Jai, Irving Berlin… Jai!
[translation: Victory, Irving Berlin... Victory!]
Contrary to what you might believe that title is supposed to mean, I am not gloating about the nearly unanimous dissent towards a comment posted on Monday’s blog post, 16.6 and Dropping! Rather, quite the opposite. I spent a lot of yesterday seriously thinking about “Irving Berlin” and the things he had to say about my post. And though the last line of his comment explicitly states, “I hope you cried at the end of this,” I did no such thing. I did not shed one single tear over anything that Mr. Berlin said. I went the opposite way… I laughed. Long in hard, in fact. And many other people laughed as well. And again, lest you get the idea that I’m laughing at you, Mr. Berlin… I assure you I’m not. Much of what was written was absurd given the actual content of the post. I would like to touch on a few things first in response to Mr. Berlin’s comment.
First, as Cece so eloquently puts it, you haven’t the slightest idea how tall I am since I never mention that. I could be 5’0″ and weighing in at 160lbs would certainly put my BMI in the obese category. I am, however, not 5’0″. I am actually 5’7″ so even at my top weight, it barely put me in the “overweight” category. I realized that then and now, and I was simply unhappy when my personal state of fitness so I sought a change. Also, Mr. Berlin… I do see a therapist, which if you read my blog, you would know isn’t a secret.
Second, it appeared that much of the issue Mr. Berlin had with my weight-loss program was that I did not utilize portion control and I did not exercise. I would like to point out the following quotes from my plan in support that I do and am utilizing both of these concepts:
- If you’re out to dinner, eat half of your dinner and take the rest home for lunch. [I believe that this definitely qualifies for portion control and eating less]
- Step up the exercise; if you’re dieting and you’re not getting out there and moving around then you’re probably not doing enough. [*cough*Activity*cough*]
- …while I’m doing a 30-minute loop around town. [While I did not mention this in the post, my 30-minute loop around down is a distance in excess of 2 miles]
And while I did not mention it in my post, my weekly fitness routine involves several trips to the gym (mainly for running) and at least 4 bicycle rides that are, on the low end, 7 miles each. I’m also beginning to implement a resistance training regimen to boost muscle building and stave off osteoporosis (which seems to run rampant in my family). I attend a weekly yoga class that is 90 minutes and not for the faint of heart. And I failed to mention all of this because since the beginning of the year 65% of all my blog posts are about how much exercise I’ve been getting. Frankly I figured my readers were getting bored of listening to how much running I’ve been doing!
But really, more than anything else it pains me to know that you, Mr. Berlin, are carrying around such incredible hatred and anger that you had to write this crazy, anonymous tirade on my very small, insignificant blog! I mean really… this blog rarely gets over 200 hits a month. I’m by no means a World super-power when it comes to blogging!! The likelyhood of many people seeing your comment is so very slight, except that you have garnered more attention to yourself by writing such inflammatory comments. So, instead of making me feel sorry for myself… making me feel small, unwanted and pathetic, the only thing you accomplished, Mr. Berlin is make me feel nothing but remorse for your terribly dark and blighted soul.
It is for this reason that I did something that might be surprising to some (definitely to Joe Peacock and Wes)… I dedicated my entire 90 minute yoga practice last night to you, Mr. Berlin. Every purposeful motion, every breath, every utterance of my mantra was dedicated in your honor that you might be able to experience a tiny bit of peace and joy that the rest of us are able to experience on a daily basis.
At the very root of yoga are 8 yamas (or limbs) by which to live by. The first one is simply yama, or universal morality. That limb is further broken down into 5 characteristics. The first characteristic of the first limb of yoga is: Ahimsa, or compassion for all living things. It is this characteristic that I am attempting to invoke when I dedicate my practice to someone other than myself. It may be a small, symbolic gesture, but I feel that it is the least I can do.
And a truly miraculous thing happened last night…
As I was moving through the class, my instructor led us to a series of postures that eventually culminated in Urdvha Dhanurasana (or Wheel Pose), a posture that I have feared for years. I know that my upper body strength is lacking, despite the flexibility of my spine, and every time I have to attempt it my body clams up and I fail miserably. My instructor knelt on the floor close to me and talked me through my hand position, which apparently has been a contributing factor to my failure, and then suddenly a light coursed through my entire body and I lifted up with ease into the posture. My whole spine literally felt like it was singing the most joyful song I’ve ever heard when it happened… and it was singing it for you, Mr. Berlin. When I came out of the posture I was so overcome with joy and happiness that I could do nothing but laugh… and cry tears of utter happiness. I hope, Mr. Berlin, that at that moment you were able to see a tiny pinhole of light, at least… because that is the best gift that I can give to you.
So in the end all your silly little comment did, Mr. Berlin, was fill my life with joy and inspire me to do the same for others.
I will leave you with our closing chant from our class:
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
[translation: May the entire universe be filled with peace and joy, love and light]
Jai Sri Satguru Maharaj Ki. Jai!
[translation: Victory to the inner teacher. Victory!]
The icon for this blog post was borrowed from: Heavy Metal Yogi
Way to take negativity and turn it around for your benefit!
Kevin´s last blog ..a special ride tonight
[Note from Whitney: Again... Mr. Berlin appears to be unable to keep his offensive language use to a minimum. Only edited for the sake of keeping a PG-13 rating.]
You are still pathetic. Everything I said was absurd and without merit, right? Then can you please explain this desperate, futile attempt to rationalize your charade? You’re a loser, and you’re still a loser, and you’re always going to be a loser. I’m an anonymous poster on a blog and you’re actually taking time out of your day to respond to me. In fact, you dedicated your entire sh***y yoga session to me. I can see, I really didn’t effect you at all! I know what really went on. You laughed, but you cried on the inside. It stewed inside you and you spent your entire lame day obessing over it until it spilled over into this post. And even when you did, you couldn’t even express yourself properly, because, let me tell you, this entire post is even more fucked up than the last one.
