Provenance Lyrics

More to Learn

(w/ Charlie Mosbrook)

Ive lived black and white

The world was right or wrong

I wrapped my hands around the source

But I could never hold on

Chorus:

There's always more to learn (4x)

In moments of clarity I take my turn

Sharing knowledge and wisdom and all of my concerns

Tell you what I think based on everything I know

But theres always more to learn

Chorus

All our books and all our histories

Gather like fruit as it falls from the tree

Endlessly encountering every mystery

From the atom to the sea

Chorus

The Patron Saint

(w/ Brent Kirby)

-

You’re always there, when I need you

Right here, even when I don’t

I’ve felt the weight, like salt in the air

Heard your whisper, talking in my prayer

It ain’t straight line, that you put me on

You got me moving, where I belong

I remember, I was standing

In the lights, of oak and market street

I fell into, this moment so clear

I realized, the sun is shining through the rain

As I am much the same

Chorus:

It ain’t straight line, that you put me on

You got me moving, where I belong

Sometimes it’s not easy, to give what we take

Whatever happens, I am awake

Faith in fate, My Patron Saint

It ain’t straight line, that you put me on

You got me moving, where I belong

Sometimes it’s not easy, to give what we take

Whatever happens, I am awake

I believe, I’m awake

faith in fate, My Patron Saint

Echo Coming Home

(W/ Randi Driscoll)

 _

Waiting for the spark to light

Running through the memories that keep me up at night

Looking for the words to write

Every time that East wind blows I close my eyes

It reminds me of you

Chorus:

From a million miles away I hear what you're saying

If the mountains don’t get in the way I hear what you're playing

If I close my eyes tonight can you hear me praying

Could you sing me to sleep in a dream is it real as it seems or is my echo coming home

Looking for another sign

Its not in the streets so I lay in the sheet just wasting time

Looking for the words to rhyme

I cant compete with the streams or the sunshine

It reminds me of you

Chorus

Ooh…

Did you hear me calling        Did you call me home

Chorus

When You Sit Still

(w/ Emma Shepard)

_

My heart fits               My home is

Wherever                   I lay my tracks on the road

My eyes fixed             The lock picked

This door                    Wasn’t shut after all

Ive been in frame       Up on your wall

And colors fade         When you sit still

Chorus:

All your wild ideas

Bursting with such color

But if you never leave

You’ll never know whats out there

So im busting out im busting outta here (2x)

No need                   to be patient

You’ve wasted           long enough

No need                   to keep distance

What you’ve wanted has opened your door

Ive been in a frame   up on your wall

Dust collects            when you forget

Chorus

Maybe ill never know                                               

My heart  and my soul                               if you feel so restless

Maybe this is the wrong road                       maybe there's something behind it

But I've got to go                                       if you feel so restless

Maybe ill never know                                 if you are not sleeping

The source of it all                                     maybe there's something

Or anything at all                                       you need desperately to

But I've got to stay awake                             stay awake for

Chorus            (Busting out   4x)

Bridge (2x)

My heart fitz                but I'm used to it

Roots

(w/ Rachel Roberts)

_

Golden rivers through my soul

I've the heart of a bear

I'm trees and life

I'm everywhere

My brother mountain my sister air

My mother Earth my father swears

I was made for you I was made for you

Chorus:

I breathe your breath tho you curse me

Survive your fire tho it hurts me

I fall for your touch so tender

I fight for your love surrender

I speak to you through the wind

Sweet water from a cave

Love doesn’t keep

And Love doesn’t take

My brother ocean my sister sea

My mother Earth my father believes

You still love me you still love me

Chorus

Hold on hold on hold on hold on

To the roots the roots the roots that shine over your shadow

Cool air come down

Leave your unrest

Springs of forgiveness

Always exist

Feather forest dreaming hills

I've the mind of a moon

Let my tide be your steps

Let me fix your regret

Braids of ivy flowers in my hair

You’ve been searching for what is right here

I was made for you I was saved for you

Chorus (2x)

Flower Child

(w/ Kristine Jackson)

_ 

I keep on waiting while the world slips on by

You’re hesitating waiting for a better time

But life is short and life is cruel I gotta get it while I can

I am always here to push you on your way again

I know you’re always there to send me on my way again

Chorus:

