Author: mremski
How I Teach Yoga Philosophy
Well first of all, as with Ayurveda, I don’t really teach. How could I? What – do I know something? Not really. Even less as I get older. But I have gathered a ragged bouquet of question techniques that range from musings to proddings to provocation. Gentleness is key, because the discussion has to explore and penetrate belief, which is sometimes all a person thinks they have in defense against despair. Musings are good icebreakers for where we are frozen; provocations require familiarity and trust. Continue reading “How I Teach Yoga Philosophy”
How I Teach Ayurveda
First of all, I don’t really teach. I used to think I was teaching, back at the dawn of my nine-year span of leading this course. But sitting with clients for all that time has shown me that the best I can and should do is simply facilitate better conversations about personal and social health. This requires my learning as much about a student’s circumstance as I can share with them in terms of Ayurvedic theory. This means creating a learning space that’s conversational, which makes sense for a practice that’s nothing if it’s not about empowerment.
Ayurveda Is a Political Practice. Part one: Economic justice
Who is Ayurveda for?
I was recently facilitating a seminar on the subject of Ayurvedic dinacharya – often translated as “daily routine”, but which literally means “to follow the sun”. I presented the math for determining solar noon, at which digestive power is said to peak. I carefully built the old argument for the benefits of regularity in waking, cleansing, eating, working, exercising, resting, and sleeping. I lauded the sweetness of brahma muhurta – the two hours before dawn said to be ideal for contemplation. I said that an extended midday mealtime is excellent for digestion. I said that digestive fire is a reflection of well-timed food and the robustness of appetite is inseparable from steadily progressing towards self-actualization. Continue reading “Ayurveda Is a Political Practice. Part one: Economic justice”
“His Majesty the Baby”: Notes on Jeff Bezos and His Drones
Rumour has it that the future drones of Amazon Prime are a Cyber-Monday PR gimmick, sure to face insurmountable technical difficulties and never pass muster with the FAA. Who knows. And, whatever. Much more interesting is what Jeff Bezos’ plan actually suggests about the culture that’s drooling over it too much to ask whether it’s a good idea. Continue reading ““His Majesty the Baby”: Notes on Jeff Bezos and His Drones”
Mindfulness for Fathers: Louis CK is Wrong About Boredom
In support of a new book I’m co-writing with Michael Stone about the spirituality of family life. Follow the link to support and pre-order.
I have an ambivalence crush on Louis CK. He plays the brave and humiliating role of exposing the swinging sweaty balls of the cultural id. But this doesn’t make him the spiritual teacher so many want him to be, especially if we forget that he’s playing a caricature.
Continue reading “Mindfulness for Fathers: Louis CK is Wrong About Boredom”
Family Wakes Us Up Interview with Waylon Lewis of Elephant Journal
“Walk the Talk” show on 11/25/13.
Family Wakes Us Up: Letter #2 read by Matthew Remski
“Windows, And What We Leave Behind”. Filmed at 889 Yoga on 11/23/13.
Family Wakes Us Up IGG campaign outtakes!
Sweetness from our campaign producer, Ian MacKenzie.
Family Wakes Us Up IGG campaign
Video from the fundraising campaign my book with Michael Stone on the spirituality of fatherhood.
Mindfulness for Fathers: Five Difficult Feelings We Can Learn to Love
In support of a new book I’m co-writing with Michael Stone about the spirituality of family life. Follow the link to support and pre-order.
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It’s a tall order for many men to even acknowledge difficult feelings. But love them? That’s just going too far. But of course, going farther and loving deeper than you knew you could is what fatherhood, and life, demands.
Parenting is painted through with great strokes of perfectly natural sorrow. You can only pretend to fight it. Much better to look at it carefully, to see its colours clearly, feel its textures. What else could be at the root of empathy and compassion? What else would give you the gravitas you’ll need to be a person of consequence in later life? What else would you even aspire to? Our strange luck is that there are at least five inevitable sorrows that soften us as fathers, even as they strengthen us. Their lessons extrapolate well to the rest of life. Continue reading “Mindfulness for Fathers: Five Difficult Feelings We Can Learn to Love”
