(Picture of Chock Petchprom on left...Paramahansa Yogananda on right...two amazing teachers.)

Namaste~

A few awesome updates to share with you. First of all, the Thai Yoga Bodywork sessions with Chock and Rocie Petchprom were outstanding. They are such beautiful souls and it's amazing to experience the love and energy they bring to their work. It's incredible because I have been wishing for quite some time, several years in fact, to be able to travel to Thailand to expand my knowledge of Thai Massage. I have been practicing Thai Yoga Bodywork/Massage since 2002. I learned with a highly-skilled RMT here in Dallas, Raymond Core, who has spent a considerable amount of time learning Thai Massage in Thailand and practicing it here in Dallas. I am grateful to have had the experience to learn from him. I've also received some really wonderful and healing Thai Massage from Matt Chapman with Sacred Art Thai. He, too, is a devoted practitioner who travels to Thailand to continuously deepen his studies. I have been blessed to have met both of those individuals. But, my meeting with Chock Petchprom has been incredibly special and unique as it has been a true answer to my prayers. Not to mention, his spirit reminds me so much of my father. I've been praying to find a true teacher of the sacred art of Thai Massage. I thought my prayers would lead me to Thailand, but it turns out, my prayers have brought Thailand to me. What a blessing! I'm looking for a link where you can learn more about Chock because his accomplishments are incredible. When I find it, I will post it. At the age of 71, he has more energy than most 20 year olds. (he still runs 5 days a week!) Just being in his presence is soothing, energizing and healing. When I am around him, it's that feeling of knowing I am ok, that there is a Spirit that loves me and is guiding me through every moment of my life. It is the Spirit of my Father, who although is no longer with me in physical form, in his Heavenly form he is with me all the time and I know that now. I have witnessed many incredible moments since his passing last November. I know the people who have come into my life have been sent from the grace of His Spirit, that there are no coincidences and that I am blessed. Chock and Rocie will be returning on a monthly basis to Dallas, with their first return trip scheduled for 8/28-8/31. They will be available if you would like to schedule an individual session with them. I can hardly believe they were able to treat 15 people in the three days they were here last weekend. It's extraordinary to hear about his stories of healing with the many thousands of people he has worked with over time. He has helped people with diabetes, asthma, migraines, knee injuries, pms, carpel tunnel and many other conditions. Here are just a few lines from the article that was written about him in Oklahoma City, OK, entitled, The 'Miracle Man' In our Midst...

"The chances of meeting a person who served as a Thai Temple Boy in Wat Pho would be remarkable-especially to meet him in the United States. At the age of 10, Petchprom was selected by the Head Monk to live as a temple boy and learn the teachings of traditional Thai Massage, herbal remedies and meditation."

After graduating from high school, he went on to earn a bachelor's degree in science from Thammasat University in Thailand. He went to work for Scandinavian Airlines Systems and ended up in New York, and then later moved to Miami to study English.

"He then applied to the University of Dallas to pursue a double master's degree; one in Business Management, the other in Quality Control. Impressively, he was the first person to achieve a double master's degree from the University of Dallas, and the first in the nation to graduate from a Quality Control degree program. He took a position as a Process Control Engineer over the next six years with Texas Instruments in Plano, TX. He then continued his education a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. His resume is impressive by all standards, having worked in positions such as programmer, systems analyst, computer scientist, and database expert for companies like NASA, Oracle Corporation, Exxon Chemical Corp., and Kerr-McGee Corporation over the next 31 years.

In 2002, Chock retired and while at Barnes and Noble one day, he came across a Massage Therapy magazine on Thai Massage and Reflexology. "The information in it was information that I knew, and was trained in since my childhood in Thailand as a temple boy." He discussed the book with his wife, Rocie, who told him, "You have this knowledge and experience. Get certified to prove your training and help people who need this healing. To do this will be better than playing golf." With this mentality, and an enormous amount of self-motivation, he's traveled the globe seeking knowledge related to his youth as a Thai Temple Boy, and about how to heal others through massage."

There's so much more to Chock's story...this is just a glimpse. Needless to say, his knowledge and expertise on the healing techniques of Thai Massage is vast. He will also be offering a 30 hour Thai Yoga Bodywork Level 1 class while he is here that weekend on that Saturday and Sunday and the following Saturday and Sunday, as well. I will be taking part in this training to deepen my knowledge and experience. If you are interested in participating or learning more, please feel free to e-mail me at info@trueyogainc.com. I'm looking forward to this incredible experience to learn from one of the best practitioners of Thai Yoga Bodywork in the world.

