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  • March 8

    The birds outside are now in time with the birds in the alarm clock
    Six o’clock
    They sound much the same
    The mornings are getting lighter
    Easier to get up
    Beginning the day with a stretch
    Breathe and relax
    Breathe and relax
    The sun is warming now, after a long winter

    There is only attachment; there is no such thing as detachment. The mind invents detachment as a reaction to the pain of attachment. When you react to attachment by becoming “detached,” you are attached to something else. So that whole process is one of attachment. You are attached to your wife or your husband, to your children, to ideas, to tradition, to authority, and so on; and your reaction to that attachment is detachment.

    - Krishnamurti

    [Via http://dtoms.com]

  • Introduction to the Ashtanga Yoga Method

    The Ashtanga Method:

    Opening Prayer

    Fundamental Asanas

    Primary Asanas

    Finishing Asanas

    Closing Prayer

    ashtanga yoga

    The Ashtanga Yoga system is a living lineage that dates back nearly five thousand years in an unbroken line of teachers, sages and gurus that culminates in the life of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, his son Sharath Rangaswamy and every Ashtanga practitioner today. Developed by TKV Krishnamacharya and his student Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois who tells us that it was derived from the ancient indian text, the Yoga Kurunta, written by Vamana Rishi. Krishnamacharya is one of the world’s most legendary masters of yoga. He was initiated into the science of Yoga by his Guru, Rama Mohan Brahmachari. Among Krishnamacharya’s students we find TKV Desikachar (his son), BKS Iyengar and Indra Devi along side Jois who studied with him from 1927 and into the 1950’s. Jois, or Guruji as he is affectionately called by his students, continued the lineage of these teachings, sharing them with thousands of practitioners around the world (learn more HERE).

    the practice

    The Ashtanga Yoga Vinyasa system is sequences of postures that vary in difficulty and benefit. The flow between each posture is an integral part of the practice.

    asana

    There are three groups of movement sequences and six series in total: The Primary Series, Yoga Chikitsa, cleanses and tunes especially the physical body. The Intermediate Series, Nadi Shodhana, purifies the nervous system, opening up for more subtle experiences of our energies and mind. The Advanced Series A, B, C and D, Sthira Bhaga, literally meaning strength and grace, which further explores flexibility, vigor and tranquility as an integrated synergy, requiring higher levels of humility and dedication. Each series of postures must be accomplished before proceeding to the next. The practice is cumulative and it is essential to follow the order of postures (asanas) meticulously as each individual asana builds on the previous one and prepares practitioners for the next. The sequential process of learning Ashtanga Yoga allows its practitioners to develop the concentration, strength, flexibility and stamina needed to progress in a safe and balanced manner. Each asana, or group of asanas, has a specific effect that is counter balanced by the previous asana, or group of asanas.

    breath

    Breathing cannot be overemphasized in the Ashtanga system. When we are born we breathe in and when we die we breathe out – in between these two breathes our life spans. Guruji says: ‘Ashtanga practice is a breathing practice … the rest is just bending’. The breath is the key to the realm of tranquility and power and with it we can regulate and control our nervous system. The breath is the door between our body and our mind, the portal between meditation and asana practice and often the first step on the way to a more spiritual, soulful and happy lifestyle. Breathing is our most fundamental and vital act and holds a divine essence.

    vinyasa

    Postures are linked together through flowing movement (vinyasa). Vinyasa means breath synchronized with movement. In Ashtanga Yoga the movement is always synchronized with the breath and there is never a separation between the two actions. When the synchronization of movement and breathing is an integral part of the yoga practice and the three body locks (Moolabandha, Udiyanabandha and jalandarabandha) are applied, an internal, purifying heat is generated in the body. Unwanted toxins are released and disposed of, vital hormones and minerals flow into the bloodstream and the nervous system is purified. The result is a light and strong body.

    tristana

    Ashtanga Yoga utilizes a three-pronged approach called Tristana. Tristana consists of correct breathing (Ujjayi)*, yoga postures/asanas (including correct use of the bandhas)**, and the precise gazing (dristi)***. This is both a method and a state and practitioners develop control of the senses, a deep awareness of themsleves and their inner sensations, emotions and workings of the mind. By maintaining this discipline with regularity and devotion, practitioners develop steadiness of body and mind.

