HEROIN OVERDOSE AT MARBLEHEAD HIGH?! WTF?!

After that sinks in, consider this: virtually EVERY teen has ready access to heroin.

Regardless of where the blame lies, it’s on all of us to fix this. I’m proudly waving the Rotary International (“Rotary”) flag on this one: they’re battling drug addiction as an epidemic like polio – and putting money and resources into it.

Rotary consists of 30,000+ local clubs (01945 has two). It’s perfectly positioned to provide educational and support services at the community level.

Everyone recognizes there’s a HUGE cost difference between proactive and reactive approaches to the crisis – but we need both to a) effectively address prevention (a combination of education, sticks and carrots), and b) compassionately treat and support those already addicted.

Fraffy’s old breakfast club is forming a committee to assess how best to utilize and coordinate Rotary’s vast resources with OUR local resources and needs.

Interested? Please respond hereto – or reach out directly to any Rotarian and ask about it.

 

Want to know my story?

I’m 60.  I’m an addict. Always have been.

I made a decision one morning as a teen that drastically altered the course of my life. At the time, I assumed it was because I was chicken. Today, I’m not so sure.

A little background: I was a momma’s boy: her first & arguably favorite – arguably, because she never expressed her feelings. No I love you. No hugs. But disappoint her…..

The only time I felt worse was when I had my heart torn out by a young thing named Joanne. In the end, yours truly was “too slow” for Joanne! I was 14.

I was inconsolable for days. I consciously decided THAT was never happening again.

It’s no coincidence that shortly after saying goodbye to Joanne I said hello to alcohol – my gateway drug. A few years later, one morning during the summer between high school and college, I sat across the kitchen table at my best friend’s house while he demonstrated how to ‘boot up’: syringe in hand, belt around the arm above the elbow, etc.

I couldn’t do it.

I’ve always assumed it was fear of pissing off my mother (the woman was uncannily perceptive) – or my fear of needles. In hindsight, it may have been much more. Clearly, my need to find “perfect peace” hasn’t let up!!

It’s led me to become self-realized, though admittedly I’m still light years from being self-actualized!! For the curious: therein lies the difference between yoga & qigong. 😉

Self-realization and actualization can’t be taught or gifted. Each of us has to slug it out personally – and while battles are won and lost along the way, the war never ends. Bleak? Perhaps, but the terrific news is that we each have the inborn (God-given!) capacity to experience true bliss – and I won’t ever stop trying to help others find it in themselves.

Self-awareness (meditation) leads to self-appreciation and love (first, for oneself, then for all). It’s the only thing I’ve found in a lifetime of searching that’s stronger than my psychological and/or physiological addictions. [Again, I can’t speak about heroin addiction, though if anything will get someone over the hump, it’s true self-awareness.]

Blessings, Skip❤️😊🕉

Join me and my fellow Rotarians in standing up against addiction and its lifelong consequences.

Come express your views, concerns and opinions and listen to those who previously haven’t been touched by addiction, those who live with it, and community leaders and advocates for our town’s youth.

Let’s get the life-ending stuff off our streets. Let’s do it for our children and theirs.

btw – Rotary (by policy) is nonpolitical ❤️

BIO FOR LOCAL YOGA STUDIO

ALLAN (SKIP) DOWDS

In 2015, at 58 Skip retired from an accounting career to teach and promote Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras (Raja Yoga) the classic holistic discipline he’s practiced since 2003.

In 2011, he received a 500hr yoga teaching certification from a student of BKS Iyengar, the 20th century master of classical yoga postures.

Raja Yoga includes a physical component but is largely a mental training that relieves symptoms of a distracted mind, including:

>  carelessness >  indecision
>  confusion >  inefficiency
>  craving >  laziness
>  distraction >  negligence
>  doubt >  procrastination
>  dullness >  sensuality
>  idleness >  uncertainty

If you suffer from any of these, Skip can guide you through Patanjali’s mindfulness exercises to holistically relieve your own suffering!

