Reflections
23 entries in 2018 · oldest first
2018
Listening to Chaka Kahn's album "I Feel For You" and getting my life.
ââ¦I must confess that I am not afraid of the word âtension.â â¦there is a type of constructive nonviolent tension that is necessary for growth. Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, we must see the need of having nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men to rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood. So, the purpose of direct action is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation"
AS MLK WROTE IN HIS Birmingham letters, Rattling the establishment is very useful. Its true, you might find yourself a pariah, but to an unrepresented community of people, you are representation, giving voice to those that have been largely voiceless. It requires valor and bravery, as MLK later came to discover, as standing your ground may in fact become the hill that you die upon.
Much like my affinity for drag, I recognize that yoga will never truly be mainstream because it "mocks ego," as RuPaul says. Yoga is very good for marginalized people. It's goodness for the voices unspoken is directly proportionate to its threat to the establishment.
The establishment, the Man, is invested in maintaining its power, and because that power comes from a deified ego, the establishment further marginalizes those that dare question ego.
Anything that mocks ego becomes an inherent threat.
Those vested in the power that comes from the establishment, and for this I say as clearly as I can: especially ONLY from the establishment-- those people will always attempt to (at best) diminish and (at worst) silence (by any means necessary) that which shows that the emporer has no clothes. They will do it with a clear conscience as only those who have made a god out of a toothless tiger can murder guiltlessly.
The very best way to rattle the ego starts by creating tension. Without discounting your inherent value, question your worth. You can't use your privileges for good if you don't admit you have them. We all have god given rights and innate gifts. What are your gifts? Where have you struggled? You can't recognize your growth potential without a sober assesment of where you are. This will help build empathy.
Then, go out and get loud.
Rattle the establishment.
Do yoga.
Fight AIDS.
Make MLK, RuPaul, and this little yogi proud and go out there and color with all the colors in the crayon box.
AS MLK WROTE IN HIS Birmingham letters, Rattling the establishment is very useful. Its true, you might find yourself a pariah, but to an unrepresented community of people, you are representation, giving voice to those that have been largely voiceless. It requires valor and bravery, as MLK later came to discover, as standing your ground may in fact become the hill that you die upon.
Much like my affinity for drag, I recognize that yoga will never truly be mainstream because it "mocks ego," as RuPaul says. Yoga is very good for marginalized people. It's goodness for the voices unspoken is directly proportionate to its threat to the establishment.
The establishment, the Man, is invested in maintaining its power, and because that power comes from a deified ego, the establishment further marginalizes those that dare question ego.
Anything that mocks ego becomes an inherent threat.
Those vested in the power that comes from the establishment, and for this I say as clearly as I can: especially ONLY from the establishment-- those people will always attempt to (at best) diminish and (at worst) silence (by any means necessary) that which shows that the emporer has no clothes. They will do it with a clear conscience as only those who have made a god out of a toothless tiger can murder guiltlessly.
The very best way to rattle the ego starts by creating tension. Without discounting your inherent value, question your worth. You can't use your privileges for good if you don't admit you have them. We all have god given rights and innate gifts. What are your gifts? Where have you struggled? You can't recognize your growth potential without a sober assesment of where you are. This will help build empathy.
Then, go out and get loud.
Rattle the establishment.
Do yoga.
Fight AIDS.
Make MLK, RuPaul, and this little yogi proud and go out there and color with all the colors in the crayon box.
🔮Ready for some woo-woo??? 🔮
I have a few friends from DC visiting an #ashtanga retreat center in Goa. Taking a visit to #arambol (a bit of a hike from the retreatcenter) they took a 🎥of this rad #tightrope walker -- thinking of me and my love for the weird, they posted the clip on the internet and tagged me. Guess what?? I had just done the same thing, but hadn't posted! A few minutes later, we ran smack into each other... Just next to the performer!!🎪
🔮I felt conjured by white magic. 🔮
In New Orleans, as in Arambol, there are performers everywhere. The unwritten rule of ettiquiette is that you are free to watch, but taking pictures should lead to 💰💰💰
The age of the performer and the vibe of the older gal collecting the money gave me the heeby-jeebies. She was young and the lady was very gruff... Do. Not. Like. And I love throwing money at drag queens, strippers, and circus performers-- yikes!😳
Stair was the owner of the yoga studio that housed and incubated me as I became a #mysore style #ashtanga #yoga teacher. Thank god she was kinder to me than that scary old lady. 👵🏾👵🏾👵🏾
I try not to doubt the power of the universe to give stage direction, and this was just one more chance to see it in action. There is magic everywhere (especially NoLa and Goa) I think yoga helps us listen and hear for the cues, and our seniors can either really help us with that-- to see and feel the magic... 🎩
... Or they can stiffle and silence and take advantage -- something akin to labor violations. Allowing for beauty and growth and magic doesn't mean not seeing the ugly, the oppression, and the macabre.
