yoga is a religion, yoga is a sex cult, and yoga kills you

Source: google.com.np via Claudine on Pinterest

First off, I want to remind people of the very first time you walked into a yoga studio to take a class.

Do you recall how you felt? I do. I was nervous. And uncertain. I didn't exactly know what happened in a yoga class. Do they sit and meditate the whole class. Stand on their head. Chant words that will make no sense to me? I had little clue. All I knew was that the universe kept pointing me in that direction. Go. Do. Yoga.

Plus I was having my mid-twenties crisis and it just seemed like a good idea. I thought it might be able to help me calm my wild thoughts and help me center and connect to myself. Of course at the time, those were not the words I used.

It was more like, "Oh shit, my life is falling to pieces. I'm too young for my life to fall to pieces. What the hell am I gonna do? I've gotta figure this out."

When I see and read the articles in The New York Times and I hear that people actually think yoga is a religion it gets to me.

Not because it ruffles all my yogi feathers in a purist way. Ok, ok some if it has ruffled my yoga tail feathers, just a bit. I can't lie.

It's mostly upsetting to me because here we are adding to the list of reasons not to do yoga. As if people need more reasons not to do yoga. In general as a society we already feel less than.

Oh I can't do yoga because I'm too old, too young, too skinny, too fat, too tight, too weak, too conservative, too eccentric....on and on and on.

Now we have people reading these articles and perhaps thinking they'll either break their neck doing yoga or get lured into a sex cult.

Geez, really?

Yogs is not (and I repeat not) a religion. We have no place of worship. No god or gods we must pray or bow down to. Yoga does not tell you to pray to any certain thing nor person. Yoga actually encourages you to connect to any source that uplifts you. One of the niyamas is "ishvara pranidhana" which is connecting to a higher source energy. Be that source the sun, Jesus, Allah, your lover, whatever. Yoga does not attempt to define what that higher source is. And I love that. Wars break out, people fight, and do all sorts of crazy things in the name of God and love. We get so attached, so righteous about what we believe to be the ultimate truth. Really seems counter-productive to me.

Yes, yoga has deep spiritual roots that are there should one be interested in exploring that. It is not a prerequisite nor a requirement. You can come do yoga to get a nice yoga ass or you can come to connect to spirit. Whatever. It doesn't matter to me. We all have our individual reasons and that is a beautiful thing in and of itself.

Yoga as a sex cult....yes let's explore that one. Appears all this talk stems from the scandal happening around John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga. If you're curious just Google John Friend Sex Scandal and you'll get more information than you care to read.

First of all, yogis are not super humans free from struggle nor suffering. Yogis are humans. I'm not at all justifying his behavior. Mostly what I'm saying is that when you really think about it, it's not that utterly shocking.

Disappointing? Yes.
Sad? Yes
Shocking? At first yes, upon further inquiry maybe not.

Sex scandals occur all over the place.....business people, family people, politicians, religious leaders, and yes, yogis.

This is a reminder to each of us as a student of yoga. It's not about your teacher. Really, it's not. It's about the wisdom within yoga and You. I get that your yoga teacher can serve as a source of inspiration. Your teacher has been walking the path. Seeking and striving to live a good life and sharing what is true for them. It's not about them. I repeat. If they say it is about them, that's a big red sign. When it starts to feel like your worthiness is based on your teacher and it's more about them then I'd step back and ponder what's truly happening.

Lastly, this idea that "I'd better not do yoga because I might hurt myself."


News flash....I can spill my hot coffee onto my lap and hurt myself. I can slip and fall on the street and hurt myself. I can literally dance my big toenail off and hurt myself (yes still slightly traumatized by that one).

Asanas (the yoga poses) are physical. You can hurt yourself doing anything physical. A.N.Y.T.H.I.N.G.

Both students and teachers have responsibility when it comes to safety in a yoga classroom. We as teachers are looking for signs of students overdoing it and straining. That's why I always say, "If you can't breathe in this pose, don't do it!". I've had conversations with students and essentially said, "I don't think you're ready for this pose."

Students have responsibility. Just because we teach it, doesn't mean you have to do it. Honor your body. Listen deeply. Find your edge in the pose and don't push past it. Be more concerned about your body and pose than your neighbors. How do you know if it's too much?

