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Jon Paul Crimi, Breathwork, Mediation and Recovery Coach, states that “breathwork is like 20 years of therapy without saying a word.”

This post is in response to the above statement.

When someone tells you (teacher or student) that a deep breathing workshop is like 20 years of therapy, don’t believe them and don’t bother with it. Think, and know that the person flipping their gums needs 20 more years of therapy and a new fucking therapist.

People are so wounded that a little kindness and breathing feels like their world has just changed. I see that all the time. For a moment there is peace, just like with a glass a wine, an orgasm, or a hit. Hell, the world is designed for that feeling and you are part of it. The point is as teachers we don’t propagate that bullshit as an end and we certainly don’t use people’s quotes while they are high to promote it… At the very least as teachers, we have a duty to:

1. Let everyone know we are full of shit.
2. Let folks know that the ceiling for growth from anything physical is very low.

The first duty takes real introspection and exposure to the truth to know how far away we are from it.

The second is one that anyone with their head out of their ass should know. It’s pure science. You can’t grow intellectually or emotional from physical exercise of any sort. Pranayama and asana were literally prescribed for dumb asses. That’s why I connected to it so much. No one is dumber than me, not even you. The only difference is I know it and it makes me safe from myself and I’m not reckless with others. You, on the other hand, haven’t a clue. I mean that as a fact with no disrespect.

I took the time to write this not to one up you or engage in war.. nor do I want to change you. I wrote this because the others who will read this may learn something from it. Maybe someone will think, “how is it possible that through deep breathing I will no longer be selfish? How, through this wonderful workshop, will it equate to 20 years of introspection, 20 years of therapy, 20 years of sobriety..?

Not saying that a night of doing “breathwork” isn’t a wonderful way to spend an evening. It is. It’s lovely to go take a Hatha Yoga class. Hell, I’ve had 12 studios. When folks leave and say, “this class saved my life”, I don’t promote it saying, “come take my class, people say it saved their lives”. Why don’t I? Because, thank goodness, my level of insanity doesn’t take me there.

The first thing my teacher ever said to me when I asked, “how is it that I can fill up so many rooms and be adored by many when I haven’t a clue truly how to live?” His response was “that’s because you are full of shit and people flock to those who are full of shit. A man of true wisdom will never have a huge crowd”. It made all the sense in the world to me.

Thank you, Jon Paul Crimi, for sharing your thoughts on my Facebook page, for making room for all of us to learn, to question, to reflect and analyze.

As Josh Billings says, “the trouble with most folks isn’t their ignorance. It’s knowin’ so many things that ain’t so.”

Peace,
EP

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1 yellow onion, chopped
1 large pepper, yellow, red, orange or green, chopped
1 1/2 Tablespoons chili powder
1/2 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 cloves garlic, minced
15 ounce can, pinto beans, rinsed and drained
15 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cups vegetable stock
Sea salt, to taste
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
Cooked quinoa, rice, or pasta (optional)

In a Dutch oven, cook onions and peppers over medium heat, until softened 5 minutes, or until softened.
Add water, 1 to 2 Tablespoons at a time, as needed to prevent sticking.
Stir in chili powder through garlic.
Cook 1 minute.
Add beans through vegetable stock.
Bring just to boiling over medium-high heat.
Reduce heat.
Simmer, partially covered, 20 minutes or until mixture is slightly thickened.
Season with salt and black pepper, if desired.
Can be served as a soup.
Or served over cooked quinoa, rice or pasta for an extra-hearty meal.

Makes 7 cups
Inspired by a recipe from Forks Over Knives by Chef Del Sroufe

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1 large butternut squash (approximately 3 lbs.)
1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces*
Fresh sage or oregano leaves, about 6 sage leaves or oregano leaves from 2 stems (can substitute with 1 teaspoon dry herbs)
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Cut neck off from squash.
Peel squash.
Resting squash on its base, may have to slice 1/2 inch off bottom, cut squash lengthwise in half, creating two steaks.
Heat oil in large heavy skillet (cast iron is great) over medium heat.
Cook squash steaks, turning every 3 minutes, until browned on both sides and fork-tender, approximately 15 minutes.
Add butter, herbs and garlic, tilting pan to pool the butter on one side.
Use large spoon to continually baste steaks with butter.
Baste until butter is no longer bubbling, approximately 1 minute.
Remove from heat.
Stir in lemon juice; season with salt and pepper.

Serves 2
*Note: can substitute with non-dairy butter
Inspired by a recipe from Bon Appetit

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4 Japanese Eggplants, cut in half lengthwise
1/4 cup good quality olive oil, divided
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
3/4 – 1 cup marinara sauce
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup tortilla chips, finely crushed
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
Torn fresh basil leaves, garnish

Preheat oven to 400°

On a rimmed baking sheet fitted with parchment paper, place the halved eggplants cut side up.
Rub them with 2 tablespoons olive oil; season with salt and pepper.
Roast them for approximately 15 minutes, or until tender.
Remove eggplants from the oven.
Divide marinara sauce evenly over each eggplant half.
Sprinkle with feta cheese.
In a small bowl, mix together crushed tortilla chips, Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, and remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil.
Top eggplant halves with the crumb mixture.
Return to oven and bake for approximately 12-15 minutes, until brown and bubbly.
Garnish with basil leaves.

Serves 2-4

For Vegans, substitute the cheese for non-dairy cheese

Inspired by a recipe from Giada De Laurentiis

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From my Facebook Live video, December 18, 2018 – Park City, Utah

Some call it a comeback. I’m suited up and booted up to tell you that on March 29th, 2018, I busted ten ribs on my right side, tore my right rotator cuff, broke my left hand, my left wrist and had some other bumps and bruises.

