I recently received an email from a woman with a child wanting to move and work here. She said she was currently "land locked in Texas" and looking to escape. She went on further to tell me she was a yoga instructor from Big Island of Hawaii and also is a career bartender.
Now, correct me if I am wrong? But is not Yoga for people who are trying to get more in touch and connected with themselves? If so, why would they teach that by day and then help people abandon themselves in the evening with drinking? Yoga Instructors and Massage Therapists are abound here.
The more I thought about this... It made me think of one of the so-called yoga instructors down here who in between cigarettes, junk foo, an IV of morning coffee and vino noche said on more then one occasion said that "I was the tightest person she ever met".
Now, I will be the first to admit that I am no Gandhi and far from it. But being an ex smoker of 13 years, I was wondering just how "tight" she would be in 48 hours if we started removing all of her vices starting with the cigarettes? All I could see was a modern day version of Linda Blair from The Excorsist.
All this hipocracy (as I see it) reminds me of the using days of drugs and alcohol. I was hooked on everything including anything that I thought would fix my life. On a good day I would do things like go to the gym reeking of cigarette smoke and not stay over 30 minutes, because of nicotine withdrawal.
The next month, if it was not a new self-help book, a yoga class or a steady diet of afternoon Oprah (while drinking red wine), my life was going to hell in a hand basket.
Maturity does seem to take some of the fun out of living. Maybe the old saying "Ignorance is Bliss" has some truth to it.
well said colin. great seeing you the other day in san jose. hope all is well.
stay +
rahul
Posted by: rahul sanghrajka | March 08, 2009 at 08:16 PM
Very true, it's definitely time to start integrating things isn't it?
Posted by: Imara | May 13, 2009 at 02:25 AM
OUCH! I go to yoga class with this instructor you are referring to (I think- she has the yoga studio and massage parlour right in from of the banana azul) and she hasn't smoked since the new year, and her class has greatly improved my spiritual and physical life! It is a grouo of neighbours and friends that assist and have all improved our well being as a result. So she drinks coffee, and wine...so do I once in a while and I am a successful social worker and in great health. There is alot more to having an integrated lifestyle She also doesn't charge any money for the community members, and is generous enough to share her space and even coffee for whoever wants it after class. I am personally offended by this post because this lady has made such a positive impact in my life and the life of others. It seems to me like this might be a more personal grudge?
Posted by: Black beach neighbour | May 21, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Spirituality 101.... You are responsible for your own feelings. If you are personally offended... ask yourself why? What does someone elses feelings about another person have to do with you? Personally I am not interested your answer, but when I was on the Zen Lady kick, it helped when I answered these questions to myself.
Posted by: Tired of So-Called Wellness Community | June 28, 2009 at 03:18 PM
stressless life at the Red sea, without being a workaholic, without drinking too much, with doing something that you love (owning a restaurant and running small sound engineering company), and with having 1 weak point (smoking 1,5 packs per day - as my boyfriend does) - i am convinced it is better than living in a megapolis and working as a multinational top manager and eating endless dinners with clients and getting drunk and stressing in traffic jams.
however, how to decrease his smoking? heeeelp!!!
Posted by: Katy | October 06, 2009 at 02:24 PM