Um, no.

Ogden, The Inappropriate Yoga Guy.

Three major things come up for me with Ogden. One, I was truly mortified when I first saw his YouTube video a few weeks ago. I thought that while a true depiction of some “yoga guys” I’ve seen in yoga classes, he was just awful. And I felt he was mocking yoga. (Might I add that while teaching yoga class a few years ago, one of my male students actually drawled, “Oh…talk slower.” WHAT?!)

Two, due to my background in advertising I applaud Yoga Journal for having the savvy to hire this guy, based on his popularity on YouTube, to do a web series for yogajournal.com. Very good marketing value, that one.

Three, the yogi in me is worried, once again, that Yoga Journal is not just dipping their toes in, but jumping full monty into the waters of yoga over-commercialization. A few years ago, in fact, I dropped my subscription to YJ because I craved the roots of yoga, not just the western take of it. (Now I just sneak copies into my grocery basket.)

I have to admit, however, that I do have a wicked sense of humor, and he is funny! But I’m left feeling guilty. Am I betraying my inner yogini and doing the full monty thing? Or am I missing the point: to reach an audience out there who doesn’t connect with those who take their yogic selves too seriously?

What do you think?

P.S. To really “get” the ending of Episode #2, you have to read this article from Elephant Journal and peruse the accompanying pics. Now THAT’S funny.

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Sukhasana (cross-legged pose)
Adho Mukha Svanasana (down dog)
Balasana (child’s pose)
Adho Mukha Svanasana w/ twist
Samasthiti (equal standing pose)
Vrksasana (tree pose)
Vrksasana w/ eyes closed to find balance
Surya Namaskar (sun salutation) w/ Virabhadrasana I
Crescent pose w/ twist
Parsvottanasana (standing head-to-knee pose) w/ hands on floor
Parsvottanasana w/ hands in reverse namaste
Parivrtta Trikonasana (revolved triangle)
Utthita Trikonasana (triangle pose)
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Balasana
Fire Log
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana prep (pigeon pose)
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Gomukhasana (cow-faced pose)
Balasana
Intense Eastern Stretch
Bharadvajasana (twist)
Knees to chest
Savasana

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Another point of discovery: through clean windows I see this beautiful garden that my husband and I started last year. It spans the width of our back fence and is filled with purple, red, orange, and yellow flowers just beginning to peek out of their buds. The aspen trees are full and our new maple tree is just starting to push out some new leaves.

Along with all of the post-winter excitement and spring green taking over the bareness of last season, our bodies feel that same need to stretch, break open, and start fresh from a new place. Twists are a very nurturing and natural way to detox our bodies just as we detox our homes and nature detoxes our surroundings. We move from a state of sluggishness in the hips, pelvic girdle, middle back, heart, and shoulders into a luscious state of freedom when we open up in a twisting practice.

This week, we’ll be exploring various twists. It’s important to keep your intention in a strong root system, just like all of those plants and trees in the backyard: they’ve been dormant through the winter yet still focused on reaching through the soil and expanding their roots. Find that foundation through strong legs and feet, and feel your body open and grow from the sturdiness you discover in your pelvis and back body. Finding your alignment is like floating.

Scrub away. Twist and shout. Pose and repose. And hang on, because the seasons just keep getting sweeter!

Namaste.

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