Tim Feldmann - The Joys and the Challenges of Consistent Yoga Practice

Tim Feldmann, co-founder of Miami Yoga Garage, discusses his journey into yoga and the challenges and joys of being a traveling yoga teacher. He reflects on the ups and downs of consistent practice and the importance of finding balance between effort and ease. Tim also shares his thoughts on social media and the role it plays in his professional life. He emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and finding joy in the practice, regardless of physical abilities. Tim's unique perspective and sense of humor make for an engaging and insightful conversation.

Visit Tim on his website: https://timfeldmann.com/
Follow him on IG: https://www.instagram.com/timfeldmannyoga/
And on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MrTimFeldmann

Tim explains:

• Consistency in yoga practice is important, but the questions and challenges may change over time.
• The concept of achievement in yoga is often tied to self-worth, but it's important to find balance and enjoy the practice.

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Transcript

Todd McLaughlin: 0:33

Welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast. So happy you are here. My goal with this channel is to bring inspirational speakers to the mic in the field of yoga, massage, bodywork and beyond. Follow us @nativeyoga, and check us out at nativeyogacenter.com. All right, let's begin. Well, yeah, Welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast! Today I'm so happy to have you here. This is Tim Feldman. He's a returning guest. He was here back on episode 17. About three and a half years ago, and he's coming back! He's coming to native yoga center to teach a weekend of Ashtanga Yoga workshops on October 28, and 29th of 2023, you can go to nativeyogacenter.com. To register, make sure you sign up early to save yourself a space. We have some Mysore classes and some primary Series Workshops. So excited to have Tim back. He's such a good friend and just been a real great mentor over the years. And I'm just so happy to have this opportunity to discuss and chat with him about yoga, Ashtanga Yoga and a few other yoga subjects that I hope you enjoy. Please remember to check him out on his website, timfeldman.com. From there, you're gonna see all his social media handles. And you know, there's not a lot more I can say other than I have a lot of respect for Tim and he's just been a really great friend over the years and so, so happy to have him back here and hope you enjoy this and, and send us a message to let us know what you think. Alright, let's begin. Oh, wow, I am so excited to have this opportunity to have Tim Feldman on the podcast today. Tim, how are you doing my friend?

Tim Feldmann: 2:28

Hey, Todd. I'm doing really good. Thank you for having me. Come in here today. I think it's second time, isn't it?

Todd McLaughlin: 2:34

It's the second time you know, I wanted to make sure I had the right date. The last time we did this. You were you were episode number 17. And it was on July 10 of 2023 years ago. And can you can you look back every week. That's why I said yes. I know. Right? I mean, remember, remember July of 2020. What does that bring up for you just remembering three years ago, like wasn't that crazy? Or what?

Tim Feldmann: 3:03

sane man saying we were like I was watching the shopping the paper shopping bags that came from Instacart watching them was so it was like what if

Todd McLaughlin: 3:18

you went that far with it then? Yeah. No,

Tim Feldmann: 3:21

I was like Kinos are laughing at me for two sets of hazmat suits, and like classes and stuff like that, because I saw this video of someone from China that was sick and her husband was taking care of her and I was like, whom? Maybe we need this kind of thing. You know, but yeah, the but then we know we got the vaccination and that for me personal just change that around from being like some fear. Like if a fair bit of fear to Okay, now I might get a heavy flow.

Todd McLaughlin: 3:55

Yeah. And how many times have you had COVID Now in total?

Tim Feldmann: 4:01

One, I think after being vaccinated, yeah. And lightly, so yeah, yeah. And you

Todd McLaughlin: 4:09

twice since since having getting vaccinated. Yeah. So um, yeah, we made it. We survived. And we're still here, and we're still kicking. And I'm so excited to have this chance to have you speak. You know, it's funny because, um, you're going to be coming in teaching Ashtanga Yoga workshops here at Native yoga center on October 28, and 29th. And I'm really thrilled to have you come back. I feel so lucky to have had a chance to meet you around about 17 or so years ago and start practicing with you in Keno back then when you guys first opened up my new life center down and South Beach. And, you know, to have you come back again, feels like to have an old friend come back. It's so exciting. I remember how nervous I was the first time I hosted You know, I was like, oh, man, I'm having Tim come in and, and then so when I was telling a lot of the students I said, Okay, you guys, I'm so excited and film is coming. And some of them said, Wait, is that? Is that your teacher from California? And I said, No, that's big Tim, this is little Tim. And I had to kind of differentiate. So you're kind of riding off of the coattails of big Tim, do. Do you feel like that's an easy coattail to ride? I mean, is that feel a little pressure that everyone thinks that you're big Tim, now coming to visit native yoga center?

Tim Feldmann: 5:34

Well, you know, I think both of you is our holding big team in our hearts, like someone very truly, like a gym. And so many people are right, unfortunately, we don't get to practice with him anymore with big Tim anymore. He has. He's now and you know, a hermit, somewhat out in South California. So we don't. We don't get to see him no more. Yeah. But I've learned a lot from him. No doubt about it.

Todd McLaughlin: 6:07

Yeah, I know, he we had so many great sessions with him down at Miami Life Center, coming to visiting and teaching there. That was those were some pretty exciting events.

Tim Feldmann: 6:17

Yeah. And you also had him come up to you a couple of times, right? We did.

Todd McLaughlin: 6:21

We were able to, like, pick them up from Miami and bring them up here type of thing and, and utilize the fact that he was over in this neck of the woods. Yeah, that's cool, Tim. Well, man, I have so many questions for you. I don't want to assume that everybody listening already knows who you are. So there's a chance that somebody listening has never gotten a chance to meet you. So I'm going to ask you a couple of basic questions first, just so they can get some of the the basics the understanding the foundation. Where were you born, Tim?

