Comments for James MacAdam

Comment on The absurdity of hope; or December 23 at Barnes & Noble. by James MacAdam

James MacAdam — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:06:21 +0000

There is nothing we can ever do, yet we must do.

I think sex, food, and money definitely go in the same sentence.

Comment on The absurdity of hope; or December 23 at Barnes & Noble. by Carolyn Chilcote

Carolyn Chilcote — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:35:22 +0000

As someone who also writes occasionally, I probably would have avoided placing the reference to lovemaking right next to sticky buns.

Comment on The absurdity of hope; or December 23 at Barnes & Noble. by Nicole S

Nicole S — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 01:03:03 +0000

the task we face is to let go of the idea that we have to change from the current state or “do something” in order to be okay/perfect/divine. I think what you’re describing,the negative side of hope, is another way to describe that subtle fallacy…which really is an epidemic, as there literally is never anything you could ever DO to be more perfect or divine.

Comment on The absurdity of hope; or December 23 at Barnes & Noble. by Bwana

Bwana — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 01:45:44 +0000

Well, sometimes you just nail it… Bravo, James, bravo.

Comment on The absurdity of hope; or December 23 at Barnes & Noble. by Amitiyah Elayne Hyman

Amitiyah Elayne Hyman — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 19:07:22 +0000

Thanks James. You’re talkin to me.

Comment on Expand your eco-footprint by The absurdity of hope; or December 23 at Barnes & Noble. « James MacAdam

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:12:33 +0000

[...] we will soak in hot springs, take long hikes, have long mornings of lovemaking, eat delicious sticky buns, finally get the house organized. What a dreamer I am. This always happens when I have a break, [...]

Comment on Confessions of a Type-A Yogi by The absurdity of hope; or December 23 at Barnes & Noble. « James MacAdam

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:12:29 +0000

[...] and ready for me to consume it, to fly above it all. Or there was the time, still recovering from hip surgery, when Rachel bought me a gift certificate to a running store. I had only just begun to walk for [...]

Comment on The Proven Formula for Material Wealth, Spiritual Transformation and Mind-blowing Sex by camerarwanda

camerarwanda — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:28:37 +0000

this is spirit candy and who doesn’t like their sweeties? xox Kresta

Comment on On Practicing Intensity by camerarwanda

camerarwanda — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:26:05 +0000

hi james, yup, intensity creates real internal conflict: we fear it and/or we are addicted to it. i appreciate how you suggest abiding in it ain’t so “bad”. xox kresta

Comment on Confessions of a Type-A Yogi by camerarwanda

camerarwanda — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:18:29 +0000

Hi dear James,
I agree with so much of the above, stated by so many skilled, fabulous teachers (Bruce, Darren, Landry, et al). I would only add this to the observation, James, that you were a wonderful teacher: you are still very much a teacher. This blog is as teaching as it gets and how resonating it is. Well, the context for our yoga is our culture which reflects our Ego. So, that’s some challenge…Ours isn’t a kind culture, ours isn’t a kind Ego.

I rawther like what being a mommy has done for my own practice: I can silently slip out of the lounge, leaving my toddler alone, unbeknownst to her. Soon after she’ll “strike a pose” for the fun of it calling in her little English and inverted breath, “Mommy, what pose is this?” Invariably, I’ll dash in to find her in ekapadahandstandasana in a dynamic Pisa diagonal, fluffy Winnie-the-Pooh slippers emphasizing her joy, de-emphasizing her form.

To surrender to that play seems like a healthy path to me, though I sometimes offer this, “Splay your fingers, Sophia. Make ‘em even happier!” Splay she does, and you can almost see her bursting hands, her heart, her body, her being SMILING. Her practice isn’t one of extremes. She isn’t striving for a perfect shape, but she isn’t opposed to expanding her experience either.

So, if I practice on the mat at home, I am guaranteed to have this same toddler crawling under me or leaping over me. Ah, another lovely message from my young guru: this Practice is not, nor was it ever, my own. I can let go of that silly “I” notion–and play.

“Be careful what you wish for” they say. Indeed, wishing for and willing a physical form without honest communion with the bodybeing is asking for trouble…plus, it’s a little unkind. Everyday I witness Sophia’s blossoming body.
As a mother, I am so kind to my daughter’s little bodybeing. One day Sophia will be older, her bodybeing bigger. That she learns to be kind to this sacred bodybeing…despite our ego-culture…will take a lot of practice…

James, you are reminding us all of how we adults complicate everything–even yoga. And how we can be cruel. But they also say “you have to be cruel to be kind” which seems applicable here. Our bodies have an insatiable way of saying enough is enough when treated cruelly.

xox,
Kresta