✊🏻
Yoga's not all rainbows and kittens.
I have a few friends from DC visiting an #ashtanga retreat center in Goa. Taking a visit to #arambol (a bit of a hike from the retreatcenter) they took a 🎥of this rad #tightrope walker -- thinking of me and my love for the weird, they posted the clip on the internet and tagged me. Guess what?? I had just done the same thing, but hadn't posted! A few minutes later, we ran smack into each other... Just next to the performer!!🎪
🔮I felt conjured by white magic. 🔮
In New Orleans, as in Arambol, there are performers everywhere. The unwritten rule of ettiquiette is that you are free to watch, but taking pictures should lead to 💰💰💰
The age of the performer and the vibe of the older gal collecting the money gave me the heeby-jeebies. She was young and the lady was very gruff... Do. Not. Like. And I love throwing money at drag queens, strippers, and circus performers-- yikes!😳
Stair was the owner of the yoga studio that housed and incubated me as I became a #mysore style #ashtanga #yoga teacher. Thank god she was kinder to me than that scary old lady. 👵🏾👵🏾👵🏾
I try not to doubt the power of the universe to give stage direction, and this was just one more chance to see it in action. There is magic everywhere (especially NoLa and Goa) I think yoga helps us listen and hear for the cues, and our seniors can either really help us with that-- to see and feel the magic... 🎩
... Or they can stiffle and silence and take advantage -- something akin to labor violations. Allowing for beauty and growth and magic doesn't mean not seeing the ugly, the oppression, and the macabre.
✊🏻
Yoga's not all rainbows and kittens.
🚥What should be abolished must first be cherished. —Tao Te Ching chapter 36 🚥
Before I left to study with my teacher in Goa, a student of mine at @dcashtanga asked me what to do when practice begins to feel like a chore.
Ugggh. Anyone who's practiced anything for a long freaking time knows this kind of feeling, I think.
The truth is, practicing with very firm attention to detail creates a solid foundation -- bio-mechanically and spiritually. It's necessary. And when it comes to deliberate practice, you are not promised entertainment. You're promised skill development....
But sometimes it sure does get snooze-aroo. 🙄
Here's what's dope: Arjuna says that "yoga is skill in action" in the gita. This is where yoga is forged -- and it's from this very same foundation that one can begin to let go and create -- moving from the explicit to the implicit. Aka: "don't think, go. "🏃 And so I say: go have some fun! Play isn't practice, but don't forget to make sure your practice let's you play. Life isn't meant for supporting practice... Practice is to support your life! 😉
The great irony (oh, how I love the universe's sense of humor) is just how much thinking is needed until we can stop... And go. 🚦
This fall, I'll be teaching a variety of workshops on how to work methodically, and also how to find the play-- Things that I've seen work over and over again. We'll also talk about what doesn't always seem to work so great. 🏋🏻🤸🏻♂️ Interested? I'll be announcing my schedule soon 🙂
Before I left to study with my teacher in Goa, a student of mine at @dcashtanga asked me what to do when practice begins to feel like a chore.
Ugggh. Anyone who's practiced anything for a long freaking time knows this kind of feeling, I think.
The truth is, practicing with very firm attention to detail creates a solid foundation -- bio-mechanically and spiritually. It's necessary. And when it comes to deliberate practice, you are not promised entertainment. You're promised skill development....
