Nomad Living – Part 1

Four months ago I packed my shiny new Bronco to the gills and departed California on a beautiful sunny morning (of course). On my way to Texas, with no particular city in mind or specific travel map in place except for my one goal: to find a place to live within a month. Just the right amount of time to visit and explore at least a dozen major cities along the way.

You may call it a long road trip, but I call it Nomad Living. Nomad as in “a member of a people who have no fixed residence but move from place to place”. And that would be me.

The good news is I love to explore and have since adapted to the inconveniences of not having a fixed residence – trust me, there are many. Plus, nomad living is never boring because you’re always scrambling to familiarize yourself with the plethora of unknowns. Until you eventually land and get the lay of the land, like I did in Plano for a few months and where I also produced my podcast, Tola Talks Texas. Opinionated and oftentimes political for sure, and be sure to check out my two favorite episodes Ep 8 – Suicide Sucks and Ep 20 – Never Live in Fear.

Then it was back on the road, again, this time desiring to spend quality time with my father who’s battling liver cancer as well as revisit some old friends and haunts in Las Vegas and of course, my formerly beloved LA. Not to mention a bunch more cities along the way.

All told I’ve driven 12,000 miles in 120 days while heartily visiting the following 30 cities: Yuma, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tuscon, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Flagstaff, Sedona, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin, Boulder City, Amarillo, El Paso, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Waco, Fort Worth, Dallas, Denton, Frisco, Plano, Needles, Riverside, Pasadena, LA and most recently, San Diego – as I write this I’m curiously exploring the boatloads of amazing neighborhoods and beaches of SD!

Have an awesome weekend and keep moving forward with your goals and dreams everyone…and get your workout in! Peace – R

Homage to MLK – Ep 15 – Tola Talks Texas

Today we’re paying tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It’s a national holiday in the United States and time to honor a great man who stood for never ending equality and justice for all. MLK was also the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, and a civil rights leader who inspired a nation with his “I Have a Dream” speech in front of 250,000 people gathered around the Lincoln Memorial during their peaceful march upon our nation’s capitol. We’re also talking about the Wolf Moon, a full moon that illuminates to its fullest tonight at 6:48p EST. Plus more fitness tips and inspiration as well as three more steps to everlasting youth from my book, How to Drink from the Fountain of Youth. Have an awesome holiday everyone…and get your workout in!

Goodbye California…Hello Texas

When I told my buddy I wasn’t vaccinated and was never getting the jab, he said, “Then it’s either Texas or Florida if you want to lead a normal life.”

Normal life, as in freely or being allowed by law, including going to the gym, nail salon, movie theatre, shopping mall or any bar or restaurant in the city. Talk about a quintessential What-The-Fcuk. I mean, one of our nation’s greatest Presidents and spokesperson for democracy, Thomas Jefferson, would roll over in his grave with such “tyranny over the mind of man” exhibited by today’s government officials.

Because in my book the COVID mandates of Los Angeles are not only ridiculous and unjust, they’re also a form of tyranny or “arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power”, as defined by the dictionary. Most importantly, these mandates prevent me from living a so-called normal life, which includes working out every single day plus walking 10+ miles a day since COVID began. Not to mention I’m at my ideal weight with less than 10% body fat, a blood pressure of 110 over 60, plus a great bill of health from my doctor. Oh yeah, I’ll be 59 in March and I’ve never taken a daily pill in my entire life – medicine or supplement. And don’t forget I wrote the book on How to Drink from the Fountain of Youth: 30 Steps to Everlasting Youth. So why do I need to inject myself with something that isn’t necessary? Forgettaboutit.

So there you have it California, you leave me no choice but to leave you after 15 glorious years. Albeit, it’s more like you kicked me out after 15 hard-working and dream chasing years.

Here I come Texas, with my new horsepower and anything is possible attitude. And no worries to anyone who thinks like I do and remains committed to living a fearless and vaccine-free life, all the while treating your most valuable asset, aka your Temple, with the utmost respect.

Happy Veterans Day everyone…and get your workout in! Peace – R

PS – new live stream podcast Coming Soon

Welcome to Wherever You Are

Hope you’re awesome everyone, and in case you were wondering, this isn’t a tribute to the music of Bon Jovi or INXS.

On the contrary, it’s more like a welcome home post after spending the past five months traversing the U.S. in search of the Holy Grail, much like a modern-day Indiana Jones. Well, not exactly, but I’ve definitely been a modern day cowboy cruising the countryside since I left my beloved Los Angeles in June.

Why, you might ask? Because  I love to explore new lands while checking out the fitness and yoga scenes – not to mention the music and entertainment and comedy club scenes – of America’s largest and most popular cities.

And on this particular leg of the adventure I’ve traveled to Austin, Dallas, Denver, and most recently, the lovely beaches of Santa Barbara (picture).

For those of you who have been following my life’s colorful journey since I moved to Hollywood in 2007, I’ve now lived in 11 major cities over the past 11 years.

