Yogis Just Want to Have Fun
Rock and Roll Vinyasa 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
When my editor, the lovely Andrea Kowalksi, first told me she wanted me to go to this class and blog about it I wasn't sure it was for me. The Intermediate Track class said students should come prepared to sweat and sing. I told her I'd try it (even though I don't consider myself an intermediate yoga student) I would sweat with the best of them, but I was not going to sing.
All of this changed within the first five minutes of class. Rusty Wells has such a positive energy and a happy, playful approach to the advanced vinyasa practice, I immediately relaxed. Although the vinyasa had some pretty advanced poses, I did what my body would allow and just enjoyed being there, which wasn't hard to do. The theme throughout was that if you can't have fun during yoga, you must be doing something wrong. It seemed like everytime I wanted to relax into Child's Pose and give up, he either sang along with the music or did a little dance causing me to relax into the pose and keep trying. The highlight of the class for me was when Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" came on. It's one thing to do yoga to music, but this song? Really? It was hysterical.
During Savasana we all joined together to sing "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley, you know, the one that says "Don't Worry About A Thing." Even though I'd vowed not to sing, Rusty made me want to channel love to others so much I couldn't resist.
I'll definitely try to remember this class the next time my practice becomes too serious.
Rusty Wells has a unique style that blends music, movement, and spirit. His teaching has been influenced by elements from the Ashtanga, Bikram, and Sivananada traditions, as well as many wonderful teachers, including Dharma Mittra, Swami Sivananda, and Baron Baptiste. Rusty lives and teaches in San Francisco.