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Govinda Kai
  • Fukuoka
  • Japan
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About Me:
I am an Ashtanga Yoga teacher living in Japan. I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended the University of California at Santa Cruz (Environmental Studies program). I have lived all over the States (Washington State, Idaho, Arizona, Boston and NYC). I was most recently in Manhattan between 1999 and 2004. I moved to Tokyo in 2004 to be with my beloved wife Mae and now reside with her in the southwest of Japan in Fukuoka.

I am passionate about the practice of yoga and most everything associated with the practice. I am a deeply spiritual person and spend most of my life seeking the deeper meanings of all things. That in essence, is why I am passionate about the living foods diet and lifestyle. There is no question in my mind that eating and living in this fashion creates the ground from which one can develop the highest potential of human evolution and consciousness.

I travel extensively and love to do so. There is so much magic and wonder in this world. So much light and truth to share.
How can the community best support you in your journey? (moral support, transition advice, fitness tips, etc)
Know Thyself... OM!
Relationship Status:
Married
Favorite Raw Food or Recipe?
Watermelon has been traditionally my favorite food AND I am constantly trying and loving new foods as well. Basically, I love all foods that have a high amount of life force in them.
Interests (outside of Raw Food):
Photography, Movies, Ashtanga Yoga and Yoga Philosophy, Travel.

Be sure to check out my photos on Flickr

www.flickr.com/photos/govindakai/
Favorite Books or Authors:
Sankaracharya's Viveka Chudamani (Crest Jewel Of Discrimination)
Favorite Quote:
"We Do No Great Actions, Just Small Actions With Great Love"
Website or Blog:
http://lunaticmonk.com
Facebook Profile:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php
GI2MR Oath: I promise to do my best to keep this community drama free. I will not name call or throw around personal attacks. I pledge to be respectful even if I do not agree with another member's opinion. When possible, I'll try to smile : )
Yes! I accept the GI2MR Oath.

Govinda Kai's Blog

Govinda Kai

Yoga and Sound

By Govinda Kai

February 20, 2009

The supreme goal of yoga practice is to directly experience the true nature of the Self.

In order to do so, it is necessary to pierce the veil of ignorance and delusion that prevails over most of mankind.

The starting point for this process is to make a clear distinction between what is real and what is not real, between what part of life can be considered spiritual and what can be considered material.

That which is real and spiritual is that which is fundam… Continue

Posted on March 7, 2009 at 12:21am — 5 Comments

Govinda Kai

Water is the Key to Life... OM!

Very few things on this earth are as important as water.

The very earth itself is comprised mostly of water.

Our very physical bodies are also comprised mostly of water.

Water is everywhere. It is in all living things. It is in the air that we breathe.

This is why it is so strange that there is such a crisis in the world with regard to the availability of good, clean, pure water.

There are many parts of the world today where people are required to walk many miles simply to collect clean dri… Continue

Posted on January 8, 2009 at 3:59am —

Govinda Kai

New Year's Message

I absolutely adore major transition times in life.

Times of transition are very special times. They are filled with both potential power and promise for new beginnings.

Yoga, in many ways, is about developing awareness and sensitivity to all the spaces in between. It is in our practice that we begin to notice and to dwell in the spaces in between our breaths. As our senses and our minds become more pure and sensitive, we begin to notice and dwell in the silence in between our words, in between… Continue

Posted on December 27, 2008 at 11:46pm — 2 Comments

Govinda Kai

The Value of Study

December 2, 2008

Namaste...!

The days are getting shorter and the weather is growing increasingly colder.

Now, while this weather requires more clothing, the air is also much cleaner and has a higher level of energy or "shakti" to it. I love this time of year. I find that the colder, cleaner air helps my mind to become more focused and sharp.

This is the time of year to increase the time and energy spent on study of sacred yoga books.

I cannot stress enough just how important it is to commi… Continue

Posted on December 2, 2008 at 12:08am — 2 Comments

Govinda Kai

The Glory of Atman

By Govinda Kai

One of the most important terms yoga students should familiarize themselves with is the idea of the Atman.

The Atman is the word to describe the individual “soul”. It is that part of each one of us that is our essence, the pure energy within us that is completely transcendent, undying and beyond all limitations of time and space. Our physical, mental and emotional bodies are merely “koshas” or temporary coverings to this most essential aspect to our being.

Becoming clearly awar… Continue

Posted on November 26, 2008 at 12:00am —

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At 12:10am on June 18, 2009, Travis said…
hi govinda. still planning to move to japan and hopefully in kyushu somewhere. i will find out in july if i graduate and will have to save a bit too.
thanks.
At 10:37pm on June 16, 2009, Xell Calderer said…
Hi Govinda! I don't think I ever answered your post a while back, asking me what kind of yoga I teach...I am very influenced by my beloved teacher, Mary Sinclair, who has an Iyengar background, and my original training was similar to Sivananda, or Hatha Yoga. So I teach my own blend, Xellacious yoga! :) A nice mix of everything that I switch up class to class.
At 8:24pm on May 12, 2009, olivia said…
Mr. Kai,
I am so glad I came across your profile! I am VERY interested in getting into ashtanga yoga, but don't know where to begin. Are there any books you could recommend on the practice? Also would you suggest learning other types of yoga prior to taking on ashtanga?
Anything you can recommend would be a great help!
thank you,
-olivia
At 3:11am on March 7, 2009, Travis said…
i've looked at fukuoka. i really would like to end up there or somewhere in kyuushu, will have to see what opportunities land my way.
At 6:17am on February 23, 2009, Travis said…
hi govinda kai. sorry i'm not sure if i replied to you or not. i plan to come to japan around august this year after i finish my university course and teach english. i've just been reading your website. wow you've done some amazing things.
At 7:04am on January 31, 2009, Travis said…
thanks for the add govinda kai. i hope we can meet when i am in japan. are you in fukuoka in kyushu? i really want to work in the south of japan and think fukuoka would be great.
At 7:59pm on January 2, 2009, uberPia said…
Haven't visited Japan - yet - but I am mostly obsessed with Japan. I often think I moved to the wrong country! There is a ferry you can take from Shanghai to Osaka that is 2 nights. I like to travel in real time to experience distances and am really looking forward to that journey at some point soon. I heart Ashtanga and spent the beginningg of the year living and studying in Mysore. I have really been missing that discipline and focus recently. Create a beautiful day! xx
At 12:05pm on January 2, 2009, AwesomeUniverse!!! said…
Happy New Year! You are an inspiration!!!
At 9:49pm on December 10, 2008, Walker Marchal said…
Hey Govinda Kai,

I really love that there is Ashtanga yoga in Japan! I've been training at a studio in Sedona for many years with an Ashtanga bloodline - the owner is Indian-American. Recently, I discovered certain people in Japan are the ultimate incense masters on earth. I have acquired some high-grade Japanese charcoal for burning resin, but I have yet to figure out how to keep it lit! Blessings to you from the High Sonoran Desert!
At 5:54pm on December 4, 2008, Sara said…
Im living on Oahu, and the story of how I got here is rather an extended one. Basically Im starting my life over here. Its wonderful to have this opportunity, to feel like the road is clear ahead of you. I would eventually like to move to a less populated island but for the time being Im right where I need to be. Perhaps I will send the extended version in a personal message.
 
 

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