Beginners can sign up for Bro-Ga and other classes at Midtown Community Yoga’s website: www.midtowncommunity.yoga/classes/
From left: Lucas Feger, Katie Brouner and Ellie Girdis practice a chair pose.
lost mobility from previous injuries—although (“Corpse Pose”), Girdis told me that Bro-Ga he was originally inspired to take up practicing has changed slightly since it’s inception after a couple he met at a music festival told him in 2015. Many of the original practitioners it was the key to their impressive dancing. have had to leave for various reasons, and “I separated my shoulder, and I’ve had ankle some newcomers are unsure of the class’ surgery so I can’t really move it the way that I accessibility. would like,” Feger said. “Certain positions hurt, “As we get more and more new clientele, we so I’m just trying to get past that and get it back want them to know they’re welcome,” Girdis to normal. I have really bad back pain, too. I said. “And so, it’s one of those things where have really bad scoliosis. I don’t take painkillers we’re like, ‘We’ve got to change the name or anything like that.” because everyone thinks it’s for bros.’” He also said the eclectic playlAs this was my first class at ist—which includes the likes of Midtown Community Yoga, the Metallica, Pink Floyd and the usual $10 drop-in fee was waved Wu-Tang Clan—is a welcome as per their policy—also “our distraction for his often overhelpful for newcomers who catchphrase active mind. might see cost as a barrier was, light “It’s really helpful to entry. I may return to because I have a hard Midtown Community yoga, heavy time shutting my brain Yoga in the future, but jams—and off,” Feger said. “So, regardless of whether the music helps me not it’s for Bro-Ga or a you don’t think of the shit that I am different class, Girdis even have to always thinking of and said it’s more important just be able to disconnect to approach yoga at your be able to for a little bit.” own pace. touch your It just so happened “You don’t need to toes.” that the speakers shorted have any, you know, rigid out during our class (“Just ideas about what your body ellie girdis one of those nights,” Girdis should be able to do, which founder, midtown community yoga laughed from the front of we all have,” she said. “It’s the room) and so we had to just better to be like, ‘OK, I’m go without for the last half hour. going to do what my body can do I didn’t mind, though, as I found it right here.’ And maybe that’s different easier to focus on my breath. Individual than yesterday. Maybe it’s more than yestermotions are synchronized with inhalations day, or less, and that’s fine. Like, whatever, and exhalations in yoga, meaning breath you know. Nothing’s permanent.” control is important to maintaining rhythm— Not even Bro-Ga. Ω something I lack naturally. After we finished the class lying flat on our backs in the traditional shovasana
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