Hello mutineers! I’ve been holed up in my east-coast satellite bunker for a while now, perfecting my Gleeson Grip, watching test cricket and savagely turning my back on a lacto-vegetarian upbringing.
I have been trying to keep up, however, and came upon this little gem of an article via our newstab (thanks Brij), relating the life of a peculiar kind of Yogi–one who may be tempted by “Extreme” branded potato chips.
I confess I am somewhat of a fan of orthodoxy–for Hatha Yoga, this sets me apart from adherents to a great deal of the ‘Yoga Styles’ currently popular throughout our urban centers–Bikram, Vinyasa, ‘Power Yoga’ and the like. These ‘styles’ generally incorporate extreme stress positions (ideas for Guantanamo?), extreme heat, push-ups or some combination thereof, in addition to the asanas you should be learning.
Though calisthenics aren’t a bad idea with regards to general cardiovascular health, Hatha Yoga’s basic poses could only be construed as an attempt at reaching a Richard Simmons-like nirvana of sweaty tights and oldies by someone who finds the distinction between the two to be functionally meaningless. This is missing the point: Hatha Yoga is a LOW-impact exercise meant to gently encourage your body to stretch.
Our man Jason Magness, of course, is into none of this yuppified “yoga booty ballet’ nonsense. Instead, he takes it one self-consciously non-conformist, dumpster-diving, freegan step forward–right onto a nylon rope lashed between two trees.
Yes, this is without a doubt impressive. But to what end? Hatha Yoga , for me, is valuable because of the tangible benefits it has for many who take up the practice for health reasons. Extreme stress positions, afforded by intensity-crazed disciplines currently popular, do not seem to achieve any tangible benefit other than an improbably swelled ego. So what does Magness think he’s getting out of being able to hold the Lotus Pose (Padmasana) on rope?
Mr. Magness calls himself a slacker.
Certainly impressive–but I was able to achieve ‘slacker’ status in college–while only able to balance myself on a folding chair during a spirited game of NCAA ’03 on my roommate’s Xbox.
Surely there are other benefits, perhaps a book deal or complimentary nylon rope from the manufacturer?
Since he and a friend invented the practice three years ago, Mr. Magness has given demonstrations at yoga conferences, released an instructional DVD and taught 2,000 people at workshops across the country.
Sadly, there was no nylon rope deal, but Magness did get a trip out of it(seemingly the only currency he values is travel). How about groupies? Every ‘best in the world at this discipline’ aspirant eventually has visions of inexplicably devoted fans, fortunately for Magness, he can potentially enjoy groupie love unencumbered by guilt:
He and his girlfriend of four years broke up in January because she wanted him home more. The woman, Kara Hawthorne, says Mr. Magness is torn between desires for stability and living rootless. “I go through periods where I think there’s something wrong with me and I wish I had a more-traditional life,” Mr. Magness says. “Sometimes I think it’s a character flaw.
Flaws aside, there is an admirable streak of stubbornness in this Yogi:
Mr. Magness works harder than most. In the past decade, he has completed a dozen ascents of previously unclimbed mountain routes and placed in 25 adventure races, often with minimal food and gear. “Exploring that edge of human potential is really fascinating to me,” he says.
It’s tempting to think that this willingness to test oneself for the sake of the testing itself is a sign of altruism, but as usual, there’s always the money angle:
“Their energy is absolutely infectious,” says David Kennedy, marketing manager for Prana clothing, a sponsor. “That free-spiritedness is part of what Prana would like to exemplify.” The trait also makes Mr. Magness difficult to corral. He and his circle prefer old clothes and living on four-figure annual incomes. Prana wants Mr. Magness to lead a nationwide yoga-slacklining tour. He says it sounds like work. “If a company wants too much from us, we just say we don’t have time to worry about selling your product,” says Mr. Magness, who also is sponsored by Ibex clothing and shoemaker Inov8.
It seems difficult to reconcile sponsors and DVD tours with a desire to live on discarded food (3-week old sharp cheddar tastes somewhat like Camembert?) and 4-figure annual income. It also seems difficult to find positive instructional content in his story. So, as usual, i’m left with a question: how do you mutineers do ‘extreme’ without compromising work/family/relationships?
savagely perhaps, but EXTREMELY!? Are you ready for a hot-dog eating contest while treading shark-infested water as chunks of meat are slowly tossed in?
As silly as I think this guy is, that first picture looks like Gates Pass near Tucson, from where I’ve watched many a gorgeous sunset; to have done it with the sense of levitating would have taken it to a whole new level, so to speak.
Also, please write more.
I don’t know why desi-immigrants stop being vegetarians. Heck, I was born in the U.S., and still am a vegetarian.
2 · Rahul S said
I am working on something along those lines, but haven’t seen a story fit to pair with it.
Great article and great post. I can’t help but find this guy totally endearing. I don’t think it matters that what he’s doing has no particular purpose, is not altruistic, may be injurious to health, and all the rest of it. We need more of this attitude in this world, imo. Work, family and relationships are for the run-of-the-mill, needy masses, not for yogis. Anyway, his dad seems okay with it, so there you have it.
Ahhh. He’s Wonko the Sane.
I turned vegetarian in the US some twenty odd years ago. Back in India it was considered very “modern” to be non-vegetarian and that was how my very modern-wanna-be parents brought me up–complete with beef and all. Anyway, if you can be vegetarian in France, as I am, you can be vegetarian anywhere. Am off to London on Wednesday and the only reason is because I’m hungry and I want to eat.
