I hope that you are enjoying these brief posts on what I am doing, reading, practicing, etc.  I have to admit that I stole the idea from Tim Ferriss, who does a weekly email newsletter called “Five-Bullet Fridays.”  If you haven’t subscribed to those, please do so. It’s a great source for breaking up the monotony of routine and of our normal sources of information.

1. What I’ve been reading: The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas.  Specifically the Penguin translation available on the above link.  I read this novel, in its unabridged form, three times when I was in high school.  It was that good.  Yes, it is a hefty tome (at 1200+ pages), but I read only ten to twenty pages every night (more on the weekend when I have more time).  The writing is rich.  The story is a classic tale of intrigue, wrongful imprisonment and the pursuit of vengeance (and the realization of the consequences of one’s actions).
2. What I’ve been listening to (music): Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, 4th Movement.  Beethoven has always held a special place in my heart.  Shortly after my father passed, I discovered a box full of miniature tapes he had used to record music from the radio in the late 70s and early 80s.  Among the tapes was a tape with Beethoven’s 9th symphony, conducted by Herbert von Karajan.  On the other side was a recording of my father talking with my mother and the two nurses shortly after my mother gave birth to my brother and me.  I could hear myself screaming as a newborn.  Granted, it was a PKD-esque moment.  Anyway, this is all to say that Beethoven has been one of the major lietmotif in my life.
3. What I watched for Christmas: Elf, with Will Ferrell.  ‘Nuff said.
4. How I made a ten-hour drive to Kentucky more manageable: I hate long-distance driving just as much as everyone else.  I am, by nature, someone who cannot sit still for long, and driving for too long really just leads to back and hip pain.  So I decided this time to do a set of 20 push-ups and 10 squats every time I stopped for gas or for rest.  It made a world of difference in relieving any feelings of discomfort.  The frequent breaks and the extra movement broke up any body staleness from sitting for too long.
5. Quote I’ve been pondering: “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” -Seneca

And lastly, we are approaching the end of 2016.  It seems like, more than any other recent year, 2016 has been particularly tumultuous.  The Presidential elections, the premature deaths of many talented musicians and actors, and for me…well, there has been a lot of change.  My business failed.  I lost some very close friends, some who no longer speak to me.  I was on a roller coaster of despair and hope all year long, and my ego took one hell of a thrashing.

In spite of (or perhaps because of) this wild back-and-forth, I dug deeper in my yoga practice, into my readings of books, and into the philosophy of Stoicism.  I have been blessed with mentors who came to my aid when I needed them the most and who also gave me enough slack to try to accomplish something by myself.  My true friends have stuck with me through thick and thin.  My family has shown me love and support when I needed it the most.

I know that this year has been hard for all of us.  I don’t hope that 2017 is an easy year.  It won’t be, and no year has ever been easy.  What I do pray for is that I may be able to withstand the sea-change of events with greater equanimity, that I may be able to be of greater service to family, friends and colleagues, and that I may help to create a better world, one relationship at a time.  I hope that I can help to make kindness, honesty, and integrity the core values of all my relationships.

My heart to yours.

Here are some ways to enliven your practice, especially if you have been practicing the same way for a long time.   I do not suggest trying to combine exercises (eg doing standing postures 10 breaths each, with full vinyasa and left side first….too many things to juggle!).  Play with these as your time and interest permit.

1.  Hold standing postures for 10 breaths each, once a week.  Observe the effects on the rest of your practice.
2.  Hold the first half portion of primary postures (paschtimottanasana to marichaysana D) for 8 to 10 breaths each, once a week.
3.  Do full vinyasa for the first half of Primary Series (if you have never done full vinyasa before, ask me and I will instruct you.  Your practice session may be longer than usual!).
4.  Hold upward dog for 2 to 4 breaths when doing the floor vinyasa in Primary Series.  (Especially if all you do is primary series and no intermediate series, you need to start holding upward dog longer at least two practice times a week).
5.  Slow down the breath to a five-count inhale and five-count exhale when doing the finishing series.
6.  Do Primary Series left-side first.  This includes surya B left lunge first, stepping to your left in standing, doing lotus left-side first, rolling anticlockwise in garbha pindasana, etc.
7.  Use a belt around your elbows and/or your thighs in urdhva dhanurasana.  Especially if you have tight shoulders, this is a good exercise to do for a month or longer.  Just remember to take one session to do the posture without the prop!

I would love to hear your feedback on any of these experiments.  You can leave a comment below!

Happy holidays, everyone!  I hope that you enjoy these musings as much as I do.  It’s an opportunity for me to share with you what I’ve been thinking about, what I’ve been doing or reading, and (if I have the time to sit down and watch) what I am watching.

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @rexxanthony and @rogueashtanga.

Safe travels!

1. What I’ve been reading: Tim Ferriss’ best-selling new book, Tools of Titans.  Filled with interviews of over 200 world-class performers from his podcast, this book makes Wikipedia weep for all of the rabbit holes it presents the reader.  I’ve listened to more podcasts driving into work every day this past week, than I have in the past year.  And each podcast gives me more nuggets to chase down and start applying.
2. What I’ve finished reading: The Man in the High Castle, by Philip K. Dick.  Written in 1962, the novel’s major premise is “What would it have been like for the Americans if Japan and Germany won World War II and colonized the US?” It may take you a bit to get into PDK’s noirish, bizarre style, but you will get hooked with the multiple storylines, the contemplation of alternative histories, and the questioning of what is real.  Before you watch the Amazon Studios mini-series, read this.  If you like this book, check out the Library of America edition, which contains 3 other early novels, including the inspiration for Blade Runner.
3. What I watched: Jean Claude Van Johnson, the pilot.  A great send-up of JCVD and his film work, and humorous commentary on how action movies have changed.  Free with your Amazon Prime membership.
4. What I use to practice Ashtanga: Manduka Pro The Black Mat.  These mats are the gold standard of yoga mats. Yes, they are heavy.  Yes, they are plain.  But they will survive a nuclear attack.  I had my first Manduka mat for 15 years, and I had to get a new one only because it contracted some sort of jungle fungus when I was in Bali.  These mats are investments in your practice, just like a good pair of shoes is for a marathon
5. Decadence for the holidays:  Buche de Noel.  The French are always stylish, and this signature holiday dish is as decadent as you can get.  I will need to do 108 sun salutations to work off this.
6. Quote I’ve been pondering: “To be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand.”-William Shakespeare, Hamlet

Read his article here! 

If you are interested in learning Chandra Krama, also known as the Moon Sequence, you can study it with me at Yoga District on 14th St NW.