    heart of yoga

    Ashtanga literally means eight limbs. All yoga is technically speaking ashtanga yoga as all yoga follows the eight limbs described by Patanjali. But these days the term is commonly used to describe the method taught by Jois. The eight limbs are described by Patanjali as:

    • Yama (ethical discipline):
      ahimsa (non-violence)
      satya (truthfulness)
      asteya (non-stealing)
      brahmacharya (refraining from sexual indulgence)
      aparigraha (detachment)
    • Niyama (observation & purification):
      sauca (cleanliness, purity) santosha (contentment)
      tapah (austerity)
      svadhyaya (study towards self-knowledge)
      ishwara-pranidhana (surrender to God/higher self)
    • Asana (postures)
    • Pranayama (breath control)
    • Pratyahara (sense withdrawal)
    • Dharana (concentration)
    • Dhyana (meditation)
    • Samadhi (consciousness itself)

    The eight branches mutually support each other and are to be learned and taken into daily committed action. An established asana practice prepares dedicated yogis for a balanced practice of the more subtle limbs such as pranayama which are the key to embodying the yamas and niyamas. The heart of yoga is ethical living, honesty and compassion.

    how to learn

    Please note that you should learn only from a traditionally trained teacher who follows the lineage of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois to ensure a safe and healthy journey for the body and mind into the science of the Ashtanga Method to yoga.

    * Ujjayi breath (breath of victory): The core of the practice. Facilitates movement in the physical body, creating ‘room to roam‘ between your bones underneath your skin. Quiets the mind from unnecessary entanglements, distributes appropriate energy through-out your body and unifies the physical, mental and energetic bodies to one solid entity of motion, transformation and power. Generates purifying heat in the body.

    ** Bandha (valves or locks): Moolabandha, Uddiyanabandha and Jalandarabandha helps you integrate your physical and energy bodies. Through the use of the three bandhas in your practice, the body comes together to one entity, creating bounce, flow and grace. It accumulates the generation of purifying heat deep in your body and, yet again, makes for a strong internal focus point for your mind to rest.

    *** Dristi (focus): The eyes as a help to focus the mind, instigating a more internal and potentially meditative practice. Helps keep your mind and senses within the parameters of your physical body.

    [Source: YogaJoy]

    [Via http://dailycupofyoga.com]

  • One Thing a Day

    Try not. Do or do not, there is no try.
    – Yoda

    I just got things together and launch PFX Yoga which I will be operating in and around Westport Connecticut and lower Fairfield County.  I am resolving that each day that I am not instructing I will be doing at least one thing to move my business forward.  Even if it’s just adding something to my website or hanging a flier in a new spot or whatever, just do something. There is no start or end there is just doing.

    Just like in our practice it just doing it and being present on the mat that matters and as long as we are there we are doing something and moving out practice forward.  A business is like a pose even when we think we have mastered it we realize there is something more that we can get out of it.  I am trying to always try to find something else in everything that I do, practice, live, earn or just breathe.

    One thing a day whether it’s in life, business or yoga practice make the time it will be worth it.

    [Via http://onemansyoga.wordpress.com]

  • Kiwi Syrah Smoothie

    Alright, hold up, I totally have a good name for my latest smoothie concoction: California Sunset. Why? Well, kiwis are a classic California fruit and wine is, well, everywhere, but just go with me here. So, here I formally present my heart-healthy California Sunset Smoothie:

    1 kiwifruit
    1 handful strawberries
    1 banana
    approx. 1/2-3/4 cup yogurt
    3 tablespoons red wine

    Blend, chill and serve. My god, Jamba Juice needs to hire me right now.

    *

    Adding wine to my heart chakra tonic brings up the controversial issue of the “proper yoga diet.” About a month ago, the New York Times published an article about a yoga movement called “Yoga for Foodies.” The article, which was merely the latest stirring-up of the diet question, got a ton of pick-up in yoga publications and blogs.

    Ahimsa, the yama of nonviolence, is interpreted by a lot of people to mean yoga practitioners should be vegetarians. This interpretation is usually explained much more elegantly, but very crudely, the idea is that every critter has a soul, so don’t kill it. While vegetarianism doesn’t feel like something I can or even want to commit to right now, I do understand the reasoning behind it as part of yoga practice.

    As for wine: while in itself alcohol isn’t an ahimsa-breaker, alcohol consumption in general can certainly cause harm, despite those heart-healthy resveratrols. It also, in my understanding, has the potential to conflict with at least three niyamas: purity, contentment and self-control.

