October 17, 2025 • 65 mins
David Garrigues is a highly respected Ashtanga Yoga teacher known for his deep commitment to practice and exploration of the ancient traditions of yoga. With a career spanning several decades, David began his journey into yoga at the age of 16, evolving from self-practice of sun salutations to studying under renowned teachers. He has trained with prominent figures like Pattabhi Jois, and he integrates unique insights into yoga's physical, spiritual, and historical aspects to create a comprehensive teaching methodology. As an innovative educator, David places a strong emphasis on safe practices and personalization in yoga.
Visit David here: https://davidgarrigues.com/
Key Takeaways:
- Personal Practice: David began practicing yoga at a young age, which set the foundation for his lifelong journey in Ashtanga Yoga.
- Transformation through Teaching: His experiences with influential teachers brought significant change and development in his practice and teaching style.
- Safety and Personalization: David emphasizes creating a safe and inclusive environment through personalized and step-by-step instruction.
- Artistic Expression in Yoga: His approach to yoga teaching integrates creativity, viewing it as an art form and a means of personal expression.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Todd McLaughlin (00:33):
Welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast. So happy
you are here. My goal with thischannel is to bring
inspirational speakers to themic in the field of yoga,
massage, body work and beyond.
Follow us at Native yoga andcheck us out at
Nativeyogacenter.com.
(00:56):
All right, let's begin.
Welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast.
My name is Todd McLaughlin, andtoday I have a very special
guest, David Garrigues. Davidis, I'm a fan of David's work
for many years now, and it is ahuge honor to have him on the
(01:16):
show and his enthusiasm, hisartistic vision for the creation
of the work that he putstogether, is so inspirational to
me. I also am very inspired bythe fact that he goes against
the grain and does things in away that's sensible and
intelligent without worryingabout the broader context of
(01:37):
cultural norm. And I just thinkthat his view of the Ashtanga
yoga practice, his understandingof the body and the way he
teaches, which you can watch allof this on his social media,
which is very prolific, withenormous amount of content that
you can absorb. He is just veryvaluable. So thank you for being
(01:58):
here. I hope you enjoy this asmuch as I do and did. And I
appreciate your support, anylove you can send via social
media, email, subscribing andall that jazz, sharing with
friends, all that stuff, ishugely appreciated. And I would
encourage you to go to David'swebsite,
(02:19):
https://davidgarrigues.com it'sin the link below, you're going
to find links to all of hishandles. Also, I'm going to
include a link or a way for youto reach out to him to look into
his Ashtanga revolution serieson primary series, and he's also
put a lot of time and energyinto his second series video
catalog, so definitely send hima message if you enjoyed this
(02:43):
conversation, and let's go aheadand begin. I'm really honored to
have this opportunity to meetand speak with David Garrigues.
David, I really appreciate youaccepting accepting my
invitation to be on the show.
How are you doing today?
David Garrigues (03:03):
I'm doing good.
Todd, I thank you for invitingme. I appreciate the opportunity
to talk to you. Thank you. Youknow I've had a lot of different
Ashtanga Yoga or yogapractitioners over the years
come through the doors andmention how much they appreciate
your work. So I'm really excitedfor this opportunity. I've been
looking forward to this so I'm,you know, you have a lot of
(03:24):
years of practice, and I readthat you started practicing at
the age of 16, self learning thesun salutations. Can you How did
that initial exposure shape yourperception of yoga?
Unknown (03:40):
Yeah, it's funny because I'm almost back to
it now, which is like, yeah, IWell, I would do it outside when
I learned the sun salutation.
Then I go. There was a littlebeach by my house, and I would
go and do it there, just sunsalutations, never and I it was
(04:06):
a really mystical thing for me,actually. And I even wrote a
paper about it in high schoolthat was called The World is a
sacrament. So it's like thiswhole revelation that, like you
I was worshiping outside on thebeach, you know, with the sky
(04:30):
and the sun and, and it didn'thave to be inside in a church or
something, you know. And, and sothen, and, yeah, I turned that
paper in. And the teacher, forsome he used to read the papers
out loud in the class, and hesays, like, is there anyone that
(04:53):
doesn't want me to read theirsout loud? And I was like, me,
yeah. And, and he understood, hedidn't. He said, I Oh, okay, no
problem.
Todd McLaughlin (05:04):
That's classic, because, because it was an out
there idea, I'm guessing, at age16. I mean, is this a public or
a private school or
Unknown (05:12):
No, just a public school? Totally, yeah. This was
like, Yeah. And I still rememberwhat he wrote on it. He wrote,
like, something like a fineexpression of your spiritual
Questers. You're it was like,and it's funny, because, you
know you hear that, don'tpractice outside and but that's
exactly what I do now. Ipractice really basic stuff. And
(05:37):
I just like, I can practice. Ipractice it sides when I have
to, but if I have the choice, Igo out. I've made a whole space.
And I I love the whole the samething that started me. That's
Todd McLaughlin (05:51):
cool, man, that's awesome. Did you come
across a book that had picturesof a Sun Salute? I mean, I'm
going back to, I don't know whatyear this is, but obviously it
wasn't YouTube you werewatching.
Unknown (06:04):
Oh, yeah, yeah, no, my this friend taught it to me,
this dishwasher at a restaurantthat I worked at. Yes, he he
took he was a real egg. Is areal intellectual. So he knew
lot about a lot of differentthings. He's very cool guy, but
he knew a little bit about yoga,and then he knew the sun
(06:28):
salutation, and he took me outand taught it to me. That's so
Todd McLaughlin (06:31):
cool that you say that Max, I remember working
in a restaurant at 16, and thecooks got me into the Grateful
Dead and I went and saw my firstdead show. And so it's funny,
like the things that we welearned working in a restaurant.
Yeah, that's cool, man. Well, Ialso noticed that you then
started studying under ateacher, Maurice vibota in 91
(06:52):
What was it like to go frombeing a rogue, outdoor, self
taught Yogi to now being undertutelage.
Unknown (07:02):
Yeah, it was, that was a real trip, actually, like, and
it's funny because I don'tremember,
like, having resistance oranything like that. I just know
that when, when I met her, I haddone some little bit of other
(07:25):
yoga before that, not, not verymuch. But when I met her, like,
No, it was, it was unbelievable,actually. So the very first
class I went with her, you know,I was, like, really intense
about yoga, but by the time Igot to her, I was, or very, not
very experienced, but like,really into it, you know, and
(07:49):
and for and I had studied alittle bit of iyengar yoga, and
they did not focus on lotus poseat all, like so and then. But I
saw the pictures, and like, theyogi's doing, and I wanted to do
lotus, you know, and, and so,for some reason, the first class
I took with her, she, she goes,she's looked at me really
(08:12):
mystically and went, you want todo The Lotus.
How did you know? Like, what?
And, yeah. And so she was a veryintense woman, so, but I moved
in Seattle, I moved to herneighborhood to be by her
(08:34):
studio. I went to, sort of goingto all of her classes, and she,
she taught her own thing. Andwhat I the when I reflect on it,
what it was that she taught, itwas so interesting because she
was really into how you got intoyour pose, like, which is what
(08:57):
vinyasa is all about, right? Andit's about the transition, or
it's, it's a big emphasis onthat, and that's what she was
into the this whole process ofhow you went about it, and
rather than you're just like,soon as you're doing the pose,
it was kind of lost interest toher. Like it was this whole
(09:20):
process, how you're going toapproach it and go into it, and
what the Movement was going tobe, and what your thought
process.
And that is cool, yeah.
Todd McLaughlin (09:31):
Well, that's amazing. So wait, this is around
91 and you're in Seattle, so youwere in Seattle at the kind of
birth of the whole grunge yearas well. Was that something that
was on your radar at the time.
Unknown (09:42):
So strange is I had left that right, like I was, I
had been a punk andplayed in bands and,
well, in one band, not bands andbut a big band that, like was
really influential in. Creatingthat grunge, wow,
Todd McLaughlin (10:03):
yeah, very cool. David, I didn't know that.
That's amazing. That's awesome.
That's awesome.
Unknown (10:07):
Yeah, yeah. Like, I mean, it's kind of intense,
actually, but so, so anyway, butI left that and I went to
Evergreen State College inOlympia
and studied and got and and theni
(10:27):
i left with all that behind. Andthen when I came back to
Seattle, I was just completelynot part of any of it. Like, I
didn't even know nirvana oranything. Like, that's how kind
of out of the loop. I became onit.
Todd McLaughlin (10:42):
That's cool, man, that's awesome. Yeah, I
remember as a teenager, I lookedat Evergreen College, and that
was like the for me, seemed likethe Holy Grail of potential
schools to go to at that age.
Was it as cool as it seemed fromthe brochures? Yeah.
Unknown (11:02):
Well, it it changed.
But like, the from the 70s, orwhenever it started, it was
amazing. Got it Todd, like itwas based on, like that. No
program would ever repeat. Youknow, like, wow, yeah, and so,
and when, when I went there in86 is the My first year there,
(11:23):
it had these called independentstudies, where you could write
your own program, but, but itwas turning more and more just
kind of conventional, but it,but A lot of the original
teachers were still there, andit was amazing, like, and like,
(11:43):
I lived. So I lived, it's all onthe sound the campus. And I
lived across the Puget Sound.
So, you know, inland sea. So Ilived across the bay. So I would
kayak across the bay, stash thekayak in the woods and go up to
(12:05):
school. Yeah? Like, I mean,whoa,
Todd McLaughlin (12:08):
yes, yeah, a different era, right? Like,
just,
Unknown (12:13):
and I did my own independent studies, and I was
part of the Native Americanstudies. They had a big, strong
representation there. And, yeah,it was totally amazing, really
on I had the wheel, weirdesteducation, and I left kind of
(12:37):
bummed in a way, like, honestly,like, or because I, because it
was so unconventional, like it Iget, I got a BA degree, but I
studied like Zen meditation andmacrobiotic cooking and kayak
building and like all kinds ofreally intense, weird stuff,
(13:01):
which is so awesome, you know,looking back on it, but it
certainly didn't like, prepareme for grad school.
Todd McLaughlin (13:10):
The workforce was like, Yeah, okay, well,
yeah, we don't need any canoesbuilt right now. So, oh my gosh,
that's classic man. Well, atwhat point did you take your
first trip to Mysore?
Unknown (13:24):
So when it was in Marie's studio that I saw video,
video of patavi Joyce teachingthat Tom Sewell, he's a shot
those like film Black and Whitesessions with Richard Freeman
and Tim and Chuck and Monty andlike, just, whoa. Like I, I saw
(13:49):
one of those videos from herstudio, and I was just like,
blown away by the whole thing.
Like, I never seen yoga likethat, like with the vinyasa and
just the, I mean, wow, like,yes, because that was before
even vinyasa yoga was popular.
Really, what 1993 is when, whenI saw that and and then right
(14:16):
after I saw that video, I saw itwas in the Yoga Journal. I
actually got Joy got it for me,the old copy the ad of him. He
was coming to America, pattabiJoyce in 1993 and so I decided
I'm going to go there and learnash Tonga from him to LA. So
that's, that's what I did. I'venever done it before. Just
(14:39):
walked into the lead primarywith the Master,
Todd McLaughlin (14:43):
yes, yes.
