Hi everyone! I'm back after a trip (physical - not mental!). It’s great to hear so many people interested!


We still need a place! (We could do it outdoors - but that's not ideal - people may screw with us, and it’s not safe to medicate in public, and sunlight is bad for me!) I'd offer my place - but its tiny - we might fit in two mats including me! How about if we try a meet up in public first so we can talk about this? Can someone suggest a comfy/funky coffee shop where we can meet? Or even a regular one? I'm probably not centrally located so- I'm willing to drive, I could even pick someone up. SO....


Where is a good place? A few of us are from the west side, and a few from Orange County. Santa Monica is a good place for me and is central for LA & the Valley, but not so central for Orange County. Let’s hear some suggestions or votes.
Date and time? I'm usually teaching a restorative yoga class until late ~9ish Friday evening. I can make anytime Saturday or Sunday. So, afternoon, or evening, Saturday or Sunday?


Does anyone know someone at a dispensary that might let us practice? I had an idea we might do a class there, but it seems like dispensaries are open all the time! - Unless that is cool with them, and they direct patients quietly around us?


As for anyone who is worried about the pace of the class, try not to be. If you are ambulatory (- and especially if you bring props- blankets, bolsters, blocks etc), I can adapt the class for your needs. Just about everything in Hatha Yoga (that’s the physical part most of you have seen) has MANY "krama's" - these are variations in each pose or asana- some of which are very hard, some are very easy. I've always maintained even an advanced student can get a good workout even from a Beginning Level class. If anyone is completely new to yoga, some introduction might be needed. One of the classes I teach currently is for cancer patients. Between that and restorative yoga, I'm used to adapting virtually everything in yoga to anybody. No worries!


As for any "nay-sayers" above, again don't worry yourself. If you don't want to medicate and do yoga, then don't. Also don't interfere with anyone else's path. Don’t try to limit other people before they even start their practice. You aren’t wise enough. Neither am I. No one is. No one can know anyone else’s path. No one. I’ve taken on the responsibility of teaching and I wouldn’t dare to presume I’m wise enough to preach to my students.


As for everyone else – please don’t let yourself be limited by what someone else says – or what you have heard or read. Everyone can do yoga. You don’t need to be a super flexible / skinny / model- dancer. You don’t need to follow weird diets and practices that someone says are part of yoga. Nothing is part of yoga except yoga. Trust yourself, trust your heart. I don’t care if you are under the influence of tobacco, sugar, alcohol, caffeine, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety pills, opiates, or Ritalin. I will still teach you.

So, why on earth would I discourage you from using MJ? I just hope you are limiting the damn tobacco and alcohol! Ha- ha!


There is a huge difference between religious dogma and a spiritual practice. Take that guy, Jesus, for instance. Very spiritual dude - who HATED organized religions! He would detest the religion that has grown up in his name. Rules make some people feel safer – give them a feeling of control - but don’t make you more enlightened. People wish there was a formula they could follow to enlightenment. There isn’t. Enlightenment is like life – it’s scary and hard, impossible to predict and different for everyone. There is NO wrong way to do yoga. There is no right way either. Every one of the hundreds of yoga schools all claim their method is the “right” one. If any approach or religion was “the right one”, they would be producing boatloads of amazing teachers and saints. – And we’d all notice that!

My views as a yoga teacher are very simple: Anything that gets you on the mat to practice is good. Only you can ascribe meaning to your experiences. I'm ethically bound NOT to give you meanings or interpretations. (People who do that are gurus, and they are all crooks!). My job is simply to give you the framework of an experience and help you practice. I don’t want my students limited by anything before they even get to class!


If medical MJ alleviates pain, stiffness or nausea enough to get you onto the mat -great! If MJ helps you focus more and pay more attention to your body/breathing - Fantastic!

So – let’s do this. We need a place, date and time to meet. If no one else has a better one. I’ll suggest Santa Monica, Saturday Afternoon, March 13 – that’s this Saturday!!!!! [img]http://legalmarijuanadispensary.com/images/fbfiles/images/0012e52c_medium.jpeg[/img]