Don’t give up your flowers

(Child) keep singing for the powers to change

I don’t want to keep waiting as the world slips on by

You’ve been hesitating for far too long a time

The world is cruel and life is short I wanna get it while I can

I am always here to remind you why you began

I will remember why I began

Chorus

Powers to change powers to change

So I’ll get up and I got to be strong 'cuz I got to be moving on

The best way to not give up is to keep moving on

The best way to not give up is to

Keep on keep on keep on keep on keep on

Chorus

Don’t give up your powers

Keep singing for the flowers to change

Powers to change powers to change

Some Love

(w/ Charlie Trenta)

Its bubbling over

Everything in sight

I've been looking for healing

And a rest from the fight

So I’ve opened up your arms

And crawled inside

I've been looking for a feeling

One I cant deny

Chorus:

I'm on my way to a better place I've got my eyes on the road

So if you don’t mind will you let me stay help me soothe my soul

'Cuz I need some love                       to get me home

My souls gone under

Some cold cold spell

I've been waiting for a moment

To tip the scale

Chorus

Take my hand                        take me away                        from my head

Lift me up       to show me I               can make waves of love

And healing

I'm on my way to a better place I've got the pedal through the floor

So if you don’t mind I’ll let you in we can run the course

'Cuz I need to know if love can grow in a life of thorns

I'm on my way             to find grace…

Peace by Piece

(w/ Courtney Cable)

-

Piece by piece I step outside

Glare of the sun lets everything hide

Burns to my bones breaks like waves to the sea

I close my eyes as it washes over me

I can see the future it’s not what it used to be

I can see the future it’s not what it used to be

Piece by piece I walk by your side

Content with the dreams clouding your eyes

Burns to my bones breaks like hearts in need

I close my eyes as it takes over me

I can see the future written in me

I can see the future written in me

I can see the future…

Piece by piece run til we collide run til we collide run til we collide

I can see the future of you and me

Anyway

(w/ Maurice Martin of Winslow)

I find myself looking past what’s in front of me

Tho my eyes are open I wish I could tell you what I see

If there is a reason I can’t find

Surely it is in between the rhyme

But the lonely days make sober

All the dreams I couldn’t hold

And I wonder if they’re much too far for me to go

Chorus:

What do you do when you finally reach the bottom

Do you fall down on your knees & break what’s already broken

Or do you rise up beyond yourself & create a new horizon

Every dream cries to happen cries to happen anyway

It always seems to different when it’s you instead of them

When it’s your own bed you’ll find you have to lay in

Tho you’re standing still in your mind there is no pause fast forward or rewind

Chorus

Every dream cries to happen (3x)

Cries to happen anyway

Not Really Falling At All

(w/ Emma Shepard)

Head first heart out

Breathe deep speak loud

Closed fist open arms

Fill with fire and move like water

Give wings to your fear watch it fly away

Give wings to your fear let it fly away

Times running be reckless

Build something just to wreck it

Green light open wider

Fill with fire now you’re getting brighter

Give wings to your fear watch it fly away

Give wings to your fear let it fly away

Chorus:

There is no ground that can stop me now

There is no ground that can slow me down

There is no ground so open your arms and fall

Open your arms and fall

'Cuz you’re not really falling at all

What would you do

If you know you had nothing to fall to

When you’re in the middle it feels a little different

Than looking from your window

Let free your fear open up that cage

Let free your fear it’s time you let them run away

Chorus

La la la …

Chorus

Fall … Let free your fear … fall

Chiropractor(w/ TM Gottl & Cameron Jones)

-

Met a man the other day,

he asked, "What's ailing you, my friend?

You look so down-and-out,

you'd think the world was gonna end."

"It's the problems of the world," I said,

"the problems of the nation:

I'm broke, my car just died,

and I got caught for tax evasion."

"Well listen here," he told me,

"Folks who dwell around these parts always carry off their troubles

to the doctor of all arts…"

Chorus:

The Chiropractor!…yeah yeah…

uses the funk to make you feel better!

So I called the doctor's number,

Made an appointment right that day.

Went and told him all my aches and pains

To see what he had to say

"Well your vertebrae they're lookin' fly, and your posture's ok too.

But the prognosis is pretty grim:

You ain't got the soul in you!