Tons of reasons: 1. It is far more convienient for be a non-vegetarian in the US. A vegetarian has far more limited chocices in the US than in India. (A US born vegetarian has already adjusted to the lack of choices while growing up.) More food choices — and it is cheaper and healthier to boot. (I land up taking fries, Pizza and other junk food quite often just because there is’nt an appetizing vegetarian option) Easier to blend in. At pot luck, while going out, I often land up beig the odd one out. I like that people are usually very nice and sensitive about this, but I feel uncomfortable at being at the recieving end of so many apologies or seeing hosts go to an extra mile to prepare veg dishes 2. Less social pressure to be a vegetarian. There is still a little bit of a taboo about it in India. People try to hide it from their parents, or are least are usually discreet about it, in order to not hurt their feelings. Once they come to the US there is non need to hide anything partly because there are no parents to hide it from. 3. Greater chance of accidentally eating non-vegetarian food. Since vegetarianism is not in the culture of US, there is a high chance of food eating non-vegtarian food by mistake. E.g. Vegetable soup based on a meat stock (the same mushroom soup, with the same label, located in the same corner can be vegetarian one day and non-veg the next day), beans cooked in lard, waiter gets the order wrong/ does not understand the order, scumbag multinational foodchain makes a big hullabulla of cooking fries in vegetable oil and secretly adding soylent green or some other meat additives for flavoring, not recognizing that one of the ingredients in the grocery item is actually a meat product, sloppy cook allowing meat to fall in your plate during preparation, etc. It is difficut to catch all these all the time, and this often acts as a gateway to regularly eating non-veg food. Many people feel that once they have tasted non-veg food, that they have already “sinned” and there is no religious reason to continue abstaining from non-veg food. It is also presumably easier to just stop worrying if your food contains meat. 4. There are very few pure veg places in the Indian sense. In India even in non-veg places veg and non-veg dishes are often cooked in different vessels, while here a veg burger and a hamburger are usually cooked in the same grill with the same utensils. People often feel that it is hippocrytical to think that your food contains no trace of non-veg food and they might as well go the whole hog. 5. Curiosity. People just want to know why their friends are raving about that chicken biryani/sushi/fried fetus/random non-veg dish of the day.
ABDs probably face the same probelms and some make the adjustments needed to remain vegetarians while many others don’t. It is the same with DBD’s. The only difference is that ABDs have to face these issues while growing up, and DBD have to face these issues once they come to America
Happy Tamil New Year, Nayagan!
8 · rob said
To you, as well! I celebrated by not sneezing once!
DizzyDesi,
I realize the issue Jagat brought up is a salient one and appreciate the effort you put into the post but it’s not related even tangentially to this post. Please stop at what you’ve written, else the Intern starts knocking…
8 · rob said
To the other Tamils here, as well! I, for one, will be enjoying some excellent, Tamil, home cooking tonight.
Does he ever get rope wedgies? How does he deal?
Speaking of the Tamil New Year, what’s the deal with the TN government officially advancing it by three months to coincide with Pongal? (link, link)
I’d like to hear the opinions of non-Indian Tamil people on this one – does the proposed change of the New Year have astronomical benefits, or is it political posturing?
7 · DizzyDesi said
Just to emphasize the point that non-veggie food is a much cheaper option, to give you one perspective, as a DBD ex-grad.student, I can testify that the $1 McD’s chicken sandwiches were a much more appealing option financially on a grad. student paycheck than the $3+ veggie subs and salads available in comparable fast-food joints. Health issues associated with these financial choices are a whole other topic though.
12 · pingpong said
Wow. Totally missed that one, thanks!
2 · Rahul S said
I am also a US born Desi and a vegetarian. I tried veganism but that lasted a grand total of two years and I’d cheat by sneaking a spoon of yogurt once in a while. However, when growing up during the late sixties and seventies, vegetarianism was an alien concept, especially in the Midwest suburbs of Chicago. Even the restaurant grilled cheese sandwiches (which was and probably still is, grilled on the same grill as the beef/hamburgers), so it was hard being a pure vegetarian. In middle school, I was called a “veterinarian”.
To this day waiters in restaurants offer me the option of fish and other seafood. Once Mary Tyler Moore, a famous actress, PETA supporter and vegetarian mentioned that she would not eat anything with a face. My father in law asked, “But would she consider something in a burkha?” That has absolutely nothing to do with the post but I thought it was pretty clever & hilarious.) But most people in the US understand the benefits of a healthy balanced meatless diet. (I want to emphasize healthy & balanced because a pound of sugar, a ton of ice cream and fries are also vegetarian.)
Now back to topic, Magness sounds like an elite super athlete and he had to reach that extremely high level of fitness with constant training. His lifestyle/training is not for everyone.
7 · DizzyDesi said
But then those all seem petty reasons to turn into a non-vegetarian. I’ve been here about 8 years lived the “PIGS” life but never once was I inclined to turn into a non-vegetarian. And its not like we’re living in Russia. I guess apart from the subcontinent and perhaps the UK, the US is the best country to live for a vegetarian. With so many desi grocery stores and restaurants, packet/frozen foods and the wonderful chains like trader joes and whole foods, There is just enough vege. choices to shop around for. Ofcourse there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a non-vegetarian but if you ve made a choice of being a vegetarian then I am sure you wont have to starve.. atleast in the US. Where there is a will, there is a way.. so to speak.
okay guys, if nobody has anything to say about the post I think it’s best if we close comments. Objections?