Papa Adventures to Costa

Hello everyone,

Mal's Dad here, signing in for my first guest blog entry!

Everything is amazing and wonderful.  Currently, Mallory and I are at the rancho/guest house (communal space) of our host/owner, Eric Rivkin, deep in the jungles of Costa Rica.  About 100 yards down a mountainous trail are our private cabana's (sleeping quarters).  Made of bamboo shelters covered with screen and tarp to keep the rain and critters out.  Inside are our tents, very comfortable, providing a wonderful nights rest followed by an incredible morning vista.  The rancho and cabanas are akin to something Robinson Crusoe would have built, really.  

The country is very mountainous and beautiful and it is the rainy season right now, so late every afternoon we can expect a torrential rain fall followed by beautiful evenings.  Think Jurassic Park.  Tonight is amazing, not a cloud in the sky aside from the glint of a mad thunderstorm off the far western horizon.  The night sky is full of stars - all in the wrong positions of course - and the milky way is visible and breathtaking (for lack of another word).   I wish I could patch in my brother Erik so he could dial us into an Iridium Flareup ...or anything celestial   

Today we visited one of the world's top-ten (reportedly) most beautiful waterfalls (catarata).  It was spectacular.  We swam in its cool waters, quite refreshing.  A difficult to access extreme hike up and down the mountainside, deep within the rainforest canopy, and where we saw only a few locals (ticos) enjoying a Sunday afternoon with their favorite gals (ticas).

Tomorrow, my third and final day here at La Joya del Sol (jewel of the sun), Mallory came much earlier, we will depart by truck, bus, cab and bus again to Monteverde by way of San Isidro del General and the main city, San Jose (where we flew into).  In Monteverde we will ride the famous zip lines of the rain forest,  A popular tourist activity.  Located in central north Costa Rica, Monteverde is also near the very active Arenal volcano and a must see.  

As always, Mallory is an exceptional expedition leader ...she arranged everything for me.  The eco-tour of a life-time.  I've only freaked-out twice - once a Priekestolen moment as Mallory got dangerously close to the edge at the top of today's waterfall ..whew.

Costa Rica is both beautiful and rugged,  Many ex-pats find their way to Costa Rico and to this region of the country, definitely off the grid.  They retire, buy homes and live out in this extreme jungle.  

Our diet has been amazing, very organic, very raw.  It includes some of the most wildly bizarre fruits and vegetables to be found anywhere in the world.  Our host, Eric, is many things:  owner/operator of this amazing retreat, professional photographer, conspiracy theorist, UFO believer and,  according to his peers, one the foremost gourmet raw vegan chef's in the world.  Our meals have been fantastic if not brilliant.  You can see in one of the pictures provided that Eric is photographing a tort which he and Mallory made this morning.  My job was to pull up the bamboo screen so he could get a better shot.  Mallory found great humor in this as Eric is quite the perfectionist and apparently my feet were in one of this shots and he would have none of that.  Artists.

Thanks for reading.

Buenos noches,

Mike Hubl

Surreal Life

So, I don't think I've mentioned this yet... but the man whose farm I am staying on is a weirdo. Really though, he's an extremely interesting man, with a wealth of knowledge to share regarding just about everything under the sun. But I can only learn when I allow myself the time and patience to listen, and when I have checked my judgements at the door. As I should, though, because they do not serve me here. I know it may be wise to filter what I take in, so I do. After all, I'm not really the type to believe there are alien built structures on the moon, that aliens invented the technology for touch screen phones, that Nixon was setup for Watergate because he wasn't a free mason, that Paul McCartney really is dead (Sergeant Peppers was the first album they did without him after the was decapitated in a car crash... he blew his mind out in a car), that the catholic church outlawed the eating of chia seeds in central america because the people were too healthy and that is why there are over 2000 kinds of corn grown in the region, or really most of the strictly factual evidence-based propaganda he's blowing up my ass.

The point, however, is that these are some of the most interesting conversations I've had this year... and if I didn't put up with all of that, then how would I have learned about all of the plants he is growing? How would I have stayed here at all? How would I have had, what I consider to probably be, the most healing week of my adult life?

Yes, I said it. Here at La Finca de la Joya del Sol I have healed from the chaos of life, much more so than my experience at the yoga immersion. I have had plenty of rest, true integration with nature, daily hikes and yoga, entirely raw local organic gourmet meals, time to read, do research for school, contemplate my future, the whole kit and caboodle. I know there are other farms out there, and the likelihood that the people running them are cooler than this guy is very, very high. The thing is, however, that I like this guy. Sure he's out of touch, sure he is considerably more self-righteous than his moderate fame awards him to be, sure he lacks those basic skills of cordiality to not just grab something right of your hand, sure he gets skittish and nervous all too easily, sure the neighbors' farm blows his out of the water. All of that just adds support for my need to be here.