Here, I am headed right back up the fucking mountain to end 2018 on my skis. There’s a beautiful view, plenty of snow and I’m ready to roll.

I arrived at the Salt Lake City airport this morning and I have to tell you that I felt a little PTSD. I felt a little nauseous. I had a few flashbacks remembering how I was feeling the last time. I’m just utterly grateful that:

1. my body has been able to heal.
2. I’ve trained myself to not be the kind of person to give up; to quit; to allow fear to get in my way.

I truly and utterly believe in continuing to stand up as long as you can. For instance this last weekend, some of you, who have been listening to me for awhile, know how much I love my dad. How much I care for him. How close we are and how much work I had to do to figure out how to get along with him, to not “throw him under the bus”. But, how do I figure that out?

We’ve been getting along marvelously for about 30 years or so. But a few months back he came out and I just “shit the bed”. I had some real hard time with some stuff. He didn’t know it. But my wife surely did and I was agitated like a mother-fucker. So when he asked to come out again, I jumped at the chance. Some of my friends and family members said, “what? I thought it was so horrible. It was. But I’m going to make it right this time.” I figured out what I had to do to adjust myself; my own expectations, etc., etc., etc. I had an incredible weekend!

It’s like returning here, where I fell down and broke everything. Now I’m returning to that exact spot to ski through it and have a better run. I did the same thing with my family. I’ve done the same thing with my children. I’ve done the same thing with my wife. I’ve done the same thing with my ex-wife. You name it and EP keeps coming back. I don’t come back without having made adjustments; without having learned; without having some minor tests and understanding that I’m up for the task.

I don’t want you to get me wrong. I don’t want you to go back where you got your ass kicked without being a different person. Hell no, you don’t do that because you’ll just get your ass kicked again. That’s where I think some of you strange mother-fuckers keep doing this to yourself.

You have the courage and the willingness. But you lack the intellect and the common awareness and understanding. Hey, just because I want to do it and because I like to do this, does not mean I’m capable of doing it. As Clint Eastwood said in Sudden Impact, “Man’s got to know his limitations.” I recognize that I am limited in many ways and I work with it, around it, and through it.

One of the ways that I am not limited today is that I’m putting these two skis on my feet, strapping the boots in and getting down this mountain. I can’t wait! I’m excited! I don’t like getting my ass whupped. I certainly don’t like making a fool of myself or others. I don’t like behaving in ways that go against my moral and ethical value system. But I do love that, when I do those things, I’m not afraid to get back up, show face, do what I need to do to stand in that place again, and do it with dignity and grace. That’s what The Unfucked Code is all about.

You are going to hear me talk about it left and right pretty soon, probably ad
nauseam, what the “unfucked code” is. What this tribe is. What this book is. If I could sum it up, in terms of our personal growth, it’s about being courageous enough to stand back up right where you fell down and give it another try in a safe, smart, dignified way.

So, dad, thanks for coming back out and giving your son another chance again. Wifey, thanks so much for having the courage to do a redo because you got the brunt end of all of this and saw how pissed off I was. Thank you, mountain range for being here for another year. Thank you, Rick Kaufman, for inviting me, so I could strap these suckers on and do what I love doing since I was three years old.

Everybody’s asked me, “are you going skiing again? It’s dangerous. What’s going to happen…?” If something happens, something happens. I’m going to do the best I can to be safe. But if I ever go out, it ain’t going to be going out with some crazy shit going on. I am going to go out on my own terms. That’s for sure. And if I can’t do that, I’ll do second best. I’ll take a chair-lift up this mountain and walk down it.

The thought for all of us for these holidays. If you want to have a hell of a holiday, you need to unfuck yourself. Don’t be afraid to show back up, whether it’s to a friend’s house, or a family’s house. Whatever you have to do during these holidays where you have had your buttons pushed, where you haven’t been your best self; just do it.

Show up as long as you’ve grown up. As long as you’ve grown up, show up. That’s what it is. Grow up, show up! Again and again, and you’ll get it right.

We ain’t never giving up. We’re always living up. We’re always looking up. It was great to spend some time with you on this chair-lift ride.

By the way, I am wearing a helmet. It’s a new move. I don’t like the look. Got to be honest. I’m going to find one of those dudes who design the hockey goalies’ helmets to design mine.

Hope to hear from everybody this season. I wish you all the merriest of Christmases and the happiest of New Years.

Peace,
EP

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1/2 cup non-dairy butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar (plus more for topping)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1 1/2  cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 Tablespoon cornstarch or potato starch
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, grate fresh, if available
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 Tablespoon unsweetened almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)

Preheat oven to 350°

Add softened butter to food processor; blend until smooth.
Add sugar, brown sugar and vanilla and blend until fully incorporated.
Add pumpkin and mix.
Sift dry ingredients into a mixing bowl.
Add to pumpkin mixture.
Mix until incorporated, being careful not to over mix.
Add almond milk and mix until a soft dough is formed.
Freeze dough for 15 minutes, or refrigerate for 30 minutes (or chill overnight).
Scoop out heaping 1 Tbsp amounts of dough and roll into balls.
Place on a baking sheet, fitted with parchment paper, 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
Dip a glass into sugar and then gently smash the cookie ball down into a disc.
Bake on the center rack for 10-12 minutes or until slightly golden brown.
Let rest on pan for a few minutes.
Then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Makes 22 cookies

Inspired by the Minimalist Baker