But sometimes it sure does get snooze-aroo. 🙄
Here's what's dope: Arjuna says that "yoga is skill in action" in the gita. This is where yoga is forged -- and it's from this very same foundation that one can begin to let go and create -- moving from the explicit to the implicit. Aka: "don't think, go. "🏃 And so I say: go have some fun! Play isn't practice, but don't forget to make sure your practice let's you play. Life isn't meant for supporting practice... Practice is to support your life! 😉
The great irony (oh, how I love the universe's sense of humor) is just how much thinking is needed until we can stop... And go. 🚦
This fall, I'll be teaching a variety of workshops on how to work methodically, and also how to find the play-- Things that I've seen work over and over again. We'll also talk about what doesn't always seem to work so great. 🏋🏻🤸🏻♂️ Interested? I'll be announcing my schedule soon 🙂
💪🏻💀The body is a phenomenal tool for understanding the phenomenal world. Just as gravity and relativity help us explain and predict, so too can our bodies do the same for our individual relationship with the here and now. 🤸♀️💪🏻Am I breathing? How am I balancing? 🥗I shared falafel with three French woman this evening -- strangers. Each over 50, and world-wise. 🌅They asked me questions about the overlap and intersection of Shankaracharya and Hatha yoga.
Its a topic I find fascinating -- and so do they. The conversation, like the falafel, was excellent and nourishing. I can't wait to come home and continue to share. "Parampara!" said one of the ladies, as I dodged a question's straight answer. I'm so grateful for this stream of knowledge.
I teach my first public class on the subject of hips and explicit directive @kaliyogadc on March 10, in DC. See ya there.
Its a topic I find fascinating -- and so do they. The conversation, like the falafel, was excellent and nourishing. I can't wait to come home and continue to share. "Parampara!" said one of the ladies, as I dodged a question's straight answer. I'm so grateful for this stream of knowledge.
I teach my first public class on the subject of hips and explicit directive @kaliyogadc on March 10, in DC. See ya there.
THE TRUTH IS HARD TO SWALLOW WHEN YOU'RE CHOKING ON YOUR PRIDE
A pretty bold sentiment-- but, at the core of yoga is an aim to see the world as it actually is: unfettered by illusions and delusions. Raw. Real. Sometimes we want to cling to our precious illusions because we like them. Those can be the hard ones to give up. 🙈
In this pic I'm working with @davidgarriguesyoga -- I wanted so badly to have already found what I was looking for -- more extension in my throasic spine-- that I felt at a stalemate. Like, I wanted to already have it so badly, I got in the way of my own getting it. Somehow, I short circuited my own ingenuity and enjoyment. 📷I like this picture, because I remember the feelings from receiving THIS VERY assistance. It was an a-ha. I knew for sure I had not found yet what I was looking for, but I knew for sure it was there waiting to be found. AND I HAD FELT WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR!
There is a great joy in knowing you don't know but also sensing that with determination, you can find out. Getting a second set of eyes that you trust is invaluable.
Available to each of us is an infinite state of contemplative poise-- and if we weren't kinda in our own way, we'd have it all the time. So, what do we do? We practice at the contemplation and the poise, taking in the truth as best we can. Getting a taste for these feelings, a familiarity.
It's a bold thing to be a seeker of truth. Find me at my workshops at the link in the bio or join my teacher for a RARE local weekend workshop the weekend of April 6 at @ashtanganation In Northern Virginia.
A pretty bold sentiment-- but, at the core of yoga is an aim to see the world as it actually is: unfettered by illusions and delusions. Raw. Real. Sometimes we want to cling to our precious illusions because we like them. Those can be the hard ones to give up. 🙈
In this pic I'm working with @davidgarriguesyoga -- I wanted so badly to have already found what I was looking for -- more extension in my throasic spine-- that I felt at a stalemate. Like, I wanted to already have it so badly, I got in the way of my own getting it. Somehow, I short circuited my own ingenuity and enjoyment. 📷I like this picture, because I remember the feelings from receiving THIS VERY assistance. It was an a-ha. I knew for sure I had not found yet what I was looking for, but I knew for sure it was there waiting to be found. AND I HAD FELT WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR!
There is a great joy in knowing you don't know but also sensing that with determination, you can find out. Getting a second set of eyes that you trust is invaluable.
Available to each of us is an infinite state of contemplative poise-- and if we weren't kinda in our own way, we'd have it all the time. So, what do we do? We practice at the contemplation and the poise, taking in the truth as best we can. Getting a taste for these feelings, a familiarity.
It's a bold thing to be a seeker of truth. Find me at my workshops at the link in the bio or join my teacher for a RARE local weekend workshop the weekend of April 6 at @ashtanganation In Northern Virginia.
