In an attempt to stop throwing phones and temper tantrums over the lousy markets, a growing number of financiers are taking up yoga to "take a step back...and stay focused," the Wall Street Journal writes in its A-Hed today.
The math whizzes at D.E. Shaw offer hour-long classes at the New York office, with about 80 of the 750 employees signed up. Allianz SE's Pacific Investment Management, Blue Ridge Capital, Karsch Capital, and Pimco also get down with the dog.
Notable yogis include billionaires Paul Tudor Jones and William H. Gross, who specialize in Ashtanga, "an active form of yoga that involves flowing through a set series of poses." Gross practices five days a week and says his best ideas come when he is standing on his head. I have to ask this question, though: Doesn't anyone else find it kind of hard to concentrate when the blood is rushing to your head?
While most of these dudes seem to fully embrace yoga, Michael Karsch admits he doesn't do all the poses, for fear of his balls dropping off: "I still feel like doing handstands during work is a little inappropriate." Additionally, cult-like chanting of "om" and "aum," common at the beginning of general yoga classes, is not favored by the financial professionals that yoga master Michael Ward and his wife offer classes to.
The alternative chant: Relax, go do it, when you want to go do it (Forward to 1:20).
--Senior Yogi Travis
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 1:03PM
Many energy brokers have been practicing transcendental meditation in Fairfield, IA, for decades.
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 1:11PM
Allianz SE's Pacific Investment Management= Pimco
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 1:12PM
@1:11
ditto
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 1:13PM
While some billionaires practice yoga, most yogi aren't billionaires.
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 1:26PM
im with 1:11
Posted by Travis , Jul 24, 2008 1:27PM
@ 2,3
My bad, I'm a dummy.
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 1:31PM
stupidity begets stupidity.
in proportion to the square of the collective IQ, apparently.
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 1:33PM
7 refers to hedgies (and their sycophants), not 6.
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 1:33PM
Bill Gross the famous fund manager from Pimco will be there, also some dickhead named William Gross, from Allianz, no relation...
Posted by KLW , Jul 24, 2008 2:15PM
Lots of obnoxious young finance guys have started appearing in my Bikram class, because I guess it's more manly and extreme. It's cute to watch them try to "win" at yoga.
Posted by Anal_yst , Jul 24, 2008 3:12PM
ahahaha KLW i almost just snarfed
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 3:17PM
@10, whereas you, of course, are "above" all that.
that's why you call it "Bikram," when really all it is 7th grade gymnstic warm-ups with guided fantasy.
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 3:27PM
Forgot Daniel Loeb
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 3:36PM
#12 and what is more amusing is many wear their 7th grade gym shorts - because of the "heat" and all....
Posted by KLW , Jul 24, 2008 3:46PM
@ #12--I'm not above anything. I win because I still fit into my junior prom dress; I don't really care if I'm doing better than a bunch of seamlessweb-stuffed analysts
Posted by BruceWayne , Jul 24, 2008 3:49PM
@13
I hear Dan Loeb can pin his legs behind his ears. Something no man with an adequate nutsack should attempt. Always mind your surroundings, always protect your jewels.
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 3:54PM
KLW, now you made me laugh - cuz its so true.
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 3:58PM
KLW wore a shamu costume to her prom. No wonder she still fits into it.
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 4:14PM
@ 12
I am worse than KLW.
Grade 7 gymnastics my ass - you want to win at yoga use KLWs benchmark along with bruce wayne/dan loebs. The latter is a genetic gift from my mother but i win in every yoga class i have ever been in.
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 4:27PM
Nothing I like better when I'm drunk than a fit, obnoxious, loose chick.
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 4:41PM
Yoga chicks are kinda hit, yoga guys are vaguely ridiculous.
Just like Goth chicks are kinda hot, Goth guys are vaguely ridiculous.
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 4:43PM
hottest hedge fund manager? i say loeb
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 4:44PM
"hottest hedge fund manager? i say loeb"
no way. larry robbins.
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 4:44PM
"hottest hedge fund manager? i say loeb"
no way. larry robbins.
agreed.
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 4:45PM
jim simons is pretty fucking hot.
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 4:46PM
@21 I meant "Yoga chicks are kinda HOT, not hit.
I'd hit it in the downward dog, though.
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 4:46PM
@21 I meant "Yoga chicks are kinda HOT"
, not hit.
I'd hit it in the downward dog, though.
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 4:48PM
good topic travis -run with this.
yoga is fucking great and also funny/ ridiculous.
downward facing douchebags!
-retail (aka yogatrader, aka yogionekenobi)
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 4:51PM
larry robbins is what i think the TGFD looks like....
Posted by guest , Jul 24, 2008 6:28PM
DON'T BRING UP TGFD! He'll show up.
Posted by BruceWayne , Jul 25, 2008 6:08AM
@30
Say his name 3 times in a mirror
Posted by DFDesigns , Jul 30, 2008 1:22PM
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