…have yoga mat will travel

Zen Yo Yo

When the over-zealous YoYo’s were sent an article from the Wall Street Journal, with a headline reading… “The YoYo Has Had Ups and Downs, But It’s Far From End of Its String”… we shouted “SCORE!

Bummed were we, when we actually read the article to discover it was about the other YoYo, not the kind that goes on “most excellent” yoga adventures. Jealous of a plastic toy, we reluctantly scrutinized every word about the latest-greatest, “better than ever” plaything equipped with high-tech ball bearings that makes these puppies move at the speed of sound.

Our sour way of thinkin’ disappeared as we suddenly understood-we were one with our namesake- YoYo! Ups-Downs… Far From End of String… New, Improved Version. Cool! Looks like some things that have been around a while are…. better than ever!

Tony Briggs

And so it was today as the YoYo’s really did SCORE with yoga legend Tony Briggs at his studio, Turtle Island Yoga in San Anselmo. Renown throughout the San Francisco Bay, Tony studied in both India and the United States with B.K.S. Iyengar and his daughter, Geeta…the YoYo’s were pretty sure they were about to have a “real deal” practice from this respected leader that was busy teaching before yoga had mats.

Turtle Island Yoga

Packed with habitual students that traveled from near and far to attend this Hatha 3-5 class, the experienced yogis grabbed their props of every shape and size as the “what do we do now?,” YoYo’s, took instruction from this “down to earth”, easy to understand, super cool guide. Startin’ in Supta Virasana supported with bolsters by Tony, professor of perfectly placed props, we felt our bodies start to release-big time! And so it was… as Tony guided us through prolonged postures using blocks, straps, blankets and bolsters in ways the YoYo’s never imagined. All those prankster, comfy lookin’ supports did an about face as we realized they weren’t there for sleepin,’ but rather as support to allow us to go deeper and deeper into the sequenced body openin’, mind-expandin’ asana that Dr. Tony prescribed. Good thing this guy was about as funny as they get, otherwise we may have, at- times wept, during this 2 hour class that we only wish would have lasted longer…and so did all the other yogis. After class, students hung around, chattin’, askin’ questions, and just wantin’ a little more “Tony” time so they could continue to be around this “big hug” of a yoga teacher that’s far from the end of his string.