    Diet in general is a big part of our daily doings, and I think the idea of adding discipline and an emphasis on health and non-harmful practices to your eating totally makes sense as an extension of yoga from the mat to the rest of your life.

    However, the NYT article includes a comment from Sadie Nardini, a New York yoga teacher, about this:

    Ms. Nardini “came out” as a meat-eater on The Huffington Post last year, in an essay she titled “Om Scampi.”

    “Nowhere is it written that only vegetarians can do yoga,” she said in an interview. “We do not live in the time of the founding fathers of yoga, and we don’t know what they wanted us to eat.”

    The article even articulates how some yoga instructors rationalize meat eating with ahimsa:

    Ahimsa is now interpreted by some American yogis to allow meat, if it is humanely slaughtered. Many teachers say that they have adopted a “don’t ask, don’t tell” attitude about meat, and [yoga teacher and Yoga for Foodies founder David Romanelli] says he eats meat when he knows its source (and sometimes when he doesn’t). Bacon, he said, is a yogic teaching tool, providing an opportunity to contemplate principles of attraction and revulsion, desire and self-denial, and why we are so attracted to things we know to be unhealthy.

    Not going to lie, when I first read this article in January, I was like, sweet. I don’t actually have to change all that drastically in order to do this yoga thing. And Romanelli’s quote that “The world is a better place if people do yoga. And if they come because chocolate or wine is involved, I’m fine with it,” was actually really encouraging for me. I felt for the first time like yoga didn’t have to be such a vanilla or granola thing to do.

    However, while I know I’m still just in the yoga dabbler phase, something feels intrinsically wrong about the idea of a yoga practice that not only accepts, but actively encourages, meat and even wine consumption. Here’s where I’m conflicted: is this just a flare-up of my conditioned stereotype of yoga or do these things actually conflict with some sort of long-dormant personal value system?

    Hmm. Things to contemplate over that bloody brilliant California Sunset.

    [Via http://yoganewb.wordpress.com]

  • My First Green Monster

    I just got home from the most kick-ass yoga class I’ve had in a while.

    I know I always rave about my yoga classes and instructors, but this one was really really really good. Thank you Nielle@CPY!

    Best part of the class besides dripping in sweat? Wheel Pose!

    Home and craving a Green Monster. So I’m loving these because they serve a mega-dose of greens and with the sweetness of fruit, you can’t even taste it!

    Into my immersion blender cup

    • Kale
    • Almond milk
    • Frozen banana
    • Protein powder
    • Sprinkle of oats+flax
    • Homemade granola on top!

    Viola!

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    After candle light yoga last night I stopped at Rainbow to get some milk. $35 dollars later I got out of the store. How much do you love a good Catalina coupon? FREE SILK ALMOND MILK! Very excited to cash in on this!

    Off to watch the trashy mindless entertainment that is The Bachelor. Go Team Tenley!

    QUESTION MASTER:

    [Via http://jenfindsbalance.wordpress.com]

  • Ask and you shall receive

    Just last night, I was lamenting the fact that my week was activity-free and I vowed to earn at least a few Activity Points this week.

    This morning, Tina over at Carrots N Cake served up her 2010 Yoga Challenge.

    I love yoga whenever I bother to do it. In fact, every time I make it to a class, I think to myself, “What took you so long?” So of course I jumped right on Tina’s challenge bandwagon.

    Yep, that’s me: Comment # 41. I said I wanted to make yoga a regular part of my life this month — at least three times a week.

    To get me started, I borrowed a Web site from one of the comments above me, yogadownload.com. I was worried it’d be expensive, but all the 20-minute classes are free. I’m going to download one and get started just as soon as I finish this post.

    Perhaps exercise will help me budge the scale faster.

    Yes, this morning’s encounter with the scale was a bit disappointing. I know I shouldn’t complain, having dropped from 198 to 193.2. That’s down 4.8 pounds!

    However, last Friday the scale was at 190.8 … so 193.2 is a disappointment, especially after an in-control weekend.

    Oh well. I refuse to let it keep me down. I lost 4.8 pounds in my first OP week in I don’t know how long. That’s a fantastic result! :D

    I plan to keep up the great work this week. This morning started with a glass of almond milk and Hungry Girl’s Egg Mug Classic (2 Points) topped with a little salsa.