What do you think of when you try to imagine the most ideal circumstances for practice? Perfectly even floors? Temperature just right? Body totally on point? Supportive teacher by your side? I think those are pretty common. 🤷🏻♂️🤔 I, for one, hate practicing in the cold, and don’t like practicing in a stuffy room (gimmie that air flow!). ❄️☃️ This year, many of my students took up home practice while I was studying with my teacher. From a business perspective, this is scary... what if they don’t come back? For the sub, it’s disheartening (why don’t they like me???). Not to worry-- from my own experience, this is one of the great joys (and dare I say essential factors) in cultivating a personal relationship with practice: the ability and desire to just go do the damn thing. You can do it anywhere, anytime. Not when, ya know, everything's perfect... (It helps to visit a bestie in miami tho 💁🏼♂️ ). My teacher, Rolf, is about a foot shorter than me. To help me help him, and to help me help myself, he's equipped me with ways to work on things that allow me to learn and work independently.
At @dcashtanga we teach one-on-one in a group setting on a daily basis, empowering people with the skills to execute a physical contemplative practice with safety, skill, and longevity. 😍
For those who live just a bit (or a lot) too far, I like to travel on occasion and bring techniques and ideas that may be fresh or useful or different so as to help them develop a functional toolkit-- so they can practice anywhere. 🔧
Just like with my time away, where conditions can be near perfect, it's nice to work on the hard scary stuff in a supportive environment with clear direction -- but it's also great to develop the ability to work solo.
After all, yoga is a journey from the self to the self through the self. So, don't be afraid to work with what you've got... Like a palm tree between your legs. If you'd like to explore the backbending and hand balancing techniques going on here, join me at @mindthemat March 29 (click the link in bio to join me for a supple spine workshop 😉
At @dcashtanga we teach one-on-one in a group setting on a daily basis, empowering people with the skills to execute a physical contemplative practice with safety, skill, and longevity. 😍
For those who live just a bit (or a lot) too far, I like to travel on occasion and bring techniques and ideas that may be fresh or useful or different so as to help them develop a functional toolkit-- so they can practice anywhere. 🔧
Just like with my time away, where conditions can be near perfect, it's nice to work on the hard scary stuff in a supportive environment with clear direction -- but it's also great to develop the ability to work solo.
After all, yoga is a journey from the self to the self through the self. So, don't be afraid to work with what you've got... Like a palm tree between your legs. If you'd like to explore the backbending and hand balancing techniques going on here, join me at @mindthemat March 29 (click the link in bio to join me for a supple spine workshop 😉
2018 be like
@smallsbrooks
in image<
Search •sl LTE
10:17 AM
O
* 57%
Instagram
smallsbrooks
@smallsbrooks
no one leaves home unless
home is the mouth of a shark...
you only run for the border
when you see the whole city
running as well...
no one would leave home
unless home chased you...
you have to understand,
no one puts their children in
a boat
unless the water is safer than
the land...
-from 'Home' by Warsan Shire
Liked by hoekedonphonics and 25 others
smallsbrooks I know l've recently been sharing a lot of
happy photos. The truth is, I'm devastated. My heart is in a
million pieces and I feel so helpless. Donating and
organizing doesn't seem like enough to counteract the
caverity and denth of what ic hannenina in nur rauntry The
(+)
Search •sl LTE
10:17 AM
O
* 57%
smallsbrooks
@smallsbrooks
no one leaves home unless
home is the mouth of a shark...
you only run for the border
when you see the whole city
running as well...
no one would leave home
unless home chased you...
you have to understand,
no one puts their children in
a boat
unless the water is safer than
the land...
-from 'Home' by Warsan Shire
Liked by hoekedonphonics and 25 others
smallsbrooks I know l've recently been sharing a lot of
happy photos. The truth is, I'm devastated. My heart is in a
million pieces and I feel so helpless. Donating and
organizing doesn't seem like enough to counteract the
caverity and denth of what ic hannenina in nur rauntry The
(+)
Jim's client is an inspiration -- But there's more to the story , too. Jim has been a beacon of posivity and open source knowledge for as long as I've known him. If you're interested in online training-- read this and reach out to him asap. You won't regret it.
https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/how-christina-lost-50-pounds-31-total-inches-and-did-her-first-pull-up/
https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/how-christina-lost-50-pounds-31-total-inches-and-did-her-first-pull-up/
The Gods of Indic history are known by a variety of their names based on their cycles of rebirth - I canât help but feel affinity- I'm Mike, Skippy, Mikey, and Michael here. I feel indescribably blessed to have an overlapping and overflowing community of friends who know *me* and call me by my name. Here we are, NYC.