Thoughts and feelings about whatthat experience was like. Did
it? Did it blow your mind?
Unknown (14:51):
Verified me like I couldn't. I just can't tell you
it was
Todd McLaughlin (14:55):
how nervous you were going in. Yeah, yeah,
Unknown (14:59):
you're gonna. I tell you, I mean, it's a weird
response to it, but what I endedup doing is I, I fasted on fruit
for the whole month. Garrett, Idon't know why that was my
response. Like, that's how Ithought it would be more
powerful or something. But yeah,and how
Todd McLaughlin (15:20):
would that leave you feeling like, in
relation to having energy to dosuch a demand,
Unknown (15:25):
so much energy, it was, I practiced twice a day, and I
camped up in Topanga Canyon forthe month, and I I went. I went,
Yeah, I would practice in theafternoon in the after the
class. So it had no problem withthe energy.
Todd McLaughlin (15:47):
Amazing. Yeah, so wasn't it? That's, that's
classic. So on top of themorning session, you go home so
amped and do it again, and thenwake up the next morning and go
with him. And that is a goodexample of having a lot of
energy.
Unknown (16:01):
And then, and then, like,
it was, I mean, I was just, Iwas just sort of blown away by
the whole thing. I'd never Iknew no Sanskrit. I knew
nothing, you know, and he'sgoing to a come inhale today. I
knew. I didn't know the series.
I didn't really prepare inadvance or anything. So I was
(16:21):
just, like, just scrambling toto understand and like, I was
also, I was from a skateboarderand stuff. So I was really
strong, like I did freestyleskateboarding handstands and all
kinds of stuff and and so I wasstrong, but really stiff. And so
(16:45):
like in Buddh Konasana, I wasjust super stiff. And there was
one guy in the class that hewould get, he knew patavi Joyce,
he would get the Kona Hasanadjustment every day, and he was
really stiff, and he would,like, turn purple. And I was,
like, terrified. And then hetwice came to me one time, one
(17:10):
day, and he he put one hand onone knee and his foot on the
other and his hand on my head,and he pushed me little bit
forward, not not a lot, just alittle bit and, and I was just
like, it was so weird this, it'ssomething cosmic happened in
(17:32):
that moment. I sort of likenedit. I might be idealizing it or
I, but that funny story ofKrishna, when he he eats dirt,
and then his mother, his friendsgo tell him, oh, Krishna ate
dirt. And his mother's like,what you naughty boy, you're
(17:54):
eating dirt. And he go, he goes,let me she wants to see. Open
your mouth. Let me see, right?
And she she opens his mouth, andshe see, she looks and she sees,
like the whole cosmos insidethere. Yeah, that was like this
weird moment of, like this wholeperspective change. I was like,
saw this huge expanse open orsomething, you know, and then
(18:18):
one minute, then he just pulledme right back up and he goes, No
fearing you go, amazing to allthat fear. You know, amazing.
Todd McLaughlin (18:28):
You know, that's really cool to hear
David, because I remember whenmy wife and I were going, we
took our first primary seriesclass with him in Mysore, and I
had heard so many horror storiesabout that one particular pose,
about people being pushed soseverely deep into it that they
couldn't get up off of the floorafter so the process of actually
(18:53):
landing in the room, I wascompletely terrified. So I'm
actually really happy to hearyou had a Krishna mouth opening
experience or that he and I justgot to ask you, like, what is
your take on the fish storiesthat we've heard about these
mega, aggressive adjustments andthen the reality of it, and your
(19:17):
take on it in The currentsituation we're in in the modern
world.
Unknown (19:23):
Yeah, yeah. Well, I mean, I, well, I've built my
everything I do around kind ofsafety and protection and
working in steps and I mean,I've come a long way since then
in terms of how I view it andwhat I think and what and
(19:47):
really, when it comes down toit, I it's just, well, there's a
lot to say. But one thing is,it's just those intensive.
Adjustments. Even if they'regood, they're there, they
there's risk. They're kind ofhigh risk. And I'm not I
(20:10):
personally, as a person and as astudent like my own practitioner
and as a teacher, I'm notwilling to go it to do that,
take those risks, even if itmeans put maybe, like less
opening, or something like that,like I just feels risky. And
when I was 28 or whatever, whenI met pattavi Joyce and I went
(20:34):
to Mysore, right after the i Hetold me, come, you come to
Mysore. And I came and, youknow, I never had any bad
adjustment from him and so andit also, but he, he and I, to
(20:57):
me, he worked with people, veryindividually. And, I mean, I
know he worked with me likethat, the spirit that, that
adjustment that he gave me in LAwas exactly how he worked with
me all along, like late, hestayed, he didn't, he wouldn't.
He actually wouldn't help me.
That's it was more that, thatlike he, he wouldn't, he
(21:21):
wouldn't help me until I stoppedcare, caring about whether he
would help me when, like, yeah,so he did. He did not push me.
He, in fact,
Todd McLaughlin (21:38):
yeah, I see, I see what you're saying, Yeah.
Unknown (21:42):
And I'm not saying that he didn't push other people or
like, I'm not trying todiscredit or anything, or
anything like that.
But, and I, I don't thinkWell, I think that the evolution
of it, there's well, thingsevolve, hopefully naturally and
wholesomely, or or that there isthat potential for them to do,
(22:08):
for things to that to happenwith things and and we, Yeah,
we're part of a big experiment,and so we want to, I mean to me,
I try to honor what's good aboutthe past and what what I what
happened to me, what I observed,and what people Just the and
(22:32):
take what's good and moveforward intelligently. And but,
and also me, I've spent, youknow, a lot of time with myself,
practicing and exploring anddiscovering huge,
(23:04):
territories of Ashtanga andHatha Yoga that
pattabi Joyce didn't teach meand,
and those are valid to me. Thoseare important and, and I've and
I've taken the time to, like,write them down and put, put
(23:26):
them in videos and share and andI bet somebody else, then the
next people are going to go,they're going to have their new
place to Take it. And this isthe natural thing.
Todd McLaughlin (23:40):
And so, good answer,
Unknown (23:49):
bad adjustments, and that there's definitely people
that got hurt and still, nowit's happening, people getting
bad adjustments, and
Todd McLaughlin (23:59):
yes, that are so why? Why do you you know?
Maybe because I saw a recentpost you did on Instagram where
you reference the yoga fascista,and I loved how. Okay, so the
big question about progressingone's practice and then hitting
(24:19):
a plateau where it feels likeI'm not progressing. And so you,
you made you put attention onthe stanza line within that text
that mentioned that there arelimits, because maybe as like
you and I coming into yoga fromthe from the that, that zone of
mine, where you were when youwere younger, go on Padmasana.
(24:41):
Whoa, look at that yoga, right?
I want to be able to do that.
And so, you know, there's thisfervor or excitement to or maybe
this idea that there, if Ipractice yoga, I'll go into a
realm of limitless potential.
And then I see pictures ofpeople doing. Really extreme
stuff, and I think, well, if Ijust work hard enough, I'll
(25:02):
eventually one day be just likethem. And I love the way that
you were addressing yourthoughts on this. Could you
elaborate a little bit that forus here, and about how if we do
acknowledge that there arelimits, then how we could set up
different parameters forunderstanding what the
definition of success is in ayoga practice.
Unknown (25:24):
Yeah, I mean, you, you're saying it so nicely. I
mean, it's, and it's, it's areally unpopular idea right now,
and that, that the idea that,yeah, there's limits, right? I
always want to think you coulddo anything and
(25:44):
and it's just, it's well, it Iwish I could call up this, I
might be able to find it on myphone. But joy shared with me
this thing about this,this guy, he's talking about how
dangerous and like, harmful itis when there's, like,
(26:07):
everything's based onachievement, and it's, it's
like, limitless what you canachieve. And like, how that
that's actually what he'sarguing in this thing, is that
that is what leads to, like,depression and like, really
feeling lost and because. Andthat book, see the yoga of
(26:27):
ashishta, it looks like it'stelling you that because it
says, it says things like, likeyou hear like you see on
Instagram all the time, like itsays when failure occurs. You
can be seen as slackness, as ofthe effort, right? So, so that
means that it's when you fail,it's just because you didn't try
(26:49):
hard enough. But then in, Ithink, in that post that you're
talking about in that same text,it says, but a wise person knows
what is and is not possiblethrough self effort, you see.
And this, to me, this is so bigand and I'm sorry, this can.
This could be one of the rabbitholes that we I'd like
Todd McLaughlin (27:15):
it. This is the hole I wanted you to go down,
though. So thank you.
Unknown (27:19):
I want to tell, I'll try to tell you the brief
summary of this story, but, butto me, this says it, it really
encapsulates it. Becausebasically, we all, we don't, we
can't, not everything's open tous. But something very good is
open to us, some somethingwithin these limits, this, you
(27:40):
know, limited person, that weare with our foibles and
weaknesses, and you knoweverything, all that whole
combination of imperfect, bentme is perfect for something. And
when you would discover thatsomething, and you go for it and
go into it, well, then that,then you're it's limitless in a
(28:01):
way. It brings, it gives youthat feeling of limitlessness,
but, but you have to kind ofembrace that you're shunted
somewhere and you're there isall kinds of limits imposed on
you in order to open up intowhat the possibilities for
Todd McLaughlin (28:23):
you are, right?
Yes, yes. Well, Said, I thinkthat's so important you're
right, like when you said aboutdepression, that is a really
good point, because if we'rethinking everything's limitless,
and then clearly we're notacknowledging the limits that we
do face, that's a depressingreality, because then I go, Oh,
shoot, how come I'm not doingit. And so they
Unknown (28:47):
live in this terrible, terrible feeling about yourself.
Todd McLaughlin (28:55):
Yeah, I know, man, well, that's cool,
Unknown (28:58):
yeah. Can I just tell these people, yes,
please. Yeah, keep going. I'lltry to I won't stretch it out in
this story that it's a NativeAmerican story about the
trickster, and this is aarchetypal character that's so
important, and it's about theTrickster is like the coyote,
right? And kind of the outcast,or the person that's different,
(29:24):
and he does things differently,and he's, he's thought of this
lazy, and he's always imitatingothers, and he's trying to get
find the easy way to do stuff,or if, and if he sees like
grizzly bear doing something,he'll go, oh, I can do that. And
then he, like, does some reallylame attempt at trying to do it,
(29:46):
and it completely fails and getshim in trouble. And he's and
he's always bumbling and gettingin trouble. And that's partly
why people love stories abouthim, because he's just the then.
Perfect One, just bumbling hisway through right and, and, and
so in this story, the chief ofall the beings calls them
(30:09):
together, and he says, Well,there's a new type of being
coming. And he's saying that thehumanity is coming, and it's all
the animals that and he says,So, so we, so we need to have,
like, official jobs and names.
And so tomorrow, at dawn, I'mgoing to, we're going to
assemble the first person, firstcome, first serve, gather in
(30:32):
front of my, my lodge here, andwe'll start giving off the names
and the the jobs. And so first,immediately, Coyote is like, oh,
right, I'm done with beingCoyote. I'm going to be, I'm
going to be first in line, andI'm going to become grizzly
bear, you know, the king of theearth and, and then, or maybe
(30:54):
it'll be salmon, King of thewaters, or, or maybe Eagle,
something grand, you know,something better than damn
trickster, always getting intotrouble all over the place. And
his friends all know he's whathe's like, boasting and stuff.