Tim Feldmann: 6:56

I was born in Denmark, in Europe, north of Europe, Copenhagen, just outside Copenhagen in a suburb called Loyola. I'm from Loyola, Copenhagen, Denmark, but I've been here in Miami for about 1617 years.

Todd McLaughlin: 7:09

And your first language you learned, obviously is Danish. And then what was the next language that you learned?

Tim Feldmann: 7:17

I think that was English. Yeah. And when I went to school, back in those, we started in fifth grade learning English. In seventh grade, we learned to speak German. And then we French was optional, optional. And I chose not to learn that. Yeah.

Todd McLaughlin: 7:35

Very cool. And then, when you were a student, let's not go past high school. What type of activities were you most enthralled with?

Tim Feldmann: 7:47

When I was about five, six years old, my parents they bought a house at the coast of Denmark. And my mom insisted that me and, and my brother, we learned to swim. So she put us in swimming classes from hours around, I think six years old. And I really liked it. So I picked it up and started to be a competitive swimmer from I think the year after or something nice and that for about 10 years.

Todd McLaughlin: 8:17

Oh, wow. So you really kind of pushed on the swimming front?

Tim Feldmann: 8:21

I liked it a lot. Yeah. My friends was like, why are you not coming to play some social bald spots with us? Why are you lying? Yeah. Who? Hidden the water for like hours a day?

Todd McLaughlin: 8:31

Yeah. Yeah. That's cool. And and where did you go to? Did you do any higher education studies post high school?

Tim Feldmann: 8:42

Yes, I went to the University in Amsterdam, actually, in Holland, I went to the art school. It's under the universities in Europe. And I took a four year bachelor in dance and choreography Nice. At that time, there was no school in Denmark for contemporary dance only for classical dance. So I went there, to Amsterdam to to do that.

Todd McLaughlin: 9:08

So when you were swimming, then I'm guessing at some point, you took a dance class before you enrolled in this four year college program and dance or was it something that like, I might as well become a dancer and go to school and become a dancer? How did that play out?

Tim Feldmann: 9:24

So good question, man. It's like I always liked you know, on a Friday night, I love to go disco dancing, you know, so I thought that was just super fun to just dance in clubs and, and then around 16 I think I started to take some physical theater classes and workshops around and pretty quickly realized that I prefer to do the physical part of it and not the theater part of it. And that led me into starting to take more dance classes. As I started. My first dance class was something called contact improv, which is a partner type of moving together improvised. And that very quickly led me into more technical dancing. And that's when I decided to go to school.

Todd McLaughlin: 10:10

Very cool. where or when did yoga first come in to your sphere?

Tim Feldmann: 10:19

So lo and behold, when I was a young dancer, I went to New York to try my luck. And when I was there in the first month or two, a friend of mine invited me to teach and participate in a festival in Venezuela in Caracas debates and Brano he had a festival there, and I went down there and I had a big accident, some friends took me into the mountains, and I didn't know what I was doing. But I had lots of confidence. So I slid over rich and fell down this rocks for like, six, seven stories. Yeah, no, it sounds crazy. And then die of some reason. And they broke a lot of bones and scratched up my body a lot and went through a couple of surgeries. My knees to this day are very kind of fragile. I had to be very careful when I had to make sure like, strengthen them and stuff like this all the time. And so two years after I was rehabbing for recuperating, for about two years, I moved back to New York, and I took up forming again. And a friend of mine took me to the Jeeva Mukti yoga center on Second Avenue. And the my body just loved it. And I started to exchange my daily morning routine, I used to go to a dance class every day before rehearsal. So instead of doing that, I would go to Jeevan Mukti. And take what's called the Open Class, which was various Langer based. And I did that for about five years. Meanwhile, I had moved back to Denmark. So I was continuing my job and moved to yoga. And then I came by Alina Malay, in Europe. And he was teaching a workshop in Ashtanga Yoga there. And I liked it better. And I continued with Ashtanga Yoga. So that was 1999. And I've been doing it since

Todd McLaughlin: 12:15

very cool. 9099 or at 2023 24 years. It's my math correct. It's got to be some something like that. 24 years of Ashtanga Yoga, maybe a year or two before that. So do you feel like you're at the veteran stage?

Tim Feldmann: 12:36

Well, certainly people look at me as if I am. I don't know if I'm better. I'm 57. You know, the my 57 year old body is very different than my 47 and my 37 just sent me a photo from Mysore India in one of my first trips, practicing there with the top choice, I think from 2004 or something like that. And I was like, Damn, look at me look like I can do yoga.

Todd McLaughlin: 13:13

Isn't it's almost like a, it's like a, like a different person. Who is who is the person looking all skinny? And, you know, yes, you're the intercostals and maybe some serratus anterior bulging out and

Tim Feldmann: 13:30

yes, that's all the stuff that's bulging.

Todd McLaughlin: 13:34

Other stuff is bolting

Tim Feldmann: 13:36

stuff, like my belly in my lower back discs, and you know, things like

Todd McLaughlin: 13:42

yes, yes. And I a couple of other just housekeeping questions. When did you meet Keno? What year was that?

Tim Feldmann: 13:53

So can I be met in early 2000? I think 2002 in Alton, India, where I was practicing with Lena Mila, and she had been doing that for some years at that time. And she came down to LA where he was teaching every year and still is to this day, every winter. And we met there and that was the beginning of a 20 year relationship.

Todd McLaughlin: 14:18

Nice. That's cool. And then moving forward a little bit. You had Miami Life Center on South Beach for good 14 or so years before. Maybe longer 15 years that for now you guys are in Wynwood Miami, I believe with what the Miami yoga garage.