I could easily go to the neighbors' and stay with them, after all the woman of the finca is a yoga teacher and has a studio with the most amazing view of the hills and the pacific, and like I said their farm is magnificent (like OCD beautiful). But I just can't stand their condescending attitudes towards my main man. It's hurtful the way they talk about him behind his back, and the snide responses to his (admittedly unnecessary) questions. When I'm on my own at either farm, I am forced to listen to the gossip. Believe you me, cool guys on the beautiful farm have their problems too.

How did I get involved in all this neighbor drama? Honestly, I'm hearing aggravations from both ends, and they are all valid. But here's the thing... They hardly ever talk to each other. It's obvious that they don't like each other. Both farms are doing great things for the community. So why don't you all just shut up? I am an outsider, I'll be gone in a week and, therefore, I don't give a shit about your damn neighbor drama.

What a gift it is, though, to be an observer of this insignificant riff. My emotional attachment lies on neither side of the hill that divides these farms, but instead to sincerity. So instead of packing my bags and heading out of these hills, allowing everyone in this community to see my dust as a sign that I judge them all as quacks, I'm going to stay. I do my own thing for most of the time anyway. So I'll sit tight for a while longer, and refuse judgement as I wallow in my weirdness along with the rest of them. We all have issues.

Creek Rocks Man

 I undertook a little art project over the past couple of days. Many thanks to my gracious host for imparting wisdom of rocks made of condensed clay in several places along the creek beds. The rocks look like regular tough rocks, but the second you grind them against something they turn into paint!

Here are the rocks I used to paint todays heart 

 Before

 After












Perhaps the most amazing picture any of us will ever see

This creek business, however, was not all fun and games. While walking along the creek I slipped down a rock nearly as tall as my waist. As the middle of my back SLAMMED against the top lip of the slimey rock of doom I saw my life flash before my eyes. Worst case scenario: My back was snapped in two. It'd be hours before my host would start looking for me, and by then it's be nightfall. My paralyzed body would wait for at least 16 hours before anyone would find me. Best case: I'd get the wind knocked out of me for at least two minutes and be really rattled. I threw out my hands onto the neighboring rocks to catch my fall, but it was too late. All of my body weight had
already propelled me to my fate... but I was wearing my backpack! The book in my backpack protected my spine, the fall was nothing. As I pushed myself up with an audible "Thank GOD I'm wearing my backpack!" I saw blood everywhere. I'm not exaggerating. The creek was red, the rocks were all splattered. I started to freak. Did I actually hit a nerve in my spine? Am I dead? ...And then I realized it was my right arm. There was a little stinging, but certainly no puncture enough to justify so much blood. I washed it off in the creek to find a nice juicy gushing wound on my wrist. Just close enough to the blue line to send me into another mini panic attack, until I realized it wasn't that close at all. I made a tourniquet with my headband (displayed left), thanked the universe for allowing me to get through that with my life and my mobility, and walked much more gingerly for the rest of the day.

Love and Kisses to all my people!

Here's to a Good One

Hello weekend! It's great to see you. I think we're going to have a really nice time together.

Now that is the perspective of a girl with NOTHING to complain about. Nature, yoga, bliss. Could I ask for anything more? ...How about a yummy breakfast to follow my scrumptious 90 minutes of asana...
Super green breakfast smoothie maybe? Sure! No problem. With a billion awesome home-grown ingredients? Naturally, of course!











Here is goes (I think I've forgotten a couple, but you'll get the point): Kale, Spinach, Mint, Star anise leaves, Dandilion,leaves Gotu kola, Ocra leaves, Bak choy, Jamaican hibiscus leaves, Aloe vera, Jackfruit, Pineapple, Abiu, Mango, Guabana, Mabolo.
Topped with: Coconut shavings, Strawberries, Mango, Pineapple, Mora berries.

Nom Nom Nom!!!
Eric serves smoothies either in a bowl, as shown, or parfait style. Eating with a spoon encourages you to slow down, really taste the goodies, and appreciate the food. I dig it.

La Joya del Sol

Jewel of the Sun is the name of a gorgeous little organic farm owned by raw food chef extraordinaire and founder of the non-profit Viva La Raw, Eric Rivkin. I am staying with him for the next week or so to learn about permaculture, to truly understand raw food, to explore ways to help Eric grow his health-based non-profit, and of course to live simply with nature.