Yoooooo!
in imageYoooooo!
JUN 27, 2018
JUN 27, 2018
How do we tether a soul to another? What twine or taffy makes them stay? Is it love or god or byproduct of inevitability?
Perhaps there is no real delineation-- all three the same, differently labeled, but effectively borderless. So then too, this is a reflection on both marriage and friendship, both of which can bind so equally and tightly. It seems to me there is no distinction -- both a pact with another to participate in the process of complete cooperation with the inevitable. Sounds an awful lot like enlightenment.
The great sages of the yogic path say that the surest way to the end states of yoga are through love and devotion. They call that path to enlightenment bhakti.
There is no surer way to know God and the self than love.
Till death do we part, indeed.
Perhaps there is no real delineation-- all three the same, differently labeled, but effectively borderless. So then too, this is a reflection on both marriage and friendship, both of which can bind so equally and tightly. It seems to me there is no distinction -- both a pact with another to participate in the process of complete cooperation with the inevitable. Sounds an awful lot like enlightenment.
The great sages of the yogic path say that the surest way to the end states of yoga are through love and devotion. They call that path to enlightenment bhakti.
There is no surer way to know God and the self than love.
Till death do we part, indeed.
in imageCE IS NOT MERELY THE ABSENCE OF TENSION. IT IS THE PRESENCE OF JUSTICE
KAYAK
@dharrieta
in image•il AT&T LTE
9:11 PM
• * 25% O
• facebook.com
CLINTON: And it's pretty clear ...
TRUMP: You're the puppet!
@dharrieta
CLINTON: It's pretty clear you won't admit ...
TRUMP: No, you're the puppet.
CLINTON: ... that the Russians have engaged in cyberattacks
against the United States of America, that you encouraged
espionage against our people, that you are willing to spout
the Putin line, sign up for his wish list, break up NATO, do
whatever he wants to do, and that you continue to get help
from him, because he has a very clear favorite in this race.
So 1 think that this is such an unprecedented situation. We've
never had a foreign government trying to interfere in our
election. We have 17 — 17 intelligence agencies, civilian and
military, who have all concluded that these espionage
attacks, these cyberattacks, come from the highest levels of
the Kremlin and they are designed to influence our election. I
find that deeply disturbing.
WALLACE: Secretary Clinton...
CLINTON: And I think it's time you take a stand ...
TRUMP: She has no idea whether it's Russia, China, or
anybody else.
CLINTON: I am not quoting myself.
TRUMP: She has no idea.
CLINTON: | am quoting 17 ...
TRUMP: Hillary, you have no idea.
CLINTON: ... 17 intelligence — do you doubt 17 military and
civilian ...
TRUMP: And our country has no idea.
CLINTON: ... agencies.
TRUMP: Yeah, I doubt it. I doubt it.
CLINTON: Well, he'd rather believe Vladimir Putin than the
military and civilian intelligence professionals who are sworn
to protect us. I find that just absolutely frightening.
9:11 PM
• * 25% O
• facebook.com
CLINTON: And it's pretty clear ...
TRUMP: You're the puppet!
@dharrieta
CLINTON: It's pretty clear you won't admit ...
TRUMP: No, you're the puppet.
CLINTON: ... that the Russians have engaged in cyberattacks
against the United States of America, that you encouraged
espionage against our people, that you are willing to spout
the Putin line, sign up for his wish list, break up NATO, do
whatever he wants to do, and that you continue to get help
from him, because he has a very clear favorite in this race.
So 1 think that this is such an unprecedented situation. We've
never had a foreign government trying to interfere in our
election. We have 17 — 17 intelligence agencies, civilian and
military, who have all concluded that these espionage
attacks, these cyberattacks, come from the highest levels of
the Kremlin and they are designed to influence our election. I
find that deeply disturbing.
WALLACE: Secretary Clinton...
CLINTON: And I think it's time you take a stand ...
