Me as an Athlete

Exercising consistently has always been a paramount passion of mine.

Here's a tip for enhancing immunity and happiness: Stay active and maintain a genuine enthusiasm for engaging in beneficial movement. Let this lifestyle become an integral part of your overall narrative. Exercise is something we love and need. It took us considerable time to cultivate exercise as a deeply ingrained habit. If we happen to miss more than one day of invigorating movement, it can affect our mental state and overall mood.

To me, every mindful moment is an opportunity for exercise. Each act of compassion becomes a form of Yoga. I hold a deep appreciation for movement—I embrace it wholeheartedly and continuously strive to keep moving.

For me, compassion is not merely a spiritual concept; it is also logical and a manifestation of intelligence. Contemplating these notions occupies my thoughts incessantly, which may classify me as a philosopher of sorts. I find that physical movement helps balance the constant stream of ideas swirling within my mind. Exercising and engaging in philosophical musings complement one another. They are innate aspects of our human nature—thinking and moving in harmony.

I plan to die at age 100 in a headstand from enjoyment and being carried off by consciousness into the wide expanse of the universe. This vision underscores my commitment to a life of joy, movement, and mindfulness.

(Right photo: SCUBA has been a longtime passion of mine since 1992. That's me in the Bahamas sometime in 2013 or 2014.)

I took so many moronic risks with my body in my lifetime. I am grateful to be here to think about it. Now, it's all about using those wild experiences to "perfect" my understanding of my body and mind. I am so grateful to have had all of these absurd experiences. A shy, scrawny Jewish kid with big hair turned himself into whatever you might call this.

(Right photo: Me versus Jason Teitelbaum, Friday Night Fights, circa 2005.)

In 1991, I discovered a deep passion for rock climbing and ultimate frisbee, and both sports consumed my attention. While exploring rock climbing and mountaineering in the "Gunks" of upstate New York, I had my first encounter with skydiving.

In 1992, I embarked on my initial tandem jump at The Blue Sky Ranch in Gardiner, NY, alongside my cousin. The Ranch holds a legendary status and continues to thrive to this day.

In 1995, I founded a skydiving video training company called PIER Media. During the pre-internet era, I produced five highly popular videos that have yet to be surpassed. No one has managed to create anything that could replace these videos. However, that same year, I had a significant accident. I foolishly landed barefoot on concrete, resulting in both of my feet being broken. It was a stark reminder of the risks associated with my preoccupation with stunt skydiving. Thankfully, the accident was not worse, but it left me immobilized for 90 days before I could return to the sport.

In 2005, I decided to retire from skydiving after completing 2,300 jumps. The sport allowed me to forge enduring friendships that I still maintain today. I held an immense love for sport skydiving, but in 2004, I chose to transition into the world of competitive Muay Thai Boxing, leaving skydiving behind.

Stepping away from the dangers inherent in skydiving, I embraced the "less dangerous zone" of competitive Muay Thai Boxing. I entered my first official fight in 2003 and continued competing for the following 2.5 years. Five Points Academy in New York remains my dedicated training camp, housing a remarkable group of individuals. If you're seeking exceptional training, I wholeheartedly recommend joining that team.

The path I've traveled to reach this point is deeply rooted in my lifelong adventurous and high-energy nature. Even at the age of two, my parents shared stories of me escaping from my crib—a testament to my inherent curiosity and drive. I feel fortunate to have survived the adrenaline-fueled sports that have captivated me for most of my life. Nowadays, I channel that energy into writing. I devote myself to penning volumes of memoirs, journals, and philosophical musings every day. The urgency to complete my writing projects before the end of my days continues to drive me forward.

(Right photo: Circa 2005, Fight Night in New York City. Me and my longtime friends and trainers, Arjan Steve Milles and Arjan Simon Burgess of Five Points Academy. I am cooling down between rounds.)

Throughout my journey, I have remained a dedicated and passionate practitioner of yoga. While I entertained the idea of changing my name to Sri Maharishi Marcus (LOL), I realized it would hinder my ability to maintain a commercial presence.

I have a deep admiration for the Ashtanga system of yoga, as well as traditional hot yoga. In New York, I have had the privilege of learning from exceptional teachers such as Jared McCann, and I briefly practiced with Eddie Stern. Along the way, I have encountered many other remarkable yoga instructors, but none have left a more profound impact on me than my teacher from the late 1990s, Sri Sat Guru Yogi Parmahansa. He is truly a master in every sense. When it comes to practicing yoga, I am open to learning from anyone, anywhere. The identity of the teacher and the appearance of the space hold no significance for me.

While I have aspirations and dreams, one of them being to have a Thai Boxing match in Lumpini Stadium in Thailand and then journeying to the Himalayas to practice yoga near the Dalai Lama's main residence, I understand the value of staying grounded in the present moment. Although I occasionally fantasize about living in a cave with my wife in India for a year, I recognize that certain modern conveniences like running water and hot showers are luxuries that I deeply appreciate.

(Above: Me in the leopard trunks jamming my foot into this guy’s digestive system. This was my first Muay Thai fight somewhere in Virginia back in 2003 or 2004.)

