Rooted in thirty-five years of experience, Dennis Dean has shared the practice of yoga nationally and internationally, founding and guiding four yoga shalas along the way. A lifelong reader and writer, he has been publishing newsletters since 1994, offering reflections that weave together philosophy, practice, and lived experience. At 65, he remains passionately committed to cultivating his pedagogical skills and continuing the growth that has shaped his decades of practice—even when it requires shedding the skin of ingrained or indoctrinated perceptions to fully embrace new ones.
Share
2Rt Mate Tuesday: Nature's Embodiment of Joy
Published 2 months ago • 2 min read
2Rt Mate Tuesday
Nature's Embodiment of Joy
Hi Friend,
It is striking how much the simple act of being in nature awakens my joy. And in the Blue Zones—those rare places where people live well past a hundred—this is simply how life is lived.
Sardinian shepherds walking hillsides, Okinawan grandmothers tending gardens, Nicoyan villagers rising with the rivers: it's grounding their joy and longevity.
I return often in memory to one of the most serene experiences of my life—a five-day camping trip deep into the southern Sierras of California. The scent of pine, the silence of dawn, the flood of starlight at night carried a meditative stillness that required no effort. The last few weeks I've spent time digging deep into a place on this planet, I would be comfortable visiting once a year. To hold annual retreats for the students and I. I'm leading in the direction of Montana. My father is buried there and before he passed, we visited some of his most cherished places in Montana.
Truly awakening
Music We're Lovin
Life (Official Music Video) Ludovico Einaudi • 30M views • 520K likes (not for the faint of heart) I listen to music 16 hours out of our 24 hour day. That's a lot of listening, but I must remind you that listening to books quite often is the same thing to me as listening to music. Regardless of where I'm reading; late at night or in the bath before bed, in the garden, running, swimming, traveling on that train leaving Morocco-dreaming. Or listening to a random person talk to me about something that's none of their business, but for some reason, they feel compelled to try and make it my business. That has a very unique sound. Musical vibration. Color.
It's interesting, associating their body position, odor, and overall energy/ frequency of their voice to a piece of music I've heard somewhere down the line.... then going back to that very day or several months later and listening to the music reflecting back up on that person or situation. The other day I stumbled across an image that took me for quite a moment. I've been swimming in the depth of his eyes, his clothes, surrounding environment for so long it is only now that I feel sound coming from it. It's a travel novel with music...
I've said enough
Waktan Corridor, Afghanistan
Full Moon Mindful Meditation Walks
Many years ago, I was looking, standing, at the door on my Yogashala looking over the ocean and a very early morning full moon. I thought, there are a lot of people passing through here that never get a chance to see this.
So I started the "Full Moon Mindful Meditation Walks." First we would hike up Iron Mountain east of here. Then we started walking my home town beach where I learned to surf. Swamis-Pipes and down to the small delta we have here in Cardiff if one could call it that.
Eventually other teachers that I'm close with stepped in and lead the groups. I have been very fortunate and grateful for this. We will be holding yet another this year 2025. Let me know if you are interested. You can view more on our website here.
Stay in the light of love. It's always worth it.. tat sat Dennis
p.s. learning to read music would be interesting.
Stay in the light of love my friends. It's always worth it. ox Dennis *Substack
2Rt Mate = 2 Right Mate. A common phrased used to acknowledge something you believe to be true. Quality Since 1994 & Lovin It! ❤️
Rooted in thirty-five years of experience, Dennis Dean has shared the practice of yoga nationally and internationally, founding and guiding four yoga shalas along the way. A lifelong reader and writer, he has been publishing newsletters since 1994, offering reflections that weave together philosophy, practice, and lived experience. At 65, he remains passionately committed to cultivating his pedagogical skills and continuing the growth that has shaped his decades of practice—even when it requires shedding the skin of ingrained or indoctrinated perceptions to fully embrace new ones.
2Rt Mate Tuesday The Cetaceans’ Sentient Quorum | Richard Freeman The Coconut Octopus Featured Lesson: The Cetaceans’ Sentient Quorum The Hard Wired: Richard FreemanBetween the Covers: Philomath (2021) by Devon Walker-FigueroaPranayama.com's New Home | The Pranasphere Before We Start | My Conceptual Prelude:Sentient = able to perceive, feel, and respond with awareness.Cetaceans = whales and dolphins — ancient intelligences of the sea.Quorum = a threshold of presence where alignment gives rise...
2Rt Mate Tuesday Liminal Wisdom From The Continuum | Sergio Hernandez Cardiff By The Sea, Ca. 2010 Featured Lesson: Liminal Wisdom From The ContinuumThe Hard Wired: Sergio HernandezBetween the Covers: Henry ShukmanThe Pranasphere Podcast Before we start:Liminal= being at a threshold — a space between one state and another, where transformation, insight, or renewal can quietly take place.Wisdom= the understanding that grows from experience — the ability to see clearly.Continuum= unbroken flow...
2Rt Mate Tuesday Letting Nature In | Jane Goodall | Clara-Jumi Kang Lessons Learned: - Letting Nature In- The Hard Wired: Jane Goodall- Vibe We're Lovin'- Between the Covers: - Picture This: Hello Friend, 👉 In short:Letting Nature In is less about escaping to the mountains and more about opening the door — literally and figuratively — to the living world that wants to steady us. We forget how porous we are. A breeze moves through us; birdsong rearranges the day. Even a single tree outside the...