I look about as flexible as a tree trunk.  Truth is, I’m completely bendy.  I’m like a straw.  Don’t ask me how I got to be so flexible, because I have no idea.   I’ll blame yoga.  Now I’m not saying I’m circus-freak limber.  I’ll never pass for Stretch Armstrong.  But I can twist and contort when absolutely necessary.

Growing up, I used to watch this cheesy program on PBS called “Sunrise Yoga w/ Lilias”.   Lilias spoke in this soothing, monotone voice that I was instantly drawn to.  And she was rail thin.  I was loud and chubby.  We weren’t exactly kindred spirits, but I started watching her show intently.   And before you could say Namaste’, I started doing yoga with her every morning.

Years later, I became a certified yoga instructor.  My guru (Swami?  Sensei?) was Dave Coleman.   He was soft-spoken and ripped to shreds.  Uh, I was still loud and chubby.  But I figured I could learn a lot from this cat if I kept my mouth shut.  At first, my form was horrible, but Dave was patient.  (Probably more patient than he should have been.)  Instead of saying things like, “My God your form sucks!” … he’d turn it in to a positive by saying, “You have a good foundation to build on and improve.”   (Gag, right?)

But he did notice right away that I had a wicked strong core.  (Yes, my gut was claim to fame.  I could hold ridiculous poses for long periods of time without breaking a sweat.)  Dave had the much-coveted six-pack abs.  I did not.  I still don’t, but I can still hold some of those damn poses longer than Dave can.  Beer belly be damned.

Yesterday during a photo shoot, I was feeling a little tight.   I decided to stretch out over an Exer-Ball.  Before you know it, the gal I was working with decided to try it to.  There we were, Mr. & Miss Bendy showing off.

Yeah, I still got it.

(Props to Joe Hoddinott for sending me the picture!)