The property is incredible. It's nestled in the hills of southern Costa Rica, about an hour and a half outside of the beach town Dominical. Eric and his tico workers have built everything from scratch, from the main house, to the banos, to the tent platforms. I'm staying in a tent with a mattress.

Today, after picking fruit, making a green smoothie (which we ate out of bowls, a first for me), and practicing yoga, I went on a solo adventure hike down to a beautiful cascading waterfall. Normally, I would jump right in, but since I went by myself I was scared to go in the water. After a personal pep-talk I went in... I did need to wash my hair after all, and the pressure from the falls was just right.

One. Two. Free. Flow!

I taught my final solo class for my yoga teacher certification on Tuesday. What a blast!! It was titled 1. 2. Free. Flow! It didn't have too much of a theme besides paying attention to what you are doing with yourself. I always led the students to coordinate their breath with the movements, told them to think about how certain muscles felt in the pose, brought them to their thoughts, and how they could use the practice to construct a more capable reality for themselves because every action has a reaction and the harder you work for your body and mind the harder it works for you. With that said, it was a symmetrical flow, so we went through a fun little sequence and then i said Rrrreeeeeeewind, and we did all the postures in the opposite order (switching postures at the end for a cool down). The class was definitely for the more practical type. The only quote I used was an anonymous one that said, "sometimes, you need to go outside, take a breath of fresh air, and remind yourself or who you are and who you want to be."

Besides the few silly mistakes that came with my nerves and the fact that it was a solid 60 minute routine that I managed to squeeze into 45 minutes, I think it went really great. My performance and routine were both received well by the other students... But it's kinda hard to tell what they are actually thinking, they can be really nice... Anyhow, I am happy with how it went and even happier about the incredible experience I've had over the past month.

What am I doing here?

Epiphanized

Hey guys,
I am having such a wonderful growing experience here, and I just had an incredible epiphany! Now, this epiphany of mine kinda goes against a lot of the principles that I am learning, but I need to say it out loud, cuz y'all reading this are the ones closest to me, the ones who I love the most and I want to know what you think... ok here it goes:

Yoga is too heady. To me, the principles and history of yoga is fascinating and vitally important in order to truly grow and become the person who I want to be... but it's just not practical to think that people will connect to all this inner light, paschimottanasana, bliss-nazi bullshit. I say bullshit, not because I think it's bullshit, but because it is far too easy for me to see yoga teachers ignore the fact that every person has their own issues to work through on the mat. Focusing on the good, and urging the students to be strong is fine, but it can very easily inflate their egos and enable them to suppress the real issues that they need to work on. Furthermore, not everyone connects with that. Some people just want a steady workout and a deep stretch. I don't show up to class every day hoping to be inspired. In fact, half the time I think the teacher could mellow out with the stories they're telling, or stop talking all together.

Classical trainers say yoga isn't fitness, it's a lifestyle... Well fitness is a lifestyle, so why don't we leave asana (the physical postures of yoga) as that and let people find their way to the other eight limbs when they are ready? Although I strongly encourage, at the very least, a glance over of the first few limbs of yoga, I am certainly not going to shove life lessons and ancient scripture down peoples throats.

Yoga is supposed to meet people where they are, but it seems to have become too esoteric to fulfill that all-important prerequisite.



For those interested, the eight limbs of yoga are below:

1. Universal morality

• non-violence
• truthfulness
• non-stealing
• moderation
• non-possessiveness

2. Personal observances

• purity (inside and out: eat well, shower often)
• contentment (be happy where you are regardless of outside influences)
• discipline (without harshness)
• self-study
• devotion / surrender to the fact that the universe (or god) is above your control

3. Physical postures

4. Controlled breathing

5. Meditation, control of the senses

6. Connection with the object of meditation

7. Becoming one with the object of meditation

8. Identity without difference (enlightenment) 

These limbs are not permanent states of being; they are as fluid as your energy.

Get Your Chakra's Movin

Chakra is pronounced like chocolate or Charlie, not like Charlotte. Each chakra is a center for a different type of energy within the body.

http://everywherealways.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/have-you-checked-your-chakras-lately/

Your reflection

All that you see in other people, objects, or thoughts is only a reflection of yourself.

Entry 2: Free yourself from sanskara

Free yourself from the imprints that have been left on your subconscious from past actions, from your habits.

Our mind has an attachment to everything, either through craving or aversion. Each attachment is a sensation. If we do not react to sensations, then our minds will eventually lose that attachment.

That is the basis of Vipasana meditation.

