Dave Noyes

BB: When was your first yoga experience?

DN: Five or six years ago, at Yoga Company (now Yoga Community). I got out of that first class, and I had not felt that good in years. I was blown away. The stretching, the opening up, walking more freely, feeling better in my body. That got me hooked.

BB: You have your own wine-making business. How is wine making like yoga?

DN: You're dealing with the natural world-your body or nature. You have to do as much listening as pushing, or directing. You have to listen to what works. In wine making, every year is different, because of the weather, the grapes grow a little differently. I have an idea of the kind of wine I want to make, but I can only make what's inherent for that year. Also, I'm making wine not for myself, but for my customers, so I have to intuit what people want. There's a dynamic communication. Communication with nature.

BB: I'll quote you, from your web site (on starting a business)"Hard work, self-discipline and acceptance of uncertainty seem to be the lessons I signed up for." That's yoga, David! Do you think that informs your life as well?

DN: Yeah, you know, we spend the first half of our lives creating the life that works the way we want it, we're in charge of everything. And then, for me, the second half of life seems to be opening up to not knowing what's going to happen, to being responsive to the immediate moment. For me now, when I know exactly what's going to happen any given day, it gets really boring. It's being open to the unexpected. When you're really open to the moment, then there's everything in it.

BB: That's yoga! What is your favorite pose?

DN: Trikonasana, triangle.

BB: Least favorite?

DN: Lotus, pigeon-things I can't even do. But some of the ones I like least are the ones I get the most from.

BB: Favorite wine?

DN: Pinot noir. That's what I make, but what I love about wine is the diversity. Wines that have a unique character.

BB: You've got a great web site. The way you write about the wine creating process, one can tell it is a labor of love for you. Isn't that Yoga as well, that passion? More than being able to go into Lotus pose?

DN: Wine has so many aspects. You can look at it as an agricultural commodity, but you can also look at it as pure style. People choose to like certain wines, or not, it's very subjective. You can dance with that in almost any way you want. You have to have a sense of the style, and the craft, to create what you want to create, how you present it is really important, talking about it is fun!

BB: Your enthusiasm on the web site, in your presence is so huge. That is one of the biggest goals of yoga! I think you're enlightened, you're there, Dave.

DN: I'm not there all the time! It's an on-going process of discovery. When I'm working for myself, there's no where to hide. Yoga's the same thing. You put into it what you want to get out of it. If you're not enjoying it, it's not about the teacher or the class, it's about how you're responding to it. It's a lesson about taking responsibility.

BB: What do your family and friends think about your coming to yoga classes?

DN: My experience is, when you're enthusiastic about something, other people become enthusiastic about whatever they doing. I don't need to go into that thing, My practice is better than your practice. So, I'd don't really talk about it.

BB: What's the best thing you've learned from yoga?

DN: I really love the postures, opening up the body. But I also like the constant invitation to just be in the moment. The going about your day finding alignment in the body, being aware of your breath. I do sitting meditation from time to time. Anything that reinforces being aware of the interior as well the exterior is really good. The body is a good invitation to be aware of the interior, because it has sensations (chuckling). Often we don't pay attention to the body until it hurts. But to be aware of the sensation in the body and the ebb and flow of energy, helps keep me balanced.

BB: What do you enjoy about Yoga Community?

DN: The environment-I like coming here, it's a good community.

BB: Thank you, Dave.

DN: My pleasure.