When I went out to my car – it was still dark outside – I started to pull out of the driveway and noticed that the interior light was on in mom’s car. It was 6:30 in the morning; I was running a touch late on my way to teach yoga. The day was Saturday March 26.

I ran back inside, went into the room where mom was still sleeping, turned on light, found her keys – of course she asked what was going on. Don’t moms always ask that. I told her everything was fine and that she should go back to sleep.

I went out to the car – yep – the battery had died. I ran back inside and up to my brother’s room. He was meditating. I broke his meditation and told him the low down. He had to get the car “revived” while I was at yoga, because when I returned mom and I were headed to NY in her car.

AAA came while I was teaching. They jumped the car and my mom and brother then drove it to get gas and returned. When I came back from yoga then I washed up and ate and mom and I made bid our good-byes and we got into the car. Dead battery.

No problem. We jump start it with my car and off we go.

We drove non-stop to the suburbs of NYC. Stopped to visit one cousin for a short 1hr visit. Went to another cousin’s house for a short stopover and then drove to our hotel. All in all, a smooth arrival.

After dinner, we read, talked, and used the computer. Then sleep.

I awoke totally startled and was up & on my feet in flurry. It was 3:15am. “Mom, get up, the fire alarm is ringing” I said. “Quick, quick, hurry, hurry!” We were on the 4th (i.e. top floor) and I was expecting smoke in the hallway any moment.

“Come on mom – don’t grab anything – just let’s get our of here.” The alarm was loud and I had read too many horror stories in the paper that week and was leaving nothing to chance. “Mom, come on, just let’s go!”

The alarm was chaotic and I was antsy to get out of the room. I had no idea what to expect – would the stairwell be full of smoke?

I thought we were (finally) ready to get out of the room and mom turns to me and says, “Do you have…” and I all I heard after that was “eeeee”.

I was furious with her. “Mom, let’s go, this is not the time to go to the bathroom!!”. She repeated herself, “Do you have the key?” I checked my pockets, “Yes, let’s go”. And I grabbed her arm and we left the room.

For an 81 yr old, mom is pretty nimble. She was in her nightgown with a light sweater and I had her elbow and forearm in my grasp and we were making our way down the 4 flights of steps. So far so good – no smoke. When we made it to the ground level we headed to the door and alas – outside!!

It was 25 degrees. I looked around and could not see a fire anywhere. Others were now coming from the hotel from all exits. Despite what seemed like an eternity & being on the top floor – we were one of the first ones out of the hotel. Did I tell you it was 25 degrees? Cold, cold, cold. Mom only had on a paper thin nighty with a very light sweater and no socks to speak of. And I was jacketless.

Being the dutiful son I ran all the way around the hotel to get the car. Then mom and I would be warm. I put the key in – battery dead! “Oh my”, I said. (But don’t quote me on that one!)

I ran all the way back around the hotel and saw mom standing there. It was still 25 degrees and about 3:30 something a.m. I grabbed her and starting walking through the parking lot. There was a car running – there were three people inside, with room for more.

I motioned to them to roll down the window. In a few breaths I explained our plight. They said, “Oh sure – please come.” We got in the back seat. A motherly woman was in the driver’s seat. Her two daughters(?) – late teens perhaps were in the passenger seat and back seat. They were all extremely kind and welcoming.We sat there – warm.

Suddenly one more of their relations arrived outside the car. She saw there was no room and began to turn around. I called to her. The mother in the driver’s seat told me to stay. I got out of the car and had the young lady enter and sit next to my mom.

I was walking around for a while. There were fire trucks and people scattered all about. Not only people but dogs on leashes and cats in boxes. All wondered what was happening. I turned and looked over my shoulder, and there was mom right behind me.

I immediately marched her back to the car and told them not to let her out. They were all very kind and said, “She said she wanted to go out with you.” I told them not to listen to her and that she was to remain in the car. Mom begrudgingly got back in the car. Time passed. An overflowing toilet tripped the system. We were all allowed back in. At least 40 – 45 minutes had passed, maybe more.

We were scheduled to visit more cousins and aunts in the morning before going to see all my brothers and sisters in the afternoon. Instead in the morning we called AAA. They came and jump started our car – they do not do battery replacements on Sundays. But the tow truck driver said that it was just a short drive to Sears Auto Center.