Tim Feldmann: 14:43

Yeah, so Miami Lifesaver we open 2006 on South Beach, and we close that down 2020 22 And during COVID We build a new space in Wynwood that we call my meal garage. And my meal garage garage is the location where my me Life Center is now to network from. And also HomeStars, Kinos HomeStars. Online platform is also in there.

Todd McLaughlin: 15:15

Nice. Awesome. That's amazing. That's amazing. I know, it's so fun following your guys's trajectory. And I feel like that gets us kind of caught up. I hope everyone listening if they've never met you before that gives like a good brief, very brief overview. And now on that No, one thing I've noticed like, well, you've been doing this for years, and I've watched your tour schedule. And I mean, you're traveling the world globally, all the time. Like every weekend, I see you're going to Europe, and then you hit multiple countries in Europe, and then you're here in the States, and you're hitting multiple cities in the States, and then you're back in India and just traveling. Can you just tell me a little bit about what that experience is like, and because you've been at it for so many years, I'd really love to hear like the ups and the downs, like the plus the pluses and the minuses or maybe it's all just bliss, the whole way through. But

Tim Feldmann: 16:24

you know, since I was about 1716 1718, I think have been a nomad. So even before I came into yoga, I was just living everywhere, nowhere traveling. Before I went to school in Holland, I traveled around Europe for a little bit of some occasions like and love to hitchhike. It was possible in those days. So they loved that. And didn't have any money for airplane tickets. If I was lucky, I could take a bus. But I thought buses were boring. So I prefer to hitchhike. And I thought that was like I was it was somewhat enriching experiences and you know, things like things like that. And then when I became a dancer, like, I went to school in Holland, and I danced with a company in Sydney, in New York, and in also in Denmark and in Paris and different places. And then when I started to do my own work, by now I have my network was more international than national. And my interest in dance was based more in dance, I was happening by the places in Denmark. So I would bring in collaborative partners to Denmark, and we would make work then they would travel around the world and show them this work. Super fun. So even before yoga, I was already on that, kind of on the road type track. So then I moved to Miami, and I started to teach every morning 6am down at the Sixth Street. And people came, you know, and sometimes, you know, Miami sorts of trends to replace so people will come to workshops from different places, because they weren't on vacation also. And when by that they said, Hey, would you want to come I have a yoga studio here? Would you want to come up there and then I started to do that. And then at some moment, I let go of the daily practice Long story short, and not daily practice David teaching at Miami yoga, at Miami Life Center. And I started to teach workshops instead. And I've been doing that since and I think that since what is that? 2011 or something like that? Yeah. And I kind of like it, you know, it's I think I'm a little bit of a restless soul. So, and I think that I'm I think I'm learning these years that I'm perhaps more introverted than I thought I was when I was younger. I think it's a common thing. Right. And there's something about traveling around by myself, which is almost like a little bit monkhood, you know, and just making wherever I am my home for the time I'm there. And connecting with whoever is in front of me with whatever got in that moment. Nice, which I enjoy. Yeah. And then, you know, I see a lot of new faces, but I also see a lot of old faces because luckily, people come back. Yeah, so I feel you know, it's like when we were taking class with big Tim You know, we would go as often as we could a couple times a year and see Tim here or in California or something like that. So in the same way people are coming to the workshops and like you and I, we know each other and I get back to some tea old friends like you teaching every now and then. So I'm on the road, mostly Friday to Sunday, and when I'm home Monday through Friday morning. Nice. Tone rhythm. Yeah, yeah. And then Monday's is my day off. I'm tired. Yeah. And then Tuesday is kind of home time. Yeah. So very cool. I like it.

Todd McLaughlin: 20:44

It's amazing, Tim, you're making it sound really easy. I mean, yeah, I think you make it sound easy. I feel like there was a time when I watched what you're doing. And I thought that looks amazing. That looks really fun. I want to try to do that. It's not as easy as you're making. Art? What's that?

Tim Feldmann: 21:12

In? Which way? What did you find it difficult?

Todd McLaughlin: 21:15

Good question. I guess, um, there's a, you need to have a certain amount of fame. To have enough people want to actually show up for you when you arrive somewhere? Would you? Would you do agree?

Tim Feldmann: 21:36

Pain is such a funny word. If you were me if I have fame, I am not sure. If I have fame, my wife, I think it's a bit of a celebrity in the yoga world. I think perhaps there is some kind of reputation that I have. What's that called? cultivated? Yeah. Over the years. And often it goes like, you know, I come up to your space, and you know, me, but your students perhaps doesn't know me. And then you say, Hey, this is not picked him. But it's little Tim. He's pretty fun, you know, I think you should come. So and in that way, like, evolves and evolves more and more, so I think I need not be very famous, I just need to hone hone in on my skill, make sure that my knowledge is sharp, perhaps, you know, at well founded. And I would say also approachable and willing to teach in a manner where there's space for whoever shows up. And there's space for exchange of views like, so I drank the Kool Aid. I think this yoga is pretty dang awesome. You know, I think it works. You know, like classic Raja Yoga, I think it works potentially yoga. I'm inspired by that. And that is my secret agenda. That is to go out and, and share that. And hopefully make everyone get a feeling for if you put in the work, how it can create a momentary and lasting witness? Yeah, for us.

Todd McLaughlin: 23:51

Yes. Good answer, Tim. I was thinking today when I was trying to formulate what to converse with you about, I guess, I have this feeling that one of the things I'm most grateful to for yoga practice is consistency, doing something daily, over a long period of time. And I'm curious, has your faith or consistency wavered much lately or do you feel like once you seep long enough in something and do something consistently long enough that the questioning is less the surrender and sticking to it seems easier? What are your thoughts regarding this?

