Marty Crocker: Creating Connection with Radical Generosity

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Marty Crocker is the wandering yogi, massage therapist, husband, golf pro, and leading the way with an idea he calls gifitivism.Marty describes how a yoga class in college showed up and derailed a previously presumed future in the corporate world. Yoga led him to develop a consistency in his life. He describes how yoga brought him joy and a desire to share with others, from a place of service. Yoga became his form of meditation and quieting his mind. His practice brought him personal awareness and and understanding of the importance of breath work.

Through his personal work in yoga, he describes a process of discovering bodywork and his initial resistance to treat others outside of the yoga studio setting. Originally, he would do body work during the time he was teaching, with students rotating to the “treatment” mat throughout the class. He found, and still believes the hands on assistance in yoga leads to a deeper sense of connection, both to the practice and to his students. He talks about connection, not correction, as a place of understanding.

He has built a long term client base that know they can depend on him. He is reticent to directly define the work that he does with clients, feeling that labels divide and create separation rather than creating a place of connection. Marty explains that because of the clarity he has that massage and yoga are his life purpose, he feels no worries regarding where they might lead him and whether he is “doing the right thing.” Even as a pioneer, he describes that there is no questioning if this is the right path for him.

Marty describes the idea of giftivism and its basis of trusting contribution. He says that once you truly understand your personal value, you no longer question if the universe is going to provide for you.He opened a smoothie shop that entirly functioned on a “pay what you want basis.” The real challenge for many who embark on or even simply strive to understand this path is to learn giving without any expectation of gain. It is entirely trusting the collaborative process of the universe…creating zero attachment to the outcome. We talk about the flip-side of the coin and the difficulty of many to know how to receive. We touch upon the internal conflict that often arises regarding worth and deserving.

More than anything, Marty wants to inspire the younger generation by exposing them to this idea of radical generosity. His biggest tip to creating lasting change and awareness is to sit quietly for 5 minutes daily and bring your focus to your breath and your being. Marty’s joy is contagious and his generosity will get you thinking about where in your life you can give more and expect less.

To learn more about Marty Crocker and his inspiring work, please contact him via email martycrocker@gmail.com.