Saturday, April 25, 2009

Bea Arthur--Why I'm a Golden Girls Geek.

I was at the studio today, when I got a phone call... "Baby, I have some sad news." It could have been anything-my dog has gotten old and sick, a couple of family members are ill, so I braced myself.

It was something I had just thought about this week. Bea Arthur died. I don't know
why, but I always thought that Bea was indestructible--when I went to see her show
a few years ago, onstage she seemed so alive, so vital, and though in her eighties, so strong.
This week, though, I was watching The Golden Girls, and thinking..."it's so sad, but
another one will probably die soon."

One of my favorite professors at Auburn told us if we ever wanted to learn about comedy, we should study her. I guess that's when I started getting obsessed. I watched everything she had
done one summer, and then The Golden Girls every day with two great friends the last year
of grad school--two in a row, each afternoon on Lifetime. The three of us, Neal, Joe, and myself, would watch the show, and laugh hysterically, especially at Bea's sarcastic wit. Joe
would practice her stinging gaze...we called it "the Bea," or "getting Bea'd."

I bonded with another great friend over a mutual admiration/love for Bea--David. I remember calling David long distance from Florida when a great episode of "the girls" would come on...we both loved the one where Dorothy comes out of her shell and sings at the Rusty Anchor...much to Blanche's dismay.

We always joked that Bea should have her own one woman show-and that it should be called "Beadazzled!" We were so excited when it was announced that there was indeed going to be a
Bea Arthur show...and not at all surprised to find each other in Nyack, NY on the same Sunday afternoon for a performance of the hilarious, touching, and rather filthy show.

As my friend Michelle Barge said today....she was the "original Fierce." She was. She was fierce, funny, independent, talented, sharp, and...intelligent beyond measure.

After seeing her show, some of us made our way around to the back of the theatre to hopefully get a pic, or a hug....and she came out of the back door with the most genuinely surprised look on her face. She seemed really shocked that there were so many people who wanted to see her. She regretfully explained that she couldn't stay...she was feeling tired and hungry, and needed to eat something. The thing was, we all knew she was telling the truth. Up close, you could see that she was a little bit older...just a little frailer looking than she seemed on stage. She was so happy to see us all, though. She was beaming. She looked radiantly happy, but, as I said, a little frail and tired. She thanked us, blew kisses, and happily laughed as the driver helped her into her car. She turned around and waved as the car pulled out.

I looked around the parking lot at all the happy people, and was struck with the realization of how much joy performers have the potential to bring into the world, how much light. It is a rare gift to be able to inspire so much laughter. Laughter, you know, is very healing. Bea was a healer, and a yogi, because she did exactly what she loved; by following her own passion, she created moments of happiness for millions of people. She also was a great humanitarian, and a passionate animal rights activist, as well as a great friend to the gay community, fighting to help gays gain acceptance long before it was a popular stance to take.

I read something wonderful the other day--a quote:

"Don't ask what the world needs. Figure out what makes you come alive and do that, because what the world needs is more people who have come to life." Howard Thurman said that. I really feel in the case of people like this---these immensely gifted people...they are living this...when we live our life according to what makes us come alive...we are able to shine out the very best of ourselves, and in the process, illuminate the world around us.

Bea...she was a fucking rockstar. Maybe the funniest actor I've ever seen.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Tonight's Playlist for Class

High Voltage Yoga Mix #1

I See Houses-The Verve
Dragon Queen-Yeah Yeah Yeahs
In the City-Chromatics
Your Beat Kicks Back Like Deat-Scout Niblet
Back In Your Head-Tegan and Sara
My Superman-Santigold
Say Aha-Santigold
lieee-Tori Amos
First Class Riot-The Tough Alliance
Crazy World-Ladyhawke
Magic-Ladyhawke
Feel the Love-Cut Copy
Hearts on Fire-Cut Copy
Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love-Coldplay
Moon and Moon-Bat for Lashes

THE FIERCE CLUB

I teach yoga at a great spot in New York City, The Fierce Club. It's almost exactly the kind of place I would have opened if I were opening a studio. It's airy, sunny, and bright. White walls,
and tall ceilings, some great murals on the walls by cool local artists, and staffed by funny, talented and original teachers who have something to really add to the world of yoga. Fresh
perspectives, insights, and moves that draw on traditional postures, creatively sequenced
in order to strengthen the core, stoke the inner fires, and focus the mind.