I'm prescribing extra dance time.

You see, movement is the key.

Don't be shy, Get on the floor!

The funk is what you need!"

Chorus

After close evaluation

I've reached an interpretation

that your lower subluxation, has,

through osteo-creation,

 required a little extra funk

 for your spinal manipulation.

So you're out of wack, you ain't feelin fine

To kill some time you need to find a place to chill and unwindAnd not the bar types, clear it up, fog lightsWe got the remedy that'll make you feel alrightIts been all night, and you can't moveWe give that stank to ya, the funk thanks youIts not so painful once you step into the officeShoes stickin from leftover funk on the carpetThe first step, you start to feel itThe second step, your soul starts the healinAnd repeat, its useless if you use it lessThe truth is one visit and you'll feel the best I do confessIts proven best when the chills go up the spineRealigns you secretly building up your mindTeaching you to overcome, move the feet fasterYou heard it here first but who said it?CHIROPRACTOR!

Out at the disco

late on Saturday night,

now, when the music moves me,

all my troubles pass me by.

But while breaking out the hustle

I slipped a disk across the floor…

Flat on my back.  The music stopped.

Oh!  I ain't dancin' anymore!

They took me to the hospital, "Doctor, help! Emergency!"

I looked in the ER and who do I see?

Chorus

Magpie

(W/ Scott Franklin)

Chorus:

Magpie magpie a black maple leaf that’s learned to fly

Sitting back on a summer night pushing the moon across the sky

Magpie magpie I got dreams but you can fly

If we can sing like the summertime I know we’ll be alright

Magpie

I come from places high and low         You come from places I can’t go

Where you’ve been I don’t know          Sometimes I wish I’m you

I was born beneath the trees                You have flown the seven seas

When the sun has set on me               You’re headed somewhere new

You sing the song                  I’ll tell your story

Chorus

Ive got wings in my head                  You know things never said

Im a story you have read                  You seem so far away

Id like to turn the page & join the wind  Where tomorrow’s not today again

My tree is made of cement                          But we are much the same

You sing the song                  I’ll tell your story

Chorus / Solo

You have clouds and I have friends You have days that never end

I have love that holds me when                    The breeze is in your eyes

We were both born to sing                           Life sure is a mystery

Your heart may always be free                    Mine’s just glad to see you

You sing the song      I’ll tell your story

You sing the song      I’m in no hurry

Chorus (2x)

Trash & Treasure

(w/ Ryan Humbert)

-

All this trash & treasure, bringing poison pleasure,

It’s an age-old scheme, lacing your dreams,

It’s one less plan, for an empty man,

When you’ve lost you’re hold, running takes it’s toll.

Chorus:

Slow down, for a minute,

Slow down, until you make it home.

Slow down, for a minute,

We all make it home, We all make it home,

We all make it home.

You can beg & borrow, but you can’t buy tomorrow,

When you’ve had all you can stand, take a step again,

It’s just one more ghost, when the night takes hold,

You can learn to see, if you’re heart still beats.

Chorus

Tear down, build up, what you break you can make again,

Tear down, build up

Tear down, build up, what you made you can save again,

Tear down. build up

All this trash & treasure, bringing pointless pleasure,

It’s an age old scheme, lacing your dreams.

Chorus

Happiest sad song

(w/ David Ullman)

Throwing diamonds at the sky trying to outshine the moon

There's no time to reflect and never enough room (never enough room)

There's no easy fix and each time it gets worse

Getting harder and harder to write our next verse

Chorus:

You said you couldn’t find a happy song in all I've written for you

You said you wanted a happy song there were none that you knew

I guess the happiest sad song (happiest sad song’s) gonna have to do

You say sadness is surrender and sympathy is not love

But I believe in you and I am not giving up

Sometime faith is not enough you need what you can touch

Feel like you're always running and never catching up

Chorus

Like a star in the sky that dies before the dawn

Even the brightest moon is overtaken by the sun

Trying to see in the dark the light that’s breaking through

I've been so proud of my pain now I've nothing left to prove

I'm just trying to add a happy song to all I've written for you

I'm just trying to sing a happy song this is the best I can do

I guess the happiest sad song (the happiest sad song’s)

Gonna have to do

Realization Song

(w/ Diana Chittester)