Tim Feldmann: 24:46

I don't think the questioning is less. But I think that the question is the questioning changes, and it becomes more subtle. So for instance, my questioning rarely goes to M If yoga is good for me, and if this is going to work, or if I should change this, some part of the system should change my practice or things like that, that my question doesn't go there. If I have a pain in my knee, if I should practice or not, is that kind of questioning doesn't come up, I have full conviction that me getting on my mat is always good for me. There's many ways to get on the mat. That's a whole subject. Right. But so I think the question is not so much that I think the the questions that comes up is more the natural organic development of like aging, for instance, that like, okay, so I used to do this moment with ease, and now I can still do it, but it's more difficult. And should I do it everyday? That is more of a question and, and how do I take this thing that I know, and mold it into what feels healthy and profound? And a good vehicle for my personal growth as a human being? How do I mold this? According to the age that I have, in my body's capacity? Right now? Yeah, that is something you know. And right now, you know, I'm trying to figure out, why am I not doing that than that? Which I used to do every day? I can't quite figure it out. So am I lazy? Am I listening to my body? So sick signals? Am I getting old? Did I fall off? And as you go, just get back on? You know, things like that.

Todd McLaughlin: 27:00

Right? Yeah. Good insight. Yeah.

Tim Feldmann: 27:02

And it's a little bit difficult sometimes, because most of the people I'm around 10 years younger than me.

Todd McLaughlin: 27:09

Now, I want you to demonstrate, can you just show us Tim, can you just show us how to grab our ankles in the back, Ben.

Tim Feldmann: 27:17

But it's also then it's like, you know, like, to some degree to a large degree of field, we are the product product of the culture that we that we are around the people that we around the culture that we around. That influences so much. So when I'm around with people that are so much younger than me is like I have like I come that's my mirror. Yeah, something. Yeah. So I have to look, but so I'm looking for these days. It's very interesting. I'm looking to some of my old practice buddies, who is my age. And I'm like, Well, I have to kind of seek them out. Right. And that's trying to figure out what what the heck are they doing these days? And I think like comparatively to that I think, you, Your Honor. So that's interest, like and there's so many ways to go. Like I was just up in Finland and seeing my old friend friend, Frank cabas, who was ahead of me when I started to

Todd McLaughlin: 28:16

Oh, they're so cool, too. I just reached out to Frank, and he was open to being a guest on the podcast. When you said Finland. I thought, Oh, I wonder if it's going to be frank and you just threw his name out there. That's so cool. All right.

Tim Feldmann: 28:28

Try and cover you are going to love him. He is one of my favorite people on this planet. I had

Todd McLaughlin: 28:35

some I had someone recently Lhota subs de Do you know, lota subs that she's from Sweden. And and I asked her, I said, Who else should I ask? And she says, Oh, you got to talk to Frank. He's such a nice guy. He's so funny. She spoke so highly of them. That's so cool. Tim, I can't wait to meet him. Yeah. But I don't want to interrupt you. I don't want to rush you,

Tim Feldmann: 28:55

basically. So he's, he's, you know, he has three kids and a house and a job and stuff. He's teaching yoga. And he does primary series every day. And he does it like other people brush their teeth. Like he just does that every day. And he's able to do that kind of consistency. Yeah, I'm way more complicated mind. I need to like feel my solar zones and stuff like that. I don't know. Did I answer your question? Yeah.

Todd McLaughlin: 29:28

You did. No, no. I mean, you didn't answer my question, because I wanted to just find out, like, in your mind, like, what type of questions float around and I think that's a good answer.

Tim Feldmann: 29:41

Can I say one more thing? Yeah. So I got thinking about it a little bit in these terms. So when I started practicing, I started to try to figure out what I was supposed to do, you know, like, we just wanna and stuff. And where's this? I'm going and as soon as I figured out what I had to figure out how, so it's like, how do I get my armor? That's why weird place. You know, I've never heard of that before. So. So the one house was very intricately tied together. And then I think I practiced like that for maybe 10 years. And then I started to ask, Why am I doing this? Again, you know why so much? And I think I think that that, and that led me to philosophy, right, that led me into potentially, and that led me into the Gita. And that led me into all these obscure texts, like this one, which is an amazing text he put up

Todd McLaughlin: 30:32

there for a minute, those of you that are watching on YouTube tends, Holden is or those of you are listening and aren't watching on YouTube. They've done the sada

Tim Feldmann: 30:41

Dandasana. So this is paid. So I started to seek out some of the amazing, amazing capacities, that is in South Indian mind. So they have this college sense with college, and out of that college come some of the world's finest Sanskrit scholars, and traditional Indian professors, teachers, thinkers. And so this is a book that my teacher recommended. So I go there, and he told me potentially, and then he told me sanchia, and then he started to move into with data and all these kind of supportive texts that goes in and support the understanding of what it is potentially he's talking about. So he's so anyway, so I went into that, because I needed some fuel for practicing, I think, and I think I started to get deeper into it more subtle. And I felt it all worked. But I didn't know how and I was interested in how I think I have a type of analytical mind that requires that is, you know, somehow to have a faithful minus like, yeah, kind of mind. I don't have one of those. I'm like no one to know. Yeah. Yes. So that and then, so I went from what and how to why. And I think this day, I'm at that stage why I'm asking who's who's asking? Who am I? Who's asking? What part of me is asking, you know, is in the ego? Is it the intellectual entertainment part that is asking these questions just to fill my head up with something which removes the potential of boredom and loneliness and pain? Or am I genuinely benefiting from? Or is there some part of me deeper than that? That is genuinely benefiting from the activities that I load my day with? Or am I? Could I as well just have gone to the movies all day long?