TRUMP: She has no idea whether it's Russia, China, or
anybody else.
CLINTON: I am not quoting myself.
TRUMP: She has no idea.
CLINTON: | am quoting 17 ...
TRUMP: Hillary, you have no idea.
CLINTON: ... 17 intelligence — do you doubt 17 military and
civilian ...
TRUMP: And our country has no idea.
CLINTON: ... agencies.
TRUMP: Yeah, I doubt it. I doubt it.
CLINTON: Well, he'd rather believe Vladimir Putin than the
military and civilian intelligence professionals who are sworn
to protect us. I find that just absolutely frightening.
in imagefite
5
T
Smiling while
squatting?
No thanks.
Gym-goers are irked
bobbyist Natalie Weeks. She's
not anti-amile, but is discomfited
with fitness instructors
by what she describes as a level
telling them to smile
of "aggression" in instructors
who repeatedly command class
TRENDS
members to grin. Julie Ricevuto,
I recentiy spent an bour atempe-
anorber rourine clans-goer, sayss,
ing Marrior 1 on a floating yoga
*Hallf of the time when I'm work-
mat as part of an "agua-fi" work-
ing out, it's early in the morming
sur. The instructor dido't re-
or after a long day at work — both
mind me to prutect my knee or
times in which I'm not exactly in
t engage my core. Instead, she
the mood to stile through an ez-
wanned me to amue
ceptionally hard workout class."
Ne'ire living in a world with T-
Warkouts are an opportunity to
shirts that warn, "Doa't tell me
breathe loudls, sweat and gener-
to amille "Street barassment has
ally appear uncomposed in a room
long been documented and de-
full of peopie who are dring the
munced. But in the gym, minruc-
same. A smile cue shatters that
toes bavea't gumten the message.
illusion, reminding exencisers to
As a firners writer who has
stay presentable even while drip
aune so a pletbora of classes.
ping with sweat. But to smile for
T'rebees dinected to turn up the
someone else's benefit is a gen
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dered code, one that no worsan
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should be forced to upbold when
vbakce inducing dumhbell repson
already holding a plank.
die harre, and provide a "gran
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well. It's widely belleved that
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smoiling can improve your over-
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sweaty people with furnowed
brows and remain composed,
so I understand where they're
comning from even if 1 dosit agree
with it," says Jennica Kalick, a
certified ynga instructor in NYC.
*Everyone wears their effort
differently, whether that's by
gritting their teeth, crinkling
their eyebrows, steeling their
Jawr or simply looking neutral,"
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a Dark at 9:30 aum. Saturday ) The Bike Rack Logan Circle hosts free inten
5
T
Smiling while
squatting?
No thanks.
Gym-goers are irked
bobbyist Natalie Weeks. She's
not anti-amile, but is discomfited
with fitness instructors
by what she describes as a level
telling them to smile
of "aggression" in instructors
who repeatedly command class
TRENDS
members to grin. Julie Ricevuto,
I recentiy spent an bour atempe-
anorber rourine clans-goer, sayss,
ing Marrior 1 on a floating yoga
*Hallf of the time when I'm work-
mat as part of an "agua-fi" work-
ing out, it's early in the morming
sur. The instructor dido't re-
or after a long day at work — both
mind me to prutect my knee or
times in which I'm not exactly in
t engage my core. Instead, she
the mood to stile through an ez-
wanned me to amue
ceptionally hard workout class."
Ne'ire living in a world with T-
Warkouts are an opportunity to
shirts that warn, "Doa't tell me
breathe loudls, sweat and gener-
to amille "Street barassment has
ally appear uncomposed in a room
long been documented and de-
full of peopie who are dring the
munced. But in the gym, minruc-
same. A smile cue shatters that
toes bavea't gumten the message.
illusion, reminding exencisers to
As a firners writer who has
stay presentable even while drip
aune so a pletbora of classes.
ping with sweat. But to smile for
T'rebees dinected to turn up the
someone else's benefit is a gen
comsersal my lips whüe bolding a
dered code, one that no worsan
burting chair pose, grin through
should be forced to upbold when
vbakce inducing dumhbell repson
already holding a plank.
die harre, and provide a "gran
Some instructors may mean
snrisa" in a sgin clans in Miexaco
well. It's widely belleved that
Orhen the request is issoed in
smoiling can improve your over-
the same tome as an actual fie-
all mood in and out of the gym.
otructiue: "Leas back
But studies about the effect
Malgar 10 1
vour heselis amc
of imiling on a workout have
amtue at yourwellf in the murrer."
beem inconclasive, and somse test
Iie otly workouts that baven't
subjects even performed worse
callied fur my umt
Jee Boning or
when foroed to smile
Croufit, which are mone likely
So why do trainers urge their
io sitew malle
chents to smile?
