I was recently introduced by a friend to MTV fitness guru Kristin McGee. Last week I took her yoga class at the Reebok sports club in NYC and really enjoyed chatting with her over lunch afterwards.

Originally from Idaho, Kristin is a vibrant and gorgeous example of a pioneer in blending ancient spiritual traditions and practices with a modern American lifestyle (her iPump yoga program is now an app on my iPhone.) Her goal is to demystify yoga, making it accessible without losing site of its origins. I came home with her Power Yoga DVD which I'm eager to use when I can't get to class.

You can see more about Kristin and her work here.

And I loved this "disappear" sign just outside the yoga studio at Reebok.

In 1991, just before graduation from college, I had an interview for what would have been my first real, full-time, big deal, job. During the interview I was asked to speak about an important figure in American culture. I chose Michael Jackson. Yes I did. I spoke about how he was using his fame and power for good, bringing positive messages to the masses. I specifically mentioned the importance of the lyrics to "Man in the Mirror," a song I love-love-loved. I really believed they would appreciate this bold response and feel they needed my youthful and fresh perspective in their organization... it probably wont surprise you to find out I did not get the job.

I remember being confused by the look of horror on my parents' faces when I mentioned my response to them. My mother's eyes glazed over and I was pretty sure I heard her mumbling "why not Eleanor Roosevelt?" under her breath as she walked away, convinced the educational system had failed me.

It was not much later that Michael Jackson's behavior and appearance started changing in extreme and strange ways. When the first accusations of mistreatment of a child were brought against him, I was devastated. How could I have been so wrong? I could no longer listen to his music without cringing from embarrassment about my severely misguided admiration. I'm so naive. I should have paid more attention in history class. Please God do not let that interviewer remember me and my ridiculous answer...

Fast forward 18 years and several jobs later...I'm taking a spin class and "Man in the Mirror" is in the mix. Unable to avoid it, I listened to the lyrics once again. By the end of the song I'm on a full, standing, spin-dance, I don't care who's looking, high. Those lyrics are amazing. I do love them. I was right. What a visionary I was. Screw that interviewer.

Not only that, I reveled in the realization that all these years later I still believe the lyrics represent one of the most important lessons in life,

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself then make a change

In fact, I've created a business based on that same message :
You can only be responsible for yourself. It starts inside. Be the change.

Michael Jackson had moments of greatness and moments of shame, as we all do to our own extent. So be it. Let's choose to focus on the good. Shake your body down to the ground.

super model, really

Don't hate her because she's a bombshell. Hate her because she is self aware, grounded, taking responsibility for her own happiness, and empowering young girls to do the same.

When I sat on the beach with the May issue of "Vanity Fair" I, regrettably, did not expect to relate in any way to the cover girl and most famous supermodel in the world, Gisele. Glimpses into a glamorous life, that's what I expected. Feeling morally superior, that's my usual M.O.

Instead, I was caught off guard by her determination to rise above expectations like mine and show some substance. At 28, Gisele is young and has been modeling for half of her life. It would almost be easier to understand self indulgent behavior than a mindful perspective on life, but that's what comes across in her story.

She boldly says "everything I'll do in the future has to be something that's related to higher consciousness. I don't think I'll be happy unless I do this." A positive message for a celebrity obsessed culture to hear, don't you think?

You can read the article by Leslie Bennetts here.

Defending Gwyneth

This week's front page of the New York Times "SundayStyles" section headline reads "Martha, Oprah...Gwyneth?" The article highlights Gwyneth Paltrow's recent projects which include a cookbook, opening a gym in TriBeCa with her trainer Tracy Anderson, and GOOP.com, her new lifestyle website I've mentioned here before. All of this, of course, is in addition to her role as an actor and style icon. Her "foray into the arena of lifestyle guru-dom" has garnered much criticism in the media and the writer, Bob Morris, questions why.

