The Toronto Teaching Reminder

I have decided to Join Ahimsa and Kula Annex in this Yogically magnetic node in the Annex by making this Announcement.


I want to thank Kula Annex for Introduction to this Platform in Toronto for almost two years. I now am moving on, humbly, thank you.





There is a sweet little Yoga space that holds about 12 mats that is called Twisted... (love the name) it's in the Annex on 509 Bloor St. West, Toronto.


Here is the run down, Twisted is charging me $15 dollars an hour to rent, My regular rate for teaching group classes is anywhere between $80-$100 and an hour and up.


so I'm setting up a 'Pay What You Can' with a suggested minimum donation of $15.


I've taught away from the studio system before in Hong Kong after leaving Pure Yoga, and i realize it takes time for students to change their habits, I need to honor my time, and this is a reasonable exchange.


I'm going to be teaching 3 classes a week to start with and adding daytime classes as well, while I'm in Toronto, the classes are beginning the first week of March, first class will be Tuesday the 6th.



My class times at Twisted will be


Tuesdays at 7:30pm-9pm


Wednesdays at 4pm-5:30pm


Fridays at 4pm-5:45pm



I will also add day time classes based on requests from students



You can expect all my heart, passion and creativity to burst out in this step towards building understanding of how to be independent in our practice and ultimately in our lives off the mat.



I'm excited and scared, this is a humble step towards being a walking example that there is more yoga then the system, and there is more then the studio system.



Lawrence Jacob Milman

The Core Blog

I think back to a moment I shared with Desiree Rumbaugh, the Legendary Anusara Teacher, It was June 2008, I was her chaperon, for the Asia Yoga Conference, I picked her up from the airport, and escorted her into a cab to the Hotel … As we cruised through Hong Kong early morning traffic, I introduced Des to my reasons for Loving Ana Forrest, I told her, the work she does reminds me of the transformational time I spent studying acting. How emotional trauma gets lock in our Bodies and continues to create a powerful deflecting mechanism for any future similar traumas (perceived or actual) that might come up. Ana demands a relaxation of major muscles areas, like ribs and Neck, a fierce deepening of the breath, and a commitment to look at the parts of yourself that just can’t be seen or the conscious mind has developed immunity too. I explained to her the intensity, I shared the powerful psychic, emotional and physical releases that I’ve experienced in my body and within those around me, and I was hopping that she could find an Anusara path to the same release, specifically the emotional, although all are representations of the others.



She was jet-lagged, yet quick to answer, ‘we do it through themeing’ she explained, Now both then and now I’m a licenced Anusara-inspired teacher, and themeing is one of my favourite things about the sophisticated practice, the most talented ‘themers’ are genius, Des is one of them, But NO that’s not enough, a good theme may inspire but the frequency of breakthrough that I’m drawn to is experienced in the frame work of the body. In respect to energy level, I eased the conversation, to small talk…and eventually it dissolved to ‘see you in class tomorrow’


Josie and I are excited to take the participants of the Core Intensive, to the depth of the shadow, to pause for long enough to make space for breath and reintroduce ourselves to the parts of ourselves we have made a strong habit of avoiding.

This is not one method over another, hardly; in fact it’s a celebration of every thing that resonates to build a solid foundation for progression. The Principles of Alignment, and the tantric philosophy, as a part of the quilt, interwoven with Depth of breath and mining the Core with empathic skill, that’s not where our skills end…it’s just the inspiration for what brought us together.

The teaming up makes sense because we are both interested in this work within ourselves, I can speak for myself, as I share how often I miss the mark, repeatedly, repeatedly standing up, and continuously mining that neurological tunnel from ego to eternal essence, from mind to spirit, from Left brain to Right brain, from distraction to the Heart of the Matter.

This is the practice, to notice the pain/fear, and welcome it, to champion it ‘s right to exist, in the process, tip toeing closer and closer till the monster that began the day locked up in a cage with miles of beware signs warning your proximity to the beast finally reveals itself as a accomplice in the art of free living.

Occupy Yoga

What the world needs now is to admit to itself that this is happening... simple as that.

This is the state of the world, this is the way things are, and this is what we have to work with.

It may seem wrong, it may feel sickening, it might even upset the people around you.
What's the alternative?

- to continue to pretend that it's not happening?

On the flip side - it may excite you, it may be helping to create a state of wealth and abundance for you, and it might just look smooth and slick from your perspective.

We have been inhabiting and strengthening a system of complex slavery, in all realms of society. We individually fortify it, and collectively position it as if this was the golden ladder to climb. It might be.