We made the short trip over to Sears and entered the parking garage which was adjacent to a mall. It was 9:45am. Sears opened at 10am. There were 4 cars ahead of us waiting for Sears to open. We kept the car running as we did not want to risk it. Besides it was only 15 minutes or so. The time passed. The first car entered the auto center. It was 10:03 am.

Oh my – what is this I hear – it is a fire alarm. Everyone from Sears Auto Center is exiting, as is the entire mall. Cars are backing up. We do a token roll back of 10 feet or so. More time passes – our engine is still running. The fire department is now on the scene. I start dozing in the car. People are moving here and there. It is now 11am and the alarm is still sounding. Our car is still running. An hour had passed.

Ahh – finally after 1hr and 10 min, the alarm is off. Mom and I look at each other and wonder. Mom says, “It has been a real crumby trip.” She wasn’t upset – just being matter-of-fact. In due course, pretty speedily, we get our new battery installed – hooray!!

We go back to the hotel; mom is half-exhausted and I’m starving. She explains to the cousins we won’t be by and that we will catch them next time. We hang out for some time at the hotel, resting and relaxing.

Later we go over to my sister’s for a wonderful gathering of squash soup, homemade vegan pizzas (with toppings like broccoli, sliced potato, sauteed crispy tofu, spinach puree & more! – and homemade vegan baklava for dessert). Everything was great! Of course it was wonderful seeing all my brothers and sisters, their spouses, & kids. Lots of catching up, plenty of laughs and smiles, and not a fire alarm within earshot!!

What a treat in the middle of February – a morning meditation outside. The yogis say that doing meditation outdoors opens new vistas. No longer bothered by all the domestic callings a house contains, the aspirant is unfettered and more free to explore within. Natural surroundings and only sky overhead aid one in the journey.

So there I sat – on my porch surrounded by trees and a modest morning sun; it is February after all. Automatically the mind felt more inspired and easily slipped into the practice of pratyahara, i.e. delving inwards. At the right time the mantra also began to chime in, bringing a distinctly positive flow to the practice.

Great yogis sit with the mind introverted, not noticing a thing going on around them. They say that when Sri Ramakrishna would sit for meditation, birds would nest in his hair. I do not possess such aptitude. Sometimes the mind is focused within and sometimes I am more cognizant of the world without.

Certain birds were sweetly singing their call – again and again. And while this worldly sphere is filled with hustle and bustle, I could only think how the birds never get caught up in it. Just they recite their mantra, i.e. their delightful rhythmic song.

Thus inspired I took earnest aim and pointed my mind within, with the rhythm of my inner call. A delight to be doing meditation outside on this fine February morning…

Wendy Rieger, the news anchor of NBC-4, approached me for an interview for her new show, “Pier Review”, in early September. So one morning we sat and talked on her pier and she also came to a class and filmed. That interview began airing (Oct 27, 2010) on a show called DC Scene, of which Pier Review is a part. The show will air for the next few weeks on channel 208 Comcast. Please watch for it there. Renaissance Yoga was the first topic of this series. Thanks Wendy for having me on!!

For your easy access, here is that interview with Wendy. It is titled:

Pier Review: Learning Yoga From A Global Yogi

FYI, here is the story of what happened when Wendy came to class to shoot the video…READ THIS

All comments are most welcomed below – look forward to hearing from you. Did we pass our first ever TV interview?? – I hope so. Let us know.

Well, to continue with our interesting week – it kinda goes like this.

Wendy Rieger, the news anchor of NBC (Washington DC), was due to come to our 6p class this past Wednesday to get some video for a story she is doing on Renaissance Yoga. Well, true to form she came – right on time too!

And also true to form – the universe had something else brewing. While all 21 class participants began to arrive and get set up, one of them heard a crying sound from underneath the hall – it was a tiny kitty. The fire dept (next door) was notified and they wanted permission to remove a metal grate to get access to the kitty. We called the powers that be in Galesville and permission was granted. Next thing – kitty was out – and she was the size of 1/2 stick of butter.

I was inside getting things ready for the class and deliberations were underway on the front porch for how to handle the kitty. As class was about to start, a student informed me that Wendy thought it best to bring the kitty to her vet down the road. I was told she would be back in 5 min. (Note: This photo is not “our” kitty, but it is very, very similar looking!)

Alright…let’s get class started. All were primed for the video shoot but no worries we can adjust. 6:20p still no sign of Wendy and the kitty – 6:30p and still not back. By this point we were all wondering – or at least I was wondering…we were moving through one sequence after another and there was not a camera in sight.