Skip says, “I suffered from an unwarranted lack of self confidence bordering on anxiety until a few years ago. Ironically, it drove me to become a successful accountant – but it came at great personal cost, mentally and emotionally. Physical exercise helps but nothing beats Patanjali’s mindfulness practice for lowering stress and fostering faith in oneself. Nothing. I’d be honored to share what I’ve learned with you.”

YESTERDAY WAS OUR SECOND 2ND ANNIVERSARY

Two years ago Sue reluctantly agreed to allow me to establish a yoga school in 01945 in hopes it would become a mecca for yogis the world over for generations to come because………

I was [am!] going to enlighten the world!

Here’s what I learned in the last two years trying to commercialize the intangible:

There’s a light inside you – but only you can turn it on.

I can tell you how. I’ve blogged, danced, screamed, sang, cried and bled trying to turn it on in others – but only you can turn it on – and it’s not easy.

I’m at a crossroads.

The ability to control our mind is literally invaluable – yet, like the joke about a guy with a pocket full of hundreds that can’t attract attention in a brothel – I’m struggling and frustrated!

WHAT I’m teaching isn’t the problem!

People who know how to meditate can transcend the chaos and judgment of their conscious mind at will! Think about that!

The science of meditation is empirical! We witness and experience it for ourselves!

Help spread the word!

“Meditation therapy” (aka Raja Yoga) dovetails beautifully with virtually all healthcare services aimed at relieving physical, mental and emotional pain – particularly due to trauma – for both the patients and service providers!

Do you know someone with influence at a public or private medical, counseling or rehab facility?

If so, please forward this to them! Thank you.

Spring is a perfect time of year to start a new habit. Pick one that you’ll be glad you did 10 years from now!

Blessings, Allan (Skip) Dowds

Class schedule

“Heroin = Death” Was Popular

Since last Fall, a few thousand people have spent half a minute on the school’s website.

I suspect a large part of that time was spent looking at the class schedule, rather than reading these “streams of consciousness” (said a friend recently).

However, the spike in site visits noted in the picture coincides with a blog about opioid abuse and a survivor’s tale – so here it is again.

Public Service Announcement

❤😊🕉

HOLISTIC VISUALIZATION 000,001

[Remember to engage your senses as part of the visualization experience!]

While seated meditating, work up to a rhythmic breath cycle: inhale – pause – exhale – pause, with each of the four quarters of the cycle lasting an equal four counts.

Here’s the visual:

Imagine you’re actually standing comfortably, boyantly in thigh-deep water as part of some luxurious spa treatment – as if you were bathing a newborn – but it’s happening to you:

Inhale – as water is being drawn up your cool back;

Pause – as the water pours gently over the top of your head;

Exhale – as water washes down the warm front of your body; and

Pause – as the water drops off the bottom of your torso back into the water below.

Meditate. It’s what’s good for you!

SO ARE SPA RETREATS!

Join my teacher, Mylena Orrigi and me as we lead a wellness retreat in the pristine baths of Sirmione, Italy the first week of June!

❤😊🕉

Meditate – you can’t do it incorrectly [just more efficiently – that’s why I’m here]!!

$15 – scheduled group “meditation prep” classes

Current class schedule

  • Skype lessons
  • seminars
  • lectures
  • private lessons

Proud sponsor of Yoga Instructors Association (MA)

#BringBackPatanjali

IT’S ALL ABOUT ME

Two years ago I had an epiphany regarding the nature of consciousness.

It changed my life and the lives of the people around me.

But this “news” wasn’t meant for me. After all, Patanjali didn’t write the Yoga Sutras for himself! He was CLEARLY already enlightened!

I’ve spent 24/7 for two years trying to enlighten others. I came enticingly close a few times – which just fed my enormous ego.

Today my teacher told me I can’t.

Apparently something priceless can’t be given away.

BUT if you’ve read my post about being a 60 year old addict (and Irish) you know this new news isn’t going to stop me from trying!!

She told me lovingly; frankly, it was quite touching. She acknowledged that my heart’s in the right place, but pointed out what’s so clear to her and others: my head and heart aren’t working together. Too much of one or the other is actually self destructive.

[And here I thought I was in perfect balance!]