So they're all kind of rollingtheir eyes. So he goes home to
the and his wife also knows whathe's like, so she's kind of, oh,
(31:16):
boy, here we go again. And sohe's like, Okay, I'm gonna He
even tells her, I'm going toleave her, because I'm leaving
this life behind. I'm going tobecome grizzly bear or something
important in this world. And sohe says, stoke up the fire. I'm
staying up all night, so I'll befirst in line. So they do it,
they stoke up the fire. And youknow, it goes okay until
(31:38):
midnight or something. But thenhe starts, like, falling asleep,
and he so he pins toothpicks inhis eyes to try to stay awake,
right? And next thing he knows,it's like, wakes up, and it's
the sun's high in the sky. So hegoes running to that Lodge, and
it's no one's there but thechief. And he's like, I want
(32:01):
grizzly bear. He's like, Dudethat was taken the first thing
at dawn. Salmon, no, it's gone.
And he goes. He says, Yeah, infact, all the jobs and names are
gone except yours. Nobody wantedyours. And and then he but then
he says, But, look, man, look, Imean, because coyotes is totally
(32:24):
bummed, right? And he goes, butunderstand, I made you sleep in.
I cast a spell on you becauseyou, this is a perfect job for
you, the trickster. And like,and it's an honorable place,
like, because the trickster,well, one is a beloved figure,
but also is a boundary breaker,like he did. He's not just lazy,
(32:45):
he also just doesn't followrules because, because they're
rules, and he's able to thinkcreatively and like anyway, like
he's super valuable aspect. Ofthings just like you and me are.
And we so we have the we'resaddled with these selves, these
(33:06):
imperfect, you know, we alwayswish we were this or that, or
could do that or be like thatperson, and but, and, but we're
perfect, just as we are.
Todd McLaughlin (33:19):
And so, yeah, oh, man, great story. Love it.
And then so you and I are on ourmats practicing. We have the
revelation that I am good righthere. This is great. I'm bending
this far, and I'm dealing withthis ache, pain in a way where
(33:41):
I'm trying not to make it worse.
And so then my next question is,why do we keep practicing? Why
do we keep getting on there anddoing it? And that's I'm just
curious, like, what? What youranswer to that? Why is? Well, I
know it's a hard question. I
Unknown (34:07):
know it's not, it's not actually hard. It's just it's
big, like so many things,
Todd McLaughlin (34:16):
but I asked myself this question often.
That's why I love to hear whatother you know, long term
practitioners take are becauseyou keep showing up, you know,
you keep delivering, you keepteaching you. You have passion.
And I'm just curious, then, howdo you keep kindling that
passion and and surely you youcome across some moments where
(34:40):
the words dwindling a little,and I'm just, I just want to
hear a little bit about howyou're able to stay so
motivated. Yeah.
Unknown (35:35):
So the thing is, is okay?
Know I don't, I mean, I don'talways stay motivated, and I
want to just tell you that thank
Todd McLaughlin (35:48):
you. I appreciate that. That's
Unknown (35:52):
actually I think, like I've, I've been dealing with
this impasse in myself, like areally weird one. Now, Todd,
sorry, is this not wanting tochange anything about myself?
Todd McLaughlin (36:19):
Yeah, yeah.
It's
Unknown (36:20):
like, what if you asked me to change one bit? I'm just,
no, I don't want to change onething, you know, and it's it,
it's a terrible it, no, it'sfunny. It's both sort of
delightful in a way. But it's,it's unrealistic, or it's a
(36:45):
recipe for suffering. Basically,is what it is, and, and, but,
but it can cut like, it can comeon you. It can this thing of
like, where we feel so pushed upagainst obstacles, or pressure
(37:05):
of our life that one change orone is just, it's all we just
almost can't face it, you know,like, see, because what? But
what yoga really does ask fromyou is that it, it does ask you
to keep sacrificing, okay, so tokeep and yes, like yes, and to
(37:31):
really live life well, you haveto keep sacrificing and and it
can't be the sacrifice that youmade yesterday. It really won't
suffice for today. It it has tobe new and and if you don't,
life is really, really is goingto trample you in every way,
(37:54):
like your health will go down,met, physical, mental. Like the
only chance that I see is tokeep sacrificing, to keep like
doing, dedicating myself somehowmore to like to these. I'm
(38:15):
talking about basic things liketo the to the daily habits that
we have, because this is wherewe get stuck, right, and, and,
and here's the here's thepunchline. Practice helps you
get there and stay there or orget to that place where, when
(38:35):
you let the practice go, thenyou become much more complacent,
much more insulated, much morelike protecting what you have,
and then that only increasesyour struggle and your your your
suffering. Oh,
Todd McLaughlin (38:55):
man, thank you so much for that answer. That's
a really good answer, becausethat's yeah, I needed to hear
that, yeah.
Unknown (39:06):
And then there's one other thing about it, and I just
have to be honest that, youknow, like, I, I'm, like
everybody, I have resistance topractice, but in the moment of
practicing, there's, I havegreat joy, and it happened from
the first time I did sunsalutations on the beach. And it
(39:27):
still happens. And, but I also Iam like Coyote, I do it exactly
the way I want to, and I reallydon't. And, and because I do it
the way I want to, I thinkthat's part of why there I have
(39:48):
joy when I do it. It's like, ifa rule does not appeal to me, I
don't follow it and and I'mwilling to accept the
consequences of for myself likeand, you know, because some of
the lot of rules are made byimportant people that made them
(40:08):
for good reasons. But I still,I, when I step out there and do
my thing, I take responsibility,and then one of my conditions is
that I wanted I'm going to dowhat makes me happy and what, so
that when I do get on the mat,it's, it's a joyous experience.
(40:29):
It's, it's something I want toreturn to. And so it's not like
I'm brutalizing myself orbeating myself up or and and I
possibly could be more just.
Excellent about it, because Ihave that idea, but, but one
thing is for sure, I do it, Iget I practice, and I don't do
(40:49):
advanced series and things atthis point, but, but I don't
care.
Todd McLaughlin (40:59):
Yes, yes. You know, that makes me think I'll
refrain from utilizing anynames. But there's a current
scandal awareness going on inthe shtanga community, and then
I saw somebody else again, I'llrefrain from using any names
(41:22):
saying, you know, here's apicture of my certificate from
being authorized back in longtime ago from patapi Joyce, and
I'm resending it now because Ifeel like I want to just do it
my way and But do it honestly,and let the honesty of the
(41:44):
experience be the force that I'mattempting to uphold, or the
morality that I attempt touphold. And I guess I would just
to you know, based on everythingthat you've already said, I'm
curious if you feel like becauseyou have taken the path of, I'm
(42:05):
going to do it my way and stillbe respectful at the same time.
Do you feel like now when you'rewitnessing these sort of
earthquakes within a movement oran organization or a group of
people grateful that you havelived by that truth in the sense
(42:26):
that now you stand with yourbody of work that you've
accumulated over a long periodof time that probably came
harder than if you did toe theline. Did that make sense? What
I said, was a little too outthere, or is that? Is that
Unknown (42:44):
you're gonna make me cry? No, yeah. I mean, probably
came harder. Is avery mild way of putting it. I
have been, you know, battlingagainst, I don't know if that's
that. Maybe that's a littledramatic.
Todd McLaughlin (43:05):
I understand what you mean, though I I've
been on,
Unknown (43:09):
blacklisted, removed off the thing, been shunned for,
you know, using steps andcustomizing props, all of these
things like and, and Todd, it'stiring, like to to because, and
(43:29):
it's interesting, because, likeme, I love Ashtanga. You
understand, I love the structureof it, and that's, that's why I
didn't leave it, because to me,like I don't I'm not interested
in my making my own style. Ilove ashtonga. I think the
(43:50):
structure is like genius and Iand so so I don't leave, but I'm
also not accepted. And so then,so that's what I've been walking
for.
You know now it's like at least15 years of my teaching, and
(44:14):
it's damn challenge, hell yeah,yes, and
Todd McLaughlin (44:18):
yes, yes, yes, and
Unknown (44:20):
I'm very sorry when you know the what used to these
bigger like, because bigger likereal harm, you know, that's of
an extreme nature surfaces, butthen, but there's also, it's,
there's a baseline unsoundnessto the To wait, to the way it's
(44:43):
being taught that still doesn'tgo addressed and, and what I can
say is, yes, I though I feelterrible for the the people that
are get harmed and and obviouslythat all that suffering is
awful, but I do feel verythankful for that, for how what
(45:08):
I've stood for and how I'veproceeded, I definitely yeah,
like, it's like, Thank God Idon't carry that on my
conscience. Like, I mean, I, andI did teach traditional way for
a long time, and so I have thatto on my conscience, but not
(45:31):
what I've built going forward.
Like, I've sincerely tried myvery hard, you know, my very,
very best to interpret. DashTonga in a safe and
inclusive way that still gets atthe what's
(45:53):
there, the gold that's there?
Todd McLaughlin (45:56):
Yes, well, you do a great job of it. Your
videos are excellent. You know,on that note, your Austin at
kitchen Series offers really indepth tutorials. So everyone
listening, please go follow. Imean, we can find you on all the
social media channels. You'revery savvy with the online
(46:17):
stuff. YouTube is a great placeto go, Instagram, any one of
those. But you know, you offerreally in depth tutorials. And
I'm curious what inspired you tocreate that, the that platform,
so to speak, the US in akitchen, and how has it evolved
over time?
Unknown (46:33):
Yeah, well, all of it was happened by
accident, actually, and it'sbeen quite a I've done it for a
lot of years. Actually, it's oneof the very first Ashtanga
teachers to to do social media.
And my partner and joy, she's afilmmaker, and the way we
(46:58):
started it was just that we wentto a filmmaker seminar in New
York, whatever it was, many,many years ago. And, and it was
for, it was social media, forfilm, you know, making films,
and, but she was like, we coulddo this for your yoga and, and
(47:20):
so, so that's how we started it,it's just, and then she's a film
mate, right? So, so we had theequipment and stuff, and so just
started trying it and and thenit was a little bit based on Tim
Miller, how, when he used to dothe workshop, the asana doctor,
(47:41):
yes, no, there would be thattroubleshooting thing in the
afternoon. Yes, yeah. Was kindof based it like that. I was
trying to, that was my idea wasto try to, you know, kind of
troubleshoot like that. And, andI also had this blog, and I I
(48:02):
wrote really long, just ramblingpieces and but I've also kept
journals. I'm really, actually,it's, it's that that aspect of
things is really interesting tome. And I I don't know if it's
(48:28):
good or bad. I mean, I don'tknow what what to think of it,
honestly, but it's like, I'm a Ifeel like the part of me wishes
I was an artist, like a moreformally, you know, like of some
musician or painter or somethinglike that, you know, and, and,
(48:53):
but that I got the coyote job ofyoga teacher and, and so part of
embracing it, though, is likemaking these things like that.
To me, the these books andvideos and things, those are
(49:13):
they're like artistic creations.
To me that they're like, that'show I feel, that like when I'm
right, when I when I make abook, I feel like that's a work
of art I've created, you know?
