Bill practiced yoga for 4-5 years, and was a certified Yoga Fit and Yoga Stretch instructor.
Every Tuesday and Thursday morning Bill would be at the Metro Y in his Run’n’Ride from 5:30 – 6:30, followed by Spinning from 7:15 – 8.00 am. In between he would squeeze a 6.30 am yoga class, for practice, and then around 9.30 he would teach his Yoga Stretch class.
Bill practiced yoga with full attention and focus. His 6.30 am practice class represented his private time, when he was not preoccupied with community building, or encouraging and motivating others. Rather, his private practice represented a challenge to let go of all that, and explore the line between what he wanted to do with his body, and what was truly feasible. His heroic persistence did not always work for him. Some people are just not able to arch into an elegant Downward Facing Dog, a Cobra, or a full Lotus pose. Though quite advanced in his yoga practice, Bill knew when to push, and when to surrender into the Child pose. He could do strong Warriors, but for some reason could not transition from Three Legged Dog into a Lunge in one move. This did not bother him. His yoga was more physical, than spiritual - he would be the first one to admit that. But he liked our yoga rituals, starting with “grounding”, and ending with relaxation (what Bill would call his Snoring pose), and closing with the traditional yoga greeting "namaste”, which roughly translates as “the light in me recognizes the light in you”.
Bill would never leave the yoga room without uttering that greeting. Whether he was aware of it or not, he had thoroughly internalized the "namaste" greeting and all that it meant. His internal light recognized the light in all the people he encountered.
Bill’s yoga friends from Carlson YMCA.
4 comments:
Bill often subbed as the instructor for the 6:30 yoga class, often at a moment's notice. He began each class with a call to let go of "any sense of competition, judgement, or self-criticism" - these words have stuck with me. Still thinking of you every day Bill,
Eileen
I did not know Bill very well, except for some of the classes I took with him and the occasional nodding with a smile as we crossed each other in the Y' s hallways. To me, he seemed to be a guy who took his physical exercise seriously. He was in good physical shape. I would come sometime early in the morning about 6 AM, and Bill would already had finished a spin class and would be joining me in my Yoga class, and as we finished the yoga class, he would be hading upstairs to workout some more. Even though I did not know him well, the sad news of his death did not sit well with me. I could not help but think of him as I headed down toward the shower room, and as I was driving home in my car. I felt compelled to share this sad news with wife even though she had never met him or heard of him. May he rest in peace, namaste Bill.
Taib
I remember Bill, most of all, as a kind and caring gentleman. He will be truly missed.
Kathy
Bill was an incredible spirit full of life and love and zest and adventure. From the very first moment that I met him, he had left an indecipherable mark unlike others. You knew that he was special, present and full of intention and curiosity. His intensity in his athleticism was something that one may covet in a competitive environment, but knowing him from a yogic environment, I admired his intensity and allowed it to challenge me as a teacher. These are the students for which I am most grateful!
I can recall Bill's enthusiasm so early in the AM, though I am not a morning person. One of my most vivid memories was when I was coming to teach an early AM class and running about 5 minutes late, Bill had stepped up to warm up the group while they were awaiting my arrival. He actually thanked me for the opportunity to step in and help! Bill was full of altruism and had a great sense of intuition. His abilities were tremendous, and his passion for life was contagious.
He is the man among men, and will surely be missed by so many of us!
Alyssa, RYT Yoga Teacher, YMCA
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