I'm at the NetSquared Conference in San Jose this week (today and yesterday) – talking with many fabulous folks about technology for social change. Having already talked about Yoga for Geeks with the organizers a while back, and having come to the conclusion with them that the room set-up wouldn't allow for it, I wasn't planning on offering any.

But then late yesterday I was asked whether I'd like to offer a "Tips and Tricks" session for people to come around and drop into, and I agreed. Other offerings were things like "Tuning Your MySql Database", "CSS Tips" and "How to Blog", so I figured a space for a little bit of stretching out would be welcomed. ;) It's been an intense couple of days, after all.

It was quite different from what other YFG sessions have been, as this one was not a class per-se, but rather just people coming and going and asking about sore spots and trying things out on the fly. It turned into a bit of a "skill-share" actually, with everyone exchanging tricks for combatting desk fatigue. I got some great new ideas for future sessions  – thanks to those who came out!

We did some work with chairs, and some stuff on the floor. We stretched our wrists, necks, shoulders, backs, and even our eyeballs. And then... (this was sheer brilliance)... someone had the idea of doing a little massage circle. Oooh, it was great. Look for that one at many future Yoga for Geeks sessions!

I've been at WineCamp here in Calaveras County, California, for the past two days. What's that, you ask? Well, the key ingredients have been geeks, camping, strategizing... and lots of wine. Believe it or not, we spent a full 36 hours without power, much less wifi – but we're back online now! Day one was for offline conversations, and today is for Building Stuff. It's been a lot of fun.

This morning I led a yoga session for 20 WineCampers. It was certainly the most beautiful Yoga for Geeks session to date – we were perched up on a bluff overlooking the most spectacular view in the western Sierras, surrounded by trees and bathed in dappled sunlight. And a good thing, too, since – surprise surprise – a lot of people had consumed a lot of wine the night before. I think the view distracted a few folks from their pounding heads.

Our class was peaceful and gentle (the perfect antidote to two nights spent sleeping on the ground), and there were 4 or 5 newbies in the crowd, which always makes me feel extra good. If I can offer a positive first-ever yoga experience to my fellow geeks, and leave them thinking that they'd like to do it again, then I've done my work in the geek world. :) 

There was a photographer for the San Francisco Chronicle on hand and I swear he took 200 pictures of us, so if you're in the Bay Area, keep your eyes open on the Tech Section.

Thanks to everyone who came out – it's an honour to get to teach at events like this. And special thanks to Patrick Dominguez for the photo above!

This past Saturday was Penguin Day in Seattle. I had the chance to lead a lunch-hour Yoga for Geeks session to a packed crowd of almost 25 people - way more than I had expected!

While the venue was less than ideal, because the lunch-eaters were above us in a raised balcony kind of thing, with no noise barrier, it was still pretty great. Thirty minutes passed all too quickly, but feedback was positive, and the highlight of the whole experience for me was the group-initiated opening "OM". That *must* be a first for a geek conference...!?!? 

Special thanks to Gunner and Gregory for making it happen... and to Kris for picking up the mats... and to Samadhi Yoga for lending us mats and blocks for the day! You all rock! (Only I expect to see you out on a mat next time, Gunner...)

Want to see pictures? Kris took some great ones. Start here and click through to view the 6 best ones...