    For lunch, I’m thinkin’ enchiladas. I made them again Sunday, and this time I was able to eat them. They were delicious … and I still have beans and sauce to use up, so I can make another batch. Think I’ll enjoy a salad with them this time, though.

    [Via http://kyree90.wordpress.com]

  • Woulda, coulda, shoulda

    In its development stage, this property at 309 Massachusetts Ave was a yogi’s dream: a beautiful new space for yoga and wellness led by some major names in Cambridge / Boston yoga. Despite the hype, the project withered and the space never opened. According to the neighbors, the yogis overspent on construction and the project was shuttered mid-project. But this prime empty Mass Ave location is not a victim of the economy, but rather a victim of MIT’s new policy of “evaluating” all of its current property holdings in Cambridge. Learning this made me curious-how much property does MIT own in Cambridge, and what are its policies towards community development with regards to its vacant commercial properties?

    [Via http://emptymassave.wordpress.com]

  • Feats of Strength

    Lord Rama “Therefore, carrying your bow and arrows, take Sita with you and find shelter in an impassable cave, covered with overgrown trees. My dear Lakshmana, please do not go against my wishes. After swearing by My feet, please go from here and protect Sita. We do not have much time. You are a strong and valiant warrior, and I have no doubt that you could defeat all these Rakshasas, but I wish to slay these night-rangers myself.” (Lord Rama speaking to Lakshmana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 24.12-14)

    God’s devotion to His votaries is unflinching. In this passage, Lord Rama is asserting His power over all that be. Living in the forest, Rama’s younger brother, Lakshmana, was more than capable of handling the impending attack from the Rakshasas, yet just to show the world an example of His prowess, Rama decided to take on the battle by Himself. He wanted to personally teach the demons a lesson.

    Lord Rama There are many established beliefs of who is God, what He looks like, and what type of form He takes, if any. Many religious systems espouse the belief that God is impersonal, or that He is an old man, or even that He doesn’t exist. The Vedas tell us otherwise. The ancient scriptures emanating from India certainly do describe the Lord in an impersonal manner from time to time. This is done more as a comparison technique. Any spirit soul that takes birth in the material world must assume a body that is both temporary and miserable. God, being the all-knowing and all-powerful, can never be limited to a temporary body, thus He is sometimes described as having no arms or legs. Nevertheless, God is still one, and He is a person. The Vedas tell us that the original form of God is Lord Krishna. He is also known as Bhagavan, Vishnu, Hari, Vasudeva, etc. These names all refer to the original God, and they exist simply to describe His various potencies.

    The original Veda was imparted to the first created living entity, the demigod Lord Brahma. The difference between a demigod and God Himself is that a demigod is a living entity just like us. They may be elevated in material powers, and they may live a lot longer than we do, but their time on earth is nevertheless controlled. They have been granted special powers and jurisdiction over various aspects of the creation by Krishna Himself, but their reign of power eventually expires, similar to how members of Congress serve for a certain number of years after being elected. The Vedas describe God and His endless glories, but due to man’s fallibility, he has a tendency to either forget this knowledge or to not believe in it. Taking this into consideration the Lord personally appears on earth from time to time. In one sense we are all expansions of God since we are equal to the Lord in quality. God is eternally blissful and full of knowledge, and the same holds true for our spirit souls. However, we are subordinate to God and are thus prone to falling down into this material world. Assuming the body of a human, animal, or even a plant, our blissful nature becomes covered by the three gunas of goodness, passion, and ignorance. God, on the other hand, can never be subject to the illusory forces of maya. There is no difference between His body and spirit. When He appears on earth in the form of a human or an animal, His body should never be considered material or a product of maya.

    Lord Krishna One of God’s appearances took place during the Treta Yuga, the second time period of creation. At the time, the demons of the world, the Rakshasas, were ascending to power. The Vedas tell us that there are 8,400,000 varieties of species that exist due to the unlimited combinations of goodness, passion, and ignorance that a living entity can possess. The Rakshasas are one such species. They are demonic by nature, taking the gross material body to be everything.

