No Yoga, No Peace

Last week, I attended a methodology workshop for design professionals.  It was great.  I spent the day with other creatives who think in symbolism.  We shared best practices and fully supported one another.  I was surrounded by other people just like me.

That night, while driving across the Bay Bridge, I was flipped off.  That’s not unusual.  People are always showing their middle finger to others for perceived or real slights in traffic.  But, these kids (I’d guess they were all under 25) then added chants of WP.

I didn’t know what that meant.  I flashed a peace sign, through up my Buddha hands and looked confused.

They quickly clarified that WP means White Power.

Interesting.

In the workshop, we talked about opposites coexisting in long-term trends.  I see people coming together in small and large ways.  Helping one another.  Making the world a better, more peaceful place.  And, simultaneously, I see people self-segregating.  Fearful and judgmental.

They want to be surrounded by other people just like them.

Surprisingly, I didn’t get angry when the boys continued following me and yelling White Power.  I did call the police though.  It was kind of a yoga moment.

Besides the Buddha hands, I thought about my effect on others.  In my life, so far, people react very positively or very negatively to me without knowing me.  There’s rarely an in-between.  That’s especially true when I teach yoga.

The great thing about my training is that I know it’s not personal.  What comes up in class comes from within.  The teacher doesn’t create it.  In my design career, I know that intense reaction, positive or negative, means I’m doing something right.  No artist or designer wants a neutral response.

“Meh” is heartbreaking.

My taking yoga off the mat lately means finding those Buddha hands, not taking so much personally (when I can) and appreciating both positive and negative reactions as equal.

Day by day, step by step…just one millimeter at a time.

Last year this time, I was in a bit of a funk.  Plodding ahead, staring at my feet, wondering why things weren’t they way they were sposedta be.  Those Sposedtas and Yoga Fairies are pretty strong this time of year.

A wonderful women and amazing yogi, Catherine Chapman, pulled me out of the house to see Wah! in concert at Rusty’s studio.   I had mixed feelings about going.  My own funk, history with Rusty, blah, blah, blah….  She cut through the crap and told me to get out of the house.

I’m really lucky to have her in my life.

It was a beautiful & wet night.  I got there early.  Rock star parking was waiting for me.

I sat in my car for a bit and people watched.  The few people who went by were very interesting.  I saw a guy across the street walking his dog.  Cigarette smoke occasionally came from under his umbrella as he stood under the street light.  Another guy, with no umbrella, came walking up on my side of the street.   He stopped and tried to light a cigarette in the rain.  It didn’t work well.  He looked up and saw the smoking man and called out for help with a light.

As I watched him run across the street towards the man with the dog, I felt a little warm and happy to be there.  I got to watch two strangers come together in a moment.  They hunched closely under the umbrella.  Each with a cigarette in his mouth, using the lit cigarette to light the unlit one.

With cigarettes lit, they chatted for a bit.  The dog got a little attention.  And, they went their separate ways.

There’s really nothing like dogs and cigarettes to bring strangers together in an instantly intimate way.

Sometimes yoga brings people together.  Sometimes it doesn’t.

“Say hello to someone you don’t know.”

Ugh.  Teachers who start their classes that way get the face from me.  You know, that face that says seriously.

They’re trying to pull us out of our shells, the same way Catherine did for me that night.

They’re trying to create an intimate moment, like the two men with the cigarettes.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t…but we should always give it a try.  On and off the mat.  Even without a dog or a cigarette.

Sometimes work is…well…a challenge. What I actually mean to say is that my co-workers are a challenge.  But, that’s a subject for another post.

We’ve all had those moments. Maybe it was a bully on the play ground or a boss that reminds you of the tv show The Office…but I know when I look at someone and my only thought is “who raised you?”, it’s time for yoga.

Seriously.

At my current job, I work in the suburbs, maybe it’s the exurbs.  It’s just really far away from everything.  As a city kid, I’m still lost and bewildered. When there are more Targets than Starbucks, something’s wrong.
The one thing I like (there is something) is the amount of nature just outside of the office.