So, what else? Well, I will be offering a new Prana Flow Yoga Class at Karmany Yoga Studio beginning 8/15. The Yoga class will be every Saturday from 9-1015 am. This will be an awesome opportunity to deepen your Yoga practice, not only through the Asanas, but through the practice of Pranayama and Meditation. We will also be learning some really incredible chants. After class is a great time to connect with our incredible community of Yogis, and I look forward to Saturday morning brunches, lunches, tea, or whatever the Spirit moves us to do...who knows! Maybe some Saturdays a drive out to the country or hiking with one another...the possibilites are endless! This is a description of the class:

Prana Flow Yoga with Leanne is an uplifting, inspiring and energizing Yoga practice designed to strengthen and heal the body, mind and spirit. Through the postures and the powerful alignment with breath, you will realize the potential to free your body of tension and to open and strengthen yourself in amazing ways. Classes are designed to therapeutically align you into the poses, so you can access places of peak awakening physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, honoring your body through the movements. We also will explore the Yoga practices of pranayama and meditation to positively grow into new places in your practice and Self. Letting the Eternal Teacher in the heart be the guide, we surrender our efforts to align our hearts with the highest Good with each breath we breathe. Om Namah Shivaya Gurave~I honor the Goodness within the heart, the eternal teacher. I look forward to seeing you in class! Om shanti.

This Friday will be the grand opening of the new lululemon store at Northpark Mall in Dallas. As an Ambassador for lululemon, I will be doing a one hour Yoga demo from 5 - 6 pm. I would love to see you if you can make it out to watch. I'm looking forward to being a part of this celebration as our Yoga community continues to grow in so many ways!

Then, the next day I'll be heading out to sunny L.A. for the week-long SRF Convocation. I'm sure I will have much to share when I return, but this, too, is a dream come true. I can't imagine a better time to receive such incredible insight and inspiration from the blessed monks, brahmacharyas, and spiritual leaders of SRF. I highly encourage you to begin a home study of the SRF Meditation Lessons...I've been studying them for two years. As Yogananda would say...everything else can wait, but your search for God cannot wait. Jai Guru! Blessed teacher, blessed guru, Yogananda. Thank you...

I think that will wrap it up for now. I'd like to leave you with a Rumi poem. One that has been particularly powerful for me this week. I stumbled upon it on Monday.

Some people work and become wealthy.
Others do the same and remain poor.

Marriage fills one with energy.
Another it drains.

Don't trust ways. They change.
A mean flails about like a donkey's tail.

Always add the gratitude clause
to any sentence, if God wills,
then go.

You may be leading a donkey, no,
a goat, no, who can tell?

We sit in a dark pit and think we're home.
We pass around delicacies.
Poisoned bait.

You think this is preachy doubletalk?

Those who do not breathe the God willing phrase
live in a collective blindness.

Rubbing their eyes, they ask the dark,
"Who's there?"


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(Thai Massage with Chock and Rocie)

I'm back sooner rather than later. As I've grown through these challenging, and yet, positive changes, it's allowed me more time and energy to focus on what matters most. It's interesting how any unhealthy relationship, whether it's to food or anything else, drains us rather than replenishes us with Life Force. That's why true Yogis who have been been practicing for many years can be more energetically alive and charged than a person who is considerably younger in years. It's instantaneously obvious in their aura they are making the right choices in their life and aligning with what's best for them. In other words, in reference to my last post, they are 'being the change they wish to see in the world.'...

Some great news! Chock Petchprom, who is originally from Thailand and lives in Norman, OK with, Rocie, his wife of 40 years, will be coming to Dallas the weekend of Juy 25 and 26th from 9 - 1 pm to offer group Thai Massage, $60/person for 30-45 minutes of massage. If you are interested in receiving the best Thai Massage ever, you can e-mail me and I will add you to the list of participants if you would like to take part in this experience. Chock and Rocie are, most likely, moving to Thailand in a couple of months, so this opportunity may not come again for some while. They have 4 beautiful children who live in different cities in the U.S., but they will probably not return back to visit until next summer. The interesting thing about Chock, is he has his M.B.A. and worked in corporate America for over thirty years. As a child growing up in Thailand, he learned Thai Massage from monks and would give it to his mother. In the last 6 years, since he's been retired, he has dedicated himself to deepening his studies of Thai Massage. He knows more than anyone I know about the meridians and what they are connected to physically in the body. If there are certain issues that need to be addressed, he can discover where the body needs healing, or a releasing of blockages, through his intuitive sense of touch. The bodywork I received from him was, perhaps, the most healing treatment I have ever had. I hope you get to experience his gifted and incredibly healing touch.