If you can't breathe you shouldn't be in that pose.
If your mind is freaking out you shouldn't be in that pose.
If it's a pose that requires great strength and you're just not there yet, you shouldn't be in that pose.
If it hurts (and this is more than simply uncomfortable) you shouldn't be in the pose.

Actually when the article by William Broad came out in NYT I felt really good about my method of teaching and the process I lead trainees through in yoga teacher training. I believe it to be wise, safe, and sustainable.

Basically I love yoga. I want everybody to do yoga.

I truly believe that if we all did yoga the world would be a much better place. I do. I believe that deeply, in the core of my being. When I read some things I just want to bang my head against the wall because it seems so unbelievable to me.

Don't believe everything just because you read it or someone told you to believe it. Take it in, try it on, and then choose for yourself. The same thing is true for yoga.

Shew. That was a lot. I shall now step off of the yoga soapbox. Thanks for listening. Or reading.

Have a great day friends.

grateful

These days I feel so happy, so blessed, and so very grateful to be living the life I live. Is my life perfect? Uhhhh, no. And what does that really mean anyway? Since my return from Maya Tulum everything is just jiving really well in an interesting and different sorta way. You see, now more so than every before I believe in the good of myself, the good of others.

I'm in this place with my personal yoga practice that just makes me melt every time I step on my yoga mat. I'm once again amazed at the power of my body, the power of my breath, the power of my mind....the power of this awesome practice called yoga. It feels really freakin' good. :-)

And let me just say that I appreciate you taking the time to fill out the survey for Barefoot Works and I am completely blown away by all the kind things you have to say about the studio, the teachers, and myself. I actually called my yogini gal pal up yesterday to read her a couple of comments. My reaction was, "Shelli, they really get it. AND they love coming to the studio. It feels like a second home to them! Can you believe that?" And she says, "yes, of course." I find myself still working on that whole bit about being able to accept compliments. It's easy for me to make light of it, or just brush it off.

So thank you.
And you.
And you for being so open to my studio and my teachings.
Thank you for being so easy to teach, to share with, and to like.
I'm honored that this "place" feels like a second home to you.
Thank you for sharing and speaking your love of Barefoot Works.
Thank you for allowing me to share what I love.

Yes, I'm feeling quite happy.
Quite blessed.
And very very grateful. :-)

come on in

This is my special place.
One of my happiest places.
In fact, I'd go out on a limb and say that Maya Tulum and my yoga room are the two places I enjoy my yoga practice most of all.

My room room is small. Teeny Tiny. And I love that I feel a bit enclosed in it. Like big comforting arms, it wraps me up and engulfs me and my little magic mat. I can almost touch the ceiling when I stretch my arms overhead in starting my sun salutations. The windows are almost as tall as I am and just beyond the window is a big old tree that I can reach out and touch the green leaves. The smallness of the room and the big tree almost make me feel like I'm practicing in a tree house. And I love the thought of that.

My yoga room is the only room in the house that is sparse in decoration and "things" in general. Nothing hanging on the walls. The only piece of furniture is a small battered table that holds items dear to me. Rocks with the words "peace" and "joy", incense, a lotus candle, and seashell. A grasshopper made with a palm leaf on the beach of Tulum by a security guard. The walls are painted a soft shade of green. In fact it's one of the shades at the studio. Unlike other areas, there are few books and papers scattered about. As an open self help junkie, I do have the book "You Can Heal Your Life" and a journal that I record affirmations. To a stranger it might feel less than lived in. But that couldn't be further from the truth.

It's in this room, this space that I set my personal intentions.
I come here when I'm feeling hopeful and when I'm feeling lost.
I come here when I'm feeling joyous and when I'm feeling sadness.
My hopes and dreams and contained within these four walls.

I come here to sweat (as you can see in the photo ;-).
I come here to relax.
I come here to meditate.
I come here to breathe.
I simply come here just to be.

r&r

I had the very good fortune of spending three whole days on a big beautiful boat at Dale Hollow. The weekend was full of fireworks, yummy food (which included homemade ice cream), frolicking in the lake, and enjoying refreshing drinks with friends. Andy and I got to spend good quality time with our best buds, Liz and Tony. We caught up, laughed, danced a bit and sang a lot. Very good stuff.