Todd McLaughlin (49:25):
Well, that's, it's amazing, David, because
I've, you know, I've, I've seenyour work for a while, and I've
always been so, you know, like,when you think, wow, they must
have something extra special,because I don't think I would be
able to do that. And so now thatI'm trying to copy you, so to
speak, like, like, maybe notlike exactly, but, but like, I
(49:49):
emulate that you've put so muchwork into it over such a long
period of time that now thatI've, I'm continuing on the
track as well. And I'm, I'mjust, you know, I thank you for
for being consistent over such along period of time, because
it's really motivating. It'sinspirational, you know, and I
(50:09):
don't know, I just think thatI'm glad you, you did put all
that time in. I'm curious, like,you know, when you in terms of,
like, production of a video, areyou because you know how you can
geek out on this stuff sointensely, you know, like every
single edit could take forhowever long, and you could,
like you could, you could scrubover every little detail. I'm
just curious, just though, aboutyour thought process, process on
(50:31):
your creation aspect are, do youtry to not go over? I want to
show you something, please,please. I'm always trying to.
I'm always trying to like interms of these podcasts, my goal
is to hit record and do not makeany edits unless, for some
reason, I give every guest. Andthis holds true for you. If you
(50:54):
go to bed tonight and you wakeup in the morning go, oh, boy, I
should not have said that. Ifyou come to me and say, Please,
I'd like for you to cut that Ihonor that request, so I never
published something that someoneI interviewed doesn't want me to
publish. But my goal is like hitrecord, go all the way through
and don't touch it. Don't try toclean it, don't try to polish it
and shine it. And I would justlike to know your thoughts as a
(51:16):
personally trying to you know,learn more what, what are your
what's your workflow, yourmental workflow process. Yeah,
I've
Unknown (51:25):
had to learn. It's been a really challenging, honestly,
like so this, this book. This isone of my
Todd McLaughlin (51:34):
I gotta get it big one. I'll read it out to the
people that are listening andnot watching. It's the stronger
yoga, vinyasa. What's thesubtext at the
Unknown (51:42):
bottom? Movement, breath and posture in the
primary series? Cool, yeah, and
Todd McLaughlin (51:48):
by you, by you, yes.
Unknown (51:52):
It took me 15 years to write it nice, all right?
And so, and I'm notexaggerating, like I believe
you. But the thing is, is somuch, like, so much of see this,
what's it's a cool topic,actually, because, you know,
like, it's funny how I'm it'shard to face or think, or, like,
(52:18):
just in a basic way, not in aweird way, but that I'm 63 like,
like, I don't think I think ofmyself as younger or something,
somehow, but like, often I'm theoldest person in the room with
in the yoga rooms. You know,which would I mean, it's like,
whoa, wow.
And, and I tell you, though,like, how did this happen?
(52:41):
Yeah, how this happened. Iexactly, and, and it's, it's so
cool in a way, because thenthere's people, like, 30 years
younger than me, right? And, andit like, I just tell you that,
(53:01):
like those.
I was just showing you one sec.
Todd McLaughlin (53:05):
Yes, please, yes, please.
For those, you listen. The pauseis because David's going to go
grab Yeah, so another prop Ihave. Oh, cool. Wait, wait, this
book is called hatha yoga. Oh,this is your journal,
Unknown (53:27):
the Hatha Hatha Yoga mandala,
Todd McLaughlin (53:31):
holy circle.
Wait, now, did you just, is thisa published book, or is this
just a one off? It's a journal,dude. I love the artwork on the
cover too. It looks so like,yeah, for real.
Unknown (53:43):
I have 100
Todd McLaughlin (53:46):
just collecting and sketching and writing, and
that's so cool.
Unknown (53:53):
Man, yeah, and like,
Todd McLaughlin (53:56):
so I guess then the question of, like, how do
you figure out what to put inyour book that you work on for
15 years is not as easy as aquestion as one would think,
right, what do I focus on?
What's Yeah,
Unknown (54:07):
what I want to what is amazing to me, though, is that
that when at first, it doesn'tneed to be organized, or,
Todd McLaughlin (54:19):
yeah, I see what you mean. Just,
Unknown (54:22):
just start doing it, start collecting it. Like,
slowly, slowly the Yeah, thevaluable stuff starts to rise,
or you see it, or the themes andlike, and the skill and these
different variables that go intolike, expression and service,
(54:46):
like you're helping, becausethat's part, that's what it's
all kind of. That's what I loveabout teaching yoga, and that's
what I I love about that coyotestory, because, like it to me,
the that I teach yoga, it's away of giving this really unique
and powerful, more powerful thanwhat I would have come up with
(55:07):
on my own, like if I would havewant to be a surfer or whatever,
a musician or something,somehow, that this combination
is, is it really works. And sothere's, there's both this
creativity aspect, but thenthere's also that it you share
it and it benefits people,right? And and so what I would
(55:32):
say is to just do it and keepdoing it, and then it will the
like. Like how to edit it willbecome more and more clear.
Todd McLaughlin (55:46):
Yes, great advice. Yeah. David man, I
appreciate that. I'm stoked tohear that I have just I want to
mention your website is Davidgrieg.com that's in the link. I
think from there on yourwebsite, all your social handles
are easy. People can click andfind that, but you're on IG,
(56:07):
David Greig yoga YouTube atDavid Grieg, you have Ashtanga
revolution course for primaryseries. You have, very soon
coming out, a second seriescourse. You also
Unknown (56:21):
do those two, they're not on my website, but they're
but if you're interested inthose, they're excellent big
video courses on primary andsecond series, then You can
contact me on just Instagram orthrough my website, and ask me,
(56:45):
and I will, I will steer youtowards those but, or I don't
know if they're on, I'm prettysure I don't know if they're on
there. They they either are oraren't. I'm not sure, honestly,
but
Todd McLaughlin (56:55):
that's cool.
You responded my email veryquickly. So I know anyone who
emails you, you'll do the samefor them, which we appreciate,
we appreciate. And then you alsodo personalized coaching one on
one, and you, and I believe youhave a certification training
coming out. Out of those thingsthat I just mentioned, is there
something you want to talk
Unknown (57:15):
about, just to let you know, I do do this one to one
personalized coaching, and thatI'm really enjoying, and it's
small group and people that I'mdoing it with, but if you're
interested in that, you coulddirect message me, and then I'm
doing a six month kind ofteacher training. That's it's
(57:36):
like, I'm running it in like,June to November and and it's
part, it's a it's hard, it's abig, kind of big thing, because
I'm decided that I'm going to dothat as I will. And yes,
Todd McLaughlin (57:53):
I hear you, and I think what you're referencing,
the fact that it's a big thing,is because for so many years, a
lot of people that were in theauthorized, certified world were
told, Don't ever do that. Sothere's a little bit of a hill
to jump in relation to taking onthat authority to say, I'm going
to do it. Is that what you'rereferencing when you say, yeah.
And the thing
Unknown (58:11):
is, is that I teach according to these seven
principles, Asana principles,and me, I find them to be so
valuable and and this is how Iteach teachers, is to use these
principles and so and I make,and I I give, there's these
(58:33):
areas of like that. There's thecore Ashtanga element, elements
of the vinyasa and knowing, likereally the Ashtanga structure.
But then there's, there's averbal language that is absent
from traditional Ashtanga that Iemphasize, like, really being
(58:54):
able to put language to what, beable to articulate, how to do
these poses, transitions andpostures, and then also the
steps, and giving steps andmodifications and how to use
props and customize things. Soso I feel like I'm offering
(59:16):
something really needed,actually, that there's just not
enough training. There's notenough knowledge of the kind of
knowledge that I'm that I thinkis important for an Ashtanga
teacher to have. There's notenough of that out there. And so
(59:36):
I'm, I'm providing it, and it's,yeah, it's, it's, it's a, it's a
new that's kind of, it's a leapfor me because, because, again,
like I'm, I'm an artist atheart, and I, you know, and so
to to teach is one thing, andthen to teach teachers, that's
(59:57):
even another thing, But, butI've done, I've started doing
the first one. It's, it'll befinished in November, and I love
it. And the people are great,and it's super and so I feel
very positive.
Todd McLaughlin (01:00:14):
That's awesome.
David, well, you made, you mademention of how change can be
difficult, but it seems likeyou're recognizing the amount of
growth potential that comes withdoing something different and
new, like this. Yeah,potentially has That's awesome,
man. Well, I I'm so inspired.
I'm stoked to have thisopportunity. Thank you. I have
(01:00:34):
one more question for you tofinish up with, if that's okay
with you, time wise, I Okay,cool. I don't. I want to be, you
know, respectful of. Your timelooking ahead. What legacy do
you hope to leave in the worldof yoga?
Unknown (01:00:48):
Yeah, it's so funny because, like, I watched like,
Sadhguru, yeah, yeah. I lovehim. I like him. He's always
like, I don't know they're he'smore they're more involved than
than I am, because, like, he'slike, why should I care about
that? You know, like, I'll begone and, and I don't know why,
(01:01:11):
but it i, it does matter to meand, and it's, it's actually,
like, motivating me to dothings, and I know that that's
ultimately futile. I mean, like,because even even if things
like, who knows, the world couldblow up, you know, today, but
(01:01:34):
and then, but it'll also, atsome point, even in a natural
course of things, it won't evenbe here. And so those things are
funny to chase, right? But atthe same time i i Like that's
part I don't know. That's partof why I write the books. Is
because I I want people to knowwhat I thought about hatha yoga,
(01:02:01):
and I want them to benefit fromit, and I want what I discovered
to inspire people to go discoverfor themselves and and it, I
mean, it's A big thing to me,like, really important.
(01:02:23):
And it it motivates me,and it's also in a way, like,
because I've it's been a realuphill battle
through my life, like, you know,it's not I would, do you
understand how much I would liketo be in the center of the
(01:02:45):
lineage and accepted. And youknow, part of it, and like
it, it's a cost, a lot to go, togo off on my own and
but part of it, then, part ofwhat makes it easier to bear is
(01:03:07):
that I do. I'm trying to leavethis legacy behind, of some of
something, of somethingimportant that I brought to it
and bring, and have brought,and so,
Todd McLaughlin (01:03:19):
yes, yeah. Well said, David. Well said, well,
thank you so much for sharingyour time and energy with me and
the listener. We really, wereally appreciate it.
Unknown (01:03:35):
I really been you're I've enjoyed your your being
with you a lot. Thank you,David, very much. I saw you're
Todd McLaughlin (01:03:42):
going to be in Phuket in 2026 I love Thailand.
I I practice Thai massage andtrained over in Thailand. And
when I saw you were doing that,I thought, oh, man, that would
be so great. I wish, I wish Icould somehow get away from my
studio for long and just be a,be a student in Thailand. But I
really love your style. I likethe artist, the artistic
(01:04:04):
component that you bring in, andI really appreciate going
against the grain and taking theDIY punk approach and but also
the time you put in is solid.
It's not, I know you might makejoke about being the coyote, but
maybe part of the coyotesjourney is having more
(01:04:25):
resilience over a longer periodof time, because of the ability
to jump around and have some funduring Well, thank you, David. I
really appreciate it, and I hopeto meet you in person, in
future.
Unknown (01:04:44):
Thank you, Todd.