If you haven’t seen this cartoon clip about “keeping your nose and belly button facing in the same direction” it’s well worth a few minutes:

https://www.facebook.com/graphikoo/videos/1091139277693004/

My newest marketing effort is called “Back to Basics” (we’ll see how long I can go without talking about consciousness! Ooops!)

Ultimately, Raja Yoga is about becoming one with the universe, but the first step is “ahimsa”: the opposite of violence: love – and it begins with you.

Blessings, Skip

😊❤️🕉

Meditate – you can’t do it incorrectly [just more efficiently – that’s why I’m here]!!

$15 – scheduled group “meditation prep” classes

Current class schedule

  • Skype lessons
  • seminars
  • lectures
  • private lessons

Proud sponsor of Yoga Instructors Association (MA)

#BringBackPatanjali

WANT TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE?

Learn the oldest form of Yoga for the oldest reason:

to REDUCE SUFFERING

find FAITH, SERENITY, COURAGE & WISDOM within yourself!

 _________

 HOW?

Consciousness 😊❤️🕉

WHY?

 Allan’s Why

WHAT?

 Patanjali’s Poem

 

Raja Yoga is the ancient science of mind control (aka meditation) a discipline that fosters faith in self, life and God.

The prehistoric practice was memorialized by Patanjali in a 200-line poem, the Yoga Sutras, a treasure map to nothing less than eternal bliss!

The allure and promise of Raja Yoga is that with constant practice you WILL smile (contentedly!) more often than you frown.

Meditation will take you to a place that transcends earthly experience – and THAT will change your life!!

 _________

Raja yogi’s tip o’ the day (says the Irishman in me): faith comes before enlightenment. I only say that because it took me 13 years to find faith that God exists – but I haven’t figured out to levitate yet!!

I can help you get there in less time; however,…

… YOU have to put in the time and effort. For better or worse, I can only guide you!

God bless, Allan

$15 – scheduled group “meditation prep” classes

Current class schedule

  • Skype lessons
  • seminars
  • lectures
  • private lessons

Proud sponsor of Yoga Instructors Association (MA)

THE ANGRY YOGI

Raja Yoga, the science of meditation, is a selfless expression of worship, love and devotion. It originated several thousand years ago replacing the concept of “external” sacrifices to appease the Divine. In this context, the Divine is the source of our consciousness.

My teacher says that I’ll be more compassionate when I accept the pain and suffering fueling my anger. But it runs deep, and it masks an even deeper pain.

I feel like a wounded lion. I want to shred and devour something. That’s a LOT of negative energy but I know she’s right.

WHAT’S NOT HELPFUL

Ahimsa (the absence of violence) is the first of Raja Yoga’s ten rules of personal conduct and therefore the most important.

Directing my negative energy toward others, even passive-aggressively in the pursuit of justice, is not yogic. If I’m not practicing self-awareness and exercising self-restraint/control I’m not practicing what I teach.

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

The tension between our conscious/thinking mind (the aspect we “hear”) and our sub-conscious/acting mind (the aspect that “runs the ship”) gives rise to the voice in our head.

Our sub-conscious mind stores sensation-triggering memories of virtually every thought (and by extension, experience) we’ve ever had. EVERY one. Including all of our fears and desires.

It’s no wonder our sub-conscious mind wants to be unburdened, to be heard, to vent!! It’s under a tremendous amount of ever-increasing stress – mostly through no direct fault of our own – and the unnaturally rapid pace of change in our environment is exacerbating the problem!

Our conscious mind doesn’t want to dwell on our unpleasant memories either, and the energetic interaction between the two aspects of our mind is like a game of “hot potato”, the stress from which manifests mentally and physically.

Eventually something more pressing comes along to occupy our mind and the negative energy associated with our unpleasant memories settles deep in our sub-conscious mind, but like a thorn under our skin, can become “infected” and irritated.

HOW

How do I tear down an invisible impenetrable wall, a sub-conscious mental construct that’s withstood 60 years of new and triggered net negative energetic thoughts? The invisible wall is a natural defense mechanism, created to avoid re-experiencing sensations associated with unpleasant experiences. If you’re human and live on planet Earth, that’s 50% of them. All our conscious thoughts – except when we’re being mindful or meditating – are either net positive or net negative.