Back in the late 1990s, I was fortunate to have an exceptional yoga teacher, Sri Sat Guru Yogi Parmahansa, who hails from Japan. I consider him to be the one who truly enlightened me about the essence of yoga. However, it took me nearly two decades to fully grasp the profound wisdom he imparted. If there is such a thing as an enlightened person, he certainly embodies it.

In the present day, my yoga practice primarily revolves around traditional hot yoga. This particular system enables me to achieve a level of focus that surpasses any other form of yoga I have experienced. I am drawn to its specific and structured nature, as well as the challenges posed by the intense heat. (It's important to denounce the unethical behavior of the fraudulent founder of hot yoga, as he mistreated his students and others. Fortunately, the 26 and 2 Yoga practice is not his creation, nor are the individual postures.)

The system of 26 postures popularized by Bikram consists of simple postures with straightforward transitions. These poses can be approached with varying levels of difficulty, depending on personal preference and ability.

I hold deep appreciation for all forms of yoga. Whether it's Ashtanga Yoga, Dharma Yoga, Integral Yoga, or even creating my own system, I find joy in exploring different styles. Furthermore, I cherish activities like walking and challenging myself by running up the escalator at the 59th Street #6 train station.

(Right photo: Scary Yoga. Me “sit-flying” in a Thai Boxing jumpsuit. This was around the time when skydiving was fading from my mind and competitive fighting took over. Falling over Gardiner, NY, circa 2004.)

(Right photo: Smashing Yoga. Me - attempting a flying knee at Five Points Academy during a photo shoot for an article in the WSJ.)

(Right photo: Combat Yoga. Circa 2005, Marcus Antebi vs. Brian Robertson, NYC Mulberry Street Fights. Muay Thai fighting. Bare shins and knees to the body were allowed. Yeah!)

The scientific evidence provided by my health and wellness mentor, Fred Bisci, indicates that "intense" exercise can make a person happy. Research shows that this type of lifestyle pattern reduces the risk of Alzheimer's, depression, anger, anxiety, and boredom.

(Right photo: In 2005, I successfully cut down from 154 pounds to 140.5 pounds in 96 hours to meet the weight requirements for a fight. Although it was a challenging experience, I acquired valuable knowledge about fasting and sustaining myself on juices and smoothies. During those years, I trained rigorously six days a week while adhering to very low-calorie diets. While I no longer miss the process of cutting weight, it was a memorable and educational journey. 48 hours after this fight and binge eating for 15 hours, I weighed myself and was back up to 169 pounds! Yuck! I must have eaten 50,000 calories over that weekend post-fight.)

Since age 15, I have maintained a deep commitment to physical fitness, and that drive remains unwavering to this day. While my approach to challenging workouts has evolved over time, I continue to engage in exercises that leave me feeling fatigued at least three days a week. In fact, I incorporate some level of physical activity every day of the week.

Since 2016, I have been obsessed with traditional hot yoga. All yoga. It's just good movement and a great way to relax my mind.

It is with humility that I share my story here. I do take great pride, balanced with gratitude and a sense of awe that I survived doing dangerous things. Always sober, sometimes reckless, always scared shitless, open-eyed, and cautious. I enjoy telling my story, and now I am ready to forget all this and move forward. This is my old life. Today I am a husband, father, vegan-restaurant-guy, yogi, etc. That's enough excitement for one lifetime.

1. Embracing the Benefits of Yoga and Exercise
   I have the patience for a slow workout that involves total presence of mind. Alongside hot yoga, I also engage in kettlebell training, light bag work/pad work, running, ocean swimming, and other seasonal activities. Exercise keeps my mind in balance and is an integral part of life.

2. Discovering the Importance of Rest
   I am also learning the importance of rest, something I was never good at. It was unexpected for me to realize that rest is something I had to learn to do!

Conclusion
The practice of traditional hot yoga and engaging in various forms of exercise have become a significant part of my life. Through these activities, I find balance and relaxation for both my body and mind. Furthermore, understanding the significance of rest has allowed me to appreciate the essential role it plays in maintaining overall well-being. Thank you for taking the time to read my journey.

(Above photo: "Standing Head to Knee" (Dandayamana Janushirasana), my favorite pose. The back is rounded in the Traditional Hot Yoga posture. August 2019.)

(Above photo: "Balancing Stick" Pose (Tuladandasana) from the Traditional Hot Yoga Series, 26-2.)

(Above photo: "Horny Gorilla" Pose (Vihaga Padamasa), my favorite yoga posture. Falling at 120mph and laughing the whole time. Circa 1996, DeLand, FL. Me with Bill Hallett, barefoot, in PVC pants and a polyester flowered shirt from the '70s.)

(Above photo: My signature "move" at all Juice Bar store openings. Me falling out of a headstand on a hardwood table. April 10, 2023. Hey look, there's Peter Kay, my favorite juice bar operator. His genius was squandered by his last boss. Fckng squandered!)

"I am not perfect. I am not a guru. I am not a master. I am constantly learning. I am a child. I am a fool. I have ego, I have karma. I write for myself and I write hoping that I leave a positive message behind. I hope that something I write will help a younger person skip over my traumas in their own life." —Marcus Antebi