Do you ever wonder how Jennifer Aniston, Helen Hunt, and Brooke Shields stay in great shape? The answer is Mandy Ingber. Ingber is a highly recognized yoga and spin instructor known for her self-produced yoga DVD “Yogalosophy”. Her approach to loving the body we have to getting the body we want is strong, true, and inspiring. Ingber shares with Hollywood Holland her insight on yoga, body image, and her DVD “Yogalosophy”.
1) What do you think is the number 1 barrier to people accepting who they are and the body they have?
Comparison. It’s human nature to look around and see what others are doing in order to know where we are in relation to that, but I would say that when we compare the way another person looks to how we feel and measure against that, we are always going to come up against a heirarchy.
There is no “perfect” body type. We are all unique.
Sometimes when I see a cute dog with speckles on its face and a stomach that drags on the floor, I go, “That is SO adorable!” Why is it just cute on a dog, but if it were a person we’d think we have to fix it.
2. You have taught yoga to some of Hollywood’s A-list celebrities. What do you think it is about yoga that makes people gravitate to it?
Yoga appeals to people because there is a type for each person. It can relax you when you are stressed, energize you when you are lazy, and it stretches and tones the body. Also, the only thing you need is your body. Yoga is essentially equipment free, and that is quite appealing. In general, actors have a tremendous mastery over the physical body, because it is in part one of the tools of the trade, so they may be able to pick it up a little easier than many other beginners because they are able to mimic at first.
3. Is there a “dark side” of fitness? In cities such as Los Angeles can people exercise too much, and when do you know when enough is enough?
Los Angeles is a city of extremes, and of course you can do too much of a good thing. Yes. And I understand that mentality because I have been there. The best possible focus is health, rather than a goal like to be thin or to work out three hours a day. Life is a balance, and when your routine is getting in the way of living your life, you know that is the time to bring yourself back into balance. I used to over exercise, and as I have come more into my own, I do much less and my results are far greater. When I practice in moderation , my fluctuations are not as drastic.
It certainly can be a trap to keep improving ourselves and overly focus on the outer, but when we come to the realization that there is no “there” there, and that we are in a constant dance, then it becomes far more playful and integrated. Each day is an exploration. An opportunity to be in relationship to our lives, and our bodies…our thoughts, our dreams, our fears.
So the “dark” side becomes a part of who we are instead of a back and forth between light/dark, good/bad.
4. You are the creator of Yogalosophy, can you tell us about it?
I actually wanted to coin a phrase that would allow Yoga to become a part of all exercise that we do. Not reserved just for asana and what we consider traditonal yoga. I grew up on yoga, but I also find that there’s an exclusivity I wanted to veer away from. It was intimidating to others, so I wanted to lighten it up. It’s basically an attitude of integration, acceptance and starting exactly as we are, wherever we are. So we don’t have to wait until we can touch our toes, or be ready to give up meat, we dont have to learn a new language, or have lost 5 pounds – it’s about self-loving in the here and now through self-care.
Yoga and exercise! The workout I created reflects that by being a hybrid of toners and yoga poses. I also like to suggest cardio in addition to yoga for fat burning, but moreover for burning off excess energy!
The DVD has been amazing and I self produced it. It has sold over 50K copies and is now the #1 yoga DVD in the UK!
I’m currently working on the Yogalosophy Mind/Body Makeover book and the 2nd DVD, as well as franchising the workout to studios. A studio in Calgary, the Hot Yoga Lounge, has picked it up and it will be there starting in November.
5. Are you optimistic about America’s continuing interest in yoga and spirituality?
Yes. I’m optimistic. This has been a growing movement since I was a child. I have been riding this swell since I was 7 (35 years), and it’s only beocming more and more main stream. As with everything, the danger of it being a lifestyle trend is there, but in these times I feel that we will be faced with many choices to turn towards spirit, and finding ways to embody that and put that into practice. I remember thinking that the second coming is actually a collective awakening. It’s not one person, but every person. So I treat my search as if everyone else’s life depends upon it, and recognize that everyone else’s search may very well be saving me. So we’re all in it together. I have heard people say “yoga is going to change the world”, but I think it’s better to pose the question “what is your personal yoga?”, or ‘how are you bringing together your light personal light and dark?” So it’s not as if something or someone else is going to make it happen. It’s something that I must be responsible to. And then…have faith.I really can’t come up with a better solution for all of my problems. Can you?
We can’t! For more on Mandy Ingber check out: www.mandyingber.com
Mindy, you are amazing. I just recently bought your dvd Yogalosophy, and I love it. I’m very young, but I can tell a good work out from a bad one. I absolutely adore every single part of the workout. It’s so relaxing! Love it.