Todd McLaughlin (01:04:52):
Native yoga.
Todd cast is produced by myself.
The theme music is dreamed up byBryce Allen. If you like this
show, let me know if there'sroom for improvement, I want to
hear that too. We are curious toknow what you think and what you
want more of what I can improve.
And if you have ideas for futureguests or topics, please send us
(01:05:12):
your thoughts to info at Nativeyoga center. You can find us at
Native yoga center.com and hey,if you did like this episode,
share it with your friends. Rateit and review and join us next
time you.
Unknown (01:05:41):
Oh.
Welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast. So happy
you are here. My goal with thischannel is to bring
inspirational speakers to themic in the field of yoga,
massage, body work and beyond.
Follow us at Native yoga andcheck us out at
Nativeyogacenter.com.
(00:56):
All right, let's begin.
Welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast.
My name is Todd McLaughlin, andtoday I have a very special
guest, David Garrigues. Davidis, I'm a fan of David's work
for many years now, and it is ahuge honor to have him on the
(01:16):
show and his enthusiasm, hisartistic vision for the creation
of the work that he putstogether, is so inspirational to
me. I also am very inspired bythe fact that he goes against
the grain and does things in away that's sensible and
intelligent without worryingabout the broader context of
(01:37):
cultural norm. And I just thinkthat his view of the Ashtanga
yoga practice, his understandingof the body and the way he
teaches, which you can watch allof this on his social media,
which is very prolific, withenormous amount of content that
you can absorb. He is just veryvaluable. So thank you for being
(01:58):
here. I hope you enjoy this asmuch as I do and did. And I
appreciate your support, anylove you can send via social
media, email, subscribing andall that jazz, sharing with
friends, all that stuff, ishugely appreciated. And I would
encourage you to go to David'swebsite,
(02:19):
https://davidgarrigues.com it'sin the link below, you're going
to find links to all of hishandles. Also, I'm going to
include a link or a way for youto reach out to him to look into
his Ashtanga revolution serieson primary series, and he's also
put a lot of time and energyinto his second series video
catalog, so definitely send hima message if you enjoyed this
(02:43):
conversation, and let's go aheadand begin. I'm really honored to
have this opportunity to meetand speak with David Garrigues.
David, I really appreciate youaccepting accepting my
invitation to be on the show.
How are you doing today?
David Garrigues (03:03):
I'm doing good.
Todd, I thank you for invitingme. I appreciate the opportunity
to talk to you. Thank you. Youknow I've had a lot of different
Ashtanga Yoga or yogapractitioners over the years
come through the doors andmention how much they appreciate
your work. So I'm really excitedfor this opportunity. I've been
looking forward to this so I'm,you know, you have a lot of
(03:24):
years of practice, and I readthat you started practicing at
the age of 16, self learning thesun salutations. Can you How did
that initial exposure shape yourperception of yoga?
Unknown (03:40):
Yeah, it's funny because I'm almost back to
it now, which is like, yeah, IWell, I would do it outside when
I learned the sun salutation.
Then I go. There was a littlebeach by my house, and I would
go and do it there, just sunsalutations, never and I it was
(04:06):
a really mystical thing for me,actually. And I even wrote a
paper about it in high schoolthat was called The World is a
sacrament. So it's like thiswhole revelation that, like you
I was worshiping outside on thebeach, you know, with the sky
(04:30):
and the sun and, and it didn'thave to be inside in a church or
something, you know. And, and sothen, and, yeah, I turned that
paper in. And the teacher, forsome he used to read the papers
out loud in the class, and hesays, like, is there anyone that
(04:53):
doesn't want me to read theirsout loud? And I was like, me,
yeah. And, and he understood, hedidn't. He said, I Oh, okay, no
problem.
Todd McLaughlin (05:04):
That's classic, because, because it was an out
there idea, I'm guessing, at age16. I mean, is this a public or
a private school or
Unknown (05:12):
No, just a public school? Totally, yeah. This was
like, Yeah. And I still rememberwhat he wrote on it. He wrote,
like, something like a fineexpression of your spiritual
Questers. You're it was like,and it's funny, because, you
know you hear that, don'tpractice outside and but that's
exactly what I do now. Ipractice really basic stuff. And
(05:37):
I just like, I can practice. Ipractice it sides when I have
to, but if I have the choice, Igo out. I've made a whole space.
And I I love the whole the samething that started me. That's
Todd McLaughlin (05:51):
cool, man, that's awesome. Did you come
across a book that had picturesof a Sun Salute? I mean, I'm
going back to, I don't know whatyear this is, but obviously it
wasn't YouTube you werewatching.
Unknown (06:04):
Oh, yeah, yeah, no, my this friend taught it to me,
this dishwasher at a restaurantthat I worked at. Yes, he he
took he was a real egg. Is areal intellectual. So he knew
lot about a lot of differentthings. He's very cool guy, but
he knew a little bit about yoga,and then he knew the sun
(06:28):
salutation, and he took me outand taught it to me. That's so
Todd McLaughlin (06:31):
cool that you say that Max, I remember working
in a restaurant at 16, and thecooks got me into the Grateful
Dead and I went and saw my firstdead show. And so it's funny,
like the things that we welearned working in a restaurant.
Yeah, that's cool, man. Well, Ialso noticed that you then
started studying under ateacher, Maurice vibota in 91
(06:52):
What was it like to go frombeing a rogue, outdoor, self
taught Yogi to now being undertutelage.
Unknown (07:02):
Yeah, it was, that was a real trip, actually, like, and
it's funny because I don'tremember,
like, having resistance oranything like that. I just know
that when, when I met her, I haddone some little bit of other
(07:25):
yoga before that, not, not verymuch. But when I met her, like,
No, it was, it was unbelievable,actually. So the very first
class I went with her, you know,I was, like, really intense
about yoga, but by the time Igot to her, I was, or very, not
very experienced, but like,really into it, you know, and
(07:49):
and for and I had studied alittle bit of iyengar yoga, and
they did not focus on lotus poseat all, like so and then. But I
saw the pictures, and like, theyogi's doing, and I wanted to do
lotus, you know, and, and so,for some reason, the first class
I took with her, she, she goes,she's looked at me really
(08:12):
mystically and went, you want todo The Lotus.
How did you know? Like, what?
And, yeah. And so she was a veryintense woman, so, but I moved
in Seattle, I moved to herneighborhood to be by her
(08:34):
studio. I went to, sort of goingto all of her classes, and she,
she taught her own thing. Andwhat I the when I reflect on it,
what it was that she taught, itwas so interesting because she
was really into how you got intoyour pose, like, which is what
(08:57):
vinyasa is all about, right? Andit's about the transition, or
it's, it's a big emphasis onthat, and that's what she was
into the this whole process ofhow you went about it, and
rather than you're just like,soon as you're doing the pose,
it was kind of lost interest toher. Like it was this whole
(09:20):
process, how you're going toapproach it and go into it, and
what the Movement was going tobe, and what your thought
process.
And that is cool, yeah.
Todd McLaughlin (09:31):
Well, that's amazing. So wait, this is around
91 and you're in Seattle, so youwere in Seattle at the kind of
birth of the whole grunge yearas well. Was that something that
was on your radar at the time.
Unknown (09:42):
So strange is I had left that right, like I was, I
had been a punk andplayed in bands and,
well, in one band, not bands andbut a big band that, like was
really influential in. Creatingthat grunge, wow,
Todd McLaughlin (10:03):
yeah, very cool. David, I didn't know that.
That's amazing. That's awesome.
That's awesome.
Unknown (10:07):
Yeah, yeah. Like, I mean, it's kind of intense,
actually, but so, so anyway, butI left that and I went to
Evergreen State College inOlympia
and studied and got and and theni
(10:27):
i left with all that behind. Andthen when I came back to
Seattle, I was just completelynot part of any of it. Like, I
didn't even know nirvana oranything. Like, that's how kind
of out of the loop. I became onit.
Todd McLaughlin (10:42):
That's cool, man, that's awesome. Yeah, I
remember as a teenager, I lookedat Evergreen College, and that
was like the for me, seemed likethe Holy Grail of potential
schools to go to at that age.
Was it as cool as it seemed fromthe brochures? Yeah.
Unknown (11:02):
Well, it it changed.
But like, the from the 70s, orwhenever it started, it was
amazing. Got it Todd, like itwas based on, like that. No
program would ever repeat. Youknow, like, wow, yeah, and so,
and when, when I went there in86 is the My first year there,
(11:23):
it had these called independentstudies, where you could write
your own program, but, but itwas turning more and more just
kind of conventional, but it,but A lot of the original
teachers were still there, andit was amazing, like, and like,
(11:43):
I lived. So I lived, it's all onthe sound the campus. And I
lived across the Puget Sound.
So, you know, inland sea. So Ilived across the bay. So I would
kayak across the bay, stash thekayak in the woods and go up to
(12:05):
school. Yeah? Like, I mean,whoa,
Todd McLaughlin (12:08):
yes, yeah, a different era, right? Like,
just,
Unknown (12:13):
and I did my own independent studies, and I was
part of the Native Americanstudies. They had a big, strong
representation there. And, yeah,it was totally amazing, really
on I had the wheel, weirdesteducation, and I left kind of
(12:37):
bummed in a way, like, honestly,like, or because I, because it
was so unconventional, like it Iget, I got a BA degree, but I
studied like Zen meditation andmacrobiotic cooking and kayak
building and like all kinds ofreally intense, weird stuff,
(13:01):
which is so awesome, you know,looking back on it, but it
certainly didn't like, prepareme for grad school.
Todd McLaughlin (13:10):
The workforce was like, Yeah, okay, well,
yeah, we don't need any canoesbuilt right now. So, oh my gosh,
that's classic man. Well, atwhat point did you take your
first trip to Mysore?
Unknown (13:24):
So when it was in Marie's studio that I saw video,
video of patavi Joyce teachingthat Tom Sewell, he's a shot
those like film Black and Whitesessions with Richard Freeman
and Tim and Chuck and Monty andlike, just, whoa. Like I, I saw
(13:49):
one of those videos from herstudio, and I was just like,
blown away by the whole thing.
Like, I never seen yoga likethat, like with the vinyasa and
just the, I mean, wow, like,yes, because that was before
even vinyasa yoga was popular.
Really, what 1993 is when, whenI saw that and and then right
(14:16):
after I saw that video, I saw itwas in the Yoga Journal. I
actually got Joy got it for me,the old copy the ad of him. He
was coming to America, pattabiJoyce in 1993 and so I decided
I'm going to go there and learnash Tonga from him to LA. So
that's, that's what I did. I'venever done it before. Just
(14:39):
walked into the lead primarywith the Master,
Todd McLaughlin (14:43):
yes, yes.
Thoughts and feelings about whatthat experience was like. Did
it? Did it blow your mind?
Unknown (14:51):
Verified me like I couldn't. I just can't tell you
it was
Todd McLaughlin (14:55):
how nervous you were going in. Yeah, yeah,
Unknown (14:59):
you're gonna. I tell you, I mean, it's a weird
response to it, but what I endedup doing is I, I fasted on fruit
for the whole month. Garrett, Idon't know why that was my
response. Like, that's how Ithought it would be more
powerful or something. But yeah,and how
Todd McLaughlin (15:20):
would that leave you feeling like, in
relation to having energy to dosuch a demand,
Unknown (15:25):
so much energy, it was, I practiced twice a day, and I
camped up in Topanga Canyon forthe month, and I I went. I went,
Yeah, I would practice in theafternoon in the after the
class. So it had no problem withthe energy.
