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Meet Stuart Corn
Jerry Kuhlman - Highland Yoga Co-Founder
- 6/30/2005
During our first week of business, February 2004, a tall man with a certain
resolve began to attend classes here. On his first visit, bright and early
on a Saturday morning, we had to turn him away. Alas, Joe had missed a
flight. We couldn’t find a sub, so the class was cancelled. That glitch
didn’t stop this gentleman from showing up the following Tuesday, and though
we offered him the standard first class free, he wouldn’t accept it, paying
the $15 drop-in fee. He stated that he knew the feeling of starting a new
business, and couldn’t possibly accept a free class. He attended class
about once per week, but it was apparent that he was a serious
practitioner. A student came out of class one day saying, “Did you see that
older guy next to me?, he’s amazing”. And then, “Jesus, man, that dude’s
unbelievable”. On quizzing him one night, I found out that he made the yoga
studio rounds, attending classes several times weekly, and he also practiced
on his own most mornings. Meet Stuart Corn.
Time
passed, and though Stuart is usually a man of few words, I began to piece
together his background from the fleeting conversations we had on his way in
and out of classes. In his twenties, while working a job in NYC, he started
a business on “his kitchen table” in Pompton Lakes, and turned it into a
success story. He started practicing yoga just before he turned 50, some 14
years ago, as Stuart is now 62 years old. One night, he mentioned that he
draws allot of inspiration from his daughter. “That’s her on the cover of
that book”, he said, in a matter-of-fact way, as he pointed to a popular
Erich Schiffman book. So, Seane Corn is his daughter, I mused. I’d never
made the connection, but considering his yoga practice, it seemed fitting,
and natural, that his daughter would be a well-known teacher. She’s been on
the cover of Yoga Journal and various other yoga publications. I later read
that she was described as “one of the most sought after yoga teachers in Los
Angeles” by Allure magazine with a long list of credits including
spokesperson for Nike. Wow! Easy to see where she got it.
The
picture continued to round itself out, and we continued to “talk yoga” from
time to time, about the predisposition of certain people to certain poses,
unique anatomies requiring unique approaches, struggles on the mat. He
said, “Yoga’s about release”, meaning that after the struggle when we learn
to release into the pose, it finally comes, sthira sukkha, relaxed
awareness, the essence of a good yoga pose, and indeed, the essence of yoga
itself. After struggle comes release, be it bodily, emotionally or
spiritual in nature. It’s a pleasure talking yoga with Stuart. He really
gets it. That comes only after a considerable amount of practice and
introspection. Seeing his knowledge and enthusiasm, I urged him to teach
classes here at the studio. He agreed to substitute teach whenever we were
in need and when his schedule would allow. He was paid in classes, as he
would not accept pay, once again, stating that he knew how hard it is for a
new business. After awhile we quit keeping track and just told him that he
and his family have a lifetime membership here. People love his
classes…..no-nonsense, little or no music, to the point, very particular
about alignment, a quest for the proper pose.
Toward the end of last summer, Stuart noticed blood in his urine. Within
days, he was in the hospital having a cancerous kidney removed. Normally
that type of surgery requires the removal of a rib to access the kidney,
especially for older patients, often, even with younger ones. Stuart was so
flexible in his back body that the doctors merely separated his ribs for
access. His recovery was speedy, no doubt aided by his excellent condition
and his toughness. Within a very short period of time, Stuart was back in
the studio doing what he’d always done. Tests showed that he was
cancer-free. He felt great and looked great. He took on a regular Thursday
afternoon class, and developed a group of students who adored him. To best
reach a student, the teacher must be able to speak his/her language. Many
misconceptions exist about yoga, stemming from its East Indian origin, but
if new students are taught by a kindred spirit, someone they can roll around
on the carpet with, albeit bamboo, their barriers to learning start falling
in succession, like dominoes. Stuart does this to a tee. He could be your
next-door neighbor, or your golfing buddy, but at the same time he can lay
out the teachings, neatly and precisely, in a way that a regular Jerseyan
can appreciate. You go to Stuart’s class and you understand him the same
way you might understand what a jug handle REALLY is. Know what I
mean? And then he hits you with a twist or two, a few zingers, some
home-spun knowledge…..voilà,
yoga with a New Jersey edge. We’re quite lucky to have him here at Highland
Yoga.
A few weeks ago, Stuart
came into the studio to teach his Thursday class. In the matter-of-fact way
that he teaches, he announced to his students that the cancer had returned,
and that his doctors were not painting a very pretty picture. He’d have to
quit teaching his class for a while. Needless to say, it was a low blow,
but we were all quick to agree that if anyone could kick this it would be
Stuart. Please, fellow yogis, I urge you all to keep this good man in your
thoughts, hopes, and prayers, wishing him all the best as he embarks on this
next struggle in his life. May he be enveloped by our compassion and
healing thoughts. May the restorative power of our OM’s stick in the walls
and wait here for Stuart’s return.
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