Todd McLaughlin: 33:00

Yeah. Yeah. It's a good question.

Tim Feldmann: 33:02

It's a good question. I'm kind of, you know, get a little hold on some of those kids. So phrenic.

Todd McLaughlin: 33:09

Yeah, I think great question. That's a funny one, isn't it when you start to look at yourself and think I put so much importance on these specific routines that I repeat each day, not just yoga, but taking a nap at this time of the day reading a book at this time of the day, or I need to take my three mile walk today I need to. And so and you're kind of putting that like, I've got to do this because I gotta check it off the list because these activities are what are keeping me fed and fueled and healthy and happy and then starting to analyze that a little and going, huh? If I really, if I just laid down horizontal in bed all day long. But I think the answer kind of get it almost answers itself. Because then I think like, Well, how do I feel when I do that? Like if I actually lay in bed all day long and do none of those routines. It creates some sort of energetic feeling of like, I feel lazy, I feel lame. I feel like I'm not achieving anything. And but it's an interesting question, isn't it? Because like, why is it that I look at me? Why? Why is achievement so important? Like why? Why do we think achievement is so just because it feels good? What? How would you answer that question, Tim? Why do you think and achievement is important?

Tim Feldmann: 34:33

I think it has to do with our self worth. Right? And I think in the Western world, if we don't, and also in Asia, perhaps even more so. If there is not an achievement, we are valued less, almost, and I think but coming from north of Europe, which is this rich little butthole enclave of liberal values, you know, of humanity, humanistic values.

Todd McLaughlin: 35:02

I've heard that you ought

Tim Feldmann: 35:03

to be before you do. It's worth much further degree than I experienced in America.

Todd McLaughlin: 35:10

But can you repeat that? Can you repeat that you are allowed to be before you do

Tim Feldmann: 35:14

be allowed to just be allowed to just be or you are requested to do? Some

Todd McLaughlin: 35:20

something like that? It's interesting. Yeah.

Tim Feldmann: 35:23

And I think it's, I think it's because, like the there's been peace for about 1000 years of them. Plus, minus, but it's 1000 years ago, since we were biking. And I think there's some values that just came out of that. I don't know, I would like to think that we just got tired of fighting. Yeah. As, as a people as a culture. And also, there's just like, there's so much financial support in the system. So you can just, you know, we're here in America, if you don't, if you're not five, step ahead of your material circle, you might end up under a bridge tomorrow. In You know, that's scary. Right.

Todd McLaughlin: 36:16

That's a good point.

Tim Feldmann: 36:17

So we got to be doing much more here in America, but I think I naturally am out doing that my and many people in Northern Europe, and maybe that's why I'm over here. So

Todd McLaughlin: 36:29

Wow. That's a lot of insight. Tim, that's really interesting. I was wondering why you were here. You know, I thought Why does he want to try to keep up with the Miami pace? I mean, you don't get a chance to take a breath around. That's awesome. Tim.

Tim Feldmann: 36:51

I can't remember what you think I got sidetracked. Like, what was

Todd McLaughlin: 36:55

your question? No, no, no, we're right. We're right on track. No, I'll get I'll make sure you stay on on cue, if you get. You know, it's funny that the first thing that popped in my head, I saw a picture of you. And which by the way, I like, may correct me if I'm wrong. me asking you in the past, Tim, you know, what do you think about social media? And you're like, Yeah, you know, I don't know if I really want to put a whole bunch of time into it. And then lately, I don't know, I really like everything you're posting, I feel like you've found some type a little groove where you're getting a good honest, like, this is what I'm thinking about. This is what and and it's just and I love reading your posts, because they're written the way that you talk, which is like this really cool combination of like, English and a funky just kind of like it's like, totally unique, you know? And so you write the way you talk. So when I'm reading it, I hear your voice in my head saying it like as if it's using, and I don't know, it just seems like just just good, just good stuff you're putting out there these days. And so with that being said, I guess I'm Oh, man, now I lost my track. I had a good point to make something. So how are you feeling about your How are you feeling about what you're posting these days? Or is it is it feeling natural to or you have enough to work really hard at what you're doing right now with that?

Tim Feldmann: 38:27

Oh, no. So I think social media is, has like two sides. Some of it is a little bit fun. And some of it is making sure that I keep up with the Joneses, you know, like some that it's a professional platform. And that fame thing that you asked about earlier that I gotta make sure that my face is like, no, no, I'm still here. You know, there's got to be there's little this promote, promote promotional value to that platform, but I'm just not very good in keeping a professional attitude. Like my, I've had so many people amongst us my really knowledgeable and awesome wife that says here is how you should grow your Instagram. And then she gives me these great ideas and she's shows me how I'm not doing it. And she says it's a mess, Tim. And I say, and I try but it's not really working for me because I'm not interested enough in having a smooth, kind of on point. profile there. I need it would need to like take an Asana shot of myself a day and write every day. And that's just like days. Nothing comes out of me. Yeah, you know, yeah. Nothing happens in my head, or what happens in my head is not formulated into thoughts.

Todd McLaughlin: 40:11

Yeah, yeah.

