Yoganometrics

Laughing Lotus of Anchorage

I'm teaching Ashtanga yoga. Yoga isn't a very popular thing in Alaska. The school I teach at opened last year and is the second yoga studio in Anchorage. I expect there will be a handful of other studios opened over the next few years as it gains popularity to catch up with other cities around the world. We see lots of tight, skiing-muscled legs. My own legs are getting pretty tight from the weekend skiing, but I suppose riding my bike in Australia did the same thing.

This week Svia and I launched a workshop that will run for 7 weeks on Wednesday evenings. It's basically a beginners Ashtanga class with a workshop feel. There are two of us teaching and assisting, we stop and look closer at poses, get the participants to ask questions, and we have the same group with us for 7 weeks. There's 23 people in the room which makes for a nicely full studio, and they'll get a chance to meet eachother over the weeks.

In Alaska it's .08

My house, Anchorage

Yes, it's true. Here in the big wild state even the legal driving blood-alcohol limit is big and wild. Although in two years here I have never been tested, and if they asked me to blow I would have the right to say no and to defend my god given right to freedom of breath. The cops aren't allowed to pull you over without a specific reason because that would be prejudice. "Random" breathaliser testing is a crime against civil rights in the USA. How ironic.

Avalanche Safety Training

Prospecters Mine Visitor's Centre, Hatcher Pass



This weekend I participated in a 3 day avalanche training course.




Lots of playing around outdoors, digging up rescue beacons, doing rescue scenarios, starting avalanches (the conditions are really unstable) remotely, and staying in safe distances, and then approaching the face where the avalanche had been and checking it out.



I know a lot more now than I did before about staying safe. I have been skiing with other people who know all about avalanche safety and keeping us in safe areas, but now I know more so I can start directing activities and being more independant.

January Weekends

Turnagain Pass, Alaska


In January it snowed and if you timed it right you would reach the top of the mountain when the sun shyly peaked out. In late January, when this piture was taken, there was a touch of warmth in this yellow glow. When we got to the bottom of the run and back to the car at 4pm, Ray's little thermometer read -20F. There was no sun shining.


This winter wonderland.

November Weekends

Tin Can, Turnagain


Getting back into the white fluffy stuff this month with our friends Teeny and Ray.

Between Homer and Seldovia

Katchemak Bay

My Birthday

A Lake in Talkeetna


The weekend before my birthday Mace visited from Fairbanks and brought a bottle of champange. Karen and Mike were in Talkeetna for Brendan's band, The Pilot Cracker Playboys' gig that night. At 10am we borrowed an enormous canoe and hit the lake, surrounded by glorious golden autumn leaves. We drank a toast to being one year older.

Fall Harvest

Copper River Reds

Inside the Moulon

Writer's Workshop

11th to the 17th August 2007, McCarthy

The Road to McCarthy

To Seldovia Again

Proof

It's Summer
Peas and Zucchini


Chamomile, flat leaf parsley, lettuce


Cherry tomato