Former NFL Player Derrick Townsel Is A Yoga Man Worth Following
There's something about a man who knows his positions—yoga positions that is.
On any given day you can catch Derrick “DJ" Townsel bending and contorting his well-chiseled frame into seemingly impossible twists, backbends, and handstands that will make you want to be front and center at one of his yoga classes.
The man is flexible, and we're here for it.
As a former NFL wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans, the self-proclaimed “Rasta Yogi" (inspired by his West Indian ancestry) is no stranger to hard work. Coming from a family of athletes, DJ was well-versed in physical fitness, but it wasn't until he decided to take up yoga towards the end of his football career as a means to help with preventing injuries that he started to embrace the overall health benefits—physically, mentally, and spiritually—of the age-old practice.
He initially began studying in the comforts of his home, watching online sessions and educating himself on the history of yoga, and even partnering up with a fellow yogi who would introduce him to AcroYoga—a two-person practice combining yoga and acrobatics. Before long he fell in love with yoga and out of love with the game, and in 2014 traded the football field for the mat as a certified yoga instructor.
Now the 28-year-old is traveling the country teaching and inspiring both women and men through his passion rooted in peace and positivity. xoNecole caught up with the free agent to talk more about AcroYoga, his personal growth since starting the practice, and how it's benefiting him in and outside of the bedroom.
Tune in, you might just learn something!
Growing up in Miami, were you surrounded by athletes or did anyone if your family make a focus around mental/physical/spiritual health?
I come from an athletic background. A lot of people in my family played college sports so I've always been athletic. But as far as health and fitness, I started to get really involved in the healthy side of fitness about four years ago when I became a personal trainer after just seeing how it can affect you for the better; it's just something that I got really involved in and kind of gravitated towards, so I chose that as a career.
I got into yoga around the end of my football career because I was trying to make sure that I left football without any injuries ,so I just chose yoga as a way to try to prevent those injuries. And then I fell in love with the spiritual side of it and just kept going.
Now right now you're working as a free agent still?
I guess you can say I'm retired without the publicity (laughs). Technically I'm still a free agent, but I don't have any desire to play anymore; I just fell out of love with the game. I thought football was my passion but I found it elsewhere through football. Blessing in disguise.
So what exactly is AcroYoga is and how do you train for it?
The best way to say it without confusing anybody is partner aerial yoga. You can add things to it if you want and make it as fun as possible, but it's just like something that I wanted to try and my partner got me into it. We practice everyday for up to eight hours sometimes, just playing around and learning new things. The thing is, it's like sharing energy with somebody else. That's what we really found the passion in.
So, are you coming up with your own moves or is it like yoga where you have certain names and positions?
It's getting kind of big now to where there's certain names for poses, but we pretty much take poses that we've seen before and just make our own sequences. Just like yoga there's already poses made and named, but you can pretty much make it your own any way you want, so we do that.
You mention that you practice eight hours a day, what else do you do to train your body from that?
I still work out, but yoga pretty much gets me in shape for acro because it's kind of hard to do if you have tight hamstrings and tight hip flexors, so yoga pretty much gets you ready for the acro because it's hell to try to do a yoga pose with somebody on top of you or in the other person's case doing it on top of somebody's feet.
So how did you find your partner?
She actually found me through Instagram; she was following me and I invited my followers in Orlando to come and do a yoga class with me at the studio, and she came out and we started doing Acro[Yoga] that day and never stopped. That was actually two years ago..
Physical and mental health also play a big role in yoga, how have you grown in both of those areas, and what are some ways that you nourish your mind and body?
Brushing things off, that's the biggest thing. If something ever happened to me I'd be so attached to it and stressing about it and anxious, but now I'm just real go with the flow. I just take everything as they come. I try to make sure that my day isn't filled with being stressed or anxious because if you're stressed, you're living in the past. If you're anxious, you're living in the future. So now I just make sure that I'm at peace at all times.
Are you really particular about what you eat?