Also, Depak Chopra said our mind (apparently) has about 60,000 thoughts every day. And (apparently) about 50,000 of those thoughts are the same as yesterday. Think of all that we are capable of if we can simply allow ourselves to be open to new sensations and experiences.
*I say apparently because I am baffled as to where those numbers came from.


The average american takes 6 pharmaceutical medicines every day. Western medicine treats the symptoms not the problems.

"Yoga Journal" entry 1

I am required to maintain a journal, and to copy the notes I take... so here it is, and hopefully you will learn as I learn! Although, even as I wrote this I realize that I am hardly scratching the surface of what we've gone over.... so here it is anyway.

Last night our instructor, Jacqueline, saged us all (28 females and 1 male) as we repeated our first mantra:

"Om gam ganapataye namah" which loosely translates to "Hey Ganesh, we bow to you to help us remove obstacles from our path."

Ganesh is the elephant-headed deity. We were calling on him to help us on our journey. We must remain open, so as not to gloss over those obstacles and allow them to continue to inhibit us. When we are walking in the same direction behind an elephant it will clear the path for us, but if we are walking in the opposite direction as the elephant then we ourselves are the obstacle that needs to be removed from the path. We'd definitely need to find a new path. So we must be prepared for Ganesh to help us find our way down the path, even if that means a drastic change in direction.

Wow

Solstice

Hey yo!

I decided to skip Mal Pais, for now, and opted to go straight to Montezuma so I can relax, read, and do some research without the craving to fit in a bunch of sight-seeing before my yoga teacher training starts on Saturday. Today I checked into the crappiest (aka cheapest) hotel I could find. Not to worry, its clean enough, and I have my own, very secure, room. I began reading Perfect Health by Deepak Chopra, so far it's very good, I can already tell I like this guy. Conversely, I've also began to read Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith and she knida annoys me. I think I will certainly like the book, I just need to be more accepting of the authors voice. This afternoon I took some time to stroll for a few miles along the dirt road that follows the beach to the West, meeting a couple surfers along the way. They were explaining how to dodge rocks to a newbie by creating a diagram in the sand, it was so cute! I did some yoga followed by a dinner of fresh fruit on the beach as the sun set. Since Montezuma is on the South of the peninsula, I wasn't able to see it set over the horizon but I did snap a picture of the beach with the sunset-esq colors of what is, conceptually speaking, my favorite day of the year: the summer solstice. Right now I'm at the cutest restaurant in town, Organico, munching on banana bread and white chocolate sorbet and listening to the sound of the newly arrived rain on the corrugated metal awning. I'll call it an early night, I imagine the heat and/or sun will wake me up bright and early.

Yoink!

San Jose, Costa Rica. 


I stayed in The Costa Rica Backpackers Hostel with some Canadian friends I met at the airport last night. Awesome hostel, I recommend it to anyone passing through. I also recommend passing through San Jose, just pass right on through, not much here.. theres some city, some people, some cars, some graffiti, some guy selling fruit in the windows of cars, some horns honking, whatever.


I am couch surfing with a darling Canadian man named Ashraf tonight. He is here teaching third grade at a British IB primary school, and living in an apartment building full of expat teachers. It seems like a pretty cool setup. We're going to go down to the market tonight to pick up some food to whip up for dinner, then we'll probably take it easy until the morning when he will ever so generously drive me to the airport on his way to work. I'll be headed to Tambor, but will probably promptly leave. I think we'll just have to see how things go.

Beautiful Transformation

Buddha said, "Effort is the duty of today." My friend Taryn told me that.

I definitely cried throughout this entire video. I am sure it is in part because of how proud I am of this man for overcoming all adversity with that Bengal tiger strength and Bulldog determination of a true yogi, and partially because I am so inspired to work harder in every single aspect of my life to become the highest caliber person I can possibly be.

Good job, Arthur, and thank you.

Bikram Kicks Ass

Bikram Yoga is a series of 26 postures done twice over a period of 90 minutes in a room heated to somewhere between 104 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The series was developed by Bikram Choudhury and is not only a process of growth in physical health but also mental health. Bikram Yoga kicks ass, every time. It doesn't matter how great or horrible of shape you are in, Bikram Yoga is going to be both tough and totally doable if you give it your best effort. 

