Downward Facing Blog

A weekend of dynamic vinyasa yoga, breathing, and philosophy with Adrian Phillip Cox
Lotus Center, Czech Republic
April 12-13 2008
Adrian teaches dynamic Vinyasa yoga using foundations in Ashtanga, and Ayurveda while incorporating esoteric techniques of mantra, visualization, and energy work. Originally certified to teach yoga under Cyndi Lee of Om Yoga in New York City and the […]

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You know about the three bandhas already, here’s one you might not know of.
 
Yesterday I took a class with Paddy McGrath who is, predictably, humorous. Her instructions employ the use of varying styles of grunts and ‘hmmms’ to indicate desirable states of the body and collapsed ones.
 
I begged her if I could just pull her […]

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If playing video games, smoking pot, and having sex produce Samadhi, why do yoga?
My last blog post on Samadhi drew this feedback from Mark;
“I have a question. Im assuming that when Samadhi burns up our mountain of bijahs it is only the yogic samadhi that is capable of doing this. Is it possible for the […]

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Higher yoga and greater success is based on superior concentration.
The yogic practice of trataka is one way to develop it
 
Years ago I was taught that concentration is really the basis of all success, or as my Nepali teacher, Dr. Yogi Vikashanand would say; “all successful people do what they say they are going to […]

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Workshops and teachings with yoga backbend goddess Paddy McGrath
Upcoming! March 3rd to March 9th
I love Paddy McGrath.  I may never do backbends like her while alive, but I tell you… that woman has taught me more about doing asana than just about anybody on else on the planet. I highly highly recommend her. Please […]

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Why listening to yourself is really important for you and the world and how it connects to sound

Last night Shane and I were watching Joseph Campbell’s series “Power of Myth”. I’m a few years behind I know. My friends periodically ask me if I had seen it (yet) and would  reprimand me for not having […]

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(Saraswati as the principle of divine sound and speech)
You chant mantras all day long, so why not make it useful?
First the basics:
Mantra comes from two words: man and tra. Man stems from the word for lower mind: manas. Tra means to protect. So a mantra is a “mind protector”.
The mind has a kind […]

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When you chant OM with the right understanding, it becomes a powerful yoga practice in it’s own right.
Chanting OM has it’s own effect, and can be a powerful meditation. While it is a general mantra that does not require initiation, it is useful to know WHY we chant OM when beginning the practice of […]

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Get high on your own supply
(or, how to free yourself from the usual mental rut)
Since I blogged a bit about pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, and dhyana, I think it’s time to touch on what samadhi is. I’ll have to divide this post into two or three I can imagine, since it’s a subject that takes […]

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How my dog friend taught me to be a better yogi
Without concentration there is no meditation. Without the ability to concentrate yoga simply won’t happen. That doesn’t make concentration some special skill however. Nor is it sacred.
My favorite teacher of concentration is my friend Todd’s dog named Buster. Buster is totally obsessed with food, to […]

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