohoo!!! That done we loaded up and head out!

In the adventure plan Day 3 was set to be the longest of the trip but it turned out to be even bigger than expected. Getting adjusted to the feel of a new bike, gauging the gas mileage of a fully loaded bike and riding two-up is a bear all alone. Added to that the trek from Gill, MA to Akron, OH, which in good traffic in a car averages 611 miles at a daunting 9 hours and 11 mins- adding stopping every 120-150 mile getting gas, walking and stretching doing some yoga. We were on the road for over 15 hrs, not arriving in Akron, OH until after 5 am. Can you say wow what a day!!! See more on our adventures tomorrow!!

May Truth, Light and Love Guide Our Path

Our Yogic Journey Across America – A Wild Goose Adventure the bike

by Chris Wood, posted in Travel, Yogic Lifestyle

Sat Nam Yogis,

Sat Nam Yogis! Welcome back to the next episode in our #YogicJourneyandWildGooseAdventure.

Day 2 had a few challenges but all in all it was a great day. We found in Dallas that the shoulder and elbow padding in Amy’s jacket had disintegrated. So in addition to picking up the bike, installing the luggage rack, and lashing the bags on her, we now had to look for fix for her jacket.

We did our morning sadhana and stretch pose challenge packed up and headed over to the shop thanks to my best friend Rich. Upon arrival we found the bike was not as ready to go as we had believed it to be but it was ready enough. Next stop, Home Depot to rig the luggage rack to the bike and luckily Amy and I came up with a solution in less than an hour. Unfortunately, it took another 2 hours to implement it. In the meantime another good friend, Erin,  showed up with a loaner jacket for Amy and we had a few minutes to catch up before she flew off to a luxurious vacation on her sailboat.

After a 20 minute ride back to Rich’s, Amy wasn’t feeling well and zoned out in the house while I packed the bike, which took another hour. By the time I was done, Amy was feeling better and we headed off to a wonderful diner with Rich and Barb.

It was a little after 9pm when we finally hit the road and feeling good I was sure we would make Albany before stopping. Just before Springfiend, MA I got a wake up call. Two huge Doe were standing mere feet of the shoulder of the road as we passed at 65 mph and one spooked a little. Twenty minutes later I was sitting on the bike a little shaky and Amy was getting us a room.


Check back tomorrow for more adventures.
May Truth, Light and Love Guide Our Path

Our Yogic Journey Across America – A Wild Goose Adventure Begins 

by Chris Wood, posted in Travel, Yogic Lifestyle

Sat Nam Yogis! Welcome back to the next episode in our #YogicJourneyandWildGooseAdventure.

We left off yesterday having just come to the sobering reality of the enormity of this adventure and began listing out the high points we needed to grapple with in preparation. After the high points we began with the list of items we could lay our hands on and we know from experience are necessities and began laying them out in the studio. We were in trouble…there was no way this was all going to fit in the new bike and we had some gear that was either, missing, broken, or “Waaaay too Big for this trip!” I sighed dejectedly over the studio loft wall down to Amy. “Just start a list Hun. The universe will provide.” She responded. “Can you tell what I’m doing down here?”, she asked. I didn’t have to get up on the floor where I had collapsed in despair. Her exuberant excitement about the trip oozed out of her voice much like the southern drawl whe she gets like this, “I know…you’re doing the Snoopy Dance. Only because you haven’t seen the pile and the obvious holes, yet.”
Moments later Amy appeared at the top of the steps, “Holy Mackerel! That’s supposed to fit on the bike?” She was stunned to say the least.

Once we collected ourselves I began the “New Gear” list, to identify those items we either replace, buy new for this trip or need to be downsized to fit on the bike. The list included things like: a backpacking size tent (replacement for the 4 man, two bike garage tent we have been using), new stove, pots, dishes, coffee press, new day pack (old one fell apart this spring), hiking boots (to minimize space they double as bike boots), head lamps (old one died over the winter), new riding pants (Amy’s where winter pants and way too hot for this trip), an army duffle to hold it all.
The next couple of weeks were full, I had begun teaching Kundalini Yoga and Meditation on Monday evenings from 7-9pm in Irvine, Amy was pulling extra shifts and we we spending our down time prepping for the trip, starting our business, Soul Clann and Soul Clann Yoga, spending as much time as possible with our family, even snuck in an overnight trip to Yosemite with our visiting son Devon and occasionally sleeping for a few hours.

 I stayed up all night Thursday August 4-5 packing and relaxing until I got it all packed in the following:

– Icon Tank Bag (hold over from my first Goose I purchased in 2006)

 – gloves

 – Electronics

 – Snacks

– Amy’s Backpack

 – gloves

 – warm and rain gear

 – Snacks

 – hydration packs

– 2 Helmet bags

 – books

 – 2 pair jeans

 – Hats

 – Jewelry

 – Gems

 – Oracle Deck

 – 2 reading glasses

– Soul Clann 60 Liter Canvas Duffle

 – 2 yoga mats

 – blankets

 – sheep skin

 – roll top food case

 – cooler (snacks, yogi tea packs and meds)

 – clothes for the 17 days

 – luggage rack for bike

 – Cook set

– Waterproof 40 Liter Bag

 – tent

 – 2 sleeping pads

 – and various and assorted other things…including the kitchen sink.
When Amy got home from work Friday morning, we slept the best we had in months.
Saturday morning, Amy got home from work and we did the 1st day of our 40 Day Sadhana called Kriya for Elevation with Long Ek Ong Kars. We also completed the 1st Day of the 40 Day Stretch Pose Challenge issues by my dear friend and teacher Dev Shabad Singh. All in all we made it out the door with little to no fanfare. We had a list, we checked it before walking out the door, and again when we loaded up our SUV Hope.
The airport is only a few minutes from our house so we made it with plenty of time to spare as I parked. The home rang. “Hello!”, I said tentatively and the car got quiet, as it was the motorcycle shop the bike has been stored at for the summer calling. It turns out that with the bike sitting all summer, no trickle charger, the battery was dead. No fear, it’s been resolved and a new battery installed. I confirmed the bags and windshield were all set and we finished up. I hung up and we all breathes a deep sigh of relief…”the trip is still on!”, I said. Then I remembered, I have everything except a check to pay for the bike. So, as Amy and I checked in Mom races home to find the infamous checkbook. Thirty minutes later, Mom returned from her quest, having been stopped by every red light (save one), ran wildly through the Halls of Avalon and dug around my filing system in search of a single check. Wahe Guru Mom, you saved the day and at 11:11am we passed through security on our way east.


The #YogicJourneyandWildGooseAdventure is truly begun! Check back in tomorrow to read more as we report on #Day2 as we pick up and load the bike. Spoiler…we have a problem with Amy’s jacket. #CycleGear to the rescue we hope!