Here are my tips for newbies:
-Just do it, and try your best. It will be uncomfortable, but give every ounce of effort you have so that when you're done you will feel proud that you survived.
-Focus. Listen to what the teacher is telling you and do it. Observe your breath the entire time so that your mind doesn't wander. Think not about the discomfort but about the inhalation and exhalation, this makes it easier for you to commit to each pose.
-Drink lots and lots of water the day before and day of class. Drink your body weight in ounces every day. Stop drinking about an hour before class so your belly wont be full.
-Eat a light meal about three hours before class. You don't want to go in on a full stomach, but make sure you have enough carbohydrates to sustain your blood sugar throughout the class.
-Allow all feelings of self-consciousness to pass. Nobody in the room cares if you aren't flexible, or if you don't look all that great in a skimpy outfit, seriously. They are focusing only on themselves and their practice. So guys, take off the shirt. Ladies, wear as little as you can; a sports bra and spandex shorts are my go to attire. You will be far more uncomfortable with all those rags hanging on your body than with fresh skin to the air.
-Take a mat, full size towel, and bottle of water. They're all required so you mine as well take your own instead of paying the studio to borrow its.
-Copy the good ones. There will be some people in the room who know exactly what they're doing and who are really flexible. Copy their posture, but remember it's not a competition and it will take time for you to become as solid as they are.

*by the way - The photo above is from one of Bikram's teacher training courses. The average class does not have so many super fit people.

Summertime is Near

Hey Superchamps!
Summer is just around the corner, and you know what that means...

Rope swinging season!!!
This may be a bit unfair, but I have a rope swing in my back yard. The other day I spent about 30 minutes swinging and practicing new tricks for the summer, and now every single muscle in my upper body is stiff!

Now is the time to get your body acclimated so you'll be ready for all of the activities you'll be doing this summer.

Gandhi’s Top 10 Fundamentals for Changing the World

1. Change yourself

2. You are in control

3. Forgive and let go

4. Take care of this moment

5. Without action, you aren’t going anywhere

6. Everyone is human

7. See the good in people and help them

8. Persist

9. Be congruent, be authentic, be your true self

10. Continue to grow and evolve.

Eat This

and this

Stop eating processed foods and cook your own meals. Fresher is soooo much better!

It's 40 and Rainy

Today, the weather is dismal and my house is cold. I need a workout that I can do inside that will get me and my house warm.

Step 1: Stay hydrated

Step 2: Dance like crazy to a few awesome songs (gets the body and mind in the mood)

Step 3: Do the exercises below

Step 4: Take at least 10 minutes to do some deep stretching

Step 5: Eat a healthy dinner (now is the time for protein and greens) 

Step 6: Feel awesome

Today's To Do

Where the Magic Happens

I Get Around

The best way for an out-of-towner to explore a new city: Rent a bike, ride it around town, drop it off pretty much wherever. 

I rented a Hubway bike to check out Boston when I was visiting last weekend. It was eons better than dealing with public transport or paying for a taxi and I was able to enjoy the beautiful spring weather! The only kicker, with this company at least, is that you pay $5 for an entire day but you can't go on rides longer than 30 minutes, so you have to find a Hubway station an check-in every half-hour. Also, I don't think I would have been able to find the stations without my iPhone. 

See for yourself: Hubway Website

The Tone is in Your Fingers

You don't need a $1000 guitar to be a good guitar player. They say the tone is in your fingers. If you apply yourself, you'll get better. Don't get hung up on having all of the freshest gear. You don't need it, and that isn't what is going to make you great anyway.

Right now, I am riding the gorgeous yellow bike above. It weighs about 900 pounds, only has three gears, and the breaks can't be trusted. I might not be able to make it up (or down) a monster hill on this baby, but it's not the bike's fault. I will keep at it, and maybe someday I'll be good enough to appreciate a really nice bike.

Do Something

Not really feelin' in the mood to exercise today? Don't sweat it! Just do something. I know it's healthy to get my heart-rate up for at least 30 minutes 3 times a week, and about 10 minutes on the other days. Today is a 10 minute day, but right now I only have two minutes worth of motivation. It's ripe time to get on the floor and do some crunches and push-ups, I'll also use the wall to do hand-stands and some wall-sits. It may not be a lot, but it's better than nothing. Maybe I'll find another burst of motivation to get me through this day.

Be Present

I am where I am.
Accepting that fact will allow me to make conscientious decisions that lead me towards wherever it is that I'm trying to go. 

Welcome to My New Life

Hello World, and welcome to my new blog. Yesterday was a very inspiring day, so inspiring that I have officially decided to change my life. For the first time in ages, I went on a bike ride with my friends. We biked about 20 miles, stopping at the grocery store on the way home. We did about 10 minutes of stretching after the ride, and then cooked a delicious dinner of mahi mahi, quinoa, asparagus.

After spending my day doing such awesome stuff, I realized that I've gotta keep this momentum going! So here we are, World, it's just you and me. Let's do it