Name: MARC LAWS II
Hometown: ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
Current town: LONDON, ENGLAND
Yoga practice style: ANYTHING I CAN GET MY HANDS & FEET ON
Website: yogaconnects.co.uk
Instagram: @marclawsii
What’s your story? I was born in England to a Canadian mother and an American father. I have African, Native American and Ukrainian roots, and think of myself as a citizen of the world. From England we moved to Ottawa, then to California, and finally landed in the beautiful and enchanted land of Albuquerque, New Mexico… I grew up playing soccer (football), and my dream was to play in England. I’m thankful that I was able to fulfil that dream fifteen years later when I moved to the UK in my early twenties.
How would you describe yourself? A spontaneous, loving, dreamer. Optimistic, in the flow. A guy filled with more wonder than time.
How would others describe you? Depends who you ask...
How would your mother describe you? I actually interviewed my mom last year. She said, "beautiful with people, handsome (thanks mom), bright, creative, a powerful presence, rebellious at times, not a good listener, prefers to do his own thing".
What’s the best/worst job you’ve ever had? My mom wanted me to learn a lesson about the value of money and the power of education, so she made me get a landscaping job. I wanted to be on the creative side of landscaping not the digging-of-trenches side, but that wasn’t really an option at the time. On that job I met and worked with loads of immigrants. These guys were badass and super hard-working; my work ethic didn't compare. On top of that, these guys were sending their money back home to feed their families while sharing a room with four or five other guys.
It opened my eyes to the things I was taking for granted and I developed a strong disagreement with the invisible lines that mark all these territories we call countries, since they only create separation. I came to understand love expressed through sacrifice. It was one of the hardest jobs I have ever had, but I was taught some of the greatest lessons I’ve ever learned.
What’s your favourite drink? Water, the greatest mystical thirst quencher. Or cold-pressed juices, which are like a party for my taste buds.
How did you discover yoga? As an athlete I was always looking for ways to tap in to the higher potential of the body and mind. This same curiosity led me to education in sports therapy, massage, personal training, psychology, and human behaviour. The more I learned, the more I wanted something bigger to bring all together. I was ready for change. I wasn’t sure what it was going to look like but I could feel that it was approaching.
Then along came yoga...I remember the exact class, day, and who I was with. That moment shifted my direction toward the full-on yoga life! I was struck by the flow of the asana practice; that it demanded strength, flexibility, awareness and balance all as one. Yoga had it all for me: the philosophy, an approach to life, and the awareness of my mind and self. Much gratitude to Sally Griffyn, Amy Rose & my teacher Meghan Currie for bringing me into this community.
Since that class, I’ve been in deep. I live yoga - so much so that it's inspired me to co-found Yoga Connects - a project that gathers and connects the wider yoga community both here in the UK and around the world. We held our first UK yoga festival in July 2015 - an incredible experience - and have some big plans for the future.
What was the biggest challenge about yoga when you first started out? Not pushing myself too hard too fast.
How would you complete this sentence? Yoga is… the palimpsest to the human body. A palimpsest is “a manuscript on which the original writing has been effaced to make room for later writing but of which traces remain.”
What is your personal mantra? Never look down on a person unless you’re helping them up.
Interviewed: January 2nd, 2015
Photos by @michaeljameswong and property of BOYS OF YOGA LLC