Todd McLaughlin (15:47):
Amazing. Yeah, so wasn't it? That's, that's
classic. So on top of themorning session, you go home so
amped and do it again, and thenwake up the next morning and go
with him. And that is a goodexample of having a lot of
energy.
Unknown (16:01):
And then, and then, like,
it was, I mean, I was just, Iwas just sort of blown away by
the whole thing. I'd never Iknew no Sanskrit. I knew
nothing, you know, and he'sgoing to a come inhale today. I
knew. I didn't know the series.
I didn't really prepare inadvance or anything. So I was
(16:21):
just, like, just scrambling toto understand and like, I was
also, I was from a skateboarderand stuff. So I was really
strong, like I did freestyleskateboarding handstands and all
kinds of stuff and and so I wasstrong, but really stiff. And so
(16:45):
like in Buddh Konasana, I wasjust super stiff. And there was
one guy in the class that hewould get, he knew patavi Joyce,
he would get the Kona Hasanadjustment every day, and he was
really stiff, and he would,like, turn purple. And I was,
like, terrified. And then hetwice came to me one time, one
(17:10):
day, and he he put one hand onone knee and his foot on the
other and his hand on my head,and he pushed me little bit
forward, not not a lot, just alittle bit and, and I was just
like, it was so weird this, it'ssomething cosmic happened in
(17:32):
that moment. I sort of likenedit. I might be idealizing it or
I, but that funny story ofKrishna, when he he eats dirt,
and then his mother, his friendsgo tell him, oh, Krishna ate
dirt. And his mother's like,what you naughty boy, you're
(17:54):
eating dirt. And he go, he goes,let me she wants to see. Open
your mouth. Let me see, right?
And she she opens his mouth, andshe see, she looks and she sees,
like the whole cosmos insidethere. Yeah, that was like this
weird moment of, like this wholeperspective change. I was like,
saw this huge expanse open orsomething, you know, and then
(18:18):
one minute, then he just pulledme right back up and he goes, No
fearing you go, amazing to allthat fear. You know, amazing.
Todd McLaughlin (18:28):
You know, that's really cool to hear
David, because I remember whenmy wife and I were going, we
took our first primary seriesclass with him in Mysore, and I
had heard so many horror storiesabout that one particular pose,
about people being pushed soseverely deep into it that they
couldn't get up off of the floorafter so the process of actually
(18:53):
landing in the room, I wascompletely terrified. So I'm
actually really happy to hearyou had a Krishna mouth opening
experience or that he and I justgot to ask you, like, what is
your take on the fish storiesthat we've heard about these
mega, aggressive adjustments andthen the reality of it, and your
(19:17):
take on it in The currentsituation we're in in the modern
world.
Unknown (19:23):
Yeah, yeah. Well, I mean, I, well, I've built my
everything I do around kind ofsafety and protection and
working in steps and I mean,I've come a long way since then
in terms of how I view it andwhat I think and what and
(19:47):
really, when it comes down toit, I it's just, well, there's a
lot to say. But one thing is,it's just those intensive.
Adjustments. Even if they'regood, they're there, they
there's risk. They're kind ofhigh risk. And I'm not I
(20:10):
personally, as a person and as astudent like my own practitioner
and as a teacher, I'm notwilling to go it to do that,
take those risks, even if itmeans put maybe, like less
opening, or something like that,like I just feels risky. And
when I was 28 or whatever, whenI met pattavi Joyce and I went
(20:34):
to Mysore, right after the i Hetold me, come, you come to
Mysore. And I came and, youknow, I never had any bad
adjustment from him and so andit also, but he, he and I, to
(20:57):
me, he worked with people, veryindividually. And, I mean, I
know he worked with me likethat, the spirit that, that
adjustment that he gave me in LAwas exactly how he worked with
me all along, like late, hestayed, he didn't, he wouldn't.
He actually wouldn't help me.
That's it was more that, thatlike he, he wouldn't, he
(21:21):
wouldn't help me until I stoppedcare, caring about whether he
would help me when, like, yeah,so he did. He did not push me.
He, in fact,
Todd McLaughlin (21:38):
yeah, I see, I see what you're saying, Yeah.
Unknown (21:42):
And I'm not saying that he didn't push other people or
like, I'm not trying todiscredit or anything, or
anything like that.
But, and I, I don't thinkWell, I think that the evolution
of it, there's well, thingsevolve, hopefully naturally and
wholesomely, or or that there isthat potential for them to do,
(22:08):
for things to that to happenwith things and and we, Yeah,
we're part of a big experiment,and so we want to, I mean to me,
I try to honor what's good aboutthe past and what what I what
happened to me, what I observed,and what people Just the and
(22:32):
take what's good and moveforward intelligently. And but,
and also me, I've spent, youknow, a lot of time with myself,
practicing and exploring anddiscovering huge,
(23:04):
territories of Ashtanga andHatha Yoga that
pattabi Joyce didn't teach meand,
and those are valid to me. Thoseare important and, and I've and
I've taken the time to, like,write them down and put, put
(23:26):
them in videos and share and andI bet somebody else, then the
next people are going to go,they're going to have their new
place to Take it. And this isthe natural thing.
Todd McLaughlin (23:40):
And so, good answer,
Unknown (23:49):
bad adjustments, and that there's definitely people
that got hurt and still, nowit's happening, people getting
bad adjustments, and
Todd McLaughlin (23:59):
yes, that are so why? Why do you you know?
Maybe because I saw a recentpost you did on Instagram where
you reference the yoga fascista,and I loved how. Okay, so the
big question about progressingone's practice and then hitting
(24:19):
a plateau where it feels likeI'm not progressing. And so you,
you made you put attention onthe stanza line within that text
that mentioned that there arelimits, because maybe as like
you and I coming into yoga fromthe from the that, that zone of
mine, where you were when youwere younger, go on Padmasana.
(24:41):
Whoa, look at that yoga, right?
I want to be able to do that.
And so, you know, there's thisfervor or excitement to or maybe
this idea that there, if Ipractice yoga, I'll go into a
realm of limitless potential.
And then I see pictures ofpeople doing. Really extreme
stuff, and I think, well, if Ijust work hard enough, I'll
(25:02):
eventually one day be just likethem. And I love the way that
you were addressing yourthoughts on this. Could you
elaborate a little bit that forus here, and about how if we do
acknowledge that there arelimits, then how we could set up
different parameters forunderstanding what the
definition of success is in ayoga practice.
Unknown (25:24):
Yeah, I mean, you, you're saying it so nicely. I
mean, it's, and it's, it's areally unpopular idea right now,
and that, that the idea that,yeah, there's limits, right? I
always want to think you coulddo anything and
(25:44):
and it's just, it's well, it Iwish I could call up this, I
might be able to find it on myphone. But joy shared with me
this thing about this,this guy, he's talking about how
dangerous and like, harmful itis when there's, like,
(26:07):
everything's based onachievement, and it's, it's
like, limitless what you canachieve. And like, how that
that's actually what he'sarguing in this thing, is that
that is what leads to, like,depression and like, really
feeling lost and because. Andthat book, see the yoga of
(26:27):
ashishta, it looks like it'stelling you that because it
says, it says things like, likeyou hear like you see on
Instagram all the time, like itsays when failure occurs. You
can be seen as slackness, as ofthe effort, right? So, so that
means that it's when you fail,it's just because you didn't try
(26:49):
hard enough. But then in, Ithink, in that post that you're
talking about in that same text,it says, but a wise person knows
what is and is not possiblethrough self effort, you see.
And this, to me, this is so bigand and I'm sorry, this can.
This could be one of the rabbitholes that we I'd like
Todd McLaughlin (27:15):
it. This is the hole I wanted you to go down,
though. So thank you.
Unknown (27:19):
I want to tell, I'll try to tell you the brief
summary of this story, but, butto me, this says it, it really
encapsulates it. Becausebasically, we all, we don't, we
can't, not everything's open tous. But something very good is
open to us, some somethingwithin these limits, this, you
(27:40):
know, limited person, that weare with our foibles and
weaknesses, and you knoweverything, all that whole
combination of imperfect, bentme is perfect for something. And
when you would discover thatsomething, and you go for it and
go into it, well, then that,then you're it's limitless in a
(28:01):
way. It brings, it gives youthat feeling of limitlessness,
but, but you have to kind ofembrace that you're shunted
somewhere and you're there isall kinds of limits imposed on
you in order to open up intowhat the possibilities for
Todd McLaughlin (28:23):
you are, right?
Yes, yes. Well, Said, I thinkthat's so important you're
right, like when you said aboutdepression, that is a really
good point, because if we'rethinking everything's limitless,
and then clearly we're notacknowledging the limits that we
do face, that's a depressingreality, because then I go, Oh,
shoot, how come I'm not doingit. And so they
Unknown (28:47):
live in this terrible, terrible feeling about yourself.
Todd McLaughlin (28:55):
Yeah, I know, man, well, that's cool,
Unknown (28:58):
yeah. Can I just tell these people, yes,
please. Yeah, keep going. I'lltry to I won't stretch it out in
this story that it's a NativeAmerican story about the
trickster, and this is aarchetypal character that's so
important, and it's about theTrickster is like the coyote,
right? And kind of the outcast,or the person that's different,
(29:24):
and he does things differently,and he's, he's thought of this
lazy, and he's always imitatingothers, and he's trying to get
find the easy way to do stuff,or if, and if he sees like
grizzly bear doing something,he'll go, oh, I can do that. And
then he, like, does some reallylame attempt at trying to do it,
(29:46):
and it completely fails and getshim in trouble. And he's and
he's always bumbling and gettingin trouble. And that's partly
why people love stories abouthim, because he's just the then.
Perfect One, just bumbling hisway through right and, and, and
so in this story, the chief ofall the beings calls them
(30:09):
together, and he says, Well,there's a new type of being
coming. And he's saying that thehumanity is coming, and it's all
the animals that and he says,So, so we, so we need to have,
like, official jobs and names.
And so tomorrow, at dawn, I'mgoing to, we're going to
assemble the first person, firstcome, first serve, gather in
(30:32):
front of my, my lodge here, andwe'll start giving off the names
and the the jobs. And so first,immediately, Coyote is like, oh,
right, I'm done with beingCoyote. I'm going to be, I'm
going to be first in line, andI'm going to become grizzly
bear, you know, the king of theearth and, and then, or maybe
(30:54):
it'll be salmon, King of thewaters, or, or maybe Eagle,
something grand, you know,something better than damn
trickster, always getting intotrouble all over the place. And
his friends all know he's whathe's like, boasting and stuff.