Tim Feldmann: 40:13

That's great. He knows, like, sometimes she calls me and she's text me. And she says Asana photo I found three to stand on my head on something. Or something. So she helps me like, remind me that it's also professional platform. Yeah. But then when I have something a little bit something to say, I'll just try to formulate it and just put it there. Because I thought, so I'm very happy. You know, because I don't really have an idea if it's good or bad. So I'm very happy to hear it. Because I think you're great. I trust your your word. So if you'd like to read it, I'm like, yeah,

Todd McLaughlin: 40:59

yeah. Yeah, I think I think, stick with what you got going. The one I really enjoyed the other day was you were in Greece, and you were floating in the water. And there's a couple of really beautiful. I mean, what what I do and why I love following you on on there is because I mean, I'm like, man, now he's in Greece, look at those photos. And then you're like, oh, now I'm in Italy. And I'm like, holy cow looks amazing. So like you're visiting all these incredible places. And so I get to see the scenery, but you were in the water. And you were doing this really gentle, kind of like maybe touching my toes toward my head, but it wasn't like your toes were anywhere near head, but you're just in this nice floating in the water back then. And you said something to the effect of like, this is about the extent of my back bending these days. And I was like, right on Tim. That's how I'm feeling. Let me just float in the water and just like, and that that kind of makes me think like, couldn't that be just an ashtanga yoga practice for the day just to float in the water and move around a little bit? Or do you feel at odds with letting that be an Ashtanga practice? Like, how do you draw that line of? I am an astanga yoga practitioner, and today I'm just going to float?

Tim Feldmann: 42:11

Well, I think that if we like Ashtanga Yoga, we have to also like try to remember what Ashtanga we're talking about. We're talking about Pattabhi, Jois SIX series of kick ass Asana is that what we talked about? We talked about potential is to Great point. And so and I think that my personal interest is potentially Ashtanga. Jewel. the limbs of Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Turon, Tiana, smart he then that is the basis of what Pattabhi Jois was doing and that when we call it a standard today, it's because Norman Allen asked what kind of yoga is this and protype Jewish his answer was Yeah, ashtanga yoga as in yoga yoga, you know, classic yoga Raja Yoga. And then we just we have adopted that name somewhat. So, if as a Sarika as a spiritual practitioner to float around in the water is not enough. You know, I wish there was man. But you know, there is if I may just like quote, like one of our favorite small sutra siesta, sukham, asanam, strolling around, and what is Suka and that is half, half of it, and it's good and it must be there. And if we go in and practice to punish ourselves, and without any sense of enjoyment, besides in, I'm doing what my father told me to do. But not like personal, I'm here and doing it type of connection to self, then it's then when the half was last, there must be a delight in what we're doing. But having said that still comes before suka. And when I was there, like on that beautiful little cove in increase, lying in the in the water there, I just bend my knees and there was not much steel on that. So Stella is there to make us learn Stella is there to say come to this place, provoked challenge yourself in a way that makes you begin to experience how you think and how and the emotions that comes along with them. And the deeper kind of psychological matrix that we made of. And that very rarely comes when we having just an awesome time. We have an awesome time, we just hear one more beer and a pop song. And when we are challenging ourselves a little bit, we also in a positive manner, forcing ourselves provoking ourselves to think thoughts we otherwise would not have done. And I think that the juxtaposition of these two is what makes the yoga practice? Well, at least that's what Patanjali says. So you can hear again, I said earlier, I drank the Kool Aid, I think that it is profound that that needs to be there. So whereas I love to lie, at the nature of the water increase, I can call it yoga. Yeah, yeah, I understand. I understand. I have to yoga is a little more difficult than that. Yes, it's a little more complex than that.

Todd McLaughlin: 46:12

That's a good point. That's so interesting. I know, I remember coming across the philosophy from a Tibetan Buddhist teaching, that takes this sort of approach of you already are Samadhi Samadhi is already. So this trying to do yoga is not necessarily like you're already there. So So I often weigh these two concepts like what you're saying, and I see 100% What you're saying when you're just in this, like, one more beer and pop song mode. It's not necessarily addressing the challenge of like reality of humanity of existence.

Tim Feldmann: 46:57

Yes. And being a pop song is not going to lead us to a deeper insight. Yeah, it might lead us to an insight about how we want to live our life of how much we want to do that, and what we miss out on when we do that a lot. But there are more subtle ways of living than that, that gives us more opportunity. But I think what you're saying is really wonderful. They're like this state of Samadhi, the state of enlightenment, the state that like, hallelujah thing that is being promised somewhat to us in both Buddhism and in yoga in slightly different ways and results. I think I, I connect with it, I feel that I feel that that state is my true identity. And then my job is to find vehicles. Paths back to that. And not fuck it up so much. Yeah, all? Yeah, yeah. But you do you what do you would you say that you're sitting with that as a truth to you? Or do you feel that you're boxing with that? Or?

Todd McLaughlin: 48:26

Yeah, good point. I am. I mean, I think that the concept of that I'm already in a state of enlightenment, so there's no thing to achieve. Sounds really good. But if I check in with how I actually feel, often there's turmoil, and or this feeling that I have to achieve something I need to keep going like, so. I guess maybe just utilizing that as a meditative point, like, Okay, I'm going to sit and meditate and just focus on everything that I need is already here. So I, I do believe it's a good meditative point. But I also acknowledged that I often feel a struggle so to speak, in which case I see a little more to the side of what you're saying with the yoga towel on the stewardess who come, some ease some challenge, some ease some challenge and then finding some balance there. So yeah, I definitely think there's the potential for both to kind of be existing with each other at the same time, like I can slip a little over into the I'm just going to be in Greece and just kind of feel my body do a gentle bend and this is it. This is it. As far as I need to go. I found it and when I'm struggling, okay, let me get a routine going. You know, usually for me when I'm in a really deep struggle, it involves a little bit of depression involves a little bit of like feeling down and out. And I that's where I find getting on my yoga mat is so important to just get me out of my head and get me moving again and breathing and just having something that's solid and kind of already figured out. Today, I was thinking a little bit about like, like the practice.