I see rabbits, geckos, hummingbirds and more!  Really!  Rabbits!!  It makes me so happy that I can’t help squealing BUNNIES!!! every time I see them.

A few weeks ago, a hawk started hunting around the parking lot.  The rabbits disappeared but the dark eyed juncos (or maybe they’re black phoebes) were on patrol.  It was awesome to watch the mamas chasing a hawk away from their nests.  Defiance!

The other thing that makes me very happy is teaching yoga.  No matter how hard the work week is, I feel amazing after teaching just one class.  It feels as great as the practice.

Recently,  just before class, I read that someone in my life who’s been a quiet influence and inspiration had died.  Even in a moment of sadness and loss, teaching made me feel better.  And, I’m especially grateful that people show up and we flow together.

My yoga has helped me really appreciate more in life.

Thank you.

“What!!??” I blurted to my mac when I read Larry Schultz’s obituary.

He was a long time yogi, in the true sense. I wouldn’t call what we did at It’s Yoga Ashtanga. The Rocket was definitely inspired by but certainly would not fly if you tried it with Guruji.  But, that discussion is for another post.

I was totally intimidated the first time I approached It’s on Folsom Street. The studio was on the second floor then. You went up a long flight of stairs. I think there was a statue or something yogic at the top. Nothing else really let you know if you walked through the right door.

My first visit, I got there right at 6pm, technically late. I tried to quietly tip toe up the stairs, over the shoes along the way. My head popped up over the low wall and I saw dozens (I mean DOZENS) of people, mat to mat, moving through something too quick to figure out. My eye met Larry’s, I shrugged, he waved and I left.

When I finally showed up on time (15 min before class), I had no mat and didn’t realize I’d walked into a level 2-3 Rocket. I signed the waiver, rented a mat and was told “I’d be fine”.

“Surya Namaskara A!”

ok..can’t touch my toes…alright, step back…belly flop…shoulder shrug…downward dog…at least I know this pose…Jebus, how long to we have to stay here…alright, still can’t touch my toes…whew, glad that’s over!

whattya mean again?

I got through four more of those and 2 out of 5 Surya Namaskara B’s.  It certainly looked  easier on tv.  I think I snored in savasana…I was wiped out.

Through the years, it got easier.  I feel in love with the ropes and slings.  The studio expanded.  The space downstairs held, at least, twice as many people. I even started practicing at the front of the room.

The whole time, I don’t remember ever being coddled or pampered.  At It’s, you were thrown in and told to swim.  Maybe, it was a different time.

The thing was that we all knew how to swim.  Going back to the teachings of yoga, it’s all there, we’ve just forgotten.  That’s what I loved most about It’s Yoga.

No doubt, there was some drama.  Yoga studios can be settings for soap operas but I managed to avoid it.  No matter what went down, you couldn’t say Larry ever lied.  He was always honest about who he was and what he wanted.  I really appreciate that.

To this day, while teaching, I can’t say the word Chaturanga without remembering my days on Folsom St.  Some students may even notice a smirk on my face because sometimes I still hear Larry echoing in my head.  (photo of Larry’s practice taken by: Eric Broder Van Dyke)

CHATURANGAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!

Now that I’ve out that song in head…hopefully it’s the Tom Jones version.

Here’s a little news about what’s coming:

New class at Namaste! The east bay keeps calling.  Starting Sunday, March 6, you can find me at Namaste Rockridge, 12:30-2:00pm.

March 12 – Yosemite Bug: Yoga Jambalaya!  I’m teaching from 3:15-4:45.  Make a day of it.  Fabulous yoga, good food and a great spa!

April 1-3-Yosemite Bug/Nat’l Park: Secret Yosemite Yoga and Hiking retreat. Third year in a row.  Come practice, hike and experience our wonderful National Park…just 4 hours away from the Bay Area.

