'A temporary thing': Extended interview with Tom Tobias

Web exclusive extended interview: Making the most of right now, with yoga and meditation instructor Tom Tobias

(page 3 of 4)

TT: So, I heard that your editors wanted you to pick out someone to interview and you had already decided to pick me and they couldn’t believe it because they kind of wanted someone like me or something.

TTV: Yeah. It was weird. They asked me if I had someone, I told them it was you and they said, “Did we already discuss this?” But we hadn’t. It was just synchronicity I guess.

TT: Why me?

TTV: I think because it’s like an exercise or health and wellness issue or something. I don’t always stick to the script as far as interviewing people along the line of theme, but this time it just worked.

TT: I think it’s interesting that they like me for an exercise issue.

TTV: Why’s that?

TT: Well, I don’t really think of yoga as exercise. I mean, there certainly is a physical component to the practice, but when I think of people exercising, that’s not what I feel like I do. There are so many people that think yoga is about exercise, and that’s a great by product, but it’s only that - a side effect.

TTV: It’s not a weight-loss program.

TT: No it’s not. The end goal isn’t that. It’s not to look more beautiful or to be able to do this pose or that pose.

TTV: Oh man, that’s something I really wanted to touch on - the boasting of the poses. Have you seen yoga accounts on Instagram?

TT: Pride is a huge obstacle to seeing things clearly, and we all have that, but the irony is nearly overwhelming.

TTV: “Look at what I can do that you can’t.” What would Baba Hari Dass [Tobias’s guru] think about that?

TT: Yeah, I don’t know. I would just like to take a photo of doing nothing - I wish there was a way of doing that, you know? “Look at how good I am at doing this!” [laughs]

TTV: How much time a day do you spend doing yoga? I mean, I’m guessing it’s not the same amount of time each day.

TT: No, actually it is. My own practice starts when I wake up.

TTV: Which is?

TT: 4ish. That’s been a real saving grace for me, getting up at virtually the same time every day for years now. I used to have seasons of depression, certain seasons were overwhelming - my body always wanted to wake up at four, but then intellectually I would think, “Well, I need to be sleeping more,” so I would go back to sleep, but when I woke up I would feel terrible. So, I finally figured that out. And when I did, more or less, I feel awesome all of the time - not that that’s what it’s about, but when you feel good, you can grow. Steady supports steady.

TTV: Okay, up at 4, then what?

TT: Well, okay, so yoga’s not just class time or doing postures. The postures are the smallest part, they support everything else in a great way, they’re very beneficial, but I start with body purification breathing techniques, use a netti pot for cleaning, head to the studio and do my own practice for about an hour.

TTV: Is that breathing or moving?

TT: It’s breathing practice for a good half an hour and then meditation. And then I do a class and then meditation after class, and then I go home and take care of my dog - she eats and I eat - and then I hang out, maybe read, use Facebook as a way to gather inspiration from people I kind of follow, people who have “woken up”. Then I might take a walk, I do some private classes and massage and then the rest of my personal practice isn’t until two hours before bed so I have some time.

TTV: Do you mind me asking what you eat?

TT: I eat the same food everyday. I make Kitchari, which is a really easy to digest food, great balance of carbohydrates -

TTV: Carbs?

TT: Yes! The brain functions on carbohydrates, glycogen is so important to the brain, but also protein and good oils for fat. I use red lentils, some quinoa or millet, and some coconut oil and turmeric, which is an anti-inflammatory. Diet plays a huge part in my practice. Some things I stay away from like meat. Meat produces anxious thoughts in the body - coffee, chocolate, even onions and garlic - all these things can produce a response from the body that are detrimental to the way I want to feel and practice. So, really most of the day I’m practicing yoga - there’s the formal practices and then there’s the way you live your life, what you put into your body, your level of activity - all day I’m always looking at what’s looking.

TTV: Never not practicing.

TT: Right. That’s the goal. You want it to end up that way. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll even watch TV, it’s just that I am trying to be aware - I’m observing that I’m observing. I want to be awake, like now I’m talking to you, I’m not thinking about anything else.