At 6:40p Wendy gently tiptoed back in and shot video for 15 min or so. A few more minutes and class was over. The convention was again underway about kitty.

Turns out she was only 2 1/2 weeks old  (they really can’t be separated from mother until 6 weeks) and the kitty would need to be hand fed. Fortunately Wendy had secured all that was needed from the vet in terms of a milk formula. And our cat-loving student, Krista, took the cat home – wondering how she was going to feed the cat every 2hrs with a full time job!

The kitty was so small that she could easily curl up in the palm of your hand – she was tiny! And all she wanted was to be warm and have a cozy place to sleep.

Krista nursed the cat that night and in the morning called to inform me that she needed help in placing kitty in a home or shelter. After all, keeping such a young kitty would be a round-the-clock commitment.

We both called around – no luck. Then Krista phoned me – I had just gotten out of my 9am Thurs class – and told me she found a senior in Annapolis who was ready and able to take kitty.

To make a longer story short – kitty was blessed with a wonderful home, complete with a kitty infirmary etc. So she will be well cared for.

And, and, and earlier Wendy had called me and left a message saying she got all the footage she needed plus she had many directions about caring for kitty. As you may know Wendy is very active in causes for animal welfare and true to form she shined brightly in this situation as well.

So that’s the story of our video shoot with NBC and kitty’s rescue.

I will keep you updated both about our kitty as well as when the story on Renaissance Yoga will air!!

So that was my interesting week – part 1 & 2 – and it was only WEDNESDAY.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of teaching yoga is sharing this great practice with all kinds of wonderful people – from all different backgrounds, interests, and ages.

In addition to my regular 20+ classes per week or so, this past week (Sep 19 – 25) included three interesting experiences which I share here.

Sunday morning got the ball rolling with a session in support of Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary’s women’s day gathering. This is the second time I have participated in this event, and like the first one this was also wonderful.

The weather was phenomenal; the views stunning; the flowers in bloom; the participants adventurous; and every other aspect of the day seemed perfectly in sync as well.

Starting at 10am we went through our yoga routine featuring poses, meditation, relaxation and a story.

That was the precursor to a day in nature with hikes, talks, and more (as it was women’s day I was one and done after the yoga!). So we used our yoga practice to transition from daily life into this day-long nature retreat.

Here are two participants doing Warrior I out into the great expanse of Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary. We always do our sessions on the observation deck so as not to miss an iota of Mother Nature’s precious gift.

We took in all the sights and sounds and journeyed within and without – as far as the eye & mind could see.

Here are more pictures from the recent program at Jug Bay. Thanks Lindsay and Diane (Jug Bay staff) for giving me opportunity to participate in this fine outing. Also here are photos from the May gathering…

Then came Tuesday – & up next was the Southern High School Cross Country Team. And here they are!!

We got together at their Coach’s place, i.e. Doug Ellmore’s Farm. Coach Ellmore has been a long time supporter of yoga and graciously invited me to work with his team out at the farm. Once again spectacular weather and an absolutely great group of student athletes.

We went through a challenging workout – barefoot on the lawn – with the great sky overhead.

With shoes and socks strewn across the grass – and the local cat catching (& eating) mice, we went from pose to pose. Here they are all giving a strong effort in tree pose.

And indeed they dived into countless poses.

Thereafter it was a long shavasana (lying relaxation) under an expansive sky.

So that is how the week started – and to find out what happened the next day you will have to click here, or scroll up to the next post – your choice…

p.s. Will be working out the the Southern HS X-C team this Tues (9/28) as well!!

In 1987, as a teenager, I stood at the border with a friend. We peered down the highway past the guards and decided to go for it.

We split up and hitchhiked separately into the city, a 3 1/2 hr drive from the West German – East German border crossing. Later that day we made it to Berlin and met up with one another.

We passed the first night in West Berlin and then the next day we walked through “Checkpoint Charlie” into East Berlin. It was distinctly glum and gloomy – everything seemed old and depressed, especially to our young, western eyes. There was little food on the shelves, the mood was sullen,  and life seemed bleak. Outsiders could enter for a day, but the inhabitants could never leave – period.

Two years later all that changed drastically when the wall was torn down.

Now, here we are 20yrs after. While there are still a number of socio-economic points that need critical review and enhancement, at least the repressive and suppressive days of old are gone. And surely better days lie ahead.