    “They (the demoniac) say that this world is unreal, that there is no foundation and that there is no God in control. It is produced of sex desire, and has no cause other than lust.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 16.8)

    A sober person realizes that they are eventually going to die. Knowing this fact, an intelligent person tries to figure out what the meaning of life is and why they are put on earth. The famous Vedanta-sutras actually address this issue. Their very first aphorism is “athato brahma-jijnasa”, which means “Now is the time for inquiring about Brahman, or God’. The atheistic class, the asuras or Rakshasas, never ponder this question. Thinking that death is the end of everything, they work as hard as they can to secure as much sense gratification as they can in their present life. This has been the philosophy of atheists since time immemorial. Thinking along these lines, the famous Indian philosopher, Charvaka Muni, advised everyone to eat as much clarified butter as they could, and to beg, borrow, and steal their way to money and fame if they had to.

    Rama and Lakshmana killing a Rakshasa The Rakshasas of the Treta Yuga were no different in their thinking. Their leader was Ravana, a ten-headed monster who defeated many of the demigods in battle. Lord Vishnu, at the insistence of the demigods, appeared on earth in human form. Vishnu’s appearance was carefully crafted in such a way so as to adhere to the boons that were bestowed upon Ravana. The demigods granted Ravana the boon that no celestial being, animal, etc. could ever defeat him. Human beings were exempt from this list since Ravana never thought a lowly man could ever defeat him. Lord Rama, though in the guise of a human being, was God Himself. Born and raised in the kingdom of Ayodhya, He and His brothers were expert kshatriya warriors. Their fighting skills were unmatched. The arrows shot from Rama’s bow were no ordinary weapons. They were more powerful than any modern nuclear weapon.

    As part of His pastimes, Rama accepted banishment to the forest for fourteen years. This occurred due to a misunderstanding in the kingdom, but the real purpose of the exile was to give Rama an excuse to take on the Rakshasas, and more importantly Ravana. Rama’s wife, Sita Devi, and His younger brother, Lakshmana, accompanied Him during the exile. The group set up a temporary camp in Janasthana. One day they were visited by Ravana’s sister, Shurpanakha. She propositioned Rama, who then jokingly led her to Lakshmana. An argument ensued, and Lakshmana ended up lopping over her nose, disfiguring and humiliating her. Shurpanakha returned to Ravana and complained about what happened. Eventually, Ravana’s brother, Khara, decided to attack Rama. The demon brought an army of 14,000 Rakshasas with him. This shows the nature of the demons. Rama wasn’t bothering anybody, for He was living a peaceful, secluded life with His wife and brother. Yet the demons have no problem harassing the saintly people of the world. With Lord Rama, however, they picked the wrong person to mess with.

    Shri Rama Darbar In the above referenced quote, Rama advised Lakshmana to take Sita to a cave and protect her. Rama wanted to take on these Rakshasas all by Himself. The result of the battle was quite predictable. Rama wiped the floor with the demons. He defeated 14,000 Rakshasas in Janasthana without blinking an eye. People who hear of such feats might often be led to think that this is just part of the mythology. “No one can fight that many demons all at once and emerge victorious. This must be part of the mythology, intended to teach us a lesson.”

    This incident definitely teaches a lesson, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. God created an enormous astral body that provides heat and light to the entire world. This star, known as the sun, has power that is inconceivable to the human brain. Scientists have studied it since the beginning of time, yet they haven’t even come close to understanding how it works. Not only did God create the sun, but all the other planets as well. These massive planets all float on their own in space. The solar system is certainly not a myth, but a reality. In the same way, when we hear about God appearing on earth and performing miraculous feats, the incidents relating to His life most certainly did occur.

    “I enter into each planet, and by My energy they stay in orbit. I become the moon and thereby supply the juice of life to all vegetables.” (Lord Krishna, Bg. 15.13)

    As mentioned before, the human mind is incapable of truly understanding God. This is because, by definition, anything material must be fallible. Why is this so? Because our gross material body composed of earth, air, water, fire, and ether, and our subtle body made up of mind, intelligence, and false ego, are given up at the time of death. The soul is eternal, but the body is not. Thus every part of our body, except the soul, is temporary and thus flawed. God is completely the opposite. He is eternal and unlimited in power. Due to His causeless mercy, He appears on earth from time to time just to give the human mind a taste of spiritual life.

    Rama and Lakshmana fighting Ravana One who hears about Rama killing 14,000 Rakshasas in Janasthana with faith and devotion will certainly be taking steps towards rekindling their lost relationship with God. The Lord is neutral, by default, to all living entities, but He makes an exception for His devotees. This is because the bhaktas don’t want to associate with the material energy. They want to always connect with God, thus the Lord happily obliges and takes great care to ensure their safety. Rama performed many great feats of strength, including the slaying of Ravana, simply to give protection to His devotees at the time and to allow future generations to bask in the glory of God’s triumph.

