I am thrilled to start the new year by sharing a conversation with a longtime friend and student, Keith Tomaselli. Keith, while he might deny it, is an impressive, experienced, avid runner, and is one of the founders of the Northern Liberties Run Club in Philly. When he isn’t running with the club, Keith says he prefers to run solo miles over races—yet here are just some of his running highlights:

- He’s completed 19 Broad Street Runs 

- 7 half marathons

- 9 full marathons (PR 3:21 at Marine Corps)

- 9 ultras, including a 50-miler at Dirty German (2017).

He came to my Broga class in Philly after a chance meeting me at, of all places, a South Philly brewery called Brewery ARS, and after a few pints, we sparked up a conversation about my male-specific class, and Keith decided to give it a shot. 

Keith is a great example of a regular guy who came to yoga extremely tight, injured, in serious pain and with zero experience practicing yoga. Now, it has been seven years since Keith has been practicing Broga and Iyengar yoga with Gabriel Sigal, and the progress he has made is nothing short of inspiring. 

He joins me to discuss:

What his process was like becoming a yogi or I like to say, a bro-gi. 

Why he decided to come to an all-male yoga class. 

What the benefits are of practicing men’s-specific yoga.

How the low-key vibe of Broga where “regular” dudes take their practice seriously, but don’t take themselves seriously, is a great fit for him, and how yoga informs his running and vice-versa.

And how communities, regular practices and social gatherings – like Broga and his NLRC are the key for his physical, social and mental health. 

Link to Northern Liberties Run Club Website.

Link to NLRC Instagram.

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