In a world sick with sadness

Where do I start

I could listen to the madness

Or I could listen to my heart

When its easier to follow      and so hard to stand alone

Chorus:

Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh make a change for the better

Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh one voice can shatter

Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh the lies that say you are not enough

Cried out for a solution

Someone to fix the broken things

I point in all directions

But this should start with me

When we seek to place blame        we’re just keeping everything the same

Chorus

Not being able to do it all                    Look inside

Is no reason to fall                             Look inside yourself

Back from standing up                        Look inside yourself

In all that needs to be done                  Look inside

It all starts with one                            Look inside yourself

No voice is too small                          Look inside yourself

Ooh (2x)

Chorus

(I say) you are enough

You are enough

You are enough

Be

(W/ Colin John)

Everyday starts a new day

Another chance to love and be loved

Just as every step can lead to a new place

You’ve got the chance to make it right

Its heavy stuff to talk about love

And to try to change your ways

But it aint so hard as it seems today

Take one step and you're on your way

Chorus:

Be the change that you wanna see

Cuz only you can be what you can be

Be the change that you wanna see

Cuz it’s the dreamers who create reality

Every smile gives you a chance to shine

Every heart could use a little light

Just as every tear that is shed in pain

Can also in happiness rain

Its heavy stuff to talk about us

And to look past all the games

But it aint so hard as the grudge you keep

With a simple breath your hands can be clean

Chorus

Whoa oh oh even if you don’t believe me

Whoa oh oh what it hurt to try

Whoa oh oh if we weren’t meant to soar

Oh oh oh there wouldn’t be a blue sky

Chorus

  

 ICELAND

(Scott Fetterolf)

Where the fish shiver and the kiwis quiver

Where the ice flows are flowin into land

I wanna go with you to Iceland it really is a nice land

Baby get your gloves and take me by the hand

Where the fjords are a-gleamin where the salmon are a-streamin

Where the language is so hard to understand

I wanna go with you to Iceland it really is a nice land

Baby get your gloves and take me by the hand

Ohh ooohh…

Where the midnight sun’s a-shinin where the babies are a-whinin

Where the freshest cleanest air is known to man

I wanna go with you to Iceland it really is a nice land

Baby get your gloves and take me by the hand

Where the blonde hair is a-showin where the poets are a-knowin

Where the raw fish can eaten from a can

I wanna go with you to Iceland it really is a nice land

Baby get your gloves and take me by the hand

Ohh ooohh…

Where the tundra’s a wonder where the steam heat bubbles under

And it blasts out to the heat pipes in the land

I wanna go with you to Iceland it really is a nice land

Baby get your gloves and take me by the hand

Where the fish shiver and the kiwis quiver

Where the ice flows are flowin into land

I wanna go with you to Iceland it really is a nice land

Baby get your gloves and take me by the hand

I wanna go with you to Iceland it really is a nice land

Baby get your gloves and take me by the hand

Ohh ooohh …

  

August According to Zach

AUGUST NEWS:

August According to Zach

Let me first start by saying how lovely the temperature has been in Ohio these past few weeks. I am not a lover of the super heat, so this mild air has been quite lovely. I hope this summer is otherwise going better for you than it is for me. I’m having a really rough spot all around, and it’s not been showing signs of improving. I can only have faith it’ll turn around sooner than later. I wrote some of my thoughts and feeling down here, if you want to delve further in:

Last month did have some nice moments. Particularly the debut of the Poplars! We rocked the house (in our happy sort of way), and are looking forward to many shows coming up this fall! The Bright Lights lit up Columbus with a stellar set at Hal and Als, featuring honorary Bright Light Chris Haas on guitar. There was the 300 Vegan March in the Do Dah Parade in Columbus, a Chicago and a Cleveland Yoga Rocks the Park, the Karuna Long Island Veggie Fest, Party in the Park, some good yoga and music sessions at Kendall Ledges, named Humanitarian of the Year by Akron Life and Leisure, a chance to see and meet Michael Franti live (I don’t get to see many live shows, so this was a plus, indeed), played a great new series at the Renaissance Hotel in Cleveland (swanky!), and I sold one of my guitars.

