#19 Cleanliness is next to godliness

Sweating is a good thing, especially when it's sported by a guy with nice delts...

The recent craze of hot yoga has made it acceptable to cram yourself into a hot, steamy, dimmly lit room with dozens of people you don't know to sweat it out together. Sounds more like a swingers club. The fact is it feels great and leaves your skin feeling oh-so-soft. Plus, you don't have to feel awkward afterwards when you see your fellow classmates in public.

I'll ask one thing of my fellow yogis though: please bring a towel and use it. It's not alright to sweat all over someone else's mat. I'm not immune to sweating anymore than the next person. In fact, there are days when if I don't sweat, I know I didn't push myself past my comfort zone. I keep a towel onhand because even though I may think I look sexy all dewey and glisteninig with sweat, the reality is others probably don't agree.

Recall the one Niyama dealing with this very topic: saucha or cleanliness. Do as the Romans did and keep yourself and your environment clean. This includes keeping a tight rap on your sweat and cleaning down borrowed mats.

Lesson learned: Sweating is good but only in the right places (e.g. delts).

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#18 Mainstream yoga classes are like zoos

They aren't perfect but without them, most people wouldn't know anything about their subjects.

Life would be better if all wildlife were actually wild instead of captive. Yoga would be better if it weren't perverted by various types of yoga knockoffs. Discuss.

I agree to some extent. But lets face it: just as zoos do great work to educate the public about wildlife, so to do the various yoga spin-off classes in bringing yoga to the masses. In this context, neither can be called bad. If zoos can teach us to care about the well-being of our wildlife, yoga teach us to care about our own well-being.

The real problem as I see it: when what is being taught is wrong.

Now, can you guess the guy on the right? Let's play 'Name The Ungulate' (hint).

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#17 You're not your thoughts

The Real Jim Carrey from EckhartTolle TV on Vimeo.

This video was sent to me by a friend who knew I'd appreciate both the subject and the lesson. Watch Jim Carrey as he discusses the search for his life's purpose, his desire to stop his mom's suffering caused by various autoimmune diseases, and the realization he's more than just his thoughts. Brilliant.

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#16 You can't control the weather.

How you react to the weather is a barometer for how you react to everything else you can't control. Worrying or getting upset over something you can't do anything about is as crazy as trying to share a sundae: Seems like the right thing to do but never ends up doing you any good.

So, buy your own sundae, prererably one with chocolate sauce and sprinkles, and stop worrying about the weather. There's something liberating about not using energy to complain about things that don't matter. Plus, you'll need that extra energy to work off the sundae..

P.S. I live in Calgary, AB and have had LOTS of experience with weather changes. I once went to a yoga class in spring weather wearing sandals and t-shirt and left during a blizzard. Nothing I could do about it than enjoy the (bloody cold) snow between my toes.

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#15 Don't be a tight-ass.

Backbends are my nemesis.

Due to years of competitive swimming, a lower back injury, and a general lack of any genetic predisposition for spinal extension, backbends have always been a challenge for me. I'm not making excuses. I'm simply stating the obvious:

Me + backbends = suck.

You know what I mean. We all have a group of poses that kitt us in the butt the most. But the beauty of practicing yoga is that we can work in all poses well if we learn how to adjust them for our bodies.

Here's my advice to you about backbends based on persnal experience: Don't be a tight-ass.

Clenching and squeezing the butt cheeks together only externally rotates your legs, compresses the SI joint,s and causes lower back pain.

So release the cheeks and feel the freedom in your backbends. Your lower back will thank you.

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#14 One size does NOT fit all

There are more types of yoga than ice cream flavours. Frankly, I don't even know them all. What I do know is that not every type of yoga is right for everyone.

Here are some general rules to follow:

1. Hate heat and sweat? Stay away from Hot Yoga.
2. Rather sit on the couch than participate in aerobic activity? Power Yoga is out.
3. Love spandex? You're in luck because any class will probably do (refer to my previous post 'Fashion Matters' on yoga attire before letting go on this one).
4. Don't like to laugh? I'd say this is a problem. Maybe you're in need of some Laughter Yoga. You'll probably also want to stay away from my class as laughing at the expense of the teacher is a common thing

I'm not saying each person can be shoved into a yoga 'box' but depending on one's personality, health, and clothing preferences, there are absolutely classes better suited to each of us. The "one size fits all" idea definitely doesn't work where student's health concerns are concerned, for e.g., bulging disk, arthritis, pregnancy, etc..

Lesson learned: Take the time to find the perfect fit.

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#13 We can't find our hamstrings

Some people who attend my classes haven't a clue where any of their muscles are located. Some students don't seem to even know their hands from their feet! Of course, it probably doesn't help the situation when I inadvertently call my elbow my knee but I digress..

The point is learn your anatomy, people! I pledge to do my part to help you along if you need it. The rest is up to you. You live in your body every day. That's reason enough to learn all about it!

* If you live in Calgary, you have the great opportunity to attend Body Worlds & The Brain at The Telus World of Science which opens April 30th, 2010. Consider it the human anatomy lesson you never had and GO!

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