What the world needs now is to admit to itself that this is happening... simple as that.

Pause. equanimity - meaning no judgment - I'm changing the world, but not with this blog. What I am doing is a simple pointing at the static, knowing that the observation of it will lead to shift.

Surrender to the fact that the Governments, the Banks, the Mega corporations, the major media outlets, the food producers, the water bottlers - rule the western world's mass behaviour and thought process. This is Happening. What I'd like to suggest is that we start acting like its happening and accept it.

Just accept that there are cameras mounted now on most street corners in major cities, accept the fact that people in major power positions change the rules to their advantage when ever they feel like it, accept the fact that Facebook is a super sophisticated tool to do market research on the global population that uses computers...

Is this the truth?

No Occupy movement budged them, the bankers are still doing their thing, and our privacy is nothing more then a nostalgic sentimentality. Just think about it - if an individual in a powerful position, needed to access our telephone conversations, our email, our text messaging, or facebook page inbox etc, I'm pretty confident that they could easily do it.

Accept that truth.

The reality may scare you, but fear is merely our relationship with the unfamiliar....



just saying

what is this Beyond?

I remember the beginning of this very blog in June 2009, as I was embarking on the creation of Freedom Yoga while in Hong Kong. The purpose of this Blogs birth was to understand what I was doing, this blog has become many things since.



Today I wish to again understand what it is I'm doing. The science of the world that has so deeply enriched my teaching and empowered my personal practice with meaning, is still science at the end of the day. Now as deep as science is and as interesting as it tends to be(at least to me), I find that I'm caught up in this land of intellectual entertainment. I find nothing wrong with entertainment, yet I find that this circle goes nowhere, we reach depths, curious points and connections, and always, always there is no end point, we will always go deeper, and we will always remain incomplete.

I could end the Blog right here, at a point that sounds aimless...but I won't, I'll deepen yet again, as I smile at myself for knowing better.

I keep coming back to this exchange from the writings of Paulo Coelho -‘I’ve been through all this before,’ he says to his heart.
‘Yes, you have been through all this before,’ replies his heart. ‘But you have never been beyond it.’

That's where I stop to listen to my Heart... a pause, a moment to acknowledge that yes there is a heart to converse with, and then listen to this electro-magnetic centerpiece of my personal experience.

Repose and return to the line...you have been through all this before,’ replies his heart. ‘But you have never been beyond it

what is this 'Beyond it?'...science digs and discovers, the spiralic nature of nature endlessly continues, technology will advance, Human bodies will strengthen, become more flexible, quicken and so on. These are all examples of going though an experience or experiment...

I've come to a conclusion, a conclusion that is in flux like all that is true in the realm of form, that to 'go Beyond' is outside of a strategy, or a road map, it lives in the swampy reality of the serene Bliss of the heart-

Explanation, why I would consider the serene bliss of the heart a swampy reality. Serene refers to a calm peacefulness, so where does swampy fit in, well we are talking the heart, the bliss center, the dream weaver part of self, or collective that has a message to share that is outside of pragmatics...we are not robots, I'm not, I can not follow a recipe to happiness. But I can except that my stillness, my peace, my rare calm when it arises if I hold on to it, will sooner or later reveal an antithesis to serenity a fear, pain, a revelation of an inner darkness....so yes i can go through it, for my practice has relentlessly presented the same scratching of the surface to me, under different disguises, a plethora of methods, a gamut of different hues within the same method, but to go beyond it, is to dive into the muck, the muddy waters to swim through the slug and have no expectations that there is a treasure at the other end, to 'go beyond' is to sign up for the fiery transformation, and allow for the fire to burn you to bliss...to 'go beyond' is to know your heart so deeply that walking the tight rope of the sharpest razors edge is no match for your knowing of the bliss that vibrates within you... and do all of this with the composure of serenity...
Holding space for your dragons fire that burns within you.
that is holding space for the possibility of 'going beyond'

Once we begin to go beyond then we start again, only from a brand new starting point.

The Project.
Lawrence J

11:11:11

there is an emerging energy that is about to become discovered on a major scale, the energetics that we experience is about to become the next paradigm of how we see the world... feel the world...experience the world...

My Edmonton Schedule from here on in....

Today's Kula practice @ shanti was a blast!!!!!
here's the rest...

