Jon Gosselin does yoga

mrs.v · November 7th, 2009, 11:28 AM

Jon Gosselin is ready to go to the mat: the yoga mat!

The latest stop on his quest for inner peace was a yoga studio at a Los Angeles hotel Nov. 5. As exclusive photos at Usmagazine.com show, the 32-year-old reality star -- in shorts and a tattoo-revealing tank top -- tried out basic poses, stretches and breathing and meditation exercises.
Yoga may help the embattled star "find balance in his life," Michelle Demus, Programming Director at Manhattan's Pure Yoga, tells Us
"I'm sure with all that has been going on in Jon's life, things are out of whack," Demus tells Us. "He's got to let go of external distractions and tap into his spirituality."
Observing snapshots of Gosselin's novice yoga session, Demus says that his body seems "closed off" and "holds a lot of tension."
That's no surprise. Facing numerous legal battles from his estranged wife Kate Gosselin and cable network TLC, Gosselin stormed off an Entertainment Tonight set recently after getting into a shouting match with girlfriend Hailey Glassman -- who had previously accused him of throwing "mantrums."

Prior to this outburst, Gosselin admitted Oct. 29 that "I have allowed myself to become somewhat severed from my own moral anchor and be carried away by the challenges of fame," and that he yearned to "reconnect with my deeper, more spiritual, more altruistic self."
The first step in this spiritual rebirth, he said, would be lots of quality time with his new spiritual advisor Rabbi Shmuley Boteach -- and with his eight kids.

Yoga, says expert Demus, could also help him become a better father.
"A big tenant of yoga is to let go, to be present in the moment," she tells Us. "So when he's with his children, he could actually be present and be a father."

In addition to his yoga session, he took a break by the pool to munch on a green apple, chat on his phone and catch up on some reading.
His books of choice? Tao Te Ching, a Taoist self-help tome, and a children's book.

Jon says "namaste!" with the anjali mudra

This mudra (symbolic hand gesture) acknowledges "the good within ourselves and others," Michelle Demus, Program Director at Manhattan's Pure Yoga tells Usmagazine.com. Bad form, though. "His shoulders are hunched forward. From a chakra perspective, he's protecting his heart; he's closed off."

Striving for balance with the jnana mudra

The jnana mudra is about "opening yourself to receiving blessings, strength and peace," Demus says. "That's a very good mudra for him. He needs to balance things out a little." Although Gosselin could improve on the spinal alignment from hips to shoulders, "he's doing the mudra correctly!"

Taking a breather

How will yoga help Jon? "A big tenant of of yoga is to let go and be present in the moment." Demus says. "And being able to be quiet -- tap into your internal knowledge and your spirituality."

Jon does the High Lunge

This move -- also called Warrior One -- is meant to stretch the quadriceps. Jon, Pure Yoga's Demus says, needs to align his knee over his ankle and further extend his left leg. "He runs the potential of injuring the knee with that hyperextension," she warns.

Hitting the pool with a book

"Part of the yoga practice is not just the physical process," Demus points out, "but also the study of philosophy, taking time to turn inward and study some of the texts from the masters." She recommends the classic Yoga Sutra text.

Jon does the Upward Facing Dog

Gosselin's got it wrong with this pose. While the palms and the tops of the ankles should touch the floor, "the knees and thighs should be lifted," says Demus, who observes that the reality star "holds a lot of tension. Yoga for him would be about opening the body."

Reading "Laozi Tao Te Ching on The Art Of Harmony"

Drop the phone, Jon. "In order to go deep into his spiritual studies, Jon needs to be fully present," Demus says. "So many of us are multitasking on so many levels." As for the Taoist self-help book, she notes, "yogis come from all spiritual backgrounds: Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Taoist."

An apple a day...

"It's great that he's eating healthy, raw food!" the Pure Yoga director enthuses of beer- and burger-loving Gosselin, who's switched his reading material from self-help to what appears to be a children's book. "People tend to eat junk and drink and party when they're stressed."

Communing with Nature

Could the celeb father share yoga with his eight young kids? Sure! "It's a great way for kids to learn how to cope with pressure," Demus says. "Yoga helps people learn to breathe and not judge themselves. That's a huge gift you can give to people of all ages."

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