Men do yoga | Monty Stilson

When and how did you start yoga?

I needed to counteract the effects of sitting at my desk so a friend recommended Bikram yoga. Luckily there was a studio, Bikram Yoga LES (now know as Fierce Grace NYC) just a few blocks away. I fell in love with the people and the practice.

 

What style of yoga do you practice?

I now mostly practice the Jared McCann Vinyasa with Jared McCann at Lighthouse Yoga School. And recently I've also started a Mysore Ashtanga practice with Michael Guiou.

 

How has it changed your life?

Yoga has given me the ability to slow down, focus, be in my body and it has given me better coping skills in this chaotic environment. 

 

What is your most memorable yoga moment?

I was in a class led by Jared McCann and Talia Sutra at the old Yoga to the People 2 studio. I kicked up against a wall to try my first hollowback handstand... And I was unable to come down. Luckily my friend Nick Potenzieri, also a yoga teacher, was strong enough to pick my whole body up and move me away from the wall!

 

What makes a great yoga teacher?

Knowledge, experience, the ability to read a room and to lead the class accordingly.

 

What is your favourite pose and why?

Camel - the combination of flexibility and vulnerability. I aim to fully open my heart.

 

 

 

What do you do when not doing yoga?

I've also discovered calisthenics and bodyweight training to gain more upper body strength. Weather permitting! And cooking...

 

What are you listening to?

Cloves.

 

What are you reading?

The Plant Paradox by Dr. Robert Gundry.

 

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A fearless rebel.

 

 

If you could be any animal in the world, what would you choose?

A flippin' dolphin.

 

Who would play you in the film of your life?

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin. Or Dobby.

 

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Ancient Aliens. Sadly it's streamable so there is a wee bit of guilt associated with watching.

 

When are you happiest?

Being embodied, creative and purposeful.

 

What is your greatest fear?

Losing purpose.

 

 

 

Where would you go if you could time travel?

100 years into the future.

 

Why should people do yoga?

It's an amazing tool to access the physiological aspects of our bodies.

 

Tell us something we don’t know.

You can't really breath into your hamstrings.

 

Check out Monty's work @montystilson