Bikram Yoga El Paseo

A Recent Act of Kindness inspired my latest blog………

Here at Bikram Yoga El Paseo we are not only helping our students strengthen their physical bodies and their minds but to open up their hearts to others.

Oprah Winfrey did a show once on “Random Acts of Kindness” because in Chicago the news is flooded with “Random Acts of Violence.”   That segment resonated deeply with me and I think it’s one of reasons  that I always end my class saying , “open up your heart!”

Growing up in Chicago I used to listen to Barry Manilow. I had all of his albums, I sang along to all of his songs, and I attended his concert in my home town – Hoffman Estates, IL at Poplar Creek Theatre!

And yes! He did write the songs that made us young girls cry!

In 2004 I moved to Palm Springs, CA (La Quinta specifically) and the very week we were closing on our house, I took my mother shopping in down town Palm Springs.    She came with us on this trip to see our new house.

Mom and I walked into Leeds and Son’s Jewelers (they had a PS location back then) and there was Barry Manilow! I had no idea that he lived in Palm Springs.

He was the only one in the store and I walked up to him and started chatting . He was so nice and so approachable that my mother thought I knew him. We continued to chat until the jeweler who was helping him came back with his watches. I distinctly remember he was having them set to California, New York and London time zones.

While Barry carried on with his business, Mom and I looked around the store then left. Next door was a cute boutique and we had fun trying on clothes. I bought mom a few “Palm Springs” outfits.

As we walked out of the boutique there was Barry  again …walking past the store.  I ran over to him and asked him if I could get a picture with him. Some guy came out of no where and Barry put up his hand as if to say to him  “it’s ok you can back off she’s not a stalker. ”   😉

He obliged for my picture, and my mother snapped the shot. Not so young anymore, he again made me cry.  Meeting him, talking to him and getting a picture with him was such an exciting memory.

Barry Manilow and I in Downtown Palm Springs, Circa May 2004

(Before Bikram Yoga and about 10 lbs heavier – Yes! Bikram cut the fat right off my body!)

One week later and back in Chicago, I was cleaning my house and finishing packing for our big move while listening to the TV. My ears perked up when I heard,     ‘up next, how celebrities react to being approached on the street’.

The segment went through about 15 celebrities and one of them was Barry Manilow. The reporter stated he’s “very stand offish” and not approachable and does not like to interact with random people when he’s not performing before or after an event. Hmmm I thought.    He was not like that at all – just the opposite. “You are wrong,” I yelled at the reporter on my TV.

That was then……..this is now!
Yesterday I had a Yoga Colleague / Friend , Fellow Bikram Instructor send me a request that went something like this: “I know this is may sound weird, but I know Barry Manilow lives in Palm Springs and I was wondering if you know someone who knows him. My sister is dying and she requests Barry Manilow music to be played at her Funeral / Celebration of Life. She’s currently in Hospice and I was thinking how cool it would be if she received a phone call from Barry Manilow?”

I knew just the person to contact to see if this could be remotely possible, so I stated that I would do what I could to facilitate a special moment for his sister on her deathbed. I reached out to a friend of mine. He immediately responded letting me know that he would pass this request on to Barry’s personal assistant that he knew well. (Probably the guy I scared 15 years ago by running down the street toward Barry )    😉

Barry’s assistant immediately responded with an alternative approach of kindness of Barry’s choosing. He would Fed Ex a gift to this woman who admires him so on her deathbed.

With all the “random acts of Violence” out there it is refreshing that there are “random acts of kindness” too!

Thank you Barry Manilow for your gracious heart and generosity and for once again proving the reporter of that show I watched so long ago…. very wrong!

Namaste` my friend and once again you made me cry!