Tim Feldmann: 50:21

matches, insert, please, please. So I think like all that stuff you're talking about from for me that that is not roses. And I do too, you know, it's not like you're not ready. It's not what I mean. Right? But like that is like no roses. That is what Patanjali call up innovation and all that stuff that comes from there. And that is all the self perpetuated, culturally instigated personally instigated on fortune that we ever laid so sticky to get rid of, you know, you're all under. And it's like, imagine that that was not there. Then what would be there? That will be a state where I'm pretty, pretty freakin happy. I'm enjoying myself. I'm easy on myself. And therefore I'm easy and other people. And I'm, you know, gonna go down to the donut shop and whether it's closed or open. I'm just gonna be chilled with that. You know, and any to that state? You know that I think that it is there. But it's all my stuff on top. That is. Yeah. But fortunately, all those stuff on top is like what potentially he called materials, snuff. You know, you it's possible to get rid of, but it's not easy. It's like weeding. Right. So. And I think that's, that's perhaps what I mean, when I say I buy into the idea 100% that enlightenment is there or that state of niceness? It is there. I just, it's my job to get back.

Todd McLaughlin: 52:18

Yeah, yeah.

Tim Feldmann: 52:20

Good point we were You were just seeing in your practice today.

Todd McLaughlin: 52:24

Oh, yeah. That the practice is like it's not an entity. It's not. It's not like the practices and a person. It's really doesn't have form, it doesn't have a shape. It just is this combination of movements with the body and the breath. And yet, how do I but it feels like it's something it feels like it's an event like an entity. Like if you like working with a new student today, first time coming in. And starting at Sun Salutation a. Right and it's like, just Alright, let's get started on Sun Salutation a Mysore style. Inhale, arms up, exhale full. And then and the the amount of work and effort needed to actually memorize those nine vinyasa is like, in as a teacher, we've been doing it for however many teen years and, and you kind of maybe let their mind go. How could this be so hard? It's a nice little movement. But it is it is it's challenging. It is hard. So and that's

Tim Feldmann: 53:36

Trini trainee. So difficult, right? Yeah,

Todd McLaughlin: 53:41

like three and a right to remember three those that movement? And yeah, that's such a classic one. And I guess I was just having this feeling that it's amazing to me how the yoga practice and then I'll go a little further and say the Ashtanga yoga practice of patottie Joyce, and or that lineage? It just feels like it's an entity. Even though if I try to put my finger on it, it doesn't exist. Does that make sense? Like it's like, is a Ashtanga Yoga Triangle Pose? I mean, I guess it is. It's one part of the whole thing, but it's just one little piece of this whole thing. But if I come out of triangle, it's not even there. It's not I don't know, I might be getting a little too far out there on this idea. But I was just having a moment of oh, man. No, nothing yet. Nothing yet. But yeah. If you

Tim Feldmann: 54:39

were doing your primary series, and you skip Triangle Pose, is it still Ashtanga Yoga? Is that what you mean? Kind of thing? Yeah.

Todd McLaughlin: 54:49

Yeah. Just like just trying to like, to me it just feels like it has a framework and it's very solid and real. And then sometimes it feels to me like it's non existent. And I'm somehow doing something that just is non existent? I don't I don't know how to put it into words.

Tim Feldmann: 55:08

I don't know. Yeah, I don't know if I understand you correctly. But what I'm what comes up for me is like the form. Right? It's like the bodies of form. And this, this primary series is a form. So we are. So if that's a material thing. So it is an entity in that manner. But we haven't done it enough on a good day or from moment to moment. Sometime sometimes that form is just a it's just instigates an experience, which is not about that form, but comes from that form. It's like, well, like you, we can go to real expensive restaurant or cheap restaurant, and then you can get this meal. And then you can momentarily when you put in too much, you're like, wow, and then something opens something. I don't know. Take a car ride. Yeah, yeah, you're driving, and you sit in the passenger seat, and you're like, look at all the cows out there. I don't know.

Todd McLaughlin: 56:20

I know, too. It's amazing. I mean, I love yoga. I had someone come in the other day and say, I said, Jim is coming. I'm so excited. I haven't seen you in a while. And I know you were here before when Tim came in the past, guess what he's coming again? The response was, I think I'm gonna have to really, I'd have to really, I don't know if I'm ready for that. I'd have to get into shape for it. And I said, Well, you and me both, because I'm a little nervous too, because I've been stuff. I've been struggling through a few physical challenges. And I said, but when I see Tim, I'm gonna say to him, and this is what I'm going through, I might need to have you be a little softer with me on some assists and that type of thing, just because I just really, I really just want to be careful. And I'm making some headway these days. And I just want to be really careful. And and I told her, he's going to totally understand that and he's going to honor that. And you don't have to worry at all about that, you know, and, and so I just want to share that with you. Because I I'm, I'm guessing you already know that because you feel the same thing. When you go practice with your teacher. I'm sure you have that apprehension that comes up that goes, Oh, I know, I can go in there thinking that I'm going to just be chilled. But when I get around the energy of the whole group, I'm just going to stop being chill. I'm going to bust out Chrono vasana because i i know i will i that's just who I am. I'm going to do it. I just and so can you reassure us that those of us that? Haven't? You know, maybe since pre COVID We haven't been in an Ashtanga workshop where we know what that energy is like. I mean, it's just amazing energy. I love it. But um, can you assure us that you're going to be gentle with us?

Tim Feldmann: 58:06

Absolutely not. We're going to jump back from the beginning. We're gonna do super Columbus and then to be powder and then Coronavirus, and then we go home. And if you can do it with something,

Todd McLaughlin: 58:17

I was only kidding myself in them then right? I'm just like, make just trying to get them to come and I just I should break the news to him right away and just be like, Dude, you're gonna get worked, you're gonna get worked when you walk in.

