Kevin Ashton talked about Suzuki’s Beginner’s Mind in an interview which got me to look into this book. It is a coincidence, realizing that in earlier years, he was involved in London-based Japanese noodle restaurant called “Wagamama”. Wagamama means something like a spoiled self-centered brat in Japanese and … it’s a label that might have stuck in every Japanese’ teen years. As an adult, it is a word that immediately evokes a feeling of shame and guilt, if you were to act in any way, “wagamama”… it’s interesting to note that someone not from the computer science, electrical engineering field is considered a technology pioneer … Something new that works elegantly is really about intuition, ingenuity and … hard work.
My girlfriend gave me their cookbook for my last birthday – another coincidence – everything in it is very basic and easy and kind of goes along with the eatery idea I had awhile ago except someone took action to start something using the same idea vs. someone (me) did not and did something else that’s also creative but not in a commercial way…It’s one thing to have ideas but it’s another thing to actually take action and do something with that great idea…
What does udon noodles have anything to do with yoga? Well, notice how we keep saying doing a “pretzel” pose in yoga? It’s really a noodle pose – not pretzel – you are pliable but NOT HARD like a brittle and dry pretzel – let’s be more like a soft noodle in our shapes – going with the flow of your broth, swimming in its savory essence … supple …fluid, al dente but still, tension-free and sofftttt:) (Of course, we do need to challenge ourselves and strengthen our muscles and stress – weight bearing – the joints/bones in the practice but here, I am referring to the yin-restorative practices of release, nourish and digest – the integration of yin practices into the mostly yang lives we lead… do I make any sense or am I just making people hungry?)
Omar Dogan, artist, Udon Entertainment
vs.
although these dark chocolate covered pretzel crisps are addictive !
Think food analogies for yoga is not a good idea – I am now craving… got to go get a bowl of udon then have a dessert of chocolate covered pretzel crisps…
