The National Institute of Health initiated its first annual Yoga Week, May 19 - 23, in Maryland. The press release says, "Highlighting the science and practice of yoga, this five-day series of events will serve NIH employees and the public. Participants will not only learn about the benefits of yoga but also experience them first-hand through stretching and practice. "Speakers include Alan Finger, John Schumacher, Timothy McCall, an assortment of doctors, and representatives from Burt's Bees, and appearances by Weight Watchers, Honest Tea, Whole Foods, and the Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation.Reminds me of Donna Karan's Urban Zen project.
Wii Fit, Ewwwww
Wii Fit: the idea of it just reeks of gadget joy for shopping-channel aficionados. And fitness industry insiders with their spreadsheets oozing sumptuous numbers. If you've ever tried to do yoga from a video you know that it's just hard--uncomfortable and imperfect--to do it outside of a live, real-time classroom. Do you really want to be rated on your yoga practice? And by a machine? Talk about feeling like a number...
So far the reviews are mixed. From Om Yoga's founder and director Cyndi Lee, to game theory reporter for the NYTimes the reviews are not hot at all.
Not to bash those like who might like Wii Fit, like women caring for small children at home, but ew.
Ew.
Yoga Slackers
Yoga slacklining--doing poses on a tight-rope (or, rather, a loose rope)-- must have come from California--where else would anyone have time or inclination to do yoga poses on a loose line--and also invent a whole system for how to do them?
Watch the associated video--cute. They show that it's not about perfection as the guy in the background loses it.
From the folks at theWall Street Journal.
Mac Ad with Yoga
Those clever folks at Apple find more ways to skewer PC and Vista users, this time with a savvy yoga scenario in their Get a Mac series. Here, the frustrated, independent studio owner struggling to balance the accounts loses her cool. Ring true?
How often does idealistic yogi and good business person go together anyway?
Not often enough.
Nude Yoga in the Movies
A Four Letter Word opened Friday, March 28 in Manhattan to a surprised endorsement from the NYTimes film blogger Jeannette Catsoulis.She writes that this romantic comedy "explores gay relationships with low-budget verve" and has "good-natured raunchiness--a nude yoga class is particularly diverting--that's explicit but never sleazy."Nude yoga class on film, hmmm. Easier than checking it out in person.Directed by Casper Andreas.
Evidence that not only white people do yoga
Black Voices, an online magazine sponsored by AOL, just published a blog post for its readership on the benefits of yoga.
While the entry itself is basic, basic, basic (as befits the venue), and "yoga photos" posted beneath the entry are downright confusing (*what* are they referring to?), it's nice to think that yoga might not continue to be dominated by white women.
Why is that, exactly?
"Most Revealing Downward Dog in Yoga History"
Jeannette Catsoulis reviews film The Hottie & The Nottie, a Paris Hilton expose-a-thon. Wherein the shockable audience discovers said "most revealing downward dog in yoga history."Pass.
Stuff White People Like blog spoofs yoga
The hilarious, tiresome, snotty, shallow, entertaining puhleeze, blog Stuff White People Like, (written by a white person in Canada, perhaps Vancouver) spoofed yoga in entry #15. You can't say that yoga wasn't asking for it.
An out take: "Yoga is also an expensive activity. It gives white people the chance to showcase their $80 pants."
See the Jan 22, 2008 entry, #15.
Yoga Zombies
Amazing. I can't paraphrase. Read this from the NYTimes City Room blog, "Taking the Yoga 'Corpse' Pose Literally" by Jennifer 8. Lee:
"Have you ever wished you could do downward dog with a decomposing body? Well, City Room hasn’t (doing the crow with an intact body is still an insurmountable challenge), but this combination apparently has been a niche fantasy with some population of New Yorkers.
(Photo: Tyler Hicks/The New York Times)
About 75 people showed up in Williamsburg’s East River State Park for an (online) open casting call for the filming of a yoga zombie video on Sunday. “The zombie blogs were only mildly interested in it, it was the yoga blogs,” said Jason Wishnow, the director of the video.
“The R.S.V.P. responses from the yoga blogs were like: ‘I love yoga and I love zombie movies. I’ve been waiting for this!’ It was the chocolate and the peanut butter thing for all these people.
”While the crew had a make-up artist on set, many of the yoga practitioners showed up in their zombie get-ups, ready to go. Mr. Wishnow was impressed by his extras, saying: “Everyone took zombiedom very seriously. There was a lot of groaning and discomfort of their decomposing bodies as they would attempt yoga maneuvers.”