Tim Feldmann: 58:29

And whether you can do this awesome. And our team's gonna put you in it. No, you know, I I feel so much with that student. And I wish I could say that. I have progressed from there, but I haven't because I was in my so seeing shirt in my teacher shirt in December. And I haven't seen him for four years. Because, you know, that thing that came around the world with con con COVID What was the gold? COVID cool. Yeah, yeah. COVID Yes. So, and I was not in very good shape. And I walked into that room and I saw my old practice buddies, you know, and I was like, I'm supposed to be good at this. And I'm not good at this at the moment. I'm really rusty. But it was all my process. Shallot was there, he was super happy to see me. It seemed like you know, and I've been coming for 20 years and we know how this when like, it's like a it's been coming for 20 years. He must like something about me or some. No way was to see me right but and so it was on my trip, about not feeling that I was where I wanted to be. But he would come and work me happily every day and joke with me and enjoy that I was down this struggling, so I totally get that student there. But I really don't care if she can do capitalism or not. My job is to be there and work with everyone where they are, and find gold where we are. And if I may quote, Richard Freeman, I love this quote, he says, Blessed are the stiff. And I think what he means is that the ones who can do everything, they can also think about their shopping list, or after while they're doing their practice, and that is not what we're supposed to do. But when we are a little bit in trouble, when our mind gets challenged into focusing on the activity that we're involved in, is and that happens easier when we are stiff, when we are not in shape. When we're having an injury. When all that we we actually have an easier entry into the idea. That is the carrying principle of concentration, unifying the our mental capacity and our intellect, with our physical sensations, that that just comes easier when we are not enjoying it. It's sad, isn't it?

Todd McLaughlin: 1:01:38

At least we're laughing about the paradox, right? If you can, if we can find comedy and the tragedy if it's only tragedy. That would be nice. Yeah. So there's a little comedy. There's a little tragedy.

Tim Feldmann: 1:01:55

I love I can't remember who said it was it may be I can't remember one of those Greek Old Timers

Todd McLaughlin: 1:02:06

playdough. Socrates so great. I don't

Tim Feldmann: 1:02:13

think it was him. But so he says, you know, the human being is comical tragedy, or practical comedy. Yeah, I totally feel like that as a human being I feel I am this comical tragedy. We're like walking on legs. You know, every day, or tragical comedies like my heavy small obsessions that are so important for me, like you spoke about earlier. And I can see it's just so comical and so sad. It's like, yeah, God must be sitting there going, Hey, I gave him two arms and two legs and you know, fronted to eat carrots and look what he's done with it. Right? There's so much potential and look what he's doing down there.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:03:10

Calm, like comical and tragic at the same time. I asked him, man, I'm so thankful. And I, you know, I wanted to have this opportunity to chat with you again, just to get people pumped up and excited for your return to Juneau, but obviously, some of you listening aren't gonna maybe be able to fly to Juneau on the 28th of October. But But Tim is everywhere. I mean, you get around him. So even if you're, if you're listening in Greece, or you're listening in Finland, or you're listening in India, or that we could go on and on, you're gonna be there. You're coming

Tim Feldmann: 1:03:54

outside Detroit.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:03:57

The same is gonna switch from all this coming to Tim is coming. It's coming. He's coming. He's on his way. He's on his way. To tragedy and comedy. It's on it's on its way. All of it. But um, yes. Thank you, Tim. I'm so happy and I will how do we close this? What did we do to close this this session? Do we? Do we sign off? Do you say more? What was

Tim Feldmann: 1:04:25

said, you know, practice, practice, practice. All is coming. And in this case, it's Tim is coming. So better practice, practice.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:04:37

Because they'll go easy on you not while you're practicing. Yeah, yeah. Oh my gosh. All right. Well, I'm so happy that you're only an hour and a half away. I don't have to fly. You don't have to fly. It's an easy journey. Are you going to ride your motorcycle up or are you going to be a little safer and take four wheels?

Tim Feldmann: 1:04:56

I think I'll take four wheels four wheels claw cool. Good morning journey there. So I'm not all up. Yeah. All right.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:05:06

smart, smart. Yeah, I had somebody who is driving up and back from Miami on their motorbike, you know, two days into the two days in a row and I was like, Ooh. Oh, that's that takes some guts. You know, every time I drive from here I get since I hit Fort Lauderdale, right about 95 right but Fort Lauderdale. All of a sudden, it's like, you're in Miami baby like it's people are honking and people are swerving. It's like it's a whole nother thing down in Miami drive in these days. Yeah, yeah. I

Tim Feldmann: 1:05:34

think they say that that stretch there that Miami stretch of I 95 is the most dangerous most when most fatalities of all highways in Florida just that bit.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:05:46

I've heard that. I've heard that. Yeah, it's it's it's a serious like you got to be on your game. You got to navigate.

Tim Feldmann: 1:05:56

I look so much forward to coming. Yeah, it's such a pleasure to have this chat. I hope that we could have had this over coffee. I hope someone is gonna find it interesting. Maybe if they make a cup of coffee certainly could be more interesting. But yeah,

Todd McLaughlin: 1:06:13

maybe that will make us sound more interesting. And also, Tim Tamaris has to say hello, and we wish big love to you and Keno please send our regards and we will see you soon.

Tim Feldmann: 1:06:27

That sounds great. All right. Thank you. Chat. Thank you for having me. Thank you Tim.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:06:40

Native yoga Todd cast is produced by myself. The theme music is dreamed up by Bryce Allen. If you liked this show, let me know if there's room for improvement. I want to hear that too. We are curious to know what you think and what you want more of what I can improve. And if you have ideas for future guests or topics, please send us your thoughts to info at Native yoga center. You can find us at Native yoga center.com And hey, if you did like this episode, share it with your friends, rate it and review and join us next time well yeah,