Punk Rockah Yogini

Tonight Andrew and I are going to see Flogging Molly; a Punk Celtic band from the West Coast. Andrew is a Punk Rockah and has introduced me to various bands including the classics Bad Religion (my FIRST punk concert ever!) and Lars Frederickson from Rancid. I must admit that I am definitely not a Punk music fan overall, not usually heavy enough or well played musically enough for my tastes. Flogging Molly, however, kicks bum; lead singer from Ireland, awesome maritime-y music with enough of a heavier sound to make me VERY happy :)

This Punk themes fits in perfectly with my analysis of the Lulu love-hate issue. Why exactly (beyond their most certainly questionable "made in china" practices) do I sneer at them so? Svasti's comment on my previous post made something clique. I am a Punk-Rockah Yogini.

As Andrew has taught me, being Punk has nothing to do with the "look" and everything to do with attitude and belief systems. Specifically Anti-Establishment, Anti-Culture. Lululemon is most definitely "The Establishment" in the corporate/popular yoga world today. It's everywhere and that annoys the crap out of me. Part of the reason why I don't like the brand is the popularity itself. I don't want to be a lemming, I want to be original, different, PUNK. Part of me says: "Eff that popsicle stand" while at the same time walks right in (grumbling under my breath of course).

With some birthday moneys promised from my mom (awww- I think that stops when you have your own kids right?? lol) I threw all restraint into the wind and guiltily walked into the Halifax store. Avoiding eye contact with all workers there I finally saw this AWESOME bomber jacket. Tried it on and was immediately accosted by a super-duper happy employee (thanks for the Times link Vegan!):

"Did you know the jacket was made with recycled plastic bottles and is water resistant??"
Ugh, I SO do not want BPA plastic near my body. I wonder how much carbon it takes to make fabric from plastic?

"Oh really?" alarmed look followed by a sniff on the jacket: "What is it treated with?"
"Oh!! Hah, don't worry! Nothing bad for you I'm sure!"
Right.

Walk up to the cash with my cute cute, guilty purchase and ask the cashier what chemicals it's treated with.
"Ummm, wait let me ask.... DWR!" BIG smile.
"Ok... what does that stand for?"
"Ummm... wait- Durable Water Repellent!" BIGGER smile.
Sigh "So essentially that tells me nothing."

To that I got a confused look and I had to explain briefly at her confused and awkward "Oh no this customer is going to be difficult" look that it was ok, I would google it when I got home. This was followed by a week of googling and emailing Lululemon with the response that actually Lauren, the GEC (Guest Education Consultant), didn't *think* it was treated with anything! Super!

Upon further thought, if I were a Punk-influenced Yogini, this would explain other random thoughts and opinions I have about yoga. For example my dislike of Bikram and Hot Yoga. Part of this reaction, if I were to be honest with myself (and you!) is because it has become SO popular. "THE" yogis go to the local Moksha studio. Hot Yoga is the money maker in this city. I don't want to be part of the crowd, one with the masses. I want to practice "MY" yoga. Of course, it's not blind dislike- I do believe that practicing in that kind of heat can be dangerous both for the individual's muscles and respiratory system. The fact that it's a studio where new yogi/ni's attend makes me nervous.

My weird aversion to the Yoga Loft could also be attributed to an Anti-Establishment attitude. This studio is one of THE most popular studios in the city. Going there bugs me, I feel like one of many. Of course, my terrible experience with the owner of the studio, combined with rude studio etiquette and the type of yogis who attend may factor into the equation. Sigh- honestly- my rebelliousness definitely lurks behind many thoughts.

Finally, musical choice hangs out there as well. I've always hated those musicians that despised a band-genre of music simply because it was popular. Perhaps in this area I've been a bit less Punk and a bit more balanced, most likely because I'm a classically trained musician myself. If it's fantastic skill and sound I usually don't care about the popularity of the artist. Great music is just that. However, I'm starting to wish I had other "yoga" music besides Krishna Das. He's fantastic and his music speaks to me but it speaks to everyone else too.... lol.

All that being said; I do believe it is important to retain a balanced, critical and informed view on choices, likes and dislikes. Which means that this whole Punk attitude isn't rational or what I feel very proud about admitting. After the heated discussion over at "it's all yoga, baby", (here, here and here) I feel that this sub-culture or underlying influence of Punk Yogis definitely exists beyond myself.

We want yoga to become popular, yet we want complete control as to who, what, where and how. And when it does spiral out of our "niche" control it's upsetting and disconcerting. We're no longer special or unique. Others are defining and shaping yoga to suit their purposes, which may not always be what we want or adhere to. All of a sudden, the counter-culture movement of yoga has become The Man (Woman). So us Punk Yogi/nis are categorizing in order to remain true to our Yogi-selves.

Any other Punk Rockah Yogi/nis out there?

Blessings! I'm off to bee-bop along to celtic punk!

article authored by EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com