    God is beautiful at all times. Most people don’t like violence, for it is the nature of the soul to be peaceful and happy. Yet violence is necessary sometimes, and when God acts violently to give protection, it is certainly a thing of beauty. There is actually no difference between the Lord’s peaceful pastimes, such as those performed in the forests of Vrindavana with the gopis and cowherd boys, and Lord’s violent actions, such as those performed by Lord Rama and Narasimha Deva. Whether He is killing demons or melting hearts, God is always glorious.

    [Via http://krishnasmercy.wordpress.com]

  • Reflections about time, action, and decisions…

    How fast can time fly before you have time to stop and reflect on the actions and decisions you’ve made that have changed the course of your future?

    Do you wonder about the what ifs or do you break it down into screenshots of the moments that changed everything to come?

    Were you mentally ready to make these decisions or did action happened before decision and you didn’t have time to think before you do?

    Law of attraction.

    It starts with a mental note of what you’re looking for. Then, you begin to do things that matches what you’re looking for. In time, you network and connect with people who share the same values; they find you because they started with a mental note as well. There are many possibilities of people that match your criteria in general but the TIMING of when that person shows up may sometimes feel like 1 in a million. Also, these mental notes are constantly in afflux of evolution and that overtime, some of these mental notes change and are rewired. (through experiences and action of the painbody)

    Now comes the decision. At the time when your mental notes have attracted the one, others that may have also matched or potentially be better than the one are placed into a TIMING list. This concept of the “unknown” known by motivational speaker Anthony Robbins as insecurity is what drives potential drama in many people’s lives. What keeps a relationship together is how mentally equipped the couple and especially the person who has the upperhand can act on the decision that has been made. The national American average 49% sucessful.

    I am still a firm believer that 2 chopsticks are stronger than 1. To find a perfect set is really 1 in a million but to stick together and become stronger is the goal. I pick up the pair of chopsticks many times throughout the day and line it up each time to ensure that they are in line with each other. If they are not in line, I can’t pick things up properly and the chopsticks become useless. If I don’t coordinate my fingers properly, food falls out of them. The good thing about learning how to use chopsticks is that once you’ve learned it properly, you won’t ever forget. But often people form bad habits and take the lazy route to poke at food instead of pick them up or use fork, knife and spoon instead.

    I rest my case to not look back at some of the decisions I have made (for better or for worse) but with a clear intention in mind: to love and be loved…

    www.beautifulomyoga.com

    [Via http://beautifulyogin.wordpress.com]

  • Dropping the pretense

    In terms of doing stuff, I love writing and photography best of all. I have a well-rehearsed denial about both activities. I’m a (would-be, aspiring, if-only-it-were-possible) photo-journalist. I know the yeah-buts really well. You gotta earn a buck, you know, and how can you do that taking pictures?

    My friends Richard and Jimmy both went to photography school. I did not, so there! Still, I have a special love for it. It touches my soul. It speaks to me.

    A few days ago I signed on to a membership in an Internet site called Model Mayhem. Not the most respectful, or professional name. It is tainted with MySpace-style garishness, and it attracts a lot of wannabes. Note: a GWC is a “Guy With a Camera” who wants cute chicks to pose for him even though he has no talent. My travels are educating me.

    In spite of the limitations of the site, I found a young lady there who has agreed to pose for me a couple of weeks from now, and she won’t be wearing anything. Do you remember Marilyn Monroe’s famous line after she posed nude for Playboy? Didn’t you have anything on? Her answer: “I had the radio on.”

    This is the first ever shoot I’ve done with a paid model. (Applause, please!).

    I’m going to invite Michelle to be my photo assistant. I haven’t told her that, but she reads this blog.

    There is a background to this story. I spend a lot of time reading Paramahansa Yogananda’s writings. In one of his books he says that Divine Mother gives us something that we have wanted for a long time to show us that we are on track in our quest for understanding. It is like a trail marker. Yes. Continue.

    Hiring a model is a trail marker for me. Yes. You are on the trail, Grasshopper. Keep on.

    OK. I’m a photographer. Michelle is a writer. Whew! I’m glad that’s over!

    I hope to share some images from the shoot with you. Stay tuned.

    [Via http://thisjustin.wordpress.com]