It takes a lot to inspire me — a lot to get me to want to work harder .I’m almost 40 with three times as many miles on my body, and I have few qualms with spending most of my practice in child’s pose.

Seth is inspirational because he’s the epitome of an outlaw — authentic … unapologetically.

 

Seth Larson on the other hand …

Seth Larson doesn’t inspire me because of his awesome stage presence. He’s the frontman of Something Underground, the music group Westword named “Best Rock Band in Denver.”

He doesn’t inspire me with his rockstar guitar skills. Incidentally he sings like an angel too, but that’s not why he’s likely to inspire you.

Seth is inspirational because he’s the epitome of an outlaw — authentic … unapologetically.

At Outlaw Yoga we have a saying, “Vulnerability is reliability.”

Seth inspires me because he reliably rocks class after class, as a musician and a teacher, he lets his guard down to me and so many — he walks his talk.

I love teaching yoga cause teaching scares the shit outta me

I asked him what he appreciates most about delivering this practice as a teacher. “Man,” he said to me with his head cocked sideways, that characteristic “Seth look” on his face — dubious to those who know him; doubtful or downright scornful to those who don’t. “I love teaching yoga cause teaching scares the shit outta me.”

My eyebrows went up. I’ve seen pictures of this guy playing to a packed Red Rocks crowd and he’s scared of … yogis?

“Without a guitar and the microphone between me,” he shook his head side to side, “all I can do … is be myself.”

I nodded. I got it.

“Alright, I buy that.” It occurred to me how much of a hindrance our identities can be when we’re called to strip them bare in a room full of students. “I could see how your experience as a rocker could actually hurt you as a teacher.” He cocked and shook his head.

“Tell me this, then, what’s something from the stage that has served you as a teacher?”

I’m able to notice real quick if I’m losing people

He thought for a moment.

“I’m able to notice real quick if I’m losing people.”

It was my turn to cock my head. He went on …

“In a lot of ways class is like playing a rock show,” he shared. “You make a set list, imagine how people are going to jam to it, and then rehearse it and go in to deliver it. In reality what invariably happens, if you’re present enough to the audience, is that you chuck the plan and something entirely different — and, almost always better — happens … a co-creation between the band and the audience, the teacher and the students.”

That’s why Seth Larson inspires me —he reminds me to always be ready to ditch my agenda.

“If I show up open — as free as possible of expectation — something special will happen,” he said.

A reminder that it’s not perfection that inspires, but our acceptance of our imperfections.

Catch Seth weekly at Outlaw Yoga Littleton Mondays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m.,and listen to him anytime at his website.

JUSTIN KALISZEWSKI is an award-winning artist, avid adventurer, and, co-founder of OUTLAW Yoga. Justin is the author of “The Outlaw Protocol – how to live as an outlaw without becoming a criminal,” and the children’s picture book “The Adventures of Babu – from there to here.” He creates connection by delivering transformational yoga experiences across the country, and at the Outlaw Yoga Littleton studio. www.justinkaliszewski.com