Tcome for the warkout" says
*I think a lot of instructors
Sew Kork City-based fitness
choose to cue smiling because
Channelling anger
PauciFas 1 Mamo
instructor at Barmy's Bootcamg
would rather his studients chamnel
anger "T actually encourage my
clients to take their anger out on
me by simply yelling. TExpietive)
you." That acinowiedgment of
dfficulty. he explains. can reveao
dension from the room - and iead ta
genuine laughs and high-fives ts
of their owm newbens to teach
ing or nervoussess in genera.
It's hard to lock at a roomsful of
sweaty people with furnowed
brows and remain composed,
so I understand where they're
comning from even if 1 dosit agree
with it," says Jennica Kalick, a
certified ynga instructor in NYC.
*Everyone wears their effort
differently, whether that's by
gritting their teeth, crinkling
their eyebrows, steeling their
Jawr or simply looking neutral,"
says Kulck. "Se
unusual reaction t
physicadactivity"
rectly requestin
her students, Kal
them to notice
have tightemed
Asking stade
*pull thems out of
rience "agrees.
instructor at 7
lyn "It also adds
that we meed toB
moment of the
fam't mecessas
good alll of the t
Joanna Ros
structor at Sky
City, wouldn t or
requesting sn
class wbere the
ing each other,
at the person
remind peop
a communal p
and that thei
those aroune
FOR THE MASH
a Dark at 9:30 aum. Saturday ) The Bike Rack Logan Circle hosts free inten
yo
in imageyO
sel
I love people who have felt the tiredness
of their soul. get up in the morning and
choose to stay strong. You make this
world a better place.
- F.R
sel
I love people who have felt the tiredness
of their soul. get up in the morning and
choose to stay strong. You make this
world a better place.
- F.R
What’s one thing we know for sure about weather? It’s gonna change. I know that, you know that, and yet i still get so bent out of shape as we move from Summer to Fall.
What a silly thing! It’s not like i have any say in it. Short of moving to India or Florida or some such like a snowbird, which you know I’ve tried, why not try to use that energy on something substantive?
This year, I’m making a pact with myself to not complain about the change of the season. The truth is that i don’t *like* winter the way i LOVE summer— but why bitch about the inevitable? Just like death and taxes, we know for sure that change is always a’coming.
So, I’m not going to lean into my dislike. I’m not gonna bitch or roll in the muck of self harming lamentation. Why? Cause all it does is make me feel worse. If it made me feel better maybe it would be ok— but it doesn’t, so it isn’t. And it’s such an easy trap to fall into.
i think the universe has an incredible sense of humor— it’s just very dark.
After all, we're all just careening to hell in a handbasket— these fantastic baskets of flesh and bone that are guaranteed to break down along the way. And we all take ourselves oh-so-seriously.
Since I can’t change the weather, I’m going to try to change my attitude. These are skills from yoga, for sure.
What a silly thing! It’s not like i have any say in it. Short of moving to India or Florida or some such like a snowbird, which you know I’ve tried, why not try to use that energy on something substantive?
This year, I’m making a pact with myself to not complain about the change of the season. The truth is that i don’t *like* winter the way i LOVE summer— but why bitch about the inevitable? Just like death and taxes, we know for sure that change is always a’coming.
So, I’m not going to lean into my dislike. I’m not gonna bitch or roll in the muck of self harming lamentation. Why? Cause all it does is make me feel worse. If it made me feel better maybe it would be ok— but it doesn’t, so it isn’t. And it’s such an easy trap to fall into.
i think the universe has an incredible sense of humor— it’s just very dark.
After all, we're all just careening to hell in a handbasket— these fantastic baskets of flesh and bone that are guaranteed to break down along the way. And we all take ourselves oh-so-seriously.
Since I can’t change the weather, I’m going to try to change my attitude. These are skills from yoga, for sure.
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