dear yoga yenta…(1)

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By: Doris Schwartz
Doris Schwartz is the creator and alter ego behind Yoga Yenta, the sassy self-appointed commentator on all things yoga. A management and fundraising consultant based in Los Angeles, she's maintained ...

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Yoga Yenta

Dear Yoga Yenta, 

Well, dear Yoga Yenta, it is indeed a good thing that these questions are anonymous as this is quite the embarrassing question. So much of yoga has to do with stretching and relaxing various parts of the body. So far, so good. And then the instructor says, “relax the butt muscles.” Not so good. Results may be good for the individual body, but not so good for air freshness in the vicinity of the lower half of the body. Whatever can we do?
Signed,

Mom from Manhattan Beach

Dear “Mom from Manhattan Beach” –

Yes, the sounds and smells of yoga can be quite confronting to us dainty yogini flowers. But one of the greatest benefits of yoga is the opportunity we give ourselves to fully let go, both physically and mentally. So if a little rotten air “slips through the crack” on occasion, I try to use it as a challenge to let go even more — of my ego, my judgments about my own body, as well as the others around me. For practical reasons, this also presents a good time to try out some different breathing techniques momentarily (i.e. NOT through the nose)!

Om Shanti & Infinite gratitude,

Yoga Yenta

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