I'm not as strict on my diet. I try not to put a whole bunch of fast food in my body, but I try to make sure that I'm not counting calories or macros and all that other stuff. I'm not doing all of that. I still eat what I want, but I try to make sure that I'm watching it and make sure that I eat too much fatty foods or anything like that. I have some days when I get off track.
Are there certain books that you're reading as well?
Right now I'm reading two books: The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield and Revolution by Russell Brand.
Were you big on reading before yoga?
I was, but not the genre that I read now. I'm into the more spiritual and energy driven literature. Learning more about myself, learning more about people. That's pretty much what I'm trying to get more into now.
What has practicing yoga taught you about yourself?
That I'm stronger than I thought, physically mentally, and spiritually. That's the main thing. Nothing's ever stronger than your will to fight. Anything I go through I take it back to yoga, I meditate on it, I practice if need be. If there's anything physical I practice, if there's anything spiritual I meditate, if there's anything mental, I meditate.
Did you have any mentors that guided you through it?
One of my mentors is Ravenflower Dugandzic. She was actually my teacher during training, so she helped me out a lot as far as the spiritual side of yoga and the business side.
As far as your dating life, since you work with a lot of women do you ever have any attraction to them or do you try to keep it more professional?
Nah, I got to keep it professional. Whoever I practice with I have a connection with them through yoga, I try not to take it further than that.
Are you more into the athletic women who are into yoga?
I'm just all about energy. That's what I'm focused on.
Whatever draws your attention!
I'd say open-mindedness. Nobody wants a stick in the mud!
If a girl were to surprise you with a date, what's one of your dating fantasies?
I'm not single [laughs], but food. Anything with food. I'm actually standing in front of a Caribbean place now, so Caribbean, Cuban food, anything with Seafood involved, I'm happy.
Are there any specific lessons that your mom taught you about women?
With any woman you want [them] to be not like your mom, but you always hold them to that standard, so my mom's very strong, very family-driven. That's probably the strongest woman I know, so that's the woman that I hold on a pedestal if I were to compare anybody to her.
I heard that you have a lot of male followers, too, so have you gotten a lot of feedback from them?
Yeah, I've actually seen growth as far as males in my class, and I tell them that yoga is not a feminine practice at all, and that you know there's nothing wrong with finding different ways to be healthy. Everybody is not a gym goer, so you just got to find your niche. If yoga is for you it's for you, if it's not it's not. Many guys think that it's not masculine enough, and I ask them why wouldn't you want to be in a room with 30 women?
So I have to ask. Since you're so flexible does it help in your sexual life, too? I feel like if you market that part, the guys will be more willing to embrace yoga!
I actually did a campaign on Instagram about that and told guys, not even just as far as being flexible, but that there are certain poses that keep certain organs healthy. It helps with fertility, it helps with anybody who's struggling with erectile dysfunction—there's poses that can help stimulate the sexual organs that help that out. You can always use yoga poses in the bed, so who can argue with that?
That's interesting. I know there are certain foods you can eat to help with erectile dysfunction. What's one of the yoga poses that men can do?
There's the bridge pose, which is pretty much a laying down position where you're holding your ankles or put your hands on the ground and just pushing your hips into the air. So that's a good pose to help with reproductive organs and everything.
Did you start growing locs for spiritual reasons as well? I see you identify with the Rasta culture.
I call myself “Rasta Yogi" because my roots are Caribbean, now don't ask me what country because my family has not told me that yet (laughs). So my roots are Caribbean and the first time I went to Jamaica I really connected with everybody there and felt like I was home. Whenever I go to the Caribbean I feel like it's where I'm supposed to be. So the name fits.
I'm just curious because I just started locing my hair like two months ago, so I'm always curious as to what makes people loc their hair because some people do it for spiritual reasons or because they identify with the Rasta culture and the idea of freedom and non-conformism.
It's a mixture of all three. I identify with the culture; I'm very spiritual. It's like literally the roots of who we are.
Are there any particular quotes or words/ideals that you live by?
