Kurt's Corner 2009

APY Health Blog

If you've ever stepped foot into one of my yoga classes, you will hear me say, "Health is a choice. Happiness a discipline. I truly believe and live this statement, striving to be a living example of what that means for my son. Lao Tzu challenges us to teach by quiet example...I am working on the quiet part :)

In pursuit of sharing everything I have learned about making the choice to be healthy and building the daily discipline of happiness, I am proud to offer you APYHealth.com. There you will find regularly updated information and challenges to improve your life, as well as nutritional products and tips that I use everyday.

I want to hear from you, so please check out the first set of thoughts and challenges from the APY HEALTH Blog listed here, and be sure to subscribe to future posts!

Acupuncture & Allergies

If you are tired of living with allergies, then cure them! Not treat them -- make them go away, forever! Here is my story of allergies and the solution I found:

"If you can do that, I'll believe anything!" Those were my exact words to the calm man standing before me. You really have to know our acupuncturist, Roger Stainbrook to know how calm a man can be. At the time I stated that challenge, I had known Roger for many years and he had opened my eyes to many things. That particular Saturday morning my eyes were red and itching and I couldn't stop sneezing. I had come from a friend's house that had two cats and I had been allergic all my life. Roger had just told me that he could eliminate my allergy. Again I had known him to do many amazing things, however I still couldn't accept that he could change a condition I had since I was a young man who had to be picked up early from slumber parties when cats were present.

He DID. And I am open to believe anything these days. It took four short acupuncture sessions and that was over seven years ago. I still am no longer allergic to cats. It amazes me. As I often say in class, this is the only body we have our entire life and many spend more time and money taking care of their car than they do themselves. We seem to get stuck in our own labels instead of exploring all the possibilities. I hear the labels daily, "I'm not flexible, I'm weak, I'm allergic." These don't have to be labels we live with the rest of our lives. Change is constant and we can often choose the direction. Are you choosing yours? Take care, Kurt

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Tear Down the Wall

I probably date myself a little here with the Pink Floyd reference; however, these words and this principle were my anthem for many years. I suspect many others, at one time during their life, have hid behind a metaphoric wall of one sort or another. I do believe there are times when these defenses are helpful and even necessary. Like many others, while I was growing up, I discovered that the wondrous world I was exploring could turn very painful. Not the understandable and expected pain of a skinned knee or broken wrist, but those more subtle pains of manipulation and deception. So, I built my walls, yes, inspired by the epic album, as well as a handful of punk albums that assisted and supported me, while I isolated myself for this dangerous world. I found comfort behind these walls and for many years was content to spend the rest of my life hidden behind them.

I believe that everybody’s walls are made at different times and for different reasons, however, they seem to be made of the same thing. Fear. Fear in many forms and of many things, sometimes cemented with pride and stacked high and very thick. We live isolated with only our desires keeping us company.

It may appear that we are safe as we lean against our wall; however, our defenses will not only deter some of the challenges out there, but they will also keep out some of the truly wonderful surprises. No matter how high these walls are, sometimes the horrors of this world are catapulted over our walls, into our safe haven, where we stand…alone, unprotected. At the same time, some people who have only good to offer will see the foreboding walls and merely wave a greeting as they walk by and out of our lives.
While studying martial arts and yoga, I learned about many different monks and kung fu masters. At a very simplistic glance, it seemed that there were two types. Some would distance themselves from the rest of the world to seek and maintain an enlightened state. There are many stories of sages who spent years and sometimes even a lifetime alone. They believed it was better to cut out the distractions and temptations often brought on by others.
Then there were those who lived among the people, studying, interacting and often seeking to assist the most common of people. For obvious reasons, this was definitely the more difficult path. Engulfed by the rest of the world, we seemingly lose control of our surroundings and grow more prone to the distractions and threats that surround us. Of course in yoga, we practice not being so reactive to the world. We gain strength from the challenges that surround us, and we remain aware and receptive of all the supportive elements. By doing this, we also bring our own energy and actions into the mix. We are there to give or to receive an unexpected hand or smile…you know, those random acts of kindness.

These days and in most of our lives, we don’t have the ability to choose physical isolation for ourselves. However, many of us are, in fact, falling off into emotional isolation. As messed up as this world may be, in many ways it is still full of wonder and love. Be there mentally, physically and emotionally to discover and enjoy it. Be there, so you can add to it, the amazing energy that is you. Tear down the wall, and let life in.

No matter how good a practice is for you if you don't enjoy it you won't do it for long, so please try a few of my instructors and I really hope you enjoy them, if APY isn't right for you, keep searching. You will feel it when you find the right practice.

Whale Watching with Pace!

Kurt and his son Pace watching Blue Whales in Santa Barbara!