Author Archives: Functional Yoga Online

Practice with giving…

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https://igg.me/p/a-new-hanuman-temple-at-the-taos-ashram/x/11058908 – HELP BUILD A NEW TEMPLE AT THE TAOS, NEW MEXICO ASHRAM TODAY

There is nothing more beautiful than discovering this place inside that is “giving,” even if both feet aren’t totally walking yet. This ashram is a powerful place that literally DOES gracefully infect even the biggest of skeptics to the power of deities and their symbology, uses for today, importance of ritual – sacred – initiations and milestones we all face through life which can make us feel separate when indeed… we even unite from a lack of uniqueness in suffering. What any of it has to do with you or me, cannot be explained, no matter how much I once wished it. This is what is meant by experienced based practice. A direct participation for each of us as part of this life, individually and collectively, as humans. The Hanuman Temple in Taos, NM is not trying to collect anyone – they exist, literally, as a home for love and devotion – so perhaps this new temple they are trying to build should be looked at as a brave first step for seekers to give to something that is not their typical way to give because in truth, this giving is a giving to the undiscovered self. That self which has no thought to being sure, to who or what deserves money, to the judgment of weirdos who worship statues, for what you will get in return. It just gives what it can. $5, $10, $50 or more. Part of the practice of giving is what it can unfold in us when we give that which we are attached to (including the mind finding logical sense to okay it), and that which we need for survival, and that which we do not. So I am giving tonight. I am not giving so I have no money to eat, yet I am giving just past what this mind reports as “the limit,” that which shows me that a potential lives and breaths in me that like most things in life, may never be fully explained. Because I know that most of us walk around unable to explain how an arm lifts or if love is a biochemical and neurological reaction or an energy from beyond the beyond – yet we keep lifting our arms and loving. So perhaps, not everything has to make logical sense, and in fact, when it doesn’t, you may just be a Yogi. Please give what you can to the new Hanuman Temple today. with loving grace, Katrina

referenced links from Podcast, Ep. 30!

The man quoted on “Role of Man” from Zooming in the Lens Podcast episode #30 is Mr. Robert Bly! He is an incredible poet, speaker, storyteller, mythologist, and philosopher that effected change for men in many ways with talks like the one below. I am happy to introduce him to some, and reconnect his wisdom, for others. Michael Meade is a renowned storyteller, author, and scholar of mythology, anthropology, and psychology. He combines hypnotic storytelling, street-savvy perceptiveness, and spellbinding interpretations of ancient myths with a deep knowledge of cross-cultural rituals. For more info on Michael Meade – MM. Very thankful these two men got together and graced us with such important interpretations and to me, directions for how to help ourselves and the culture.

The below video is 1 of 6 videos and all are available on youtube – we are VERY lucky this is the case. Part 2 was referenced as well. Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoy!

On Being A Man Pt.1-6 (1989) Robert Bly Michael Meade – YouTube Video –  9:03
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLSKMFb88dw

On Being A Man Pt. 2-6 (1989) Robert Bly and Michael Meade-YouTube Video – 10:58  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcJqMuzsmw8

Connection of differences for self-practice in relationship. By Katrina Chester

“Internal compass” Connection of differences for self-practice in relationship. By Katrina Chester

In relationships, arguments and disagreements may seem completely unlike or related, to other experiences in the past. Arguments in romantic love, family, and friendships, even strangers.

When you investigate thoughts, fueled by beliefs (known and unknown) patterns are revealed – connecting dots we thought were “different.” This connection of differences lay down some breadcrumbs back home, to truth. I have felt this almost like an internal compass. I have witnessed, as a friend and teacher, how this has helped many others facing difficult choices and life events. Decisions like whether to stay or leave a relationship.

 

“I have seen it time and time again at the bedside of so many – you die as you live.”

Functional Yoga-home for the functioning spiritualist shared a page.
July 30 at 8:07pm ·

I have done a lot in my years on this earth. I have done things that may even blow some people’s minds, who knows. But to prepare for this weekend with him, I am clear I would need another 46 years just to TOUCH a worthy description as eloquent as Stephen Jenkinson and his wisdom of language, executed with tongue and heart. In other words – HOLY SHIT. If you are looking for feel-good, self-help, anti-aging positive thinking…DO NOT CLINK on this link. His work is not depressing by any means but it is dramatically real. And “real” is not a prescription our culture runs to fill, myself included. Yet the one thing we all can’t deny, all have in common, no matter what cool city/state we’re from or how many friends we have on Facebook…we are all going to die and none of us know the exact time or day. When you speak about this topic, what usually comes next is a sign of a disease this “real” RX serves best although uncomfortably – I HAVE LIVED MY WHOLE LIFE IN A DEATH PHOBIC CULTURE. How about you? I may not be skilled enough to battle you exclaiming you don’t, but Stephen Jenkinson can. Few quotes from last two days I will share with ya. “The truth of you’re dying is not in the future, it’s now. It will not become truer than now, or even as you labor under the illusion it’s coming” “…engage the god of endings and limits or endings and limits become demons…” “The prerequisite for loving life is that it’s working out for you.” ”the problem of an addicted-to-death phobic culture is in the language we use about it, or don’t.” “we’ve all lost keys and wallets, can we really use that same language about someone we love?” “What role models, elder or young, do you have as a mirror for a different way to understand death and dying?” “I have seen it time and time again at the bedside of so many – you die as you live.” “How do we think we can learn to live from death (something that happens to each and every one of us) when the culture we live in, for the most part, pushes away, denies, rejects, adds hope, says to fight, reports you have a long way to go when clearly no one knows, when the people you count on and love don’t look at you and tell you the truth to protect you, in a culture that promotes you should have no limits for what you want and worship power and control…” – It’s okay not to dig this post, no one really knows anything, but should these understandings of his intrigue you at all, check out Stephen: https://www.facebook.com/orphanwisdom

