RockStarYoga
  • perspective: why
  • musings
  • teaching: where, when + which
  • private yoga
  • rasayana: bodywork
  • mentoring + mental arts
  • ceremony + ritual
  • bio: who + what
  • education: what + how
  • connect: talk to me
  • snapshots
    • Yoga Advance - Isla Mujeres 2014
    • Rockstarring
    • Planet K
    • Play-asana
    • Students, Teachers, Friends, Inspirations
    • Easter Island, Patagonia, Chile
    • Turkey, Anatolia, Cappadocia
    • Isla Mujeres
    • Tulum, Yucatan, Coba
  • videos
  • offerings

Arthur Boorman, My Yogi Hero - What's Your Excuse?

10/5/2012

0 Comments

 
I'm sure you've seen the clip, if your a 'booker and you've been paying attention, then you'll know who Arthur Boorman is, or at least recognize the image of the YouTuber if you haven't watched the clip. I know I'm a little late on the uptake, but it really got me and I wanted to process.

So, given the story and the incredible and straightforward way it's told, it is really hard not to be emotional. And grateful, and conscious of how precious our health and our well-being is. And, how incredibly transformative and healing the practice of asana is.

And, not sexy asana, not beautiful and sweet asana, not even steady asana. But, you know what was Sukha (sweet) and Sthira (steady)? This guy's will, his character, his determination and his grace. He wasn't concerned about where he was, he was doing what he could. He was intentionally or simply intuitively following the koan of "fall eight times, get up nine". And, he showed a simple and beautiful happiness with his process, even as frustrating as it must have been, day after day.

My heart breaks when he recounts that yoga teachers turned him away? Has it really become so much about the physical form that this community judges the quality of this man's being by his outward appearance? By his physical limitations and not his character and courage? What would I have done? What am I willing to do??

Teaching yoga didn't even have to begin with asana, though it seems for Arthur, that was the natural place. To sit with someone, and first teach them how to fully breathe. Then, to simply help them link a basic physical motion to the breath, even to simply raise and lower the arms, and to link the breath with the movement can be life-changing.

In this case, I'm not sure what outside help Arthur did get, but you can see he had videos, a mat, a TV and determination. What other things changed, his diet, his other lifestyle choices, we don't necessarily see that but as yogis, you know the practice makes you make better decisions, and more consciously engage with your choices. I see that in Arthur, although he clearly had a lot of hope inside of him, already.

Who do you know has given up but still has the will? Who do you know that needs to move, to break their 'down' habits or their blues and just get up and do something? Any physical exercise improves metabolic function and improves mood. It's not just for the yoga booties, or the healthy athletes looking for optimization. Every living person can benefit in their way, in their body, in their spirit, from asana practice.

The final thought i have is where are we each with assumptions? What do we think we really know about anyone, and what really lies within them? What are you doing to make space for other's greatness? Where can you stand aside even from yourself and what you've assumed - because let's be clear - who thinks they have an excuse for not doing something after watching Arthur? I'm sorry, who??

Don't let it be a moment; let it be a lesson and a charge. Take it from a Teacher, who just found another of his own Teachers in Arthur. This is why I say give thanks and praise!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Chrispy - Bhagat Singh

    Random thoughts I've had, while teaching, about the teachings, about my teaching, and while talking about teaching.

    Connect with me:
    Facebook: 
    chrispy bhagat singh
     Facebook:
    RockStarYoga
    Facebook:
    RaSaYana
    YouTube:

    chrispy bhagat singh
    Instagram:
    petrastella
    Twitter: 
    petrastella

    Email: 
    rockstar@rockstaryoga.us

    Picture

    Archives

    July 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

    Categories

    All
    Anusara
    Asana
    Asana Practice
    Brain
    Calendar
    Chakras
    Challenge
    Collaboration
    Community
    Compassion
    Discernment
    Experience
    Happiness
    Holy Days
    Lent
    Love
    Magic
    Mindfulness
    Nyt
    Observance
    Patanjali
    Practice
    Resources
    Shadow
    Shine
    Sutras
    Teachers
    Teaching
    Yoga

    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.