My friends know that yoga is a huge part of my life. Be warned: I’m quite capable of boring you silly by going on about how great yoga is for what ails you. But I do wish that more yogis showed at least a bit of a sense of humor. There’s so much earnest seriousness in the yoga world. So many high-achieving people are out there trying to get into the perfect asana pose, maintain the perfect diet, or reach perfect purity of mind. That makes the whole discipline seem so humorless and “good for you” in a medicinal kind of way. I don’t know anyone who has a perfect body, and I can’t even imagine a perfect mind. So let’s all have a good laugh while we’re down on the floor, can’t we?
Trying to do my bit to make sure that the phrase “yoga humor” doesn’t read as an oxymoron, here’s a great link. A friend who went through yoga teacher training with me sent a story from the New York Times (thank you Suzanne!). The title is “Guns and Yoga,” and here’s the opening paragraph:
Not long ago, I decided to learn how to shoot guns. It was a Saturday morning, and I was curious. So after a breakfast of spelt flakes, soy milk and green tea, I went out shooting.
Well of course who wouldn’t read the opening paragraph after an opening like that? I got sucked in. For the rest, go to the full article on the NY Times website: “Guns and Yoga,” by Patton Oswalt.
Thank you for that link! I’ve forwarded the story – which is hysterical, to several friends. Both Anthony and i have long thought the same thing. Did you know that one of the true indicators of an enlightened being is an well developed sense of humor?
ps I love guns too and can shoot straight!