Saturday, October 31, 2009

YogaDawg's Jazz Saturdays - Thelonious Monk

Monks advice to Steve Lacey (worked with Monk in the 60s). I swear these quotes confirm to me that he is a yogi and that Jazz is Yoga!



Just because you’re not a drummer, doesn’t mean you don’t have to keep time.

Pat your foot and sing the melody in your head, when you play.

Stop playing all those weird notes (that bullshit), play the melody!

Make the drummer sound good.

Discrimination is important.

You’ve got to dig it to dig it, you dig?

ALL REET!

Always know….(MONK)

It must be always night, otherwise they wouldn’t need the lights.

Let’s lift the band stand!!

I want to avoid the hecklers.

Don’t play the piano part, I’m playing that. Don’t listen to me. I’m supposed to be accompanying you!

The inside of the tune (the bridge) is the part that makes the outside sound good.

Don’t play everything (or every time); let some things go by. Some music just imagined. What you don’t play can be more important that what you do.

A note can be small as a pin or as big as the world, it depends on your imagination.

Stay in shape! Sometimes a musician waits for a gig, and when it comes, he’s out of shape and can’t make it.

When you’re swinging, swing some more.

(What should we wear tonight? Sharp as possible!)

Always leave them wanting more.

Don’t sound anybody for a gig, just be on the scene. These pieces were written so as to have something to play and get cats interested enough to come to rehearsal.

You’ve got it! If you don’t want to play, tell a joke or dance, but in any case, you got it! (To a drummer who didn’t want to solo)

Whatever you think can’t be done, somebody will come along and do it. A genius is the one most like himself.

They tried to get me to hate white people, but someone would always come along and spoil it.


Steve talks about Monk's advice to him in this video





Steve Lacy soprano saxophone with:
Fred Van Hove accordion (1) Joëlle Léandre double bass (2) Michael Bezverhny violin (3)Irene Aebi voice (4-5-6) Frederic Rzewski piano (7)



Thelonious Monk (Piano); Larry Gales (bass); Ben Riley (drums).

Friday, October 30, 2009

A YogaDawg Quiz - Are You a Holy Yogi?

With all the hand wringing floating around the yoganet regarding who is doing 'real yoga', this quiz will help determine if you are a Holy Yogi or not and even might assist you in choosing sides in this 'debate'.

Are You A Holy Yogi?

Also don't forget to see this old piece YogaDawg penned a few years ago as this conflict first arose in his consciousness: The One True Yoga - The Movie


Thursday, October 29, 2009

YogaDawg Movie - The One True Yoga

(With all the hand-wringing on the yoganet over the issue of what is or is not yoga, I couldn't help but to think of this piece done a couple of years ago, updated to add President Obama. I have to say that the more I hang out in the yogawebs, the dirtier I feel. And here I thought we were all just having some fun...yuck...)

Betty Boopinski
For Yoga Entertainment

Helped by legions of yogis, YogaDawg's Yoga action movie, "The One True Yoga" rose to top the weekend's domestic box office among plenty of competition. The picture took in $18.9 million in 3,465 engagements for a per-screen average of $7,747.

That was enough to edge out Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto" which opened at No. 2 with $16.1 million from 2,678 playdates. "The One True Yoga" dug into "Apocalypto's" shimmer as both pictures aimed to draw primarily male audiences. But "The One True Yoga" won the weekend by also bringing in an amazing amount of yoginis (female practitioners of yoga) as word of mouth about this yoga movie made its way through Yoga studios around the world with the word that YogaDawg, himself, would be appearing in the film.

"We see this as the blog conversation or water-cooler conversation of the week," said YogaDawg distribution head Carlson Venuten of the picture's crossover appeal. "This film is so creative, so fresh and different. There's so much competition that in this marketplace you have to delineate yourself".

Starring Ana Forrest as the Temptress, BKS Iyengar as the King, Ana Brett as the Exotic Virgin, Bikrum Choudary as the Court Jester (Rodney Yee was the original choice for Court Jester but it was decided that he would have trouble transitioning between the small screen of Yoga videos to the big screen) and YogaDawg himself as the Wandering Student Yogi, this film chronicles the journey of a new student of Yoga through the wily world of Yoga Schools and studios. Fighting hypocrisy and rampant commercialism of the Yoga world, YogaDawg fights pitched battles with the founders of Yoga schools, Yoga Zealots and 200 hour teacher trained Yoga Teachers. YogaDawg eventually triumphs in the discovery of the One True Yoga as he ascends the highest peak of the Himalayas and throws down the tablets of the false Yogas.