Since I've been back (which hasn't been long) I'm focusing on the Tulum, Mexico retreat as I'm leaving in two more days! Yesterday was spent shopping for supplies needed for the trip. My friend was with me at Target and as I piled scissors, pretty pens, glue, color pencils, suncreen, flashlight, and more into my cart she says "If your bag gets checked, you're gonna have some explaining to do."

I did treat myself to a massage yesterday. Actually my sweet yoga trainees treated me to some massages. This was the first of four they bought for me as a gift. Then the shopping continued on to Micheals and Kmart.

Mostly, I'm feeling very happy these days. The first teacher training is finished, which I don't think I've completely processed just yet. I feel like this is such a milestone for myself, the studio, and the new teachers of course. I'm hoping the extra two days in Mexico will help me with bringing this to a close and I'll return very ready to gear up for next year. This seems most logical as I already have a few people rearing up, ready to go next time around. So if you are interested in applying for the training, my plan is to begin taking applications in August.

Much of July is being spent treating myself with some fun little trips. Like the boating, a couple extra days in Mexico and a two day trip with Andy to Asheville or Nashville, before he starts the new teaching year back again. I see the importance in taking time to care for oneself, and I fully intend to do that. And I hope that you're doing just the same. :-)

Have a happy Tuesday. Please join me at the studio today or tomorrow for a happy yoga class. Delia Rose a sweet,young and wise little gal from training will be teaching the noon class tomorrow. With a name like that how could she not be all of those?

the good stuff

Tonight driving home from the studio I was listening to an interview on NPR with the author of "My Stroke Of Insight". I was really engaged and could really relate to some of what she said.

The author says that since she had her stroke she can tap into feelings of bliss and joy at any time. She described it to being similar to feel what it's like to stand at the edge of the ocean, to hear the waves, and to feel the breeze. Each one of us can close our eyes and transport us to a place that helps us to feel peaceful and at ease. She says that she can take herself to a blissful place in that very same way, because she's experienced it and lived in that place for several weeks. She can tap into the right hemisphere of her brain at a moments notice. The place where we can be and live without judgement and critique. She lives in a state of euphoria. Can you imagine that?!

She said that in the early days after her stroke her mother stood guard at her door and only allowed people in for a few minutes and if they entered they could only take positive words and healing thoughts. She says that her mother caught on real early that other people fed their energy to her. Whether it was positive or negative. It reminds me to think about the company that I choose to keep. And to give the best that I have and surround myself with those willing to give the same in return.

She went on to say that she chooses not to dwell too long in the left hemisphere of her brain because she doesn't like the way it makes her body feel. When she dwells there too long her body tenses, her shoulders rise up, her jaw clenches, and her breath becomes shallow. These are all things I speak of in yoga class. In our present day society we're taught to "suck it up, "to dig deep" and my personal fave, "no pain no gain".

We expect to be stressed about jobs, bills, relationships, food and traffic. We expect to live with a body that doesn't feel good day in and day out. We expect to worry. We expect to be fearful.

When we notice this happening we can literally say let it go leftie...and move on over to the right. Operating from a place of love and joy. A place that knows all will be well. A place that's full of peace and contentment.

Sending you all good thoughts and wishing you nothing but the sweetest of dreams tonight. :-)

this morning

I left the house a few minutes earlier this morning and I was glad I did. I had my camera with me and pulled off the road a few times to take some pictures. I love the little country road that I drive from my house to Tates Creek. It's little. It twists and turns. Sometimes the road winds around so much that I accidentally turn my signal on thinking I'm turning. There are no painted lines on the road. There are places that you have to stop, pull over and wait to let the oncoming car pass you. As a gal from eastern KY I can appreciate that. I find that in the waiting theres a lesson to learn about patience and slowing slow. I lift my arm and signal a friendly wave to the passing cars.

I ask myself why this is done on back roads and in small towns. Why we give a wave of the hand or a nod of the head (you know what I'm talking about).

When did we get into such a hurry that we can't take two moments to acknowledge another?

When did we get so disconnected?

Then I remind myself that rather than dwelling on the disconnect I can focus on connecting with those that I encounter....Those that I order from at restