Storytime With Pictures (03/31/09)

Hey Family,

I have a new class!!!
When I was in Goa, I started working with students who came to the Shakti Bhakti house
on building the body to hold the shakti. We would practice drills to strengthen and stabil-
ize the corporal vessel so that when the juice starts flowin' through, the body's built to
weather the storm.
Now I wanna share that with you!!!
I'll be doing a 6 week Yoga Boot Camp series starting this Saturday at the end of Bay St.
in Santa Monica.
Class is in the morning, 8:30-10am, every Saturday starting April 4th.
If you're into having fun, strengthening your body, killin' hangovers and meeting awesome
new people, THIS IS YOUR CLASS. If you like being depressed, weak and sickly, then you
definitely don't wanna come. Choice is yours. ;)

YOGA BOOT CAMP
By Donation
Saturdays 8:30-10am
Colonade Park,
Bay St. and Ocean Walk
(south of Pico)
Santa Monica, CA

And now, STORY TIME...

Once upon a time a young man named Mateo traveled to a far-off land in search of new
knowledge, a lover like no other, adventure, and most of all, himself.
He found a house full of foreigners, and dusty roads that bore no name. He found cheap
whiskey in rupee-driven marketplaces and temples adorned with naked devis. He found
heartache and hope and soap on a rope in showers that only sold cold water.
And after a handful of trials and tribulations, broke and broken, he found himself. Stripped
of all concepts of right or wrong or the promises of lovesongs, he saw himself clearly, and
he cried. Lord, how he cried.
These tears washed away his illusions and left him illumined, and carried him home, to
rejoin the strange angels of Southern California, USA.
Ahhh, sweet surrenderous salvation. Here we go.

Come out on April 5th to hear the tales and see the images of an Indian journey of service
and sadhana. Sit in sangha with a crew of yogis and storytellers and relive the mystery
of several months abroad.
We'll practice asana first, then roll out the food (potluck, of course) and start the slideshow.
We'll be graced with live music from Pauline and Akadahmah, Yours Truly, and other special
guests.
Come play with the tribe.

YOGA POTLUCK
FREE
April 5th, 6:30 class, 8:pm party
Yoga Glo (www.yogaglo.com)
1800 Berkeley St
Santa Monica 90404
BYOMat
Bring a dish, as well!

That's it for now. More to come, so keep your peepers peeled.

Oh! Remember, if you don't dig this, don't do it. If you don't want me to tell you what's goin' on
in the marvelous world of Mateo, lemme know, and I'll end your playful email stream.

Happy Sacred Fool's Day!

Lovin' you!!!
Mateo


--
Love, Burn, Laugh and Learn...and above all else, Know Thyself.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
:::::::::
www.getselfcentered.com
www.myspace.com/teofriends
www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com

Yoga Love (03/24/09)

Hey My Friend,

I have SO MUCH I want to say...it's been a long minute, after all. :)

The first thing would be that yes, I am back in LA. More on that later.

The second and final (in this email) is that I'll be teaching this Saturday
at The Church in Ocean Park, which is in Santa Monica at Hill and Third,
Just a couple blocks inland from Main St.

I'm subbing this class for a friend, and will be focusing on Shakti Kundalini
Yoga, which is a form based in Bihar and Sri Vidya Tantra. It's a bit different
than probably any other yoga form you've studied, and is quite effective in
moving juice (my word for chi, qi, kundalini, prana, or energy :).

Three reasons you should come to this class:
1. You'll get high and grounded at the same time, and start your Saturday
the way you've always wanted but maybe never knew 'til now.
2. The sunlight through the stained glass makes for a beautiful morning and
is even more flattering to your complexion than candlelight.
3. You haven't seen me in close to three months, and I'm a really fun teacher,
AND I'm gonna go eat afterwards and you can come with and hang out in
shanti-space.

Yoga Love
by Donation
Saturday, March 28
10am-Noon
Church in Ocean Park
235 Hill St, Santa Monica, CA 90405

I promise I'll write more in the coming few. I just had to let you know asap about
this Saturday.

I look forward to seeing you soon!

LOVE
Mateo


--
Love, Burn, Laugh and Learn...and above all else, Know Thyself.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
:::::::::
www.getselfcentered.com
www.myspace.com/teofriends
www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com

Shakti Bhaktification (02/12/09)

Namaste Ji,

I thought at the outset I'd be rockin' emails all along these dusty roads and
divinely aligned adventures, then I made an important discovery. You can only
reflect on an experience once it's happened. When you're in it, there's no talk-
ing about it. There's just L I V I N.
So I apologize for taking a long minute to send you some words of wonder from
the mother on the other side. I've been in it, to say the least. ;)

The Shakti Bhakti house has been rockin' solid for the last few weeks. It took
us about a month to get it up and runnin', and get word out to the town about
what we're up to. We got a write up in the local paper a couple weeks back, and
that's when it really popped. We've been teaching classes to locals and travelers
alike, and for the last two weeks we've been teaching asana and pranayama to
slum kids from Mapusa. They come every day after school, 20 deep, bussed to
the halls of our house by the beautiful peeps at Children Walking Tall.
Working with kids is SO MUCH FUN!!! They're like a chorus of monkeys who do
whatever you tell them to, often in the most entertaining way possible. They've been
loving the asana practice and snacks, and the freedom to run around like banshees
then collapse into relaxation and connect to breath. They're all so cute. I'm gonna
have to do some more volunteer work with little ones when I get back to the states.
It's far too rewarding to ignore. :)

We've also been exploring different aspects and approaches to yogic practice, really
honing in on the basics, and blowin' out from there. It's been fun to play with the var-
ious ways to communicate this language of self-love. I'm looking forward to sharing
all this beauty with you.
I'll be putting together a workshop on energetic awareness and movement in the body
when I return. We'll break down some science, and then dive into some practices,
leaving each of us with a greater ability to move powerfully using subtlety.
Lemme know if you're interested, and keep your eyes peeled for more details.

Psalm and I and a large crew from Shakti Bhakti will be leaving in just a couple of
days to make our way to Andrapradesh and Vizag. There we'll visit with Guruji and
spend some time at Devipuram, a tantric ashram that I've been hearing about for
almost a year now. I'm really excited to spend some time plugged in at the temples.
This trip, though short, has been INTENSE, and it'll be nice to digest in silence before
the slam of Los Angeles.
Whole truth be told, I don't really wanna go home. There's a huge part of my heart that
calls for return, but I'm still burnin' and learnin' and lovin' this land. All good things...,
right? Right.
I see now that I was made for this...traveling, exploring, adventuring. I don't know why
Spirit took so long to send me across the world, or why I took so long to respond to the
call...regardless, it was divinely timed and laid out in the only way possible, and I've re-
discovered quintessential sides of myself. For this, and so much more, I am eternally
grateful. New chapter begun.

I could write much more, but time is limited, on your side and mine. When I find afford-
able wireless, I'll upload some pictures from the trip. Communication is more difficult
than the modern age would make it seem. Cakarega...what to do? It's India.

Breathe, be well, drink clean water, and know that I love you.

Namaste
Mateoji


--
Love, Burn, Laugh and Learn...and above all else, Know Thyself.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
:::::::::
www.getselfcentered.com
www.myspace.com/teofriends
www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=1932693

Indian Insanity (01/04/09)

Namaste, Friend.

I invest in loss, that I may learn the ways of the masters. I cook with abandon and insanity,
that stability may taste a little different. I don't know a damn thing about anything, and that's
alright with me.
I'm here, let's do this.

I'm just starting to figure out what the hell I'm doing here. The last few days have felt like
frustrated vacation. Surrender is the daily practice. I don't know where anything is, I don't know
anyone outside of my small small circle, and the interplay with those I know is as confusing
and enlightening as ever...what a rollercoaster, this Goan adventure.

But don't think it's not fun. I'm actually surprised at how easy it is to move in the madness that
is India. Dirty, tired, jetlagged and sweaty, but still solid with my wits about me.

I got lost the first day here...I overslept my stop on a 12 hour train ride from Mumbai. Went an
hour further down the tracks at 10pm, and dropped phat cash on a cab to Vagator. Well worth
it...but then I didn't have anyone's phone numbers (details, details), and ended up going to some
ridiculous rave on a hilltop, paying U.S. prices for some dusty dancing to bring in the New Year,
then slept for about an hour on the beach before finding my way to a well-lit porch behind some-
one's gate to read for a few hours before dawn. The South-African tribesman who owned the house
came out just after sunrise and let me use his phone and computer, cooked me breakfast and
brewed the most delicious black rose tea...the people here are amazing. Try to find that in L.A.
I paid him for his kindness and made my way to my Goan home, just down the road from where I
sat.
Time moves a little different, sleep comes and goes, and every moment is a chance to dance with
the divine. This is why I'm here. The service work is just a practice to make way for the unfoldment
of my soul.

In other news, I know that you might need some beautiful healin' while I'm out east, so I've got some
resources for ya.
To start with, my dear brother Eric B. has started a community acupuncture clinic in Venice. AMA-
ZING WORK.
In his words:
"Treatments take place in our community-loft, a tranquil, open room furnished with eight comfortable
recliners. In this setting, a collective healing energy is created, enhancing the effects of each treat-
ment. Much like the synergy of a good yoga class, Community Acupuncture treatments leave you
feeling connected, rejuvenated, inspired, and deeply supported. Cost of treatment is on a sliding scale
from $25-$50. You decide what you can pay. No questions asked."
Sweet, huh? Check it out online for more info: http://urbanremedy.org/

Start there.
If you would like some specific referrals for private bodywork, yoga, or meditation, email me and I'll
help you the best of my abilities.

Okay, time to jump. Time's up at the internet cafe.
I love you, and I'll break you off some more goodness in a few.

Bless Up
Mateo



--
Love, Burn, Laugh and Learn...and above all else, Know Thyself.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
:::::::::
www.getselfcentered.com
www.myspace.com/teofriends
www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=1932693

AfroFunke Tonight (12/18/08)

There comes a time in the life of every man woman and child when the precipice
has been reached. When the mountain of stresses of everyday livin' becomes in-
surmountable, and the only thing left to do is dig down deep and blow it out. When
we realize that the only way to live is in celebration, hand in hand in jubilatory joy.
That day has come, my friend. This day is that day. Thursday, December 18, 2008.

Whether you're working for the man, working for yourself, or working for the Almighty,
it's time to turn your eyes to the skies and let out a cry, for you are ALIVE. And
within this life is ever-expanding good and infinite possibility. Yes.
Go ahead! Frighten your neighbors. Make the man sitting next to you think you've
finally lost your everlovin'. They will stand in awe and envy of a life lived so fully. Then
maybe they'll catch the fever and start howlin' at the moon, too. :)

And when day is done, when you've got a smile permanently plastered to your face &
many tales of strange and wonderful experiences, make your way to Santa Monica,
and meet me at the corner of 5th and Arizona...
Zanzibar...
For you see, amigo, tonight is the last AfroFunke of the year, and DJ J.Sole will be pul-
lin' out all the stops to bring us the very best in Afro-Cuban beats beautifully blended
with '70s funk and soul, masterfully crafted on the ones and twos.
This is a night to sweat. This is a night to remember. This is a night to shake it all off
as we pull into Christmas and carry through the New Year.

How do you want to live?

I'd look forward to seeing you out on the floor.

In Love
Mateo


--
Love, Burn, Laugh and Learn...and above all else, Know Thyself.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
:::::::::
www.getselfcentered.com
www.myspace.com/teofriends
www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=1932693

it's 4:27 on day 27 of my journey into the heart of my own insecurity. i'm gettin' sick of sayin' that the mother is having her way with me, so today i choose to say "i'm feelin' it." my gut rumbles in my second bout with dysentary...don't drink the water...or do, and let it move through you... ;)
i have been slackin' on my commitment to keep a running journal, as i've not had daily access to a computer, and i've given myself 40,000 projects while i'm here...of course. is this not the pattern i've sought to smash in the last 365 days? i came out with an ipod to record songs, a computer to record thoughts, a sketchbook to record colors, a body to record love, and a desire to chase down the unattainable...the love of a madwoman.
it's all happening, of course, but in its own stunted disjointed time. i'm teaching classes in the midst of the mix, and of course interacting with those at the house...an eclectic array of international travellers called to our halls by our hearts and the promise of something extraordinary.
we got sauce.
and i've got the runs.
love

Another Day in Vagator

I awoke with the sun this morning to meditate. Solid start to the day, rising this way, lit candles, incense, offerings, and sat. Alternate nostril breathing, Agne Sar Kria, Uttiana Bandha, then stillness...silence...
Except of course for the Indian pop blaring from down the hall...Gregory, our house man was mopping the floors while dancing to his tunes...beautiful. I sat through it. Found my center within the midst of the distraction.
Then I laid down to read and promptly fell back to sleep. I woke up a little while later, read some more, and went back to sleep...this pattern continued until 1:45 in the afternoon...I don't know when was the last time I've done something so indulgent. Sleeping until well after mid day...
And now I sit at the Menali Guest House, formulating the plot for the rest of the day that I've got.
Food is definitely in order...and I suppose more meditation.
When we don't know what to do, practice.
Answers come.
Love