Did anyone attended the 5th annual Yoga journal conference in SF over the weekend? It was my first time to attend and I feel like a new person. My practice has taken on new dimensions and during my practice today, my students where pleased. Instead of practicing only asana/pranayama, I decided to expand my knowledge on the " Eight limbs of Yoga". ( I have them listed on my home page ). I spent 7 hours with three different teachers and nearly 50 students at the Embarcadro Hyatt on Friday afternoon. The eight limbs of yoga are also the petals of Buddhism. So in other words, it was day of Buddhist philosophy and how to apply them to every daily life and my practice. I needed some clarification to several of the limbs so that I could use them more effectively.

A thousand layers have been peeled back, a weight has lifted... I can breathe now.

I was able to speak to each instructor when they were done, and to my surprise they were excited by me and the questions I asked. I couldn't believe it, out of 50 students I some how stood out. Maybe it was my enthusiasm over all, but what really mattered most is that they regarded me as one of their own.

Frank Jude Boccio, Judith Lasater, Gary Kraftsow, thank you for keeping me on the path. Through Gary, I have found a similar spirit and a parallel in our practices and philosophies. Judith Lasater is one of the founders of Yoga Journal magazine and a master Iyengar instructor, she loved my name. Frank Jude Boccio is a Buddhist and yoga instructor who shared my loved for Champagne beads.

I plan on studying more with Gary when he comes to town in April @ the Yoga studio, Larkspur Landing.

Yoga David, ( David Leary) a burner and fellow tribe mate also taught at the conference. I could not make your class yesterday David, so sorry.


************************************************************************************************************************
A word on Gary, this man is far out.

Gary Kraftsow has been a pioneer in the transmission of yoga for health, healing and personal transformation for 30 years. He began his study of yoga in India with T.K.V. Desikachar in 1974 and received a Viniyoga Special Diploma from Viniyoga International in Paris, France. He is a renowned speaker and teacher of the Viniyoga methodology at many conferences and schools nationally and internationally. In 1999 he founded American Viniyoga Institute, LLC. Gary has successfully developed protocol for two National Institute of Health studies: "Evaluating Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain" and "Yoga Therapy for Generalized Anxiety." He is the Director and Senior Teacher of the American Viniyoga Institute; author of two books: YOGA FOR WELLNESS and YOGA FOR TRANSFORMATION;
This man is out of this world.