Real quick: Akron Peace Week is September 29 – Oct 6^th, and we have a great blog up that will be featuring articles from Peace Partners, lots of info, and the most up-to-date schedule of events: http://www.akronpeaceweek.blogspot.com.

I.                    This Week

II.                  August Highlights

III.                CD News

IV.                Extra Extra

1.       This Week

Thursday the 8^th – 5:30pm. Yoga Fundraiser for Stewart’s caring Place. Ron White will instruct, and I will provide the musical mystical tour for this really cool class at the Fairlawn Park.

Sat & Sun the 10^th/11^th – Chicago Veggie Fest!! I kick the fest off both days at 11:00am, and will be doing a few sets throughout the weekend as well. This is such a cool event, with dozens of food vendors and speakers, meditations, demonstrations, music, and so much more! Plus thousands of people come out to enjoy the joy of the vegetable! Gotta love that. www.veggiefestchicago.com

2.       August Highlights

August 15^th – My friend David Ullman is returning to Akron for a show at Musica at 7:30pm. This is gonna be a nice time, with some special guests I hear.

August 17^th – Lock 3 with the Bright Lights! 4:00pm – 8:00pm. This is always a fun show. We’re looking forward to lifting up and lighting up Akron! And then a Journey tribute band will be rockin after us.

August 20^th – Provenance CD Listening Party. This record is a duets and co-writing record featuring some of the best talent in 5 states! I’m really proud of this effort, and the songs are great! Plus, all the proceeds are going to a fund to help Akron area non-profits create nonviolence programs! 6:30pm – 8:30pm. You can buy the CDs there, and have several of the folks on it sign it! Maybe there’ll be some impromptu singing too … you never know. And if that weren’t enough – vegan potluck (and BYOB). Yep, that just pushed it right over the incredible top! Here’s more info on the record, and a behind-the-scenes video you can watch created by Mr. Blue Green for us: www.zachmusic.net/provenance.

August 23rd – Playing Our Roots – Brian Lisik and I will be rockin our favorite Tom Petty tunes, as well as our own at Uncorked. 8:00pm. We don’t get to do stuff like this very often, so it’s gonna be a guaranteed fun night!

August 30^th – Rockin on the River with the Bright Lights! 5:30pm – 8:30pm. Two big band shows this month for your enjoyment, and ours!

August 31^st – Square Fest. 4:00pm. Anything in Highland Square is fun. This will feature a partial Poplars set as well. Plus, my friends Light of the Loon are on after me.   

For my full schedule, please visit www.zachmusic.net.  

3.       

CD News

Provenance is being released internationally on Aug 20^th. There will be a huge release concert on Oct 12^th at 6:30pm as part of the Art in the Square/ Porch Rockr fest! Details will be announced very soon!

The Poplars are working on our debut, and we hope to have it wrapped up by the early to mid fall. I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about this project. Keep up with us here: https://www.facebook.com/ThePoplars

Yoga. This project might just expand to epic proportions, that’s all I can say at the moment. But we’re hoping to have something of this to be released early fall.

The Bright Lights. We are about 75 % finished with this one. Fall release as well. That’s the goal at least.

4.       Extra Extra

Here’s my latest article in the Healthy and Humane Observer: http://www.healthyandhumaneobserver.com/read/2013/07/14/kindness-in-action

Akron Life and Leisure named me Humanitarian of the Year! That’s pretty crazy and humbling.

Upcoming stuff: The Poplars at the Spot on Sept 13^th. Kent State Folk Fest Oct 20^th. Featured act at Chicago VeganMania on September 21^st. Harvest of Peace Fest at the Akron Shambhala Center in Cuyahoga Falls on the 22^nd. Show with my good friend Cory (you’ve heard her voice on nearly all of my recordings)! At Uncorked Sept 27^th.  Peace Week Sept 29- Oct 6^th. Art in the Square/ Porch Rokr Oct 12^th. World Peace and Yoga Jubilee in Loveland, OH Oct 17 – 20^th.

What else? I’ve been listening a lot to the new Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros record (https://www.youtube.com/user/TheMagneticZeros). I dig the sound they went for on this one. Also the new Medicine for the People has this song Nyepi, which is spectacular (https://www.youtube.com/user/medicineforthepeople)! The new Noah and the Whale is good (like all Noah and the Whale). I’ve been rereading Terry Gordon’s book “No Storm Lasts Forever.” Terry Gordon will be speaking during Peace Week – Oct 2^nd. Good reminders for my life at the moment. Im always reading a few things, and I just finished Dr. King’s, “Stride Towards Freedom”, a book of Sufi poets, and a collection of nature writing.