Tonight Oct 18 @ Noorish the Yoga of Science...the Brain 7:15pm

WED Oct 19 9:00am HathaFlow and 12noon hotflow both @ Yoga Life Studios
also 'The Den' @ 5:15PM

Fri Oct 21 9:30am Hatha Flow and 8:30pm Upside down!!!!! Both @ Life yoga studios

Sun Oct 23 Restorative with Jana @ Prana 7am
also on Oct 23!!
Teaching Authentically Yoga Life Studios 3-6pm***come to this!!!!

Mon Oct 24 Hot flow L2 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm Hot Flow both at Yoga Life studios

Tues Oct 25 The yoga of Science In Action 'the gravity enigma'


See you soon!!!:)

List.

things to do...
teach @ 7:15am northshoreelements....
take sjnnae's class...
Christine's class
return rental car...
rebekka's class
...and pat Andy on the back...
email angel, make a budget..email Bali...
Smile.

the Edmonton trio.

Jet Lagg- in the middle of the night poerty.

Jet Lagg

Can't sleep in the pitch black, heart beats, write back.

"I'll be right back", what's app, skype can't feel the lack, roll over on the mat.
Back bends, my heart sends,
Vibrations, holding hands.
Mind bends, more then just friends,
downloads can convert nerve paths.

Can SMS, but instead, stewing in the soup of the world ends.
Back to the breath, can use a friend.
@3am mind tends to die deaths, die deaths till the kid ends.

"Will the Kid end? Why kill kids, Ben?"

"'Cause they have no place in the world with,
reaching out and no love sent."

"But Ben, kids can imagine like no gent, twist perception till she gives again,
Man tends to see ends, to collapse and let pains land"

"hmmmm... pains like sand, in an hour glass, man's right!" the kid says "the sand ends. right Ben?" see right then, in that moment the kid can.

the Kid can be the man, and this is how he finds his way back to bed again.

Re-Surfacing,

I can't wait to put this in the room, on the Mat. We have limited time, 90 min a day for 5 days, to create a shift. See what works for you and then Embody it.
it's such a special process

FEB 14th-18th
5 day Intensive
1230-2pm
$1000/5 classes
$200/class

So much yesterday...Bali brings out

on a special night under the Bali Stars, I was so excited to hear this song be played by the DJ...I love the feeling that comes with this song/movie for me.
it is my childhood, in a capsule
enjoy.
LJm

Christopher McDougall: Are we born to run? | Video on TED.com

Got the audio book, Now the ted talk... this is the writer that inspired me to get Vibrams, those funny toe shoes.

Christopher McDougall: Are we born to run? | Video on TED.com

Celebrate

Tony Robbins teaches that part of living your dreams happens after the dream is realized, as a seed to the next dream realized. 'To celebrate' as a verb to train your brain to feel pleasure, so your subconscious knows you got what you wanted.

While I'm celebrating in HK, here's the dream, I've completely been swept away by my Bali experience, I'm re-surfacing with a series of posts that start with this...




...First off teaching @ Desa Seni is special, so much so a part of me wants to keep it a secret, it's at that point that Ricki martin was at before he stepped on stage at the Grammies in 99, polished, professional, remarkable, but still relatively unknown, with the shift of one moment in time, he becomes recognizable as a top name in the industry. regardless of how much you ever cared about Ricki martin; we're moments away from this man made Village in Canguu on the Island of Bali, to emerge as the pioneer in Yoga Training Culture.

Vibe is fresh, vibrant, with a luxurious grit.
It is a humbling honor to have taught in a space that is so alive, the studio is a roof top, where Geckos normally peer down from the rafters in the ceiling, the walls are a botany scene, leaves of the tropics, Red bamboo looking on, papaya trees, it's unreal, and simple at the same time.


The Students are a rainbow of UN flags, in one class you'll find Brita from Germany, Svyetlana a Ukrainian, Brad an Auzzie Surfer, Mafalda from Portugal, Tanu from Austria, with KULA staples sprinkled throughout, you can count on Martina, a Canadian to be anchoring the room in the back corner and the front row is regularly inhabited by the traveled artist responsible for DS,Tom. It's all Good, and ready for a star Burst, Loved it there. So much so, I'm Back teaching there in Two weeks.

Check out www.DesaSeni.com

check this out!!

I've never been to this studio in NYC, but two serious Yogi's and good friends of mine graduated from the sonic teacher training once upon a time; Toronto Studio owner Sari Nisker, and Prana flow gal from Vancouver Clara Roberts-Oss...
watch this:)

The cap off to the Liberation to Manifestation Intensive last week. Patrick Haley and I went of a Urban Yogic Journey.

Freedom Yoga Project is Back with Intensive programs starting JAN 31st 2011, @ 7 old Bailey central HK.