The biggest quote that my family and I use the most is “define your dash." We actually learned that from my uncle, who tragically passed last November, and that was his mantra. So what he meant by that is just the dash between the day that you're born and the day that you die is what matters the most. We try to make sure that whatever we do we do it with a smile on our face and being as happy as we can.
What do you want your legacy to be? What is your dash?
I want my dash to be somebody who was dedicated on spreading light and love to the world, whether it's through conversation, whether it's through yoga practice, teaching, health and fitness. I just want to make sure that whoever I come in contact with I make feel good about themselves.
In one of your Instagram posts you mention your grandmother coming back to speak to you every once in awhile, how do you feel that she's speaking to you?
Through memories. When I meditate sometimes I see her just sitting there smiling, so I feel like I'm doing her proud. As long as she doesn't show up to my meditation with a frown on her face, I feel like I'm doing okay.
Peep the gallery below for more of our favorite poses from Derrick, aka @Dade2Shelby on Instagram:
- Derrick Townsel: From NFL Star to the Remarkable Benefits of Yoga ... ›
- Yogi in the Community: Derrick "DJ" Townsel | Chelsea Loves Yoga ›
- DJ Townsel (@dade2shelby) • Instagram photos and videos ›
- Derrick "DJ" Townsel, The Professional Football Player Turned Yoga ... ›
- DJ Townsel - Unexpected Gifts that Come from Having a Consistent ... ›
Kiah McBride writes technical content by day and uses storytelling to pen real and raw personal development pieces on her blog Write On Kiah. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @writeonkiah.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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I think we all can agree that social media really is a double-edged sword. What I mean by that is there is just as much bad that can come out of it as good. At the end of the day, it really is about 1) having your own mind, 2) finding balance when it comes to how much time you spend online, and 3) doing your own research instead of taking random people’s opinions as the gospel (i.e., facts).
Gee, I wish more folks did all of this when it comes to if a man needs to have a large penis to sexually satisfy a woman (he does not) and if a woman who has had multiple sex partners will ultimately end up with a vagina that is too large for smaller penises to please her (a lie).
Science totally has my back on debunking both of those things (more on that in a bit). Know what else does? A particular type of sex method that is becoming more popular by the day. One that just might convince you to, as they used to say back in the day, focus less on the “size of the wave” and ride out the “motion of the ocean” instead.
It’s called shallowing. Here’s what it’s all about.
What Is Shallowing?
GiphyIf there’s one thing that I wish folks would say more thoroughly when it comes to women and orgasms, it’s that when it comes to75 percent of women not being able to orgasm from only intercourse, the accurate statement is they struggle with achieving a vaginal orgasm without the assistance of some type of clitoral stimulation. Yeah, we’ve really got to remember that very few things in this life are a complete monolith — orgasms included (check out “U-Spot Orgasm, Fantasy Orgasm & 6 Other Orgasms You Should Try Tonight”).
In fact, it was while I was reading up on pairing — a word that is used for when clitoral stimulation transpires during penetration — that I decided to do some deep-diving into shallowing (because it was mentioned inone of the articles that I read).And what is it? Shallowing is when a penis, finger, tongue, or sex toy of some sort is used in order to ever so slightly penetrate the vaginal opening of a woman.
And why is shallowing not just a current sex trend but something that every woman on this planet should try? It’s because of what I’ve said, more than once, on this platform: it focuses on the most sensitive part of a woman’s vagina, which isthe first two inches of her vaginal opening.
When the emphasis is placed there, not only does it increase your chances of experiencing “the big O,” but it can also build up anticipation, which can intensify your orgasms too — yes, shallowing can also be seen as a form of edging.
Another thing that’s cool about shallowing is — and it really and truly can’t be said enough — something that makes vaginal and blended orgasms easier to achieve for some women really has little to do with the size of a man’s package or even his technique; it’s straight up anatomy. Yep, the closer that a woman’s clitoris is to her vaginal opening, the easier it is for a penis to stimulate both. So, science makes it possible for vaginal orgasms to be easier for some women than others.