Riveting... Shiva Rae

Original and pithy... Bill O'Riley

Makes me want to do yoga... President Obama

The character of the King was really funny... Geeta Iyengar

I want to be a Yoga Movie Star!!! Rodney Yee

Shut up Rodney and go into child's pose...Colleen Saidman

Radical Yoga IV


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Sunday, October 25, 2009

YogaDawg's Fun Sunday - Extreme Yoga

I apologize to the artist for not crediting this. I found this a couple of years ago and it was funny to me because it felt like yoga. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the artist.





Saturday, October 24, 2009

YogaDawg's Jazz Saturdays - Jazz Humor

A couple of silly jazz videos (not too much jazz humor out there)


Thanks to Grimmly for pointing this out to me...

Thursday, October 22, 2009

New Yoga School Established - Twister Yoga

Holy Hanna For EternallyBlissfulYoga Super Magazine

Anxious to consolidate its position within the American Yoga boom, Yoga Journal announced today the creation of a new School of Yoga; Twister Yoga.

With the intention of competing head to head with Jivamukti and Anusara, Twister Yoga is said to be the next logical evolution for Yoga in the U.S. “With all the new Schools of Yoga appearing almost daily (see 10,000th Yoga Style Reached), we felt it was time to create our own”, said Kaitlin Quistgaard, editor of Yoga Journal.

What makes this style of Yoga unique is that it is not practiced on Yoga mats but rather on Twister mats (These mats are found in a game called Twister). Using the profits from the wildly successful Yoga magazine, Yoga Journal bought both the rights to the game and the name Twister from Milton Bradley for $656 million dollars.

It is rumored that Yoga Journal will begin to market the Twister School of Yoga not only through it’s new flagship Yoga Studio in San Francisco (Twister Yoga Studio) but also though an innovated product that will be sold as “Yoga Journal’s, Yoga School in a Box.” It is rumored that Yoga Journal will continue to offer the standard Twister game in toy stores world wide.

Twister Yoga is performed with up to 4 Yogis per Twister mat. Employing standard Yoga poses, this style requires the student to use a spinner that matches color dots on the mats. In turn, the yoga teacher will call out Yoga poses that the student will perform on that particular colored dot. It is said that things get really exciting with poses such as tripod head stand, side angle crane and happy baby.

When asked why they feel that this style of Yoga would be successful with so many other styles in existence, Ms. Quistqaard replied, “Well if truth be told, Yoga is kind of boring. I mean that Iyengar stuff would put anyone to sleep. We at Yoga Journal feel that we are making Yoga fun and exciting.” She added, "Also be aware that we intent to create other Schools of Yoga as opportunities present themselves, so we are sure we will be able to provide a School of Yoga for everyone".

Questioned whether Yoga Journal’s entry into the Yoga School arena would jeopardize their other income streams such as the Yoga conference business and magazine advertisements, she replied, “You might have a few cry babies out there that claim we are taking money from them, but most of the Yoga Stars know which side of the bread their Yoga success is buttered on”.

In another development, Lululemon will begin merchandising a line of Twister Yoga clothing that they plan to introduce with the launch of the new Twister Yoga style at the Yoga Journal Yoga Conference in San Francisco in September.


The new Lululemon Twister Yoga Pants

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

The YogaDawg Yoga Conversion Kit

With yoga hitting the big time in popularity, tensions between yoga schools have escalated. Yogis from different yoga styles mingle with each other creating new and hybrid versions of yoga and in the process causing conflicts and frictions. Different yoga schools have different yoga values, traditions and points of view on yoga. Some of these positions may be in harmony with others and some may clash.

It is this current geo-yoga reality that inspired Guru YogaDawg to develop his Yoga Conversion Kit. While some may believe that yogis from different schools should live in peace, most seasoned yogis know that this is not the case. YogaDawg approaches the problem in a practical and pragmatic way by offering his yoga conversion kits to align the yogi to his current yoga situation and desire.