Repression and suppression are never good – neither in individual life nor in social life. The entire aim of yoga is to tear down any and all barriers of narrow mindedness and open our minds and hearts to a wider  spectrum of life. Therein lies the health and growth of the human personality.

May we all continue to smash down the walls of differentiation and move forward toward a bright, new universal humanity.

Open any yoga magazine or even the health section of any newspaper, and you will read about the many benefits of yoga: Less stress, greater flexibility, lower blood pressure, deeper sleep, faster recovery time, and so many things.

In short, there are numerous ways how yoga helps. Even then, it can all seem quite theoretical or even beyond what we think we can achieve.

Sometimes we all need to hear stories, anecdotes, or even a word or phrase from people in our local community to inspire us to keep going. You may feel that your experience is insignificant, but by sharing it you may open a whole new avenue of hope and inspiration for someone else.

In my own life, yoga has helped blow away a dark cloud of an inferiority complex that seemed to always loom over or even envelop me. It has also granted me a greater sense of belonging, allowing a much more positive outlook in life – both individually and collectively. There is still a ways to go – but at least the journey is en route and not stalled!

I will gladly share more about the above as well as other ways yoga has helped.

Please take a moment to share how your yoga practice has helped you - in any way, no matter how small or big.

Remember…

You never know what great transformation or subtle shift in perception your words will have on someone else.

This is also a great way to personally reinforce the importance of your own practice.

(The below excerpt is the conclusion of an essay I recently wrote (Yoga: Manifesting Our Dharma) in answer to the question, ‘What is Yoga?’. The introduction is here.)

Yoga means many things to different people, yet ultimately it seems to be about finding happiness and meaning in our life, allowing us to live life to the fullest. Whatever one’s beliefs, career goals, or family situation, yoga will help us discover and share the talents and love that already lie within – making our human life truly great.

To paraphrase the great 16th / 17th century poet Tulsidas, when we come into this world as newborns, everyone smiles in joy and we cry. Yet throughout our lives, we are to engage in so many noble pursuits and benevolent endeavors, that when it is our time to leave this earth, we will smile knowing in our heart that we have done as much as possible to make the world a better place, and everyone else will cry knowing they are parting with a dear and trusted friend.

The practice of yoga stimulates and enhances our growth not just as individuals, but as people who are connected to a greater whole. We no longer view the world as fragmented parts but as a natural extension of ourselves; and, we no longer see others as being separate from us, but as people with whom we have an inherent bond.

Many challenges confront us in our modern culture. Yoga may be part of the balm that will help us unite to face those issues and together discover the solutions. When we become connected to our own heart and mind and realize our inherent dharma, then naturally we can better see the same in others. After all, is that not what living together is all about?

(The below excerpt is the introduction of an essay I recently wrote (Yoga: Manifesting Our Dharma) in answer to the question, ‘What is Yoga?’)

I began my yoga and meditation practice in the Fall of 1991, just after completing a tour of duty as a ranger at a National Park in the Pacific Northwest. That fall, my brother first raised the idea of undertaking a bicycle trip over the Himalayas and across the Indian subcontinent. Time passed.

A year later, in the months before we finally embarked on our epic journey, my brother, a few years my elder and an aspirant of yoga, explained that to him, the practice of yoga was like lifting an upside-down cup off the ocean floor so that the contents of that tiny cup could freely mix with the greater ocean.

In his analogy, the water in the inverted cup represents our individual identity, and the greater ocean represents the vast, universal consciousness. Thereby, in yoga we “lift the cup,” shedding our insecurities and ego, and embracing the limitless wonder of the grand cosmos.

On our journey, we regularly stayed in ashrams (yoga houses) and attended yoga seminars across India. That bicycle trek deepened my understanding and practice of yoga and propelled me further ahead on the path of raja yoga, an all-encompassing approach literally meaning the ‘king of yoga’. That trip was the first time I was completely immersed in a yogic lifestyle.

Shortly after my return to the United States, I attended a local yoga retreat. There, a friend asked, “How was your bicycle trip?” In response, I told him stories of evening meditation sessions on remote hillsides, listening to the wisdom of aged sadhus (yogic sages), and rising in the pre-dawn hours to go practice yoga in the forest. My observant friend remarked, “Well it sounds to me like it was much more than just a bicycle trip.”

And it was. That trip reshaped my entire life and it made yoga the centerpiece.