The good news is I’ve also walked over a thousand miles and met tons of cool locals that made my sojourn an especially enjoyable experience. No doubt traveling to other cities is something I definitely recommend to anyone who has the time and vigor to do it. Notice I didn’t say money, because if you fly solo like I do, you really don’t need that much to explore. Just a pair of comfortable walking shoes and a lightweight backpack. Oh, and don’t forget an open-minded attitude that comes with a big fat smile on your face…because that ALWAYS helps.

So pack your bags and enjoy your journey wherever it takes you this holiday season, and have an amazing Halloween!

Peace – R

Greetings from Denver!

Another great American city in my sights. Literally.

Love my nomadic lifestyle this summer, experiencing the unique flavors of Austin, Dallas and now Denver in less than 100 days.

The Mile High City is quite a wonder. Beauty, sunshine, Red Rocks (below) and healthy people everywhere, no doubt making Denver an amazing place to live. Not to mention cool neighborhoods to explore like LoHi, Capital Hill, RiNo, Downtown, Baker, LoDo, West Colfax (where I live) and the Highlands. And don’t forget my favorite walking trail around Sloan’s Lake Park with an amazing view of the majestic Colorado Rockies (below). Simply awesome.

Special thanks to the Universe for allowing me the opportunity to traverse this great nation, and to all the friendly locals and business owners I’ve met along the way.

You rock!

So take it from me…one who has called home to more than 12 major U.S. cites, if you find yourself with three months to spare, definitely check-out the splendor of Denver. You won’t be disappointed.

Have an awesome day everyone, and get your workout in.

With Love & Light to those who gave their lives on 9/11.  RIP – R

All kids will love it at the Dallas Zoo

Whether you’re a big kid, little kid or forever a kid at heart like me, you’ll love it at the Dallas Zoo!

Since my childhood days plus our time filming Zoo Yoga in LA for my Yoga Survival Guide, I’ve always been a fan of zoos. So to all you thrill seekers and families looking for some good old fashion fun in Dallas, get your butts over there and you won’t be disappointed.  From Hippos to Cheetahs to Elephants to Crocodiles, you’ll find all types of animals that will surely impress.

And since I’ll be leaving this blazing hot town for another great American city (hint: it’s a mile high), I spent the past few days as a wide eyed tourist visiting world class destinations like the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Reunion Tower, the Dallas World Aquarium and Klyde Warren Park. Not to mention revisiting a few of my favorite spots including the Dallas Farmers Market and of course, the funky streets of Deep Ellum.

So until we meet again, I’ll miss you Dallas. All the best to everyone who braved a super hot summer and to all those returning from Montana!

Get your workout in y’all…and I’ll see you in Denver.

Peace – R

Greetings from Dallas!

Like a moth to a flame, I’ve been drawn to Dallas.

I’m not sure if it’s the richness of early American history dating back to its original settlement as a good trading post in 1839, or the plethora of diverse and interesting neighborhoods like Uptown, Deep Ellum, Bishop Arts District, Downtown, Lower Greenville or the M Streets (where I landed). Or perhaps it’s that cosmopolitan feel along with that “smell the roses” Texan mindset.

Regardless of whatever “it” is, Dallas certainly has me thinking I’ll be here for the rest of the summer. Not that America’s #1 city to live, aka Austin, wasn’t a cool place to explore for a couple of months, not to mention the wonderful staff and yoga students  at Castle Hill Fitness who loved Tola Yoga ..thanks everyone, especially Reesa, Autumn, Amy and Kat!

There’s just something about the Big D that reminds me of my Philadelphia roots and tickles my fancy in less than a week.

Have an awesome day everyone, and get your workout in!  Peace – R

Remember “the Eighties”?

Who can forget “the Eighties”, right?  Ronald Reagan and the end of the Cold War, Nancy Reagan’s Just Say No to drugs campaign, Dallas, Dynasty, Seinfeld and Miami Vice, Pac-Man and Nintendo, the Walkman and the Boombox, the arrival of Halley’s Comet, the Mount St. Helens eruption, MTV, Madonna and Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the Yugo and the DeLorean, “Big hair” and Ray-Bans, the Cabbage Patch Doll, famine in Ethiopia and the Live Aid concert, the Chernobyl diaster, the Lockerbie disaster, the Bhopal diaster, the Tiananmen Square protests, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger’s disintegration, the Exon Valdez spill, the beginning of the AIDS pandemic, the Apple Mackintosh, Wayne Gretsky, Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson, Donald Trump and Michael Milken, Chariots of Fire, Platoon, Top Gun, The Breakfast Club, Rain ManTerms of Endearment, Beverly Hills Cop, The Terminator, Die Hard and Rambo, the death of Bob Marley, and the assassination of The Beatles John Lennon, Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi, and Marvin Gaye. For those of us who experienced the go-go Eighties, it was quite a decade.  Now it’s time to enter the Fat Burning Eighties, i.e., today marks our 80th consecutive 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout.  So enjoy today’s Killer Kalves as we reminisce about the Eighties.  – R