At the same time, shallowing can make it possible for more women who want to see what a vaginal orgasm actually feels like (because it’s easier for the head of the penis to stimulate the opening of the vagina while the shaft can rub up against your clitoris; based on the position that you are in, of course — the missionary with some pillows propped under the lower part of your back is ideal for this).
Now that you see what shallowing actually is, do you get why I said that penis size doesn’t matter when it comes to doing it — and getting the kind of orgasms that you want? Contrary to popular belief, your vagina is only around four inches. In fact, some health experts say that it ranges between 2-4”. Anything larger, your body literally has to stretch out to accommodate; this includes penises and babies. So, if your vagina is “making room” for more than four inches, why in the world do you think you need a 10-inch man? Yeah…exactly. It really is time to get over the silliness. The average penis continues to be 5.5”. Makes sense when you take it all in (no pun intended).
Aight, so now that you know what shallowing is all about, let me try and hard sell you on why it’s a sex technique that you should try as soon as tonight (if you possibly can).
1. It takes the pressure off of you and your partner.
I’ve been working with couples for almost 20 years at this point. This means that the topic of sex comes up quite a bit. And if there’s one thing that continues to be an issue is inconsistent orgasms (check out “Why Do Orgasms So Often Seem Like A ‘Hit-Or-Miss’ Experience For Women?”).
Listen, no matter how many articles you read or sex positions you try, if you’re anxious, stressed out, or overthinking, it’s gonna get in the way of you experiencing high peaks of pleasure on a consistent basis. Since shallowing is something that can easily be done even in foreplay (via fingering and/ororal sex) if you get that first “release” off, that makes it easier to just sit back and enjoy the ones that (hopefully) are to follow.
2. It teaches you more about your vagina.
A part of the reason why I keep repeating certain facts about vaginas in these articles is that it’s amazing how little certain things are discussed en masse — like the size of the vaginal tube. And since shallowing helps you to stimulate the nerve endings at the entrance of your va-jay-jay along with your G-spot (which is housed a little ways from your opening), shallowing is a great way to explore that area of your body as you figure out what truly works for you and…what doesn’t.
3. It’s the perfect merging of foreplay and intercourse.
When you really stop to think about it, shallowing is like the bridge between foreplay and intercourse because you can use so many different things to do it. So, if you want to experiment with a new sex toy or you want a bit more time to “warm up the engine” before full-on penetration begins, shallowing is one of the most sexually arousing compromises there is.
4. It can help to increase your partner’s stamina.
A few years back, I penned an article for the site entitled, “We’ve Got Some All-Natural Ways To Increase Stamina & Sensitivity.” Listen, even though I onceread a GQ article that said that over 60 percent of the people they polled were fine with intercourse lasting no longer than 5-10 minutes — that poll doesn’t speak for all of us, chile.
So, if you would like your man to build up to going longer, shallowing can help to make that happen. Since he’s barely putting beyond the tip in, he can learn how to be in you for longer periods of time without being, well, in you.
5. It helps you to appreciate whatever “package” he has.
Again — and it really can’t be said enough — if shallowing is all about exploring the mere entrance of your vagina, you don’t need a man with BDE (check out “BDE: Please Let The 'It Needs To Be Huge' Myth Go”) or honestly, even anything close to it.
I mean, even though, reportedly, the size that the average woman says gives her the most orgasms is eight inches — I bet those women have never really tried shallowing before. 10”, 8”, or the average 5.5” can certainly get the job done. And well.
6. It feels A-MAZ-ING.
Okay,so now that you know about shallowing, I promise that if you put the word into your favorite search engine, you’re either gonna see articles on golfing (LOL) or sex, especially as of late. That’s because more couples are trying it out and getting mind-blowing results from it. So, if you’re looking for something new to try, give shallowing a shot.
Hey, anything that’s designed to stimulate your most intense vaginal nerve endings has got to be something for the record books. I mean, how could it not be? Lawd.
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Featured image by Juan Moyano/Getty Images