With the YogaDawg Yoga Conversion Kit, changing yoga styles has never been so easy. Do you need to change your style of yoga for a chance to teach at a hot new yoga studio? Are you moving to a place that only offers a yoga style that is hostile to your current one? Are you trying to impress that special someone with your yoga skills but who practices a different yoga style than you? Then convert to the style of yoga of your choice with the YogaDawg Yoga Conversion Kit. A new yoga style and a new respectability can now be yours at an affordable price.

Gone are the days when a yogi would have to hide in the back of a yoga studio to learn the basics of a new yoga style along the fear of accidently exposing themselves as ignorant of the style they are practicing. Conversion from one style to another used to take years and great amounts of money. Now though, through the genius of Guru YogaDawg with his vast yoga knowledge and the diligent work by his two disciples, MadDawg and HotDawg, extracting essential yoga information from the internet, Yoga Journal and the vast Yoga-Industrial-Complex, the YogaDawg Yoga Conversion Kit is now available to you now at little cost.

Each kit comes in easy to open packaging (none of that impossible plastic casing that would stress even the most advance of yogis) which contains user-friendly instructions highlighting the latest trends and language of the particular yoga style. Individual yoga styles are fully illustrated and the included DVD will teach you everything about the style; modifications, rituals, power jargon, special chants and advance moves. YogaDawg is especially proud of the patented Guru-in-the-Box CD Assistance who will explain the essence of the style as well as tips & tricks that will get you up and posing in no time. In addition, each kit is specially packed with a set of items unique to each style though all contain the specially patented ‘Quick Converter’ that is an easy to follow graphic guide explaining important points so you can step in your new yoga style immediately.



The Ashtanga Conversion Kit includes:

- Two Large plastic bags for use of deposing of all you now unnecessary yoga props

- A 10% off coupon good for one Black Manduka yoga mat, the preferred mats of Ashtangis world-wide

- A Sanskrit quick translate guide to help you understand what the heck the Ashtangis are saying to each other in class

- The fully illustrated travel guide of Mysore, India that includes all the hot spots Asthangis enjoy sometime during their yoga voyage

- A replica banana leaf manuscript showing all the essential ashtanga poses





The Iyengar Conversion Kit includes:

- The abridged copy of the famous yoga bible, Light on Yoga

- A 10% off coupon for a new colorful yoga mat at GreatTranscendentalYoga Super Store

- Copy of Iyengar Verbal Self-defense Manual to help you both fend off crude and unsocial comments from teachers and also handy to refer to if you want to dish out your own verbal abuse

- Sample box of No-Doz for those special classes that are so boring you rather watch paint dry

- Credit application to the GreatTranscendentalYoga Super Store to assist you in buying all the wonderful props that will keep you occupied acquiring for years to come.






The Bikram Conversion Kit includes:

-Special 10% off coupon to purchase the essential Biram uniform, Speedo, sport bras and large yoga towels to mop up the sweat you leave behind in class

- 'Allegiance to Bikram' contract

- Abridged copy of “The Dialogue”

- Special heat rash cream

- Antibiotics for various tropical diseases you might contact in the hot, moist atmosphere of Bikram yoga studio

a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wwqzK9LZN_A/Sty7YCexIZI/AAAAAAAABO8/hVCMDiM5hpI/s1600-h/bikram_med.jpg">


Coming Soon!

The new YogaDawg Yoga to Pilates Conversion Kit






Sunday, October 18, 2009

YogaDawg's Yoga Fun Sundays - Mixing it up



Do Vikings do Yoga



Learning to meditate

Bollywood clip of the week - Vishnu tries to kill Lakshmi



And the latest in Luluwood

Chant After Them: Super ...

Yoga Quote of the Week:

"Funny how a man who chooses to spend time in a room full of middle class women in leotards is considered gay whereas as the one rolling around on a muddy field with a bunch of guys isn't." - a comment from a blog

Saturday, October 17, 2009

YogaDawg's Jazz Saturdays - Smalls Jazz Club




This is a standby for me where I go to when there is no one I want to hear at the major jazz clubs. What's great about Smalls is that they have a live feed of their performances (your love ones might even see you jiven' to the groove).

