Thanks for you comment. You’re right – our dog, Ronin, is a purebred akita. Good guess! His long coat throws people off sometimes. It’s considered a fault in the breed, but I think he’s all the more handsome for it. We get a lot of “is he a chow?” – but he’s about twice as big as a chow :)

I’m glad that you’re enjoying the site and that you’ve started some yoga because of it. Keep it up!

Your service in the military is a perfect example of that last point. We’re all here for service, whether we have a “service” job or not. Service to our family and friends, to our community, and country, among other things. If we’re in poor health, then our ability to serve is hindered, and I don’t ever want to be in that position.

Thank you for serving in our military, and let me know if there’s anything you’d like me to write on.

Best,

John

Back to this great post, you’ve really taken me back to my childhood & early 20′s when i spent more time with nature, the feelings of connectedness with nature & a disconnection with the consumerist world we occupy.

As odd as this may sound a lot of your points resonated with me from my time in the military & how we were taught if we were overweight, unfit & not in control of our own bodies, then we were nothing more than a liabilty to not only ourselves, but those around us. You’re part of growing number of fantastic trainers online helping me break free of the gym & get back to real training thats beneficial to me holistically & not just about creating show muscle.

Thanks again for such an enlightening fresh outlook on training & connecting with nature.

One last thing John, you’re dog, what breed is he? I’m thinking an Akita, but im not sure? He’s a beautiful bog btw

I adore camping. I was an Air Cadets and I remember how it was to go to survival camps and you are basically working ALL THE TIME. Not just 9 to 5, but the moment you wake up you work: finding wood for the fire at night, making sure the shelter we build is still strong and sturdy and adjust it if required, etc etc etc. We didn’t hunt but we had one can of food to share with 5 people per day. You had no choice BUT to find your second, third and fourth wind in order to stay energized and wake to do what is necessary.

So, with this background, I believe that we are indeed meant to be outside. I go crazy when I go on a hiking trip. I can’t stand driving. I believe it makes people lazy and, to a certain extent, un-civilized.

Road rage is something I experience on a daily basis here in Mexico City, and even back in my home town Montreal. People get histerical, impatient and words and fits are flying out and make people behave outside the norm.

We don’t see this in nature. I don’t see animals yelling at each other because some other animal was in the way or because it cut him off.

I know I exaggerate but I do believe that we are animals with a conscience, although I think that the conscience is basically thrown out the window.

Anyway, going back to the topic at hand, I’m glad to have found your blog and I do have a goal to turn my lifestyle around to be more “basic”, go on hikes, walk more than drive, etc etc etc. Like you say, to have a “´physical living”. Even if the culture here in Mexico makes that hard, I do plan to find ways around that challenge.

Thanks for this great post and for being a source of inspiration to me. I slowly am finding myself back with the help of your blogs.

Alan