Always more on the horizon!

See you on the mat!

Join me at the Jambalaya at the Yosemite Bug again this year!

I once broke up a fight in a yoga studio. They hadn’t come to blows…yet. The disagreement started in class and I was downstairs at the front desk. By the time the ladies came down, it was bad.

I found myself standing between them, hoping to prevent anything physical, and let each tell her side. Once I heard their stories, it was really hard not laugh.

But, I couldn’t get that look off my face…you know, the one that says “seriously“.  I don’t know if they ever went at it again but I never forgot that day.

Each side had an incredible amount of ego mixed with a lot of sposedta.  “She’s sposedta practice this way…well, she’s sposedta come on time”

We want to do things well, we want to be our best with everything in life. That includes the practice on the mat. I’m never surprised when a student asks how do I get to that point….how can I advance quickly. But, I’m still surprised when people are disappointed that it takes time.

I constantly say that things will happen one breath at a time, one millimeter at a time. Imagine not being able to touch your toes. For some, it doesn’t take much imagination. Your just a couple of inches away from that goal. Every time you’re on the mat, you get one millimeter closer. An inch is just 25.4 mil.

But every time you let ego or the sposedtas take over, you loose a millimeter.

The sposedtas a little like those yoga fairies David Swenson talks about.  They both mess with your head.  The fairies put you in a pose effortlessly and, the next day, they make it the hardest thing you’ve ever done.  The sposedtas convince you to go too far and take no responsibility for injury.

Last weekend, the city was quiet, dare I say peaceful. With Wanderlust miles away and Jerry Day corralling the modern day hippies in Golden Gate Park, those of us left behind got open tables at cafes and a little room between yoga mats. It was nice!

Summer is always a great time for music lovers! Global Sol Fest is coming to the East Bay Aug 6-7. The music line up looks amazing. And, as a bonus, it’s local.

It’s great to get away and spend time at Bonnaroo or Burning Man or whatever but it’s even better to support the local economy and encourage more artists to come and share their talents here while inspiring locals in every way.

No yoga superstars, no pool parties, just good music and, very likely, good people. Anything described as a “Royal mashup of tech nomadic culture” is worth experiencing!

A little yoga off the mat!

Many have heard me talk about “The Davids” – David Swenson and David Williams. They’re both big influences on my teaching. Most know how much I love the Kest Brothers – Bryan and Jonny. Richard Freeman makes me giggle in every class I’ve taken with him, reminding me to enjoy the ride-it’s just yoga after all. And, I’m on a mission to study with Rolf and Marci Naujokat and Nancy Gilgoff someday–soon!

Even if they’ve moved away from pure Ashtanga, they all trace their practice back to Shri K Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009) of Mysore, India.

Who did PJ study under? Shri T Krishnamacharya (1888-1989).

Here are some old newsreels of him from the 1930′s…

And, here’s his wife, Namagiriammal…

Growing up in San Francisco in the 70′s was quite an experience; especially for a girl surrounded by independent women.

Watching Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem while holding my mom’s hand, showed me how it’s ok for women to be passionate and fiery. Reading about Hua Mulan, as told by Maxine Hong Kingston, while in grade school taught me that a woman and be tough, even ferocious, and still be feminine.

As l always say, yoga teachers teach what we know, even what we love. The duality of strength and softness is a major focus in my life, my practice and my teaching. But, it’s not just for the women in class.

David Swenson moves like a cat. In his teaching, he tries to get us to take the effort and stress out of Ashtanga. I know, he’s super flexible and strong and he makes it look easy…but what do you expect after 40+ years of yoga! He didn’t start that way. Minimal amount of effort..

Ana Forrest shows strength and power on every muscle as she moves through challenging poses effortlessly. Her softness and femininity, shine over her students as she leads class. Anyone who’s ever received and adjustment from her knows how warm she can be.

It’s all about balance-left and right; soft and strong, focus and relaxation. Practicing this on the mat, helps us take it off the mat.