Army Dumps Situps For Warrior Poses

Now that U.S. Army finds it difficult to refuse fat recruits, it's struggling to shape up the softer lumpier versions of future soldiers it finds itself with these days.

What's a drill sergeant to do?

Asana, baby, asana.

The Army is dumping it's calisthenics in favor of yoga, which is not - as any Ashtangi can attest to - a girly-man pursuit.

Over the summer, my teacher, Jill was invited to lead a morning yoga class at the local boot camp inspired fitness center. The owners are ex-Military and only just being won over to the idea that yoga is about strength as much as flexibility. It will be interesting to see where their new awareness leads them.

My own personal practice is Ashtanga primary-based. Strength is more of my issue at the moment than length of muscle or freeing limbs. I am at a point where flexibility is stalled until muscles are strong enough to propel me to the next level.

I recently began Sattva at The Yoga Room in town. Jade instructs. She's a beginning teacher like me. Well, maybe a bit more mat time under her belt than me. Sattva is an Ashtanga based instruction in its early pioneer days here on the western prairies of Alberta. My feelings about it are mixed, which according to my own teacher training instruction means I should do more of it. Never allow yourself to be seduced by that which comes easily. If something gives you pause or makes you work, it's probably more necessary to your training and growth.

Good for the Army though. A little asana never hurt anyone and it's fitting in a Gita sort of way.