B.K.S. Iyengar

Body is the bow, asana is the arrow, and the soul is the target. B.K.S. Iyengar Continue reading →

Yoga and “Anti-Aging”

Yoga is touted as providing all sorts of health and wellness benefits. Lately, I’ve noticed yoga being included as part of the ever popular “anti-aging” movement, with people making all sorts of amazing claims about yoga’s ability to slow or even reverse the process of aging. The funny thing, though, is that the underlying premise of “anti-aging” … Continue reading →

Yoga Clothes for Men

The other day, I showed up to yoga without any pants. Well, I was wearing pants at the time — Dickies to be exact — but I forgot to bring my yoga pants so I had nothing to change into. With only five minutes ’til class, I decided to purchase some yoga shorts from the retail … Continue reading →

The Measure of a Yogi (and a Yoga Class)

The other day, I experienced one of those “ah-ha” moments when you realize that something fundamental has shifted in your yoga practice. I was chatting with another student (let’s call him “Bob”) in the men’s locker room, and I asked him about a teacher who had recently been subbing for a class that we both … Continue reading →

Change of Perpsective

Last weekend, I lost one of my contact lenses. This is a serious problem for me, because I am functionally blind without contacts or glasses. The only pair of glasses I own has a very old prescription, so wearing them for more than thirty minutes or so gives me a raging headache. As I wait … Continue reading →

Back in the Saddle

I recently completed one of the most grueling and time-intensive projects of my entire life. For most of 2013, I was in pre-production on an experimental film, a process that included months of rehearsals with an ensemble cast, the construction of an elaborate set, and then several weeks of filming in January. This project was … Continue reading →

Let the Pose Do You

My yoga teacher here in Chicago has a unique way of expressing himself, especially when it comes to imparting bits of insight and wisdom. To the casual observer, he might sound like Yoda, the sagacious character from Star Wars who counsels Luke Sykwalker. But with my yoga teacher, as with Yoda, there’s much more to … Continue reading →

Lululemon’s “Man Problem”

Here’s a great article and video from Yahoo! Finance on Lululemon’s “Man Problem”. Lululemon’s brand is so tied up with yoga, and yoga is so strongly associated with women, that any yoga-centric brand is going to have a really difficult time connecting with men. So this is not really Lululemon’s problem, per se, but a … Continue reading →

Yoga Skillz

In my life outside of yoga, I’m a filmmaker and producer. I’m currently in the middle of casting my next project, and as I go through all the headshots and resumes, I’m noticing that quite a few actors list yoga as one of their “skills”. Here’s an excerpt from one actor’s resume: Special Skills and … Continue reading →

How to Work Your Way Out of a Yoga Rut

Yoga can be exhilarating, uplifting, even magical at times. But if you practice long enough, eventually you’re going to find yourself in a yoga rut. What does this look/feel like? Well, one clear indication that you’re in a yoga rut is that you find your practice plateauing or even regressing. Every time you step on … Continue reading →