the yoga of dr. seuss { on advertising, nudity, + socks }

artwork credit: Dr. Seuss, from The Cat in the Hat

From west to east, and east to west,
there are lots of ideas on yoga's advertising with sex.

One opinion, two opinion,
red opinion, blue opinion.

I am the advertiser, I speak for the green
I speak for the green, you know what I mean.
I meant no harm, such harm I meant not,
but yoga grew so big, capitalization I sought.

Then along came a powerful letter from the Judith Las,
written with obvious intelligence, care, and class.
She said to Yoga Journal, See here, this must stop! 
You cannot keep using ladies without tops.

The yoga public debated, they love to do that
but this wasn't so simple as a cat wearing a hat.
They raged and they rioted, crashing like a storm
and suddenly the battle was over the human form.
Just as soon as the tide shifted, it so moved again
Unnecessary Socks was shouted over the din.

Do you like your yoga with socks?
I do not like it, my mat has no rocks.
But would you like them here or there?
Maybe you'd like them with your feet in the air?

I do not like them with my feet in the air,
I do not like silly socks anywhere.
Yoga is made so we commune with the ground,
the use of accoutrement makes it much less profound.

But the very most important point, you shall see
is not bastardizing yoga or creating exploitees.

So what it comes down to, my fellow yogis
at least in part it's the mindful use of your pennies.
The other half, of course, is the voice and the thoughts
make yourself heard, no tough battle's easily fought.

In the words of Dr. Seuss (which should always be put to good use):

"Unless someone like you
cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better.
It's not."

- Y is for Yogini, in the style of the infinitely wise Dr. Seuss. Alternate title: The Seussian Yoga Manifesto.

Comments

[Rachel @ Suburban Yogini]

Brilliant!!

[Nancy]

thanks for starting my day with a giant smile, biggest i've had in a while!... clever, funny and right on the money

[Michelle]

hahaha - this is great! Seriously, where do you come up with this stuff?!

[Emmanuelle]

I.LOVE.IT!

[Bob Weisenberg]

Love it. Thanks for alerting me to this on Twitter.

Did you know I'm a big fan of Dr. Suess? I sometimes read "Thidwick the Big Hearted Moose" just for own enjoyment. But usually I try to find a five-year old for cover.

Here's the terribly heartbreaking news in my Dr. Suess life. Last time my three-year old granddaughter was visiting from New York I was about to read her "Thidwick" when my daughter said, "Please don't read her that book. It's so sad with all those hunters shooting at the moose."

Turns out she never liked the book, but was afraid to tell me all these years because I enjoyed it so much!

Bob Weisenberg
ElephantJournal

[Victoria Klein]

Love it, love every word of it.

Associated side note: I'd LOVE to see a Dr. Seuss yoga book for kids. :)

[MeredithLeBlanc]

I bow to you, this I love! And you too ♥

[ashley]

This is awesome.. I am jealous of your rhyming skills.. Love it!

[Lindsay]

This is great! I've always admired Dr. Suess for his rhyming skills and for making it seem so easy to do. It's not! And he always manages to get us thinking ... just like you!

Nice job!

[Jen]

Fabulous! Incredibly creative with a powerful message. Our dollar is our vote!

[roseanne]

love it! fun and profound. wonderful!

[Brenda P.]

I always hoped I could find the Oncler's Lerkim and get that last truffula seed. Maybe this poem is the yogic equivalent.

Love it!

[LaGitane]

Brilliant! You could write a best selling yoga novella... And pose nude for the cover! Oh, wait... :) seriously though, talented stuff! Funny how a little humor goes so far.

[Mary, Rand(Om) Bites]

Love you girl and anyone who quotes Dr Seuss. I just quoted Seuss to a wonderful friend who just got married - “You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”

[Rick]

Loved it. Thanks.

[Donna Freeman]

Simply marvelous!

Here are some lessons I learned from reading "Put Me In The Zoo" to my daughter this summer.
http://yogainmyschool.com/2010/07/26/put-me-in-the-zoo-old-favourite-new-lessons/

[Brooks Hall]

This is a work of pure genious! Thank you! I laughed!

[Carrisa Clifton]

Lo! You Are Awesome!! So Clever! Love this! Thanks for the smile!! :0)

[Svasti]

Back-reading your posts... can you tell? This wonderous piece sealed the deal... you just got yourself blog rolled, lady! ;)

[Tara SG]

You are a freaking genius!