By meditating….

When we meditate, we ask for nothing other than a closer connection with the Divine; expressing sincere appreciation “just” to be alive, and accepting and embracing whatever was, is, and will be.

HOW LONG

When we meditate, we patiently hold our conscious mind “open” and wait to become aware of sensations and images as they arise in our conscious mind. Eventually, we hope to compassionately and energetically accept even our deepest, darkest fears and desires.

Before that happens, our sub-conscious mind must feel relaxed and safe. That’s why we meditate in a safe, comfortable setting that we control, at a time and place of our choosing.

PATIENCE

Meditation builds patience – partially because of our sub-conscious mind’s limited ability to communicate (it communicates subtly, intuitively: in images and sensations – not words), but also because it’s naturally reluctant to re-experience our deepest fears and desires!

As we continue to meditate, lovingly accepting whatever our sub-conscious mind shares, our memories lose their energetic hold on us and become neutralized through a deepened, intuitive realization that neither the precipitating events, nor the memories thereof, affect our essence: our consciousness. [Note: consciousness, or the awareness OF our thoughts, is as distinct from our non-physical thoughts, as our thoughts are from our physical bodies. We are truly three-dimensional beings!]

Gradually, as we holistically embrace our self, and accept and absorb the negative energetic sensations associated unpleasant memories, they lose their ability to stimulate emotions – which affect our thoughts, which precipitate our actions.

MINDSET/INTENT

Meditating can be tremendously comforting when done in a self-nurturing, caring, and loving manner (e.g., with hands over one’s heart) with full recognition of the miracle we are (our energetic body and mind is virtually as miraculous as our intangible consciousness!)*

I like to think of witnessing the rise and fall of our sub-conscious mind’s contents as a grandparent might listen to a two year old granddaughter trying to form and express her thoughts: adoringly, patiently, reassuringly, lovingly. This is the part where we learn to love our self: to foster a state of heart and mind in which we can accept our anger, and unmask the deeper emotions, the consequence of an infinite number of net negative life experiences we all carry with us as memories.

MEDITATION = MIND CONTROL = WORSHIP

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras outline a code of conduct, and physical and mind-control exercises intended to help realize our own true nature, and in so doing, find faith in the existence of God.

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras are the source of the universal Serenity Prayer. The practice of Raja Yoga is a discipline in selflessness founded in faith, love and gratitude.

Amma says “Divinity is the essence of our consciousness.” Consciousness is what modern religion unassumingly refers to as our “spirit” or “soul”. Similarly, the rigorous, devotional discipline of meditation has became today’s act of prayer.

BENEFITS

While the real benefit of meditating is a closer connection with the Divine within us there are obvious physical and mental benefits as well. We develop a heightened intuition and deep sense of relief, calmness, stillness, acceptance and compassion.

 

God bless. If you love someone suffering with anger, addiction, anxiety or other emotionally triggered symptoms, refer them to a Raja Yoga school.

Blessings, Allan

* Some schools of thought and practice, including Qi Gong, hold that our energetic body/mind is equally as miraculous as consciousness. It’s hard to argue otherwise; however, there are practices (e.g., Raja Yoga, Qi Gong) which can be applied to the body/mind but not to our immutable consciousness – which arguably, makes the latter slightly “closer to God”. When we meditate, we’re essentially trying to “touch the Divine within our self”.

 

Class schedule.

NO APOLOGIES (edited for FB!)

[Note – to see the unedited version, go the school’s website: rajamarblehead.com]

I cause trouble wherever I go. I had 7 jobs over my career: 2 retail & 5 accounting.

RETAIL

1. My first job was 45 years ago – I used to drive the other employees nuts because I never sat still. There was no union – they just thought I was kissing *&%. They literally could not comprehend why someone would work harder than they had to.

Working for my grandfather’s old lumberyard was my all time favorite job. Shout out to anyone left of the Oyster Bay Lumberyard crew.