What else has been going on? I've been reflecting on the True Yoga acronym that Truth Resides Universally in Everyone and on Gandhi's teaching that Truth is God and God is Truth. (And, of course it was the Black Eyed Peas who said, If you never know Truth then you never know Love.) We could take this one step further. What is more honorable than to be truthful in one's thoughts, words and actions? Truthfulness is one of the Yamas (the great universal vows that are not limited by class, creed, time or circumstance) in the eight-limbed path of Yoga, which is the path prescribed by the great sage, Patanjali, also known as the father of Yoga. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is a must-read for any true spiritual aspirant, and the eight-limbed path when followed and practiced earnestly, produces success in Yoga, the union of the ego with the soul, or the union of Atman (individual Spirit) with Brahman (Universal Spirit/God). It is also said that it is the yoking of individual will with The Will. To learn more about the eight-limbed path check out this site.

So, the Yamas are the guidelines for how we interact with the outer world, the social disciplines to guide us in our relationships with others, and one of them is Satya, truthfulness. Without truthfulness, life does not work. I love what Patanjli says about truthfulness. He describes it as: "To be in harmony with mind, word and action, to conduct speech and mind according to truth, to express through speech and to retain it in the intellect what has been seen, understood or heard." A perfectly truthful person is he who expresses in his speech exactly what he thinks in his mind and in the end acts according to it."

I think a lot of times what keeps us from being truthful is the fear of losing something. Maybe this somehow got instilled in us as a child. I can remember if I misbehaved in some way, as a child, sometimes, something would be taken away from me. So, I am practicing being truthful in my relationsihps, about my thoughts and feelings, even if I get a little scared that the person I'm being totally truthful and open with might not like what I have to say. But, what's interesting, is it's amazing how liberating being completely honest about our thoughts and feelings really is.

Also, if you like, check back to this post, because I'm going to post a poem here, as well, something by Rumi. Om shanti! Read more

Sometimes, as Shiva would say, life comes up. I've been intending to update the blog for over a week, but more recently, it was difficult to find the time to sit down and write. I'm hoping I'll be able to find more time now so I can update the True Yoga Blog more often. I've been growing through some pretty major changes, as I'm sure we all have in our own way. It's interesting how our Yoga practice naturally purifies our life (tapas) of our unhealthy relationships to anything and anyone so we can have more time to invest our energy where it needs to be invested, in that which is going to serve and strengthen, not only us, but everyone around us. Each one of us is a microcosm of the macrocosm and the first place to look, when seeking to awaken positive changes in our life, is within our very own Self.

Gandhi said it best...Be the change you wish to see in the world. So, that's what I've been practicing being. And, it is a practice, we are not supposed to be perfect at it. It requires a lot of love, compassion and forgiveness of ourself and others along the way, but it's an enriching journey, indeed.

This weekend I had an amazing opportunity. A fellow Yogi friend of mine and I drove up to Norman, Oklahoma to study with one of the most developed Yoga practitioners in our country, Andrew Eppler. (pictured above) I was just browsing around on his website and found this passage which he wrote about Ashtanga Yoga, which is his primary practice. I love what he has to say, it speaks to what I was just writing about in the beginning of this post...

"What is the purpose of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga? An Indian teacher might say something like "To unite common soul with super soul." The wisdom of Sri Pattabhi Jois's statement "Do your practice and all is coming" always makes me smile. It is difficult to argue with these kinds of statements, but for the Western mind they do leave some room to wonder.

Not all, but most people in the west discover yoga through the practice of asana or yoga postures. The yogic practices work quickly to make a person feel better. Kept up for any length of time Ashtanga Yoga will produce dramatic results in our bodies. After this there is a natural curiosity that leads us to look further into yoga. At this stage most people begin to read some of the classical literature about yoga and perhaps experiment with meditation and the various sitting practices. What does it mean to stop the fluctuations of the mind? Is this the same thing as contemplating one's navel??? Maybe!

From my own experience, and from lengthy discussion with my teachers and students, I have concluded that it means creating an internal, mental and emotional environment that is happy and stable. This can only be done by taking a deep look into our selves, our lives, and our position in life. We have to determine what sort of views we are going to hold on life and the nature of the world, and what we want. No small task! Whatever grasp we have on these big questions, it will be challenged. But with no grasp at all, it is not possible to be on a firm foundation that does not fluctuate. That means we have to work on it. We have to cultivate our views on life and think deeply.

