17 May Shawn 'Bean' Martin May 17, 2017 Learn what is to be taken seriously, and laugh at all the rest Body, Life 0 Comment I recently got a survey comment that I really enjoyed: “Bean was one of the most excellent instructors I’ve ever practiced with at Sunstone. He brought humor to the mat, and was gentle at the same time.” I would like to point out, after I wrangle my ego back under my hat, that I recall that particular class, and it was not, to my recollection, gentle. People were huffing and puffing, falling out, flailing. But as I stood in the foyer after class, I saw so many smiles. So much sweat. But also, so much joy, contentment, and community. Learn what is to be taken seriously, and laugh at all the rest. -- Herman Hesse (excerpt from Steppenwolf”) I know that when I crack a joke in class and can make my class laugh, they’re not taking the class too seriously. They are being snapped back to the present moment instead of thinking about what they should be doing or what they should look like in the front mirror. Getting people out of their own heads into their bodies and lives is what Sunstone is all about. What is truly serious? • Your health • Your family • Taxes? These things are serious and require attention-but we shouldn’t mistake “seriousness” for something like rigidity or austerity. Even in our approach to the most important things in our life, we can still have a little fun (I hope the IRS likes my colorful, crayon-scribbled 1040 this year!) And do not also confuse “humor” as knee-slapping hilarity—think of humor as the ability to admit to ourselves “Well, whatever I just did was ridiculous…I’m going to try it again” or “Okay, I definitely can’t do that right now…maybe there’s something just a little bit smaller I can work on right now.” The work we do in our classes is tough--whether we are sweating it out in 98.6 degrees or working hard with our kettle bells swings, we have to be able to work towards sustainable change that exists on a long timeline, not on a timeline where the work finishes after this rep or this particular workout. We often remark around the studio that we should be training for tomorrow and not today. Humor allows us to keep our eye on that prize: I might not look as good as I normally do in this asana or movement, but at least I still look better than Bean does… Humor allows us to cope with the idea that maybe the workout wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be for today, but I’m willing to swallow my pride enough to come back tomorrow and try it all again. Thanks for taking the time to read this—it was a pleasure meeting you. Be sure to keep an eye out for my blog posts over the next few months where I will be covering specific ideas for helping you to find the humor in your practice. Related Articles What Is Pilates? What To Know Before Your First Class We know that it can be a little bit intimidating to try a new workout class. And, since there are so many different kinds of classes available today, it can be hard to keep them straight or to know which one is right for you to try. If you’re considering taking a Pilates class, we’re here to help you with some information you should know before your first class, and some tips to help you! Yoga Tips for Beginners: What To Know Before Your First Yoga Class Yoga Tips for Beginners: What To Know Before Your First Yoga Class If you’ve been thinking about getting into shape, you may have considered taking a yoga class. Yoga can be a great way to either get in shape or maintain your level of fitness. It builds strength and flexibility while simultaneously allowing you to focus on your breathing. By practicing yoga, you learn how to control your breathing, even during some rather challenging poses. This in turn helps you in virtually every other area of your life, as it allows you to remain calm and stay in control of your emotions. Yoga also helps you become more in tune with yourself. Therefore, you have the chance to reap both physical and mental benefits of practicing it. Here are some top yoga tips for beginners: Hot Yoga vs. Vinyasa Flow: What to Expect I’ve done both Hot Yoga and Vinyasa for over ten years. I cannot imagine one without the other. I was fortunate to acquire a taste for both - and they are acquired tastes. I enjoy warm rooms and hot rooms, never cold rooms – that’s where I draw the line. Fortunately, Sunstone offers hot, warm and ambient classes! Here's some of my take-aways: What to Wear for Hot Yoga You have decided you’re going to practice hot yoga. Good for you! What to Eat Before Yoga Class The proper diet is important in order to maximize any yoga practice. With Dallas hot yoga, eating appropriately before a yoga class is particularly important. Here, we combine the extreme temperatures of the Texas environment with the extreme heat of the yoga studio. To equip our bodies with the stamina to really use the heat, and to allow our bodies to work efficiently during practice, eating healthy food on a yoga-friendly schedule is an important key to a successful practice. What Are HIIT Workouts? What Are HIIT Workouts? HIIT workouts have been growing significantly in popularity recently. With HIIT group classes popping up in more and more gyms and studios across the country. Despite the popularity, there are still some misconceptions and misunderstandings about HIIT training. The actual activity of the workout can vary, but typically HIIT training includes bodyweight and equipment based exercises. What makes it “HIIT”, is the time spent in high intensity vs. rest periods. So, what does “HIIT” mean? Comments are closed.