Ashtanguys

ASHTANGUY n.

Ashtanguys plural

Pronunciation: \ash-tang-guy\

Function: noun

Date and first usage: 06 May 2010 this blog

Definition:
1. One of Edith Tobias’ male yoga students of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.
2. A practitioner of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga who is male.

Photo courtesy of Stuart B. Watkins

In E’s shala there is Art, my breathing buddy, who has made an honest living earning tons of money “writing fiction” (his words, not mine) as a consultant for many foreign and domestic organizations.

Then Saar, from Israel who is CEO of a global ecological content and research company headquartered in Hong Kong. He also practices some second series poses and Tai Chi.

Benjie, whose many years as a seaman have given him bodily aches and pains which have been recently relieved by practicing Ashtanga. He is married to Lai.

Together with Jing, E’s husband, and Jem my husband these fabulous five form our core group of Ashtanguys at the shala who share their strength and energies during practice.

In this country the women practitioners of Ashtanga normally outnumber the males. Why is that? Baffling really, when historically yoga was created in India originally and exclusively for men. After trying it out all the way through the seated poses, Jem can’t figure out why Ashtanga hasn’t caught on among Filipino men yet. It IS such a strenuous work out for him.

But in E’s shala there is almost an equal ratio of--or should I say a good balance between girls and guys. One night there were 4 guys out of the 9 practitioners in total. Of course Jing skips practice and goes downstairs for some sub-zero beer at the resto on the ground floor when space gets too tight.

Because I can’t make it to the shala this week, I’ve convinced my husband to do yoga at home as cross-training for his running. The result: so far he hasn’t put on his running shoes because we have been practicing every morning since Monday.

On the advice of one of my teachers, Jon Cagas, doing Suryas A & B and closing everyday can constitute a “daily practice”. As long as it’s done with integrity I suppose. Never one to be shortchanged, hubby and I did not only that but also some seated poses (no backbends though, I can only do UDs with E.) Woo-hoo!

A round of sub-zero for our Ashtanguys and an article on Filipino businessmen who practice Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga and another  article on yoga for men by Rodney Yee. Om.