2. My second job – went pretty much the same except I was met with outright hostility from other employees, who literally began stealing things since I had an interest in the business. I quit for the benefit of the real owner.

Newly married and contemplating rug rats, what were we to do? My grandfather used to say, “You make more money with your head than your back!” so I went back to school and got an advanced accounting degree.

ACCOUNTING

3. My first accounting job was 25 years ago – my second day on the job my supervisor asked me to fabricate financial statements for a client. Literally, just came right out and told me to add non-existent assets to a client’s balance sheet so the bank would give him a loan!! When she wouldn’t listen to reason, I went to the owner – who took me out to dinner and invited me to join the firm.

4. My next job was for one of the mega accounting firms of the day. We were all just so many cattle (and not like in India either – rather, as in Texas!) How did I manage to *&^% off my peers this time? By volunteering to work when there wasn’t any given to me.

5. I bailed as soon as I had a chance and become the director of accounting for one of my clients: Snapple – back when Wendy was the company’s spokesperson. At that point, my previous employer, mega-accountron, essentially became an adversary since my old boss was now auditing my work – and I knew how they played the game! 😉

The three partners who owned Snapple before it got caught up in a game of virtual monopoly were three of the best bosses I’ve ever had the pleasure to work for: savvy and kindhearted, which is an awesome, winning combination. 😉 [Historical footnote: not-so-much for the folks at megacorp Quaker, who tried to dictate unfair terms to their new customers; ask anyone who’s gotten an MBA in the past fifteen years.]

6. I went to work for the guy who orchestrated the sale of Snapple to Quaker – one of the most lucrative investments in the history of megatron-sized investments.

My new boss became an instant mega-supper-dupper lottery winner and started his own investment firm – with airplanes and and all the rest of the trappings. It was a real life version of some Wall Street movie where secretaries (sorry ladies) won luxury automobiles at holiday parties!!

I was a workaholic for most of my 13-year tenure there – always on pins and needles worrying that the guy was going to can me. It’s not clear whether I left that job or he fired me: my termination was a consequence of my refusal to fire an innocent friend whom I depended upon to do MY job! Talk about a rock and a hard place!

7. My next and last accounting job, which I just shook off 19 months ago to “retire” was a more painful version of the previous one for a LOT less money, and for people as passionate about the old Republican establishment as I am about yoga!! I was referred to internally as the firm’s token Democrat.

YOGA (early days)

Nineteen months ago, just as I had fifteen years ago when I turned my family’s life upside down thinking it would be a good idea to hitch a ride over to the Harley dealership in Revere and ride home on a motorcycle – I decided to start my own yoga business.

Yoga is virtually all I’ve thought about – besides family, friends and myself (unfortunately not in that order) – for 14 years.

Here’s the funny part: just like when I left my mega-dollar accounting job, and my ego said, “No problem! The job offers will come pouring in…….” – I coasted for the better part of a year before it dawned on me that wasn’t going to happen, and I better get up off my &^%.

YOGA (these days)

Nineteen months ago I thought, “I know something about yoga that no one else does!! 😉 Of course students will come pouring in….” Again, not so much (though to my true students – you know who you are – you have my eternal gratitude!)

So I’m turning up the heat in my pursuit of spreading what I know about yoga.

Part of that effort has been put into a charitable association for certified yoga instructors (<3 <3 <3 <3) who’s mandate is:

FELLOWSHIP – EDUCATION – SERVICE

My sincere, heartfelt thanks to those who have responded “YES”!!! It’s going to be awesome! Modeled after the old, stodgy corporate affairs I attended – a few hours of study in the morning followed by an awesome meal and an afternoon of service – rather than golf!  😉

Another part of the effort to spread the word about mind-control and consciousness has been put into Marblehead’s chapter of BNI: the Nor’easters. That chapter of the story next!

Namaste 😉

Class schedule

NO APOLOGIES

I cause trouble wherever I go.

I had 7 jobs over my career: 2 retail & 5 accounting.

RETAIL

1. My first job was 45 years ago – I used to drive the other employees nuts because I never sat still. There was no union – they just thought I was kissing ass. They literally could not comprehend why someone would work harder than they had to.