The other day, a yogi I know said "The Fierce Club. It's a really aggressive name for a yoga
studio." The thing is, in NYC, every yoga studio advertises itself as "an oasis in the middle of
the concrete jungle...a retreat from big city bustle and noise....a quiet sanctuary" or something
similar. We are about yoga in the city. We're about finding quiet, finding your strong center even in the middle of noise and chaos, in the middle of drama. We're not a retreat from that, and we don't believe you have to run away from the world in order to find peace.
We offer you a chance to learn how to thrive, to live a centered life no matter what's going on around you.

If you look at yoga, it's not some sappy new age practice anyway. Three of the most common poses are the "warriors." I might have said to my friend "well, with that logic, we should rename the warrior poses--they sound too aggressive." I don't believe yoga teaches you to be passive. I think it teaches you fierceness...there's even Ukatasana--which translates as "fierce"
pose.

At the Fierce Club, we're not suggesting you live your life screaming at people and getting up in everyone's face. We're more about the FIERCE life---we want to live lives that are important, lives that are about giving out from a place of inner alignment, lives that are reflective of our core values...and though I can't speak for anyone other than myself, I believe the chief philosophy behind the fierceness relates more to reflecting your inner values in your outer life more than any kind of "aggressiveness."

The owners of the place, Sadie and Shannon, are awesome, and both of them continue to inspire me with the way they run their business--ethically, honestly, and with a lot of integrity. That's fierce!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Yoga Teacher? You???

I always am interested in the reactions people have (especially people I'm re-connecting with
on Facebook) when I tell them I'm a yoga teacher now. Because I spent my twenties in a series
of awkward relationships, and in a swirl of irresponsible financial decisions and hard partying, people assume that I can't possibly be a yoga teacher now. Also, I eat meat, and like rock and roll, and don't really like for "new age" music.

I think the stereotype people have of yoga teachers is a result of the image that some yoga teachers tend to perpetuate--they talk in soft voices, and pretend to be in some preternaturally blissful state, smiling beatifically, and gazing at you as if you're a mere mortal, and they no longer fart because they're a yoga teacher. I'm pretty down-to-earth most of the time, and though I'm really interested in spirituality, I like to wear jeans, cowboy boots, and t-shirts, I really enjoy some trashy 80's rock and roll blasted really loud, and I might meet you after yoga class for a cocktail. Yes, I may rock some mala beads on my arm from time to time-but they are there because I use them....I just won't make you chant along with me. I'd much rather make you smile in my class by blasting some Madonna, or an old Journey song in the middle of a sweaty flow. I don't talk in a soft voice, I don't try to let my tone get all "mystical", and I will never pretend that yoga makes me blisssful all the time. It doesn't. But it does remind me to take a deep breath before I yell at the douchebag talking at the top of his lungs in an empty restaurant, and it does help me to turn frustration or anger into positive action.

I love yoga teachers. I just don't like people who make promises they can't keep, or pretend to be something they aren't. I don't believe that you can solve all your problems by coming to a couple of yoga classes, nor do I think it's great to meditate constantly in order to clear your head of worldly distractions. We are in this world, baby, and we have to be able to function in it! Most of us aren't monks, and the bills have to get paid, you know?

The people who come to my class come because they're looking for the real thing. They aren't looking to "purify" themselves. They want to live life, and feel good about the choices they make, and I want to help them anyway I can.