In silence now taking in all that was delivered to us and I know some of you on here asked for some notes as soon as I was back. I deliver these to them. I can tell you one thing…from engaging in this topic I love life more, not less from of talking about death and dying. xxx

Wisdom of Einstein meets Wisdom of Frog

Our most recent episode of the Imprecise Storytelling series dives into the questioning mind of an 11 year old… Frog doesn’t hold back any punches and is completely honest and open with what’s going on; his friends, his school life, and in his mind. We went in with some Einstein wisdoms (seen below) and came out with some Frog wisdoms. It was a beautiful experience to sit with a young “don’t know” mind. Please join us in the conversation!

Subscribe and listen here: Bit.ly/ZITLPodcast or FunctionalYogaOnline.com/PODCAST

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a visit to Death Cafe….

I am honored to have been asked to co-facilitate tonight’s meeting (Tuesday, June 7, 2016) in the San Fernando Valley for a Death Cafe event and a recording for a documentary, on topics I assume, of death and dying. This year I have been blessed to be a part of holding space as two had passed, and I was able to share in rituals with their families. I realize how it may come across to many reading this so I am open and willing should anyone have questions or curiosities as to the “why.” I will say that there are some practices that cut out all of my bullshit, immediately. And, I have witnessed the same as others deal with pending death or the death of a loved one, as the bullshit we all carry melts away as if it were never there. None more powerful for me than being pushed into the now at 17 years old when my father passed away, or when doing an autopsy or dissection, and none like the aging, dying and death experience as a witness with and without personal attachment or agenda.
I am honored to be a part of lessening my own suffering and anyone’s suffering that may be made worse by the shock of what has always been guaranteed and inevitable yet rarely discussed as adults or with children – a part of something that, for the most part is thought of as a morbid and negative topic and is pushed away to practice positive thinking. As if positive thinking could exist without knowledge of the negative. All carry this unseen expiration date. Inevitability is an invitation for wisdom and through rituals and a sacred-stepping-back of our small self to embrace the larger personal and universal self or whatever you believe is your truth, unveiled a profound naturalness for me. It feels like a moving-out-of-the-way. We can admit to an immense & inherent power within when we investigate how much we do not know – a surrender to something other than our limited ego-mind. I wanted to say thank you for inviting me and I look forward to tonight and all the teachings that lie waiting for me, seen and unseen. If you would like more information on a Death Cafe event near you, go to http://deathcafe.com and https://www.facebook.com/deathcafe/?fref=nf
Ram Ram – Love, Katrina

some cool links – Ep.28 of ZITL Podcast

At the start of this episode is a small piece of a lecture given by Timothy Leary! It’s the best description of my own intentions for creating and releasing these podcasts. Why attempt to say it when some of the greatest minds have already done so? Graced through technology, we remember and honor them and their families who keep their names and teachings alive:

The guest for this episode, and the up and coming Part 2 (Ep.29), is Tommy Stewart. If you have read the description on the iTunes or FYO podcast page, you are aware he is a rare and special kind of personal fitness trainer- embodying his own mindfulness practice and studies, allow his students of fitness to expand in health through many modalities, inside and out. For more information on Tommy or to start training with him in the LA area, go to www.facebook.com/functionalbodymovement

BIG NEWS – New Series added to Podcast!

Along with our regular Podcast releases by ~Zooming in the Lens Podcast~ on Itunes, NEW this WEEK  is the debut of short – new – series – called ~ 

“Imprecise Storytelling”  ~ with Olivia May and Katrina Chester 

♥ ~ the average work day  

Be sure to Subscribe to Zooming in the Lens podcast on iTunes to be alerted of the new series Debuting Soon!

 

"Imprecise storytelling"

“Imprecise storytelling”

 

FEARS NOTHING – Discovered!

Often in practice, there is an invitation to open the parts of our minds that as we get older, are not used as much, if at all – imagination. I use dinosaurs. How I use them is too much to post here, however, there is a great discovery recently by a paleontologist who discovered an 85 foot, 65-ton dinosaur, he named DREADNOUGHTUS schrani“, which means “FEAR NOTHING.” Imagine THAT! 145 bones of an animal discovered that roamed right where your sitting and reading this post. This paleontologist described our world, it’s graces and everyone who has ever inhabited it, with these words- “each one a small miracle- each one inevitable”….inevitable miracles fearing nothing… I can see it now, can you?