Monday, November 1, 2010

The Slow and Gradual Path to Minor Fame as a Yoga Blogger


...time to say farewell to October, month o' major amounts of yoga...including the Philly yoga festival, trip to Kripalu, and only three days in which I didn’t attend at least one yoga class...including this past Saturday, when I went to the Rally to Restore Sanity...which, I think, was all about walking a line between humor and seriousness, accepting others, toning down the rage, and trying to be mindful rather than reacting out of instinctual fear...and, as such, kinda like a really big yoga class...

...but not requiring a mat...which is good since I've had a tendency to leave my mat at yoga studios lately...like yesterday...and last Tuesday....and the week before that, left my shorts...leaving little doubt that my subconscious mind wants yet more yoga...

...which it’s getting...as I ended up marking the first day of the relatively low-key yoga month of November feeling both mellow and energized...and, first and foremost, concerned with going to get my mat first thing in the morning and, though planning on my usual kundalini class in the evening (which I did end up going to, as well...work? what's that?), staying for a most excellent vinyasa class...in which, for the very first time, I dropped back from wild thing...camatkarasana...to wheel...urdhva dhanurasana...on both sides...even if I couldn’t manage to reverse it...(note to non-yogi readers: this is, like, really really impressive...)...(not that impressively performing advanced transitions between asanas is the point, or anything)...

...(...seriously, like, one thing I've come to realize is that, while a vigorous yoga practice while badly out of shape isn't much fun....trust me, I know...sometimes being in shape is even more of a problem...)...(like, a couple different teachers have told me they can tell runners and cyclists...that's me...by their inability to touch the floor with their heels in downward facing dog...)...(...and then there was the time I was struggling to get into a bind and the teacher explained that the trouble came from my arms and legs being so muscular...and I thought hmmmm...she's saying I'm just too buff and studly for this pose....that's gotta be the best reason not to be able to do something I've ever heard.....I think I can live with it...)...

...anyway, along with the practice, this yoga cynic's fame continues...slowly, very slowly...to grow...even as weird, existential stuff is fed to the masses....people meet me and then send really impressed e-mails saying stuff like whoa, dude! I can’t believe you’re the guy who writes yoga for cynics!!!...seriously...there’s talk of a Yoga for Cynics workshop some time in the new year (or, at least, there's been a brief chat after yoga class a couple weeks ago about meeting for coffee at some unspecified time in the future to talk about the possibility of a Yoga Cynics workshop maybe some time next year)...(...then, that's how democracy got its start, too...)...a couple weeks ago, got my latest blog award from the legendary Laura...and Brooks wrote an article at Elephant Journal featuring not only a picture of myself with herself and the uber-famous Seane Corn, but wrote such lovely stuff about me, I’m almost too embarrassed to link to it...but will...check it out...

...so, now, I sit contemplating possible layouts for the Yoga for Cynics ashram...thinkin’ recycled building materials, floppy-eared dogs roaming the grounds, inspiring inscriptions from the Tao Te Ching, Leaves of Grass, and Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols, and a totally laissez faire attitude toward sex...somewhere where the ocean meets the sea and dolphins frolic in the waves...and it occurs to me that I really oughtta be getting back to work...

15 comments:

Silliyak said...

I will have to cease reading if this goes to your head. (How's THAT for a threat?)

patti said...

Your cup is full...

Lydia said...

I would move to your ashram in the blink of an eye. It really is exciting that you are finding some fame. It must be in the air. My blogging friend (met her in person this summer at a meet-up) who writes La Belette Rouge blog was just hired to blog for Psychology Today! Her blog at PT will be called Freudian Sips.

Gonna go check out that photo of you with Seane Corn now...

Claudia said...

You had me smiling on this one, funny... Not sure how the cynic part gets incorporated on the ashram name, can't wait to find out :-)

the walking man said...

You will have ashtrays for us non-cynical no-benders right?

Meredith LeBlanc said...

Over the past few months I've been working the camatkarasana to urdhva dhanurasana - I love it! I can't seem to get the reverse yet either but that's what I'll be working on in November, closing out the circuit of the year.

My theme song for November will be the Sex Pistols cover of My Way...

Anonymous said...

to paraphrase g. gekko 'fame is good.'

you deserve it - YfC is always a great spot for reading and thinking about what you've written for days and days.

but -

of course there is that lyric that is ringing through my ears too. . . 'Up on Housing Project Hill, It’s either fortune or fame
You must pick up one or the other
Though neither of them are to be what they claim.'

Brooks Hall said...

I loved October 2010! What a beautiful fall. And I got to meet Jay Winston. So much fun.

earthtoholly said...

Not being the least bit familiar with fame, I bet that a slow and gradual path to it and weight loss (which I'm all too familiar with) is very similar...it's easier on you and is longer-lasting. So, congratulations on your impending workshop...that's going to be a real treat for the yoga world.

Great photo of you three...'cept, where's yer curls? Ya didn't shear 'em, did ya?

p.s. Lucy's offer still stands to roam the grounds...all she asks is for a treat now and then...and a tennis ball...and, oh never mind...she's too high-maintenance. :o/

Bob Weisenberg said...

Sounds great, Jay. But the main thing that worries me after reading about your plans for ascending to guruhood (I love making up words) is, will we, well will I, in particular, have to kiss your feet??

Bob W.
YogaDemystified.com

Brooks Hall said...

What an interesting, and tasty-sounding thought, Bob! In his new ashram, Dr. Jay might have to reveal his feet for much reverence!

Bob Weisenberg said...

Hi, Brooks. You clearly haven't seen the film, Astanga, NY, which made a big deal about how wonderful and holy it was to kiss Jois' feet. I wasn't convinced myself.

But are we going to give any less reverence to our guru Swami Satchitjayananda? Let's check with YogaDawg for a ruling.

Bob W.

Brittany said...

Yoga for cynics workshop - I'd go! :)

BIrdie said...

Once you get your ashram up and running, you should do a reality series for Bravo entitled "The Real Yogis of The Yoga 4 Cynics Ashram". It should feature all of the celebri-yogibloggers. Man, it has ratings written all over it! I can see the reunion show hosted by Andy Cohen already!!

Yogini B said...

If you're willing to swap the Sex Pistols for the sound of livestock (squealing pigs and crowing roosters mostly) and Indonesian pop (but only when the power's on), I'll save your ashram a spot here in East Timor. ;)