Michael James Wong - Sit Down, Be Quiet - A modern guide to yoga and mindful living

COPYRIGHT COPYRIGHT DEDICATION FOREWORD ABOUT BOYS OF YOGA INTRODUCTION 01 THE PRACTICE What Is Yoga All About? 02 JUST BREATHE You’re One Breath Away From Calm 03 WHAT GOES WHERE? Learning The Basics And How To Get Started 04 INSIDE OUT It’s Not A Work Out, It’s A Work In 05 KILL THE EGO Kindness Has No Enemies 06 DON’T FIGHT THE FEELING Redefining Manly 07 SIT DOWN, BE QUIET Turn The Volume Down 08 ACTIONS VS REACTIONS What Is An Action? 09 RIGHT AND LEFT Not Right And Wrong 10 PRIORITIES Get Them Straight 11 THE FUTURE IS NOW If Not Now, When? LIST OF SEARCHABLE TERMS ABOUT THE AUTHOR THANK YOUS ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

Thorsons

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First published by Thorsons 2018

FIRST EDITION

Text and photography (except where indicated) © Michael James Wong 2018

Cover design by Sim Greenaway © HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 2018

Cover photograph © Nicola Peters

A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library

Michael James Wong asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

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Source ISBN: 9780008249656

Ebook Edition © March 2018 ISBN: 9780008249649

Version 2018-02-01

DEDICATION DEDICATION FOREWORD ABOUT BOYS OF YOGA INTRODUCTION 01 THE PRACTICE What Is Yoga All About? 02 JUST BREATHE You’re One Breath Away From Calm 03 WHAT GOES WHERE? Learning The Basics And How To Get Started 04 INSIDE OUT It’s Not A Work Out, It’s A Work In 05 KILL THE EGO Kindness Has No Enemies 06 DON’T FIGHT THE FEELING Redefining Manly 07 SIT DOWN, BE QUIET Turn The Volume Down 08 ACTIONS VS REACTIONS What Is An Action? 09 RIGHT AND LEFT Not Right And Wrong 10 PRIORITIES Get Them Straight 11 THE FUTURE IS NOW If Not Now, When? LIST OF SEARCHABLE TERMS ABOUT THE AUTHOR THANK YOUS ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

This book is dedicated to you, your brother,your dad, your boyfriend, your grandpa,your teacher, your mate, your homie, yourBOYS and any guy ready to step into a moremindful way of living.

Now is the time to begin.

boysofyoga.com

@boysofyoga

CONTENTS

COVER

TITLE PAGE

COPYRIGHT

DEDICATION

FOREWORD

ABOUT BOYS OF YOGA

INTRODUCTION

01 THE PRACTICE

What Is Yoga All About?

02 JUST BREATHE

You’re One Breath Away From Calm

03 WHAT GOES WHERE?

Learning The Basics And How To Get Started

04 INSIDE OUT

It’s Not A Work Out, It’s A Work In

05 KILL THE EGO

Kindness Has No Enemies

06 DON’T FIGHT THE FEELING

Redefining Manly

07 SIT DOWN, BE QUIET

Turn The Volume Down

08 ACTIONS VS REACTIONS

What Is An Action?

09 RIGHT AND LEFT

Not Right And Wrong

10 PRIORITIES

Get Them Straight

11 THE FUTURE IS NOW

If Not Now, When?

LIST OF SEARCHABLE TERMS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

THANK YOUS

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

Foreword

To my son, and all the boys out there.

When you were younger you were a joy to be around. As you got older there were times your mother and I thought otherwise. But it didn’t mean we ever stopped loving you. You were just growing up and figuring out who you wanted to be.

In the years that followed you were eager to learn more: about yourself, your family, your home, your community and how life worked when you had a little more time to experience it. There were good times, and times that didn’t go exactly to plan. And that’s ok, it’s how life is supposed to be.

Parenting in any form is not an easy job and, like life, there is no roadmap. But I think we did alright. Our approach was simple; we encouraged you to have an open mind and a big heart and to understand that the world is a far nicer place when it’s greeted with a hug or a high five. As your parents, we showed you life through the lens of our family, but allowed you the freedom to choose how you wanted to live and who you wanted to become.

We raised you to know that you are always more than enough.

We are from a different generation, and our greatest fear was that you would end up too much like us – outdated, behind the times and with an unwillingness to learn and grow with the ever-changing world.

Always remember to take risks, tell people you love them and say it like you mean it. You’ve only got one shot at this thing called life – make sure you live it to the fullest.

My wish is that this book opens the minds of more men of all ages to take to the mat, to become yogis of the future, for their own good and wellbeing. Since you started yoga, I’ve learned that it’s not a casual pastime and it’s not just something to make you more flexible, or calm your temper; it’s the full package – a lifestyle and a wonderful, fulfilling and healthy way of living.

It’s something I wish I had known more about when I was younger and I’m sure your mother would agree.

I’m extremely inspired by what you do, who you have become and your willingness to always stay true to your intentions. Never compromise on the things that make you happy, just keep smiling and enjoy the ride.

Lots of love

Dad

P.S. Don’t forget to call your mum.

(Graham C. Wong, Santa Monica, California)

Yancy Scott Schwartz

About Boys Of Yoga

To most guys yoga is pink Lycra and vegan chicks. It’s breathing deeply while doing poses named after animals and feelings. It’s done in dimly lit rooms with candles and incense, followed by gluten-free cupcakes and kale smoothies. And if that’s your mentality, then you’re not alone.

But it doesn’t mean you’re right. The real practice of yoga is working in, not working out. There is a lot more to it than just making shapes on the mat, and over time the body will get stronger and more flexible, the mind calmer and daily life will feel a little less chaotic. Yoga can give you the physical workout you want, but go deeper and you’ll realise it’s so much more.

‘SMASH THE STEREOTYPE AND GET MORE GUYS ON THE MAT’

Unfortunately, these days the perception is still one-dimensional. Magazine pages and Instagram feeds are flooded with bikini-clad girls on the beach in all kinds of acrobatic poses reminiscent of the circus. Is this yoga? Yes, but it’s not the full picture. Take one step back and widen your perspective and you’ll see there is a whole other breed of yogi out there, the BOYS, inspiring, teaching and living yoga in their communities all around the world.