So they're all kind of rollingtheir eyes. So he goes home to
the and his wife also knows whathe's like, so she's kind of, oh,
(31:16):
boy, here we go again. And sohe's like, Okay, I'm gonna He
even tells her, I'm going toleave her, because I'm leaving
this life behind. I'm going tobecome grizzly bear or something
important in this world. And sohe says, stoke up the fire. I'm
staying up all night, so I'll befirst in line. So they do it,
they stoke up the fire. And youknow, it goes okay until
(31:38):
midnight or something. But thenhe starts, like, falling asleep,
and he so he pins toothpicks inhis eyes to try to stay awake,
right? And next thing he knows,it's like, wakes up, and it's
the sun's high in the sky. So hegoes running to that Lodge, and
it's no one's there but thechief. And he's like, I want
(32:01):
grizzly bear. He's like, Dudethat was taken the first thing
at dawn. Salmon, no, it's gone.
And he goes. He says, Yeah, infact, all the jobs and names are
gone except yours. Nobody wantedyours. And and then he but then
he says, But, look, man, look, Imean, because coyotes is totally
(32:24):
bummed, right? And he goes, butunderstand, I made you sleep in.
I cast a spell on you becauseyou, this is a perfect job for
you, the trickster. And like,and it's an honorable place,
like, because the trickster,well, one is a beloved figure,
but also is a boundary breaker,like he did. He's not just lazy,
(32:45):
he also just doesn't followrules because, because they're
rules, and he's able to thinkcreatively and like anyway, like
he's super valuable aspect. Ofthings just like you and me are.
And we so we have the we'resaddled with these selves, these
(33:06):
imperfect, you know, we alwayswish we were this or that, or
could do that or be like thatperson, and but, and, but we're
perfect, just as we are.
Todd McLaughlin (33:19):
And so, yeah, oh, man, great story. Love it.
And then so you and I are on ourmats practicing. We have the
revelation that I am good righthere. This is great. I'm bending
this far, and I'm dealing withthis ache, pain in a way where
(33:41):
I'm trying not to make it worse.
And so then my next question is,why do we keep practicing? Why
do we keep getting on there anddoing it? And that's I'm just
curious, like, what? What youranswer to that? Why is? Well, I
know it's a hard question. I
Unknown (34:07):
know it's not, it's not actually hard. It's just it's
big, like so many things,
Todd McLaughlin (34:16):
but I asked myself this question often.
That's why I love to hear whatother you know, long term
practitioners take are becauseyou keep showing up, you know,
you keep delivering, you keepteaching you. You have passion.
And I'm just curious, then, howdo you keep kindling that
passion and and surely you youcome across some moments where
(34:40):
the words dwindling a little,and I'm just, I just want to
hear a little bit about howyou're able to stay so
motivated. Yeah.
Unknown (35:35):
So the thing is, is okay?
Know I don't, I mean, I don'talways stay motivated, and I
want to just tell you that thank
Todd McLaughlin (35:48):
you. I appreciate that. That's
Unknown (35:52):
actually I think, like I've, I've been dealing with
this impasse in myself, like areally weird one. Now, Todd,
sorry, is this not wanting tochange anything about myself?
Todd McLaughlin (36:19):
Yeah, yeah.
It's
Unknown (36:20):
like, what if you asked me to change one bit? I'm just,
no, I don't want to change onething, you know, and it's it,
it's a terrible it, no, it'sfunny. It's both sort of
delightful in a way. But it's,it's unrealistic, or it's a
(36:45):
recipe for suffering. Basically,is what it is, and, and, but,
but it can cut like, it can comeon you. It can this thing of
like, where we feel so pushed upagainst obstacles, or pressure
(37:05):
of our life that one change orone is just, it's all we just
almost can't face it, you know,like, see, because what? But
what yoga really does ask fromyou is that it, it does ask you
to keep sacrificing, okay, so tokeep and yes, like yes, and to
(37:31):
really live life well, you haveto keep sacrificing and and it
can't be the sacrifice that youmade yesterday. It really won't
suffice for today. It it has tobe new and and if you don't,
life is really, really is goingto trample you in every way,
(37:54):
like your health will go down,met, physical, mental. Like the
only chance that I see is tokeep sacrificing, to keep like
doing, dedicating myself somehowmore to like to these. I'm
(38:15):
talking about basic things liketo the to the daily habits that
we have, because this is wherewe get stuck, right, and, and,
and here's the here's thepunchline. Practice helps you
get there and stay there or orget to that place where, when
(38:35):
you let the practice go, thenyou become much more complacent,
much more insulated, much morelike protecting what you have,
and then that only increasesyour struggle and your your your
suffering. Oh,
Todd McLaughlin (38:55):
man, thank you so much for that answer. That's
a really good answer, becausethat's yeah, I needed to hear
that, yeah.
Unknown (39:06):
And then there's one other thing about it, and I just
have to be honest that, youknow, like, I, I'm, like
everybody, I have resistance topractice, but in the moment of
practicing, there's, I havegreat joy, and it happened from
the first time I did sunsalutations on the beach. And it
(39:27):
still happens. And, but I also Iam like Coyote, I do it exactly
the way I want to, and I reallydon't. And, and because I do it
the way I want to, I thinkthat's part of why there I have
(39:48):
joy when I do it. It's like, ifa rule does not appeal to me, I
don't follow it and and I'mwilling to accept the
consequences of for myself likeand, you know, because some of
the lot of rules are made byimportant people that made them
(40:08):
for good reasons. But I still,I, when I step out there and do
my thing, I take responsibility,and then one of my conditions is
that I wanted I'm going to dowhat makes me happy and what, so
that when I do get on the mat,it's, it's a joyous experience.
(40:29):
It's, it's something I want toreturn to. And so it's not like
I'm brutalizing myself orbeating myself up or and and I
possibly could be more just.
Excellent about it, because Ihave that idea, but, but one
thing is for sure, I do it, Iget I practice, and I don't do
(40:49):
advanced series and things atthis point, but, but I don't
care.
Todd McLaughlin (40:59):
Yes, yes. You know, that makes me think I'll
refrain from utilizing anynames. But there's a current
scandal awareness going on inthe shtanga community, and then
I saw somebody else again, I'llrefrain from using any names
(41:22):
saying, you know, here's apicture of my certificate from
being authorized back in longtime ago from patapi Joyce, and
I'm resending it now because Ifeel like I want to just do it
my way and But do it honestly,and let the honesty of the
(41:44):
experience be the force that I'mattempting to uphold, or the
morality that I attempt touphold. And I guess I would just
to you know, based on everythingthat you've already said, I'm
curious if you feel like becauseyou have taken the path of, I'm
(42:05):
going to do it my way and stillbe respectful at the same time.
Do you feel like now when you'rewitnessing these sort of
earthquakes within a movement oran organization or a group of
people grateful that you havelived by that truth in the sense
(42:26):
that now you stand with yourbody of work that you've
accumulated over a long periodof time that probably came
harder than if you did toe theline. Did that make sense? What
I said, was a little too outthere, or is that? Is that
Unknown (42:44):
you're gonna make me cry? No, yeah. I mean, probably
came harder. Is avery mild way of putting it. I
have been, you know, battlingagainst, I don't know if that's
that. Maybe that's a littledramatic.
Todd McLaughlin (43:05):
I understand what you mean, though I I've
been on,
Unknown (43:09):
blacklisted, removed off the thing, been shunned for,
you know, using steps andcustomizing props, all of these
things like and, and Todd, it'stiring, like to to because, and
(43:29):
it's interesting, because, likeme, I love Ashtanga. You
understand, I love the structureof it, and that's, that's why I
didn't leave it, because to me,like I don't I'm not interested
in my making my own style. Ilove ashtonga. I think the
(43:50):
structure is like genius and Iand so so I don't leave, but I'm
also not accepted. And so then,so that's what I've been walking
for.
You know now it's like at least15 years of my teaching, and
(44:14):
it's damn challenge, hell yeah,yes, and
Todd McLaughlin (44:18):
yes, yes, yes, and
Unknown (44:20):
I'm very sorry when you know the what used to these
bigger like, because bigger likereal harm, you know, that's of
an extreme nature surfaces, butthen, but there's also, it's,
there's a baseline unsoundnessto the To wait, to the way it's
(44:43):
being taught that still doesn'tgo addressed and, and what I can
say is, yes, I though I feelterrible for the the people that
are get harmed and and obviouslythat all that suffering is
awful, but I do feel verythankful for that, for how what
(45:08):
I've stood for and how I'veproceeded, I definitely yeah,
like, it's like, Thank God Idon't carry that on my
conscience. Like, I mean, I, andI did teach traditional way for
a long time, and so I have thatto on my conscience, but not
(45:31):
what I've built going forward.
Like, I've sincerely tried myvery hard, you know, my very,
very best to interpret. DashTonga in a safe and
inclusive way that still gets atthe what's
(45:53):
there, the gold that's there?
Todd McLaughlin (45:56):
Yes, well, you do a great job of it. Your
videos are excellent. You know,on that note, your Austin at
kitchen Series offers really indepth tutorials. So everyone
listening, please go follow. Imean, we can find you on all the
social media channels. You'revery savvy with the online
(46:17):
stuff. YouTube is a great placeto go, Instagram, any one of
those. But you know, you offerreally in depth tutorials. And
I'm curious what inspired you tocreate that, the that platform,
so to speak, the US in akitchen, and how has it evolved
over time?
Unknown (46:33):
Yeah, well, all of it was happened by
accident, actually, and it'sbeen quite a I've done it for a
lot of years. Actually, it's oneof the very first Ashtanga
teachers to to do social media.
And my partner and joy, she's afilmmaker, and the way we
(46:58):
started it was just that we wentto a filmmaker seminar in New
York, whatever it was, many,many years ago. And, and it was
for, it was social media, forfilm, you know, making films,
and, but she was like, we coulddo this for your yoga and, and
(47:20):
so, so that's how we started it,it's just, and then she's a film
mate, right? So, so we had theequipment and stuff, and so just
started trying it and and thenit was a little bit based on Tim
Miller, how, when he used to dothe workshop, the asana doctor,
(47:41):
yes, no, there would be thattroubleshooting thing in the
afternoon. Yes, yeah. Was kindof based it like that. I was
trying to, that was my idea wasto try to, you know, kind of
troubleshoot like that. And, andI also had this blog, and I I
(48:02):
wrote really long, just ramblingpieces and but I've also kept
journals. I'm really, actually,it's, it's that that aspect of
things is really interesting tome. And I I don't know if it's
(48:28):
good or bad. I mean, I don'tknow what what to think of it,
honestly, but it's like, I'm a Ifeel like the part of me wishes
I was an artist, like a moreformally, you know, like of some
musician or painter or somethinglike that, you know, and, and,
(48:53):
but that I got the coyote job ofyoga teacher and, and so part of
embracing it, though, is likemaking these things like that.
To me, the these books andvideos and things, those are
(49:13):
they're like artistic creations.
To me that they're like, that'show I feel, that like when I'm
right, when I when I make abook, I feel like that's a work
of art I've created, you know?
Todd McLaughlin (49:25):
Well, that's, it's amazing, David, because
I've, you know, I've, I've seenyour work for a while, and I've
always been so, you know, like,when you think, wow, they must
have something extra special,because I don't think I would be
able to do that. And so now thatI'm trying to copy you, so to
speak, like, like, maybe notlike exactly, but, but like, I
(49:49):
emulate that you've put so muchwork into it over such a long
period of time that now thatI've, I'm continuing on the
track as well. And I'm, I'mjust, you know, I thank you for
for being consistent over such along period of time, because
it's really motivating. It'sinspirational, you know, and I
(50:09):
don't know, I just think thatI'm glad you, you did put all
that time in. I'm curious, like,you know, when you in terms of,
like, production of a video, areyou because you know how you can
geek out on this stuff sointensely, you know, like every
single edit could take forhowever long, and you could,
like you could, you could scrubover every little detail. I'm
just curious, just though, aboutyour thought process, process on
(50:31):
your creation aspect are, do youtry to not go over? I want to
show you something, please,please. I'm always trying to.
I'm always trying to like interms of these podcasts, my goal
is to hit record and do not makeany edits unless, for some
reason, I give every guest. Andthis holds true for you. If you
(50:54):
go to bed tonight and you wakeup in the morning go, oh, boy, I
should not have said that. Ifyou come to me and say, Please,
I'd like for you to cut that Ihonor that request, so I never
published something that someoneI interviewed doesn't want me to
publish. But my goal is like hitrecord, go all the way through
and don't touch it. Don't try toclean it, don't try to polish it
and shine it. And I would justlike to know your thoughts as a
(51:16):
personally trying to you know,learn more what, what are your
what's your workflow, yourmental workflow process. Yeah,
I've
Unknown (51:25):
had to learn. It's been a really challenging, honestly,
like so this, this book. This isone of my
Todd McLaughlin (51:34):
I gotta get it big one. I'll read it out to the
people that are listening andnot watching. It's the stronger
yoga, vinyasa. What's thesubtext at the
Unknown (51:42):
bottom? Movement, breath and posture in the
primary series? Cool, yeah, and
Todd McLaughlin (51:48):
by you, by you, yes.
Unknown (51:52):
It took me 15 years to write it nice, all right?
And so, and I'm notexaggerating, like I believe
you. But the thing is, is somuch, like, so much of see this,
what's it's a cool topic,actually, because, you know,
like, it's funny how I'm it'shard to face or think, or, like,
(52:18):
just in a basic way, not in aweird way, but that I'm 63 like,
like, I don't think I think ofmyself as younger or something,
somehow, but like, often I'm theoldest person in the room with
in the yoga rooms. You know,which would I mean, it's like,
whoa, wow.
And, and I tell you, though,like, how did this happen?
(52:41):
Yeah, how this happened. Iexactly, and, and it's, it's so
cool in a way, because thenthere's people, like, 30 years
younger than me, right? And, andit like, I just tell you that,
(53:01):
like those.
I was just showing you one sec.
Todd McLaughlin (53:05):
Yes, please, yes, please.
For those, you listen. The pauseis because David's going to go
grab Yeah, so another prop Ihave. Oh, cool. Wait, wait, this
book is called hatha yoga. Oh,this is your journal,
Unknown (53:27):
the Hatha Hatha Yoga mandala,
Todd McLaughlin (53:31):
holy circle.
Wait, now, did you just, is thisa published book, or is this
just a one off? It's a journal,dude. I love the artwork on the
cover too. It looks so like,yeah, for real.
Unknown (53:43):
I have 100
Todd McLaughlin (53:46):
just collecting and sketching and writing, and
that's so cool.
Unknown (53:53):
Man, yeah, and like,
Todd McLaughlin (53:56):
so I guess then the question of, like, how do
you figure out what to put inyour book that you work on for
15 years is not as easy as aquestion as one would think,
right, what do I focus on?
What's Yeah,
Unknown (54:07):
what I want to what is amazing to me, though, is that
that when at first, it doesn'tneed to be organized, or,
Todd McLaughlin (54:19):
yeah, I see what you mean. Just,
Unknown (54:22):
just start doing it, start collecting it. Like,
slowly, slowly the Yeah, thevaluable stuff starts to rise,
or you see it, or the themes andlike, and the skill and these
different variables that go intolike, expression and service,
(54:46):
like you're helping, becausethat's part, that's what it's
all kind of. That's what I loveabout teaching yoga, and that's
what I I love about that coyotestory, because, like it to me,
the that I teach yoga, it's away of giving this really unique
and powerful, more powerful thanwhat I would have come up with
(55:07):
on my own, like if I would havewant to be a surfer or whatever,
a musician or something,somehow, that this combination
is, is it really works. And sothere's, there's both this
creativity aspect, but thenthere's also that it you share
it and it benefits people,right? And and so what I would
(55:32):
say is to just do it and keepdoing it, and then it will the
like. Like how to edit it willbecome more and more clear.
Todd McLaughlin (55:46):
Yes, great advice. Yeah. David man, I
appreciate that. I'm stoked tohear that I have just I want to
mention your website is Davidgrieg.com that's in the link. I
think from there on yourwebsite, all your social handles
are easy. People can click andfind that, but you're on IG,
(56:07):
David Greig yoga YouTube atDavid Grieg, you have Ashtanga
revolution course for primaryseries. You have, very soon
coming out, a second seriescourse. You also
Unknown (56:21):
do those two, they're not on my website, but they're
but if you're interested inthose, they're excellent big
video courses on primary andsecond series, then You can
contact me on just Instagram orthrough my website, and ask me,
(56:45):
and I will, I will steer youtowards those but, or I don't
know if they're on, I'm prettysure I don't know if they're on
there. They they either are oraren't. I'm not sure, honestly,
but
Todd McLaughlin (56:55):
that's cool.
You responded my email veryquickly. So I know anyone who
emails you, you'll do the samefor them, which we appreciate,
we appreciate. And then you alsodo personalized coaching one on
one, and you, and I believe youhave a certification training
coming out. Out of those thingsthat I just mentioned, is there
something you want to talk
Unknown (57:15):
about, just to let you know, I do do this one to one
personalized coaching, and thatI'm really enjoying, and it's
small group and people that I'mdoing it with, but if you're
interested in that, you coulddirect message me, and then I'm
doing a six month kind ofteacher training. That's it's
(57:36):
like, I'm running it in like,June to November and and it's
part, it's a it's hard, it's abig, kind of big thing, because
I'm decided that I'm going to dothat as I will. And yes,
Todd McLaughlin (57:53):
I hear you, and I think what you're referencing,
the fact that it's a big thing,is because for so many years, a
lot of people that were in theauthorized, certified world were
told, Don't ever do that. Sothere's a little bit of a hill
to jump in relation to taking onthat authority to say, I'm going
to do it. Is that what you'rereferencing when you say, yeah.
And the thing
Unknown (58:11):
is, is that I teach according to these seven
principles, Asana principles,and me, I find them to be so
valuable and and this is how Iteach teachers, is to use these
principles and so and I make,and I I give, there's these
(58:33):
areas of like that. There's thecore Ashtanga element, elements
of the vinyasa and knowing, likereally the Ashtanga structure.
But then there's, there's averbal language that is absent
from traditional Ashtanga that Iemphasize, like, really being
(58:54):
able to put language to what, beable to articulate, how to do
these poses, transitions andpostures, and then also the
steps, and giving steps andmodifications and how to use
props and customize things. Soso I feel like I'm offering
(59:16):
something really needed,actually, that there's just not
enough training. There's notenough knowledge of the kind of
knowledge that I'm that I thinkis important for an Ashtanga
teacher to have. There's notenough of that out there. And so
(59:36):
I'm, I'm providing it, and it's,yeah, it's, it's, it's a, it's a
new that's kind of, it's a leapfor me because, because, again,
like I'm, I'm an artist atheart, and I, you know, and so
to to teach is one thing, andthen to teach teachers, that's
(59:57):
even another thing, But, butI've done, I've started doing
the first one. It's, it'll befinished in November, and I love
it. And the people are great,and it's super and so I feel
very positive.
Todd McLaughlin (01:00:14):
That's awesome.
David, well, you made, you mademention of how change can be
difficult, but it seems likeyou're recognizing the amount of
growth potential that comes withdoing something different and
new, like this. Yeah,potentially has That's awesome,
man. Well, I I'm so inspired.
I'm stoked to have thisopportunity. Thank you. I have
(01:00:34):
one more question for you tofinish up with, if that's okay
with you, time wise, I Okay,cool. I don't. I want to be, you
know, respectful of. Your timelooking ahead. What legacy do
you hope to leave in the worldof yoga?
Unknown (01:00:48):
Yeah, it's so funny because, like, I watched like,
Sadhguru, yeah, yeah. I lovehim. I like him. He's always
like, I don't know they're he'smore they're more involved than
than I am, because, like, he'slike, why should I care about
that? You know, like, I'll begone and, and I don't know why,
(01:01:11):
but it i, it does matter to meand, and it's, it's actually,
like, motivating me to dothings, and I know that that's
ultimately futile. I mean, like,because even even if things
like, who knows, the world couldblow up, you know, today, but
(01:01:34):
and then, but it'll also, atsome point, even in a natural
course of things, it won't evenbe here. And so those things are
funny to chase, right? But atthe same time i i Like that's
part I don't know. That's partof why I write the books. Is
because I I want people to knowwhat I thought about hatha yoga,
(01:02:01):
and I want them to benefit fromit, and I want what I discovered
to inspire people to go discoverfor themselves and and it, I
mean, it's A big thing to me,like, really important.
(01:02:23):
And it it motivates me,and it's also in a way, like,
because I've it's been a realuphill battle
through my life, like, you know,it's not I would, do you
understand how much I would liketo be in the center of the
(01:02:45):
lineage and accepted. And youknow, part of it, and like
it, it's a cost, a lot to go, togo off on my own and
but part of it, then, part ofwhat makes it easier to bear is
(01:03:07):
that I do. I'm trying to leavethis legacy behind, of some of
something, of somethingimportant that I brought to it
and bring, and have brought,and so,
Todd McLaughlin (01:03:19):
yes, yeah. Well said, David. Well said, well,
thank you so much for sharingyour time and energy with me and
the listener. We really, wereally appreciate it.
Unknown (01:03:35):
I really been you're I've enjoyed your your being
with you a lot. Thank you,David, very much. I saw you're
Todd McLaughlin (01:03:42):
going to be in Phuket in 2026 I love Thailand.
I I practice Thai massage andtrained over in Thailand. And
when I saw you were doing that,I thought, oh, man, that would
be so great. I wish, I wish Icould somehow get away from my
studio for long and just be a,be a student in Thailand. But I
really love your style. I likethe artist, the artistic
(01:04:04):
component that you bring in, andI really appreciate going
against the grain and taking theDIY punk approach and but also
the time you put in is solid.
It's not, I know you might makejoke about being the coyote, but
maybe part of the coyotesjourney is having more
(01:04:25):
resilience over a longer periodof time, because of the ability
to jump around and have some funduring Well, thank you, David. I
really appreciate it, and I hopeto meet you in person, in
future.
Unknown (01:04:44):
Thank you, Todd.
Todd McLaughlin (01:04:52):
Native yoga.
Todd cast is produced by myself.
The theme music is dreamed up byBryce Allen. If you like this
show, let me know if there'sroom for improvement, I want to
hear that too. We are curious toknow what you think and what you
want more of what I can improve.
And if you have ideas for futureguests or topics, please send us
(01:05:12):
your thoughts to info at Nativeyoga center. You can find us at
Native yoga center.com and hey,if you did like this episode,
share it with your friends. Rateit and review and join us next
time you.
Unknown (01:05:41):
Oh.
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