The next 10 day Urban cleanse program is ready to Go as well, March 7th new date

email inquiries to:
thefreedomyogaproject@gmail.com for details

Heart Warriors the Year End intensive. freedom Yoga

The ideal situation for really understanding another is not so much how a person reacts to extreme stress, but rather how he or she suffers the vulnerability of falling in Love.- Aldo Carontenuto

I have some amazingly brave souls that are continuously showing up to meet a deeper part of themselves everyday.
With my trip to Bali approaching fast, I put together a special 5 day year end Journey called 'From Liberation to Manifestation', a trip through your Chakras to materialize your life.

Developed with the year end in mind, this is an express intensive, 5, 1 hour classes dedicated to opening up the group and individual perspective in time to get the most of the transition into 2011.

On day one we vibrated through the Crown and Third Eye Chakra's, Journalling about that which we know yet still choose to ignore, the asana was strong and led to head stand at the end.

Day two we moved through our throats and our expressive truth, the 5th Chakra. Toasted Legs, and cooled it all down with some lions breaths, explored anger, as I personalized by sharing some angry moments/perspectives I held as an employee with Pure Yoga, and how the company at least while I was under contract treated staff.

Tomorrow is the third of 5 days. Anahata, the heart Chakra, my favourite.
Tomorrow's 12:30 pm class will end with a process I love to do called 'Heart staking.'

In the weeks ahead what to Look forward to:
-The Last three days of Liberation to Manifestation
-teaching In Bali
-I'm Writing an article for a Yoga Magazine about the Master cleanse/Yoga program
-More About Ana Forrest Advanced TT
-More about Tony Robbins, Unleash the Power Within and the personal development industry
-LOVE.
-Video Blogging

Rock OM

Turning 2010 on it's head.

this last month has been incredible!!!
busy as well.
Oct 17-28 I led a 10 day master cleanse/yoga Program, awesome experience!!!

Oct 29-31 travelled 2 Toronto, taught 2 workshops in my home town and led a special Teaching Authentically talk with 25 of Toronto's top inspiring yoga teachers @ Kula Yoga Annex.
with no time to spare;

Nov 1st I jumped the Canada/U.S. border and landed in NYC, where I did something I've always wanted to do:

Nov 4-7 A seminar Called 'Unleash the Power Within' with Anthony Robbins, what a trip, I will get into this in greater detail in an upcoming blog entry.

Nov 10Th I returned to HK in time for the Asia Spa Awards, fun night!
and with jet lag still looming on Nov 13Th presented at the 2Nd Annual Asia Consciousness Festival, great event put together by Dr.Gino Yu and team.
I also participated in 3 inspiring workshops Joseph Lee's Storytelling, Joakim de Posada's don't eat the Marshmallow...yet! and Greg Hart's Creating Consciously.
Before the festival ended, Nov 20th I was on the Mat for my second time around with Ana Forrest; the yoga genius was in HK holding her Advanced teacher Training course which I previously completed in 2009 in Cranston, Rhode Island. 9 days of breathing deeply, while my body released mega amounts of emotional, physical, and just plain toxins.

It's non-stop the up coming year has a lot in store,
for the next 2 weeks, I'll be slowing down (slightly), teaching open classes at 7 Old Bailey Street, working with my Private Clients on their year ahead plans.
training teachers for programs that are up coming in 2011.
and on December 10Th I fly off to Bali to honor an agreement I made with Desa Seni Village Resort where I'm excited to be teaching a full schedule of classes for the Xmas New Years period and beyond.

Freedom Project is Happening.
send all and any feedback and or questions to thefreedomyogaproject@gmail.com


The Full Pure-Yoga Story coming shortly.
soon!!!
LJ

Rides of hope | Video on TED.com

While I'm Spending these 9 days With Yoga Wonder Woman ANA Forrest, here's a great Video From TEDx ISRAEL
enjoy, it's about the shift into Positive Stamina, that's my Definition of YOGA!!

Public "Education" has become indoctrination and distraction

Check out this cool vid. It starts with Erica Goldson’s speech. This girl pulls no punches on what schools aren’t doing for students. After that, RSA Animated apply their illustration wizardry to Sir Ken Robinson’s TED Talk on changing education paradigms.

Get a visual on the problem – and where to look for solution – then let us know what you think. Do you agree with Erica that the system is designed to build passive compliance in students? Do you think Robinson is right when he says education is alienating millions of kids?

Dylpostino - Practice

Check this out, this is my fellow yogi, MC, and Baseball fan Dylan Bernstein on the mic, push it to viral.