"BET YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF MEN IN YOUR CLASS."

That's what this young reporter from the Washington Informer assumed upon learning that I was a yoga teacher. He was conducting "man on the street" interviews for the newspaper and caught me while I was perusing the children's section of my local bookstore. He wanted to know what direction I would like to see the civil rights movement take in the next 100 years. Being a mom, an unemployed one at that, I informed him that education and job creation were at the top of my list. Had I been thinking, I would've thrown in something about mandatory yoga classes in every school - gotta stay on my marketing deen. Next time. Anyway, after he took my picture (which he never offered to show me for my approval - HATE THAT) he asked for my contact information, I gave him my card and that's when he said, "Yoga teacher huh? I bet you don't get a lot of men in your class? I quickly responded, "you'd be surprised, I just taught a workshop and half the students were men". True the class was a couples workshop, but still. "Well I can't imagine myself doing yoga, I just don't see it" he said. That's when I when I pulled out my marketing hat, threw it on over the fro and proceed to convince this man that if he didn't do yoga he was letting himself, his children and his future wife down.
"You're only as young as your spine is flexible", I said. "Athletes love yoga, it helps them prevent injuries, you look like a pretty athletic guy" Next I hit him with, "you owe it to your children to stay young and full of life for as long as possible, who's gonna go out back and play football with them if you can't". Then I went in for the kill (so to speak), "besides, increased strength and flexibility can only HELP your performance in certain *ahem* situations. Hell, I was so deep in the zone, I almost pulled out my cell phone and called H.I.M. to testify! (Imagine that conversation!)

*Ring Ring*

Him: Hello.

"Me: Hey you busy? Listen, I got this guy standing here that doesn't believe yoga can improve his sex life, dude, you gotta tell him about last night!

Him: What? Woman, what have I told you about using sex to sell yoga to strangers, I don't have time for this, I'm on my way to my Ashtanga class. Just make sure you're ready when I get home tonight!

*Click*

(O.K. Maybe not)

Anyway, I'm not sure if I convinced him to try yoga, he has my card and I invited him to come to one of my Teacher Training Community Classes, so we will see. Perhaps he will step outside of his comfort zone and attend a class or two and maybe he'll enjoy it so much that he'll tell all of his friends about it. Wouldn't that be wonderful? A room full of dedicated yogis, working hard to improve their lives and the lives of the ones they love.

Coming Soon: Cocoa Om Presents...Downward Facing Dog and the Men Who Love It.