Semper Ubi Sub Ubi - Always Wear Under-Wear. I am considering it as the ongoing title of my blog. A few people already suggested I should be open to other ideas. So perhaps this is just a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. If this were a real blog……..
In June I posted this on my Facebook Page
“Its been my practice to suggest healthy seasonal changes. On the first day of Summer I'd like to suggest a sensible practice. For those of you who take yoga classes - wear undergarments that both conceal and contain your genitalia. Always! Men, Women and any gender variation. Fabric moves and stretches to translucency. Please don't misinterpret my suggestion - I think the human form, in all its variations, is sublime. However - as my philosophy teacher says - you wouldn't light a cigarette with a Sabbath Candle. Its a sacred space for some of us. Please don't expose yourself in yoga class. Please and thank you!”
While there was a particular incident that prompted the post, there is also a collection of images that have been permanently scorched in my memory. Mostly in a “Gah! Did I really need to see that?”, way.
Exposing yourself inadvertently – or advertently – in Yoga is not really the point. Its just an example leading to …..
Do you know the impression, impact and imprint you are making on the world around you?
Yes, I’m going to turn this into a Yoga/Mindfulness thing. This is what I do! This is how I ROLL!
Most people know Yoga as a series of movements meant to stretch/strenghten your body. Or as a sweaty grovin-to-music workout. And while they both can be, Yoga literally means to connect (yoke, unite, yuj). It is to understand and know more of yourself – to know; how you react, how you learn, how you move, who you are in the world, the contributions you make. To know not only the way you place effort to reach your goals, but also the actions that occur inadvertently along the way.
The impact and imprint we make on the world matters. This is not news. Our environmental imprint, our economic contributions, even our visual impact leaves an impression. Its OK if you don't care what people think about you. In fact, its not a bad policy - sometimes. But its physics - something is being impacted by your actions, always.
If you want to capture attention, go for it! Stand out in the crowd, expose yourself….to stares and scrutiny. Just know who you are and the imprint you make on the world.
Perhaps the work of Yoga and Mindfulness is to know and choose what you are revealing to the world.
Oh and......Saturday, September 12 at 10am in Central Park - join Lisa Langer and me as we UNITE for a fun and fabulous outdoor Yoga Class. More information to come, so sign-up for my mailing list, ‘like’ my Facebook page, and check-in on my upcoming workshops/events.