Click here for the live feed to hear what New York Jazz is all about

This is a great place to hang out and listen to unknown jazz artists (which makes it interesting because jazz is always about the unexpected).

Friday, October 16, 2009

Video - Shiva Rae does YogaDawg

Shiva Rae does her thing on YogaDawg's Scroll Paintings



Thursday, October 15, 2009

Scroll Painting IV

"Leave the shower curtain on the inside of the tub," Conrad Hilton's final advice for the world.

Pigment, photos on paper - 24 x 46 inche

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Scroll Painting III

"In the end, everything is a gag." - Charlie Chaplin

Pigment, photos on paper - 18 x 46 inch

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Scroll Painting II

"The holy grail is to spend less time making the picture than it takes people to look at it." - Banksy

Pigment, photos on paper - 18 x 60 inch

Sunday, October 11, 2009

YogaDawg's Yoga Fun Sundays - New and Old







Obama won't see the Dalai Lama. Well, we'll see just what Jon Stward has to say about that!








The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Hell No, Dalai
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show
Full Episodes
Political HumorRon Paul Interview


This is kind of old and kind of funny...


From Cracked.com

"Yoga is an ancient Indian practice thought to bestow super powers on the practitioner including the ability to stay young, levitate and inspire white people to give you money."

"Yoga teaches one to unify the mind and body, while separating the self from attachments such as dignity."

"Careless practice of yoga can cause painful but diffuse injuries that can only be treated by additional yoga."

"Side effects include hums, mantras and mild chanting."

Saturday, October 10, 2009

YogaDawg's Jazz Saturdays - Kenny Barron

Caught a great Kenny Barron set at the Kennedy Center. Nothing like seeing a master ply his trade with highly refined craftsmanship. Kiyoshi Kitagawa, bass and Johnathan Blake on drums joined him.






A flavor of the gig from this vid with Kenny Barron, Kiyoshi Kitagawa and Victor Lewis on drums.



Personnel: Kenny Barron (piano); Grady Tate, Gretchen Parlato, Ann Hampton Callaway (vocals); Lionel Loueke (guitar); Steve Wilson (soprano saxophone); Kiyoshi Kitagawa (upright bass); Francisco Mela (drums).

Friday, October 09, 2009

Yoga Magazine Week - Celeb Yogi

The yoga magazine that is too hot to keep exposed in full view. Keep the kiddies away from this one!

To Order:
Send a $1,000 International Money Order (per subscription) to:
YogaDawg Productions
Postal Drop 419
Ebola Okei-Dokei Street
Lagos, NIGERIA

Each subscription will also receive the exclusive "Yoga Stars Gone Wild DVD." All the best cuts of our favorite yoga stars from the their official yoga star videos. This is not your Yoga Journal collection!


Thursday, October 08, 2009

Yoga Magazine Week - DOGA

The yoga magazine for your dogi. Needless to say, this is YogaDawg's favorite magazine.


Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Yoga Magazine Week - VOGA

News Release:

Following the incredible success of the men’s yoga magazine, YQ, YogaDawg Publications announces their new sister yoga magazine, VOGA. Hailed as a "true women's yoga magazine" by critics, VOGA promises more yoga fashion, more yoga ads and less yoga then Yoga Journal.

Monday, October 05, 2009

Yoga Magazine Week - YQ



Men will be able to get a fresh perspective on the yoga world around them by reading YQ, an exciting new magazine which aims to bring the male perspective to yoga.

Covering everything from yoga fashion to yoga flirting, yoga music to yoga studios with its own unique stance, this picture-led publication will transform the way men think about yoga. Read more

Sunday, October 04, 2009

YogaDawg's Yoga Fun Sundays - Different Stuff

Oh man, my worse nightmare!



Y'all Yoga



And speaking of Texas, what y'all think of this. Funny in a sad way...


Guns replace yoga at NH peace day protest

And if this is not crazy enough, check out the Montblanc 'Gandhi Pen'

Saturday, October 03, 2009

nga

Hot session with Jeremy at the Baltimore Museum of Art









Jeremy Pelt - Trumpet
J.D. Allan - Sax
Danny Grissett - Piano
Dwayne Burno - Bass
Gerald Cleaver - Drums

Friday, October 02, 2009