Hope to see you soon. Be the change you wish to see. Let’s manifest some exquisiteness!

Namaste.

Zach

Life

Life is a big combination of everything. Joy and depression, and everything in between. 

My world has swung to the latter of those recently. 

And there's nothing we can do about that. Circumstances change. Without our consent, control, understanding. 

And I'm supposed to sit here and say, but I'm doing ok. I'm supposed to be happy and alight. With a smile on my face.

But I think if yoga and meditation teach us anything, it's that we must acknowledge the present moment.

And true, in yoga, it can be said you haven't found the pose if you can't smile in it. 

And yoga is life.

But many of us just aren't that far along our spiritual path to smile at the chaos that comes.

Sometimes, we just want to curl up on the floor. Sometimes we just need to break. And be broken. 

And learn that it's ok to break.

We are taught how to celebrate and be joyful, but our society is oddly silent on how to grieve, on how to accept the darkness that comes and goes. 

How do we help a friend in need? Our first instinct is to try to fix it. But darkness can't be fixed, necessarily, especially by an outside person. 

So, what do we do? We step away. We give them space, to deal more painfully with that situation, bearing the full burden themselves.

At the same time, these voices ring through our own head, as we're not taught how to deal with depression and sadness and pain. "Just get over it." "Pull yourself together."  "Why can't you just feel better?" 

The harshest attacks always come from within.

Yet, what we need most, is to simply be with that pain. Not to hide from it. Not to stifle it. 

No.

We cannot deal with an emotional trouble with our intellect. 

We need to say to ourselves, yes I am in pain. Yes, I am feeling great sadness. How does this feel? What am I learning about myself and my reactions?

We need to cry. To feel that pain fully.

Practicing nonjudgement on ourselves is an incredibly difficult task. Even the greatest sages have had doubts and difficulties with this step. But if we can work towards it, we can learn to let emotions due their job and move on. 

I'm a long way from that goal. The way feels like I lose more ground than I am gaining. 

Someday, though, I will look back, realizing I have gone many miles and have entered a new situation. Perhaps then, these tools will have proved helpful, and will be yet more helpful the next time the darkness drifts through. 

Perhaps by seeing the shadows, we can eventually look toward the sources that cast them, seeing the light even in those pained spaces. 

I'll let you know if I get there. 

Poplars

In late February, I sat down to write a song with a friend of mine named Emma for a duets project I was working on. She's an interesting singer/songwriter, a fan, and a friend. I was intrigued to see what our two styles blended together to form.

An hour later, we had a finished song.

A finished song that really blew us both away.

So we set up another day to write another song.

With the same results. This process happen another time or two, and we decided there was something to this collaboration. Something that deserved more time and energy.

A band.

Well, a duo.

The Poplars.

We've spent the last few months writing songs and beginning the process of recording our first release. It's been a wonderful process - very creative and refreshing. I'm excited for the world to hear it!

This Friday, the 26th, we take to the stage for the first time. With our 8 songs, smiles, and the energy of a sold out crowd, we'll be debuting at Arnie's Standing Room Only (1682 W. Market St, Akron) at 7pm. The show is open to the public, though room will be very tight (we upgraded this show from the sold out house concert planned originally). You can bring vegan snacks / party food. And there is a suggested donation of $10.

And we might have some thing to sell you as well - mementos of your experience.

Here's a video of our song Magical Things. Enjoy, and see you Friday!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgZZoFEqR_M

Something I'm Listening to Today

While I've been on a Bon Iver kick during this long depression over the last few months. I was pleased to see Lissie has some new music upcoming. I have thoroughly enjoyed her past creations, and from the sounds of this song, her new record is sure to be just as enjoyable.

Further Away (Romance Police)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0FAPa7lNss

Well, does anyone really love any one any more?

My Favorite Yoga Studios (So Far)

Yogis, I love finding cool yoga places as I travel around the country. I'd like to highlight a few that I've had the joy of experiencing in the last 6 months. These are all places I intend on return as often as I am passing through their various towns. Feel free to add to this list is you have additional suggestions.