The general criticism is that Gwyneth has "Marie Antoinette-like tone-deafness to the times" meaning much of the fashion or travel featured on GOOP is well out of the price range of her average reader. That's a predictable criticism of a problem that will be easy for Gwyneth and GOOP to address. And I think the critics have missed the point. My experience so far is that GOOP intends to promote a mindful, holistic lifestyle. They encourage readers to take responsibility for themselves (including what they can and cannot afford), live a purposeful life, show some style and make home cooked meals in the process. Most of the depth on the site comes not from Gwyneth, but from the experts who respond to her questions such as the recent "how to BE with one's children." The insights shared - "we must see our children for who they are without constantly projecting our own needs and wishes onto them... we must spend time with them, listen to them and most of all, HEAR them" - are not groundbreaking, but they are thoughtful reminders.

GOOP is no doubt coming from a spiritual perspective. That tone is set on the home page with the tag line "Nourish the Inner Aspect," which this article claims "positions it deeply in the New Age realm" - and this is the statement I disagree with most of all. It's like saying Coldplay's music is deeply positioned in the psychadelic rock movement of the 60's. Evolved from? - yes. Inspired by? - sure, but it is 40 years later and the scene has changed. GOOP does not look, feel or sound like the New Age to me. I believe Gwyneth is onto something. She's tapping into what many people are not willing to acknowledge yet - that the interest in our spiritual dimension is no longer on the fringe. It is becoming mainstream, it shows up in popular culture more and more and it can look modern and stylish. In fact, what she's doing with GOOP is in many ways what I'm trying to do with this site. But with all of her money and influence she's able to do it much better and faster than me. Just kidding. Go GOOP, I'm a fan.

you can read the article here

Late Night Wisdom

Conan O'Brien was a recent guest on one of my favorite TV programs, Inside the Actors Studio. The host, James Lipton, interviews actors, directors, musicians and comedians in front of an audience filled with students enrolled in the Actors Studio program in New York. After the interview the students have a Q&A "classroom" session when they get to ask their own questions. I love this show because it provides a view into what makes these artists who they are - their background, education, family and cultural influences, experiences, challenges, opportunities, beliefs, insights and passions - instead of the usual superficial celebrity coverage.

With its 12:30am air time, I have never seen the Conan O'Brien show, so my only expectation was that he would be kind of funny. Those expectations were dramatically exceeded by how intelligent, articulate and, not funny, but hilarious he is. I learned he is a Harvard graduate who was president of the famed "Harvard Lampoon" and became a writer for shows such as Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. Before having his own show, he spent years working with an Improv group which taught him to "listen, react and let things happen." He said:

"Such a large amount of comedy is improvisational. I learned that people respond to something that happened in the moment much more than they will respond to the most brilliant thing that was thought of ahead of time and prepared. There is something in us - and someday they will find out what it is - when we see something that unfolds naturally and is real - people love it. Improv teaches you not to fear those moments, that's where the gold is."

Improv - real world training for how to be. The direction or topic is set, but what happens next is invented in the moment. Without prescribing or rehearsing the routine you allow for something entirely new and fresh to be created. The best comedy is not the result of jokes that are written, edited and re-worked. The "gold" is found by responding to what is happening without the need to anticipate and control, to play with it like a game, confident you will know the right thing to say, the perfect thing to do. It is not haphazard or passive, there are skills involved, skills that can be developed with practice. It makes me want to take an improv class. Could I be brave enough to trust in the aliveness, the cleverness, the perfect timing of now?

After 16 years the Conan O'Brien Show aired for the last time on Friday night. Conan will replace Jay Leno on The Tonight Show starting June 1st.

Goldie Hawn on her Spiritual Path...

new site: GOOP

I am a fan of Gwyneth Paltrow. I love her style, admire her talent as an actress and get the sense that she is a cool person and a great mom. So I was excited when I found out that she is launching a new website www.GOOP.com and even more interested when I saw the tag line "Nourish the Inner Aspect." And especially intrigued when I saw this -->

as one of the content sections of the site in addition to SEE, MAKE, GO, GET and DO. A note from Gwyneth says:

"Over the years I have tried lots of different things. I have made lots of mistakes. But I have figured lots of things out in the process and I would like to share them with you. Wether you want a good place to eat in London, some advice on where to stay in Austin, the recipe I made up this week or some thoughts from one of my sages, GOOP is a little bit of everything that makes up my life."

There's not much on the website yet, I don't think it has officially launched, but you can sign up for the newsletter. I did and already received an email with a collection of essays from thought leaders across spiritual and religious disciplines. It was interesting and I'm looking forward to more. Hopefully it will be some good goop.