The Yoga Podcast Episode 2 Anthony Grimm Hall The Choose Yourself Yogi

Anthony has the most extraordinary yoga story I've ever heard, and perhaps one of the first teacher stories to be fully documented, online.

That had never happened before.

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT

The embarrassment factor of starting a yoga practice after 40

How he had let himself go and

How he lost 50 pounds and regain health

How he used anything as props (furniture)

His desire to get the strong poses "done" in the beginning

Here is Anthony in Marichasana D so you can see the photo when he talks about it (forgive the quality I took it from a screenshot of a video of his)

I ask him: Did you ever get injured in yoga?

The impossible poses: here is Anthony in Karandavasana, you can see a video of this "impossible pose" as he calls it and how TERRIFIED he was of this one

How he got into retaining the breath during asanas as per Krishnamacharya

Why he thinks Ashanta is a good place to start for someone getting into yoga

WHY ANTHONY IS UNIQUE

The internet has made it possible for us to witness the making of a yoga teacher, and Anthony has the most fascinating story, take for example how it all began:

He started practicing at the age of 43/44, while being 210 pounds, with knee problems, kidney stones and a horrible diet.

But it was not because of his health that he got into yoga. NO.

He actually believed he was pretty healthy, you know, average?

But then his house was broken into and all his saxophones were stolen.

That is what upset him. And then he was upset at being so upset.

So he remembered the practice of meditation, and he wanted to take it back again because he needed more peace.

That is when he noticed that many meditators used yoga as a complimentary activity, and so he went to the library, and, very embarrassed, borrowed a yoga book, just to check it out.

That was early 2007.

As soon as he got into yoga (which was "brutal" as he says), he started sharing his findings and documenting his progress on a blog.

You have likely seen it Grimmly2007.blogspot.com Heck! Everyone has seen it! He is known as "Grimmly"

The whole thing is online, if you go back to the archives you will find him completely obsessed with the jump backs and jump troughs throughout the first year of his practice, and then progressing into future obsessions.

He took a lot of heat from the "yoga police" (yes there is one of those) who did not approve (if you can believe it!) of him practicing at home with books, and progressing as he saw fit.

The nerve, right?

The internet turned against him with rage many times, because, as we all know, it is fun to hate someone online.

Anthony also took it upon himself to translate one text from Krishnamacharya (the grand-father of yoga) which was not available.

The Yogasanagalu from 1945 is something we know, or at least I know about thanks to him.

He also has brilliant insights that challenge people reading his blog constantly. That is one sure thing you can find with him, a different way to look at things, a constant questioning, a search for truth.

Whenever people attacked Anthony he has always been very polite in responses. He does not shy away and welcomes conversations, although sometimes he (like me) wishes people would just not read his blog if they are to dislike him so much. It makes sense, and yet...

His blog became so popular that recently studios from around Europe, Rusia and the USA have began to invite him to come over.

"I don't teach", he says. "I never wanted to teach or imagine I would be a yoga teacher".

He is very humble, yes, but at the same time he realizes he was able to progress fast in asana, and his practice went deep, and so he feels the responsibility to pass it along.

I, for one, am grateful.

I have learned A LOT from Anthony.

I think that thought is the mark of a teacher, not someone who set out to do it, but rather, it happened because he simply happens to know quite a lot about the tradition, lineage, different ways of practice, and so he can share with others.

I was surprised to his response of my usual question: "What is one thing that took you a long time to understand" towards the end of the podcast.

I am always surprised by that one, but Anthony has a way of taking it to the next level.

ABOUT ANTHONY

His Ultra Famous Blog

Twitter