Blue Hen Yoga (Akron, OH) - Nancy and I are working on a yoga instruction and music CD. What I love about Nancy's class is that she talks a lot about the spiritual aspects of yoga, chakras, asanas, etc. https://www.facebook.com/blue.hen.yoga

Free Akron Yoga (Akron, OH) - Every Tuesday in the fall, winter, and spring. This group features a great rotation of instructors, and is FREE!
https://www.facebook.com/FreeAkronYoga

The Church on the Green (Hudson, OH) - Larry Turkle guides yoga on Wednesday nights, and he is my favorite instructor in NE Ohio, bringing humor, meditation, and a lot of good knowledge to the practice. Larry frequently says if you're not smiling in the pose, you're not getting the pose. It's a lesson that I've applied to all of my life.
http://aum.org/

World Peace Yoga (Cincinnati, OH) - I cannot love this place enough! And they're going to be opening an attached vegan restaurant sometime this year, too! Truly the full embodiment of what yoga and ahimsa are - total nonviolence. Great teachers here, not just in yoga, but also in life. And their pot lucks are out of this world! I've had some amazing and incredibly profound conversations with many folks involved with this place. What a gem to have in existence!
http://www.worldpeaceinc.com/home/yoga.html

Purpose Yoga (Fairborn, OH) - Jessica and her fellow instructors do a fabulous job. They also have a Wine & Align event that is super fun.
http://purposeyoga.com/

Mandala Yoga (Portland, OR) - This studio is pretty incredible. It's one of my most favorite in the country. They offer so many styles and varieties of yoga. You can go multiple times a day, every day and get a huge variety of classes and meditations. I really learned most of what I know about Kundalini yoga here. It really opened up my practice immensely. If you go to Portland, and do not stop here, well, you're really missing something great.
http://mandalayogapdx.com/

Jai Rhythm Yoga (Ventura, CA) - Colin and Robb do a wonderful series of classes, and they just moved into a lovely new space inside the WAV (an ArtSpace project). They can get you a pretty advanced class, if you want one. They also host some great yoga and music on the beach events called Swell Jam, as well as a weekly class on the beach. Hard to top that!
http://www.jairhythm.com/

Yoga Soup (Santa Barbara, CA) - I have only had one class here, with David Courtenay, but it was wonderful, and highly worth recommending.
http://www.yogasoup.com/

Inversion Yoga (Jackson, WY) - They do a lot of hot yoga, which I've not officially experienced, though it was pretty hot in the room during the classes I was a part of. I learned a few new poses here I love and do regularly, like low boat. Jill Leblanc was a great instructor, and the class was pretty difficult, if you wanted it to be. The folks in Jackson are all pretty serious outdoorsy adventuresome folks, so their yoga can be on that side of the extreme spectrum. It was cool to experience, and I'm looking forward to hitting it up again when I return.
http://inversionyoga.com/ 

Packing light

Last fall I was asked to attend the Tedx event in Akron. One of the speakers did a talk on packing light. It was both how to pack for travel, as he walked the Camino de Santiago in France/ Spain, and about packing lightly in life.

This talk comes to mind as I am preparing for my 13th trip cross the country.

A lot of folks ask me why I pack and take with me, especially being vegan.

Usually, I pack pretty light.

For food, I usually stop at farmers markets and grocery stores along the way. This year, I got a travel juicer that will be joining me.  There is always peanut butter, bread, spinach, raisins, apples, some cookies, mixed nuts, banana chips, and some sort of organic cheerios. I was given a 3 gallon water jug, that I may or may not bring this time around. But there's always plenty of water, and some komboucha, sometimes! 

Besides clothes and gear, I may bring my bicycle with me this trip. It would be nice to cycle around when I can, and get in some nice rides along the coast while in California.

I always update my ipod and garmin and have several books with me. The Bhagavad Gita according to Gandhi is always with me. I'll also be bringing some Hafiz, and Dr Kings Stride Toward Freedom.

The desert is an amazing space for meditation and creativity. I've had some deeply spiritual experiences in the vast Nevada desert.

Who knows what this trip will be like, but it will be an adventure, regardless. And that is enough for me.