Yoga is f***ing gay you stupid b****. You’re a snob who thinks that you’re cool because you’re an upper class white lady with time and money to waste on that sh**. All the instructor has to do is whip out some exotic positions, gurgle out some hindi, and all of a sudden your panties are wet. You’re disgusting. And your pathetic personality shines out even more because not only did you dedicate this to me, you ended up crying in the end. Crying because of yoga. Can you please add some f***ing perspecive to your life? But hey, let’s look at all those life changing events. Getting married, having a child, and yoga. Wow, you’re really f***ing amazing. You’re saying I have a black heart, but at least I have one in the first place. Because you’re just an empty shell of a human being.
And if I were you, I would get a new therapist. The current one isn’t doing shit for you because you’re still bat shit insane.
[Note from Whitney: Again... Mr. Berlin appears to be unable to keep his offensive language use to a minimum. Only edited for the sake of keeping a PG-13 rating.]
PS-
You MUST have been to college because of the job you have. Although you may have just stumbled in there babbeling about positive energy and sh** and everyone was so creeped out they let you work there anyway. I’m saying this because portion control is NOT portion denial. Woah! So when you are denying yourself bread or dessert, you’re actually doing MORE harm to yourself than before. But hey, voluntarily starve yourself. That sounds very healthy.
Let me define activity for your small mind. WEIGHT LIFTING. Walking around is not activity, because you do that every single damn day. You can walk around in excess of 4 miles and guess what, you aren’t doing sh**. Biking is a good START, and I mean START, but 7 miles is nothing significant. I read about your 5k time, 41min is pathetic. It literally is something a f***ing grandma in a coma could accomplish. Look at how much “work” you’re putting into what you’re doing and what you’re getting back in return. Yeah, exactly, you put in sh** and you get sh** back. Do some actual work. You aren’t going to gain anything signficant without weight lifting. You need to condition your body to do MORE work than you’re actually used to for f***’s sake.
I hope you “laughed” at the end of all this again.
I wonder what Irving is getting out of this?
I see he has his initials correct: IB. Irritable Bowl.
Wow…yoga’s gay? Better not tell all the pro wrestlers, football and basketball players that employ it as a therapeutic technique about that. You might hurt their feelings.
Whitney, I have no problem taking his negative energy making it a positive. I’m pretty sure a wise guy once said there is no such thing as negative or positive energy, just energy. Having said that, this guy has proven he is simply an internet troll and deserves no more of your or anyone else’s attention. Starve the troll and he ceases to exist.
Namaste….
Wes´s last blog ..C25k: Week 4, Day 1 redux
This guy cracks me up. He’s obviously not very well educated in health and fitness. For those of us who are, know that the advanced yoga that you do is NOT easy. You work up a sweat and burn a sh!t ton of calories & fat. Doing a MINIMUM of 7 miles on a bike is great. It’s better than 0! Cutting out some desserts out of your diet is not doing harm. . . that’s the problem with our culture, we don’t have to have cake and ice cream to survive. The fact that you work full time, do so much for your family and community on a day to day basis, AND fit in some physical activity, is much more than what many others do. Kudos to you girl. You’re doing a great job.
I almost fell out of my chair laughing at this guy’s stupidity. He’s a sorry excuse for a person who’s getting such great enjoyment out of putting you down for trying to better your life. Irving, we are getting quite a laugh at you. . . no one is taking you seriously, so stop wasting your time, and maybe get your a$$ on a bike/treadmill/yoga mat, and off the computer.
Ditto what Wes said.
So, I have a client who is a yoga instructor and I have been meaning to pay her class a visit. I’ve been once and loved it, as much as a completely inflexible runner-type can love yoga. But I know the cross training would be amazing for me if I could just get into it. I could use some stress relief too … maybe I’ll head back over to her studio. Thanks for the motivation!
Melissa´s last blog ..A tribute, a workout and a margarita
Hi Whitney, I have been checking out your blog via Limpetfan and am in total awe of both your fitness and yoga accomplishments. I can’t even get myself into crane pose yet!
And Om A Ra Pa Tsa Na Di to Mr. Berlin. This is a mantra for wisdom, open mindedness, bliss and contentment- all of which you seem to require a bit of a refresher course on.
OH Whitney, this guy is such a tool. He probably still lives at home with his mom, has no job and no life and therefore spends all day surfing the internet for sh*t to complain about. Talk about a loser. Sheesh
Well done on taking such a negative comment and using it for good.
It’s safe to say that your anonymous commenter has some issues of his own. Why he’d rather post a tirade on your blog than deal with them is beyond me. He’s not the first to behave this way; he won’t be the last, either. I only hope he can learn to work them out in a healthier way.
Speaking of working out, Mr. Berlin, might I suggest you take a look at YRG? Yoga with dynamic resistance – ridiculously effective, and much better for you than attacking bloggers.
“But hey, let’s look at all those life changing events. Getting married, having a child, and yoga.”
Having a child? Does Berlin know more than I do?? Am I behind on the news circuit?
I can vouch for YRG. Bought the original book Dallas Page put out, that regimen is serious business. They’ve added to it greatly since then but for now I stick to the book.
Wes´s last blog ..C25k: Week 4, Day 1 redux
Whitney,
It is clear that whomever this “Irving Berlin” is, he/she is a coward; hiding behind the safety of his computer terminal, firing off vitriol that he/she would never do in person.
Stay strong and don’t spend another minute wasting your time thinking about or responding to “Irving Berlin”. This individual is a troll and pathetic loser who can only validate their own life by being mean to others.