A couple of years ago, toy inventor, yogi, and socially-conscious entrepreneur Dan Abramson put a new twist on the classic green toy soldier we all know and love. Instead of toting rifles or bazookas, Abramson's Yoga Joes portray soldiers peacefully performing various yoga poses. Now, Abramson's green plastic yoga army has new recruits: the Advanced Yoga Joes.
To celebrate the new additions, Abramson and a friend headed to Sedona, Arizona to photograph the Yoga Joes and, incidentally, to see whether the area's red rocks and famed energy vortexes would affect the little plastic yogis. According to Abramson, it just made them look awesome. Check out their photos below.
Abramson came up with the idea for the original Yoga Joes in 2013, after the success of his other business venture, Brogamats. While having coffee with a friend, he started dreaming up ways to promote yoga to men and boys. Then it him him. Why not create green army men in yoga poses?
Image source: Yoga Joes
Abramson worked with yoga teachers, designers, and engineers as well as Connected Warriors, a non-profit that provides yoga therapy programs to vets and service members, to get the Yoga Joes looking as authentic and anatomically correct as possible.
Image source: Yoga Joes
After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Yoga Joes were sent out into the world. Their motto? "Here to keep the inner peace."
Image source: Yoga Joes
These non-violent toys found fans in people of all ages. "I originally made Yoga Joes to get more boys, men, and military folks into yoga. And it turned out it had a major effect!”Abramson told DYY. "The Kickstarter I did two years ago was really welcomed by this monstrously large yoga/military community that I didn't know existed. A military yoga complex!”
Image source: Yoga Joes
Miracles of toy engineering: the Advanced Yoga Joe performing the Lotus Headstand really balances!
Image source: Yoga Joes
In response to requests for a female soldier, the new additions to the Yoga Joes army include a Yoga Jane in scorpion pose.
Image source: Yoga Joes
Peacock pose on a mountain ledge is pretty daring, but this Advanced Yoga Joe is more than up to the challenge.
Image source: Yoga Joes
Fans of Yoga Joes have found that these figures are a fantastic gift option for yogis, members of the military, and their loved ones. They put a smile on our face, that's for sure!
Aren't these toys cool or what? Sound off in the comments!
Image source: Yoga Joes