By practicing the various yogic disciplines we can develop a stronger, more stable nervous system. We can also gain a more integrated, well thought out view of ourselves and what we want to do. Things are certain to happen in life that none of us are prepared for. In these moments we can see exactly what sort of spiritual practice we really have, and how much of it was only an idea. Efforts to create health and vitality in the body help us in ways that at first may be too subtle to perceive, but later this becomes very clear. Time spent improving our physical health, in meditation reflecting on ones feelings and impressions, controlling the unstable nature of the mind by cultivating the ability to concentrate- all of these things together can greatly improve our mental health and inner stability. Asana practice creates physiological changes which make the deeper, internal practices more accessible. With this vehicle we can reach the other stages.

I have noticed that my teachers are all very strong people emotionally and psychologically. These are the people that I have admired the most in my life. They are not easily upset or thrown off balance. They are capable of controlling their emotions, yet at the same time humbly acknowledge that they are as human as anyone else, and maybe more so. Their lives are no less challenging than anyone else's. But they draw inner strength from their practice and meet life's challenges with courage, humor and a calm, gracious dignity. This inner composure is what I believe the scriptures are referring to as "controlling the fluctuations of the mind." It is not easily won and cannot be faked. At least not for very long! That sort of strength takes many years and a lot of life experience to develop.

The way the world looks through our eyes has everything to do with how we are looking. The way the world responds to us and to our actions has to do with how we approach things, what we carry with us, and what our intentions are. Physical illnesses, negative thoughts like guilt, sadness, self pity and the results of our negative actions follow us around and darken our presence. This has a bad effect on everything and attracts misfortune. The effects of our positive thoughts, our practice, our joy, and efforts to evolve ourselves will shine through and have positive affects not only on us but everyone and everything around us as well. This balance of positive and negative thoughts, as well as actions, shapes the internal environment that we live in. It determines how we feel and what we attract to ourselves.

When a person realizes this, not as a concept from a book, but as a personal conviction, it creates a great shift of interest. We start to wake up. We realize and become certain of the fact that what is going on inside of us creates what is happening outside of us, and not the other way around. The stronger, brighter and clearer we are, the better everything gets and the more fun life is. This leads us away from the material pursuits and toward inner work and simplicity. Kindness, humbleness and compassion emerge. These are the mark of a true spiritual aspirant.

Money, possessions, fame, prestige, recognition, influence- all of these things may be enjoyed by us. However, if they are seen as the true goal in life then we miss the point and lose our way. Detachment, simplicity and inner peace go out the window as we reflect on our desire for material things and our discontentment with the present circumstance. Insecurity, greed and manipulation are sure to develop. All the teachings agree on this. Those sought after things will come and go as fate may determine, and according to our magnetism, or ability to attract them. The strength, stability and radiance inside each of us create this magnetic force that acts upon the world around us. To understand and make efforts to increase that inner strength is to become a yogi. It requires discipline and dedication. Then a hidden power and grace emanate from that personality. This has a positive and very powerful influence on the surroundings of that individual. Not every one can see that brightness right away, but it acts as a concrete force of nature none the less. Other spiritual people from all traditions can recognize it immediately.

Life can be so beautiful if we cultivate the beauty. Yoga is a true effort to cultivate that beauty. In spite of our faults and failings, if we are making efforts to improve, then at least we know we are on the path. We live in difficult and intense times where mental health and inner peace are at an all time low. I believe these ancient practices offer a path to healing and happiness for anyone who has the strength to practice them. OM"

WOW! I love him, but I love him even more now. What a teacher! My journey to visit him was truly magical. He has been practicing Yoga on a daily basis for 24 years, since the age of 14. I had the opportunity to stay with him at his hOMe, as well, and it was an incredible experience. And, he also did Magic tricks right in front of me, which were awesome. He is truly mystical. I hope each one of you has the opportunity to cross paths with Andrew Eppler sometime along the way on your journey of Yoga. I'll be back to write more soon. I also want to share about the incredible Thai Massage experience I had, it was the best bodywork I have ever received, and I have received many wonderful treatments. This beautiful couple will be coming to Dallas to offer and share their healing massages sometime in the near future, when a group of us is ready to receive it. I'll be back soon...

Enjoy the magical and mysterious unfolding of your day.

Om shanti!

p.s.-And, he did that pose in the pic...it was amazing!
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