Working for my grandfather’s old lumberyard was my all time favorite job. Shout out to anyone left of the Oyster Bay Lumberyard crew.

2. My second job – went pretty much the same except I was met with outright hostility from other employees, who literally began stealing things since I had an interest in the business. I quit for the benefit of the real owner.

Newly married and contemplating rug rats, what were we to do? My grandfather used to say, “You make more money with your head than your back!” so I went back to school and got an advanced accounting degree.

ACCOUNTING

3. My first accounting job was 25 years ago – my second day on the job my supervisor asked me to fabricate financial statements for a client. Literally, just came right out and told me to add non-existent assets to a client’s balance sheet so the bank would give him a loan!! When she wouldn’t listen to reason, I went to the owner – who took me out to dinner and invited me to join the firm.

4. My next job was for one of the mega accounting firms of the day. We were all just so many cattle (and not like in India either – rather, as in Texas!) How did I manage to piss off my peers this time? By volunteering to work when there wasn’t any given to me.

5. I bailed as soon as I had a chance and become the director of accounting for one of my clients: Snapple – back when Wendy was the company’s spokesperson. At that point, my previous employer, mega-accountron, essentially became an adversary since my old boss was now auditing my work – and I knew how they played the game! 😉

The three partners who owned Snapple before it got caught up in a game of virtual monopoly were three of the best bosses I’ve ever had the pleasure to work for: savvy and kindhearted, which is an awesome, winning combination. 😉 [Historical footnote: not-so-much for the folks at megacorp Quaker, who tried to dictate unfair terms to their new customers; ask anyone who’s gotten an MBA in the past fifteen years.]

6. I went to work for the guy who orchestrated the sale of Snapple to Quaker – one of the most lucrative investments in the history of megatron-sized investments. [Historical footnote #2: I’m the only person I know who worked for Snapple at the time of the sale who didn’t make a dime on it].

My new boss became an instant mega-supper-dupper lottery winner and started his own investment firm – with airplanes and and all the rest of the trappings. It was a real life version of some Wall Street movie where secretaries (sorry ladies) won luxury automobiles at holiday parties!!

I was a workaholic for most of my 13-year tenure there – always on pins and needles worrying that the guy was going to can me. It’s not clear whether I left that job or he fired me: my termination was a consequence of my refusal to fire an innocent friend whom I depended upon to do MY job! Talk about a rock and a hard place!

7. My next and last accounting job, which I just shook off 19 months ago to “retire” was a more painful version of the previous one for a LOT less money, and for people as passionate about the old Republican establishment as I am about yoga!! I was referred to internally as the firm’s token Democrat.

YOGA (early days)

Nineteen months ago, just as I had fifteen years ago when I turned my family’s life upside down thinking it would be a good idea to hitch a ride over to the Harley dealership in Revere and ride home on a motorcycle – I decided to start my own yoga business.

Yoga is virtually all I’ve thought about – besides family, friends and myself (unfortunately not in that order) – for 14 years.

Here’s the funny part: just like when I left my mega-dollar accounting job, and my ego said, “No problem! The job offers will come pouring in…….” – I coasted for the better part of a year before it dawned on me that wasn’t going to happen, and I better get up off my ass.

YOGA (these days)

Nineteen months ago I thought, “I know something about yoga that no one else does!! 😉 Of course students will come pouring in….” Again, not so much (though to my true students – you know who you are – you have my eternal gratitude!)

So I’m turning up the heat in my pursuit of spreading what I know about yoga.

Part of that effort has been put into a charitable association for certified yoga instructors (I WISH I knew how to add heart emojis in WordPress!!!!), who’s mandate is:

fellowship, education and service

My sincere, heartfelt thanks to those who have responded “YES”!!! It’s going to be awesome! Modeled after the old, stodgy corporate affairs – a few hours of study in the morning followed by an awesome meal and an afternoon of service – rather than golf!  😉

Another part of the effort to spread the word about mind-control and consciousness has been put into Marblehead’s chapter of BNI: the Nor’easters. That chapter of the story next!

Namaste 😉

Class schedule