Wow.
Gawker catches yogis in the buff
It's true--some yogis--mostly men-- like to practice in their birthday suits. The studio in New York (Hot Nude Yoga) has been open for 7 years, making this niche hardly a new one. But still, who knew?
Gawker's take might be more along the lines of what you're *really* thinking (like, naked? wtf?)
Gawker likes IYG
Gawker liked the IYG article in the NYTimes. Their line, "(seriously, watch it and see if you don't spit out your coffee when he does that Ujjayi breath)" made me laugh out loud again. Yep, they got it.
See their post here.
Sting Does Yoga in Toronto
It must suck to have reporters watching you while you practice.
Read the National Post's blow-by-blow blog-style article about Sting's yoga performance.
Don't Litigate--Meditate?
After San Francisco lawyer, Mark Webb's, successful "total yoga makeover" in which he lost 30 pounds and regained mental clarity, sponsored by (and profiled in) Yoga Journal, he is organizing a yoga course for the legal world. His mission statement says [all caps his!], "WE HAVE GATHERED SEVERAL OF THE FINEST YOGA INSTRUCTORS IN SAN FRANCISCO, WHO ARE DESIGNING A COURSE TAILORED FOR LAWYERS, LAW STUDENTS, & LEGAL SUPPORT STAFF, TO BE GIVEN IN MID-JULY 2007. JUDGES ARE ALSO WELCOME."
Bravo, Mark (but what's the deal with judges?) (and the capital letters?) and long live Yoga Lawyers.com. May we all have a less litigious world.
Arnie Herz of the blog Legal Sanity seconds the motion. Herz has also written about the benefits to the legal profession of yoga and meditation.
Japanese Yoga
Combining principles from Japanese and Indian culture, Japanese Yoga promises to deliver a double-whammy of oriental peace.
The publisher's Web site says: "Emphasizing gentle stretching and meditation exercises, the ultimate goal of Japanese yoga (Shin-shin-toitsu-do) is enhanced mind/body integration, calmness, and willpower for a healthier and fuller life. Developed by Nakamura Tempu Sensei in the early 1900s from Indian Raja yoga, Japanese martial arts and meditation practices, as well as Western medicine and psychotherapy, Japanese yoga offers a new approach to experienced yoga students and a natural methodology that newcomers will find easy to learn."
Fusion is forever.
"Yoga Unveiled" documentary quietly debuts
Gita Desai's thoughtful documentary "Yoga Unveiled" debuted in 2006 well under the yoga-nation radar. It looks like the kind of well-made piece that could serve as an antidote to all the yoga craze--and craziness--currently around us.
Solstice Yoga in Times Square
On the solstice, more than 800 yogis from all over the world gathered to practice in one of the noisiest, most hectic junctions in the US - Times Square.The New York Times reports.Also see article on June 23, subscription only. Smaller article coverage (and source of image above) on UberCool.com.
Yoga Journal now in Mandarin
Yoga Journal, which publishes 7 international editions, has launched a new edition in China, in Mandarin.According to Earthtimes.org, "This is Yoga Journal's eighth international edition. The magazine is also published in Italy, Russia, Spain, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Brazil."
Vanity Fair does Yoga Justice
Early May 2007 Vanity Fair posted this exceptional photo-essay of contemporary yogis and yoginis. It is the first time in recent memory that a mainstream publication has commented intelligently on our obsession with yoga as well as explored where it came from. Of course it's also glitzy and glamour-oriented, with a cast of usual characters - Christy Turlington, Sharon Gannon, David Life, etc - but it's also pretty great, with some lesser-known teachers like Kundalini's Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, teacher's teacher Dharma Mittra, plus Indian luminaries, BKS Iyengar, Sri Pattahbi Jois, and TKV Desikachar.Check out the entire slide show here and buy the issue of Vanity Fair to see the other remarkable images.
Men...
I'm always happy to see them doing yoga. Especially in the news.
The Decatur Daily reports on growing trend in Georgia.
http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/livingtoday/070408/yoga.shtml
Carmen Diaz! In Yoga Pants! Says People Mag!
Nothing like a celebrity to heat up yoga offerings. Thanks to People Mag's research you, too, can own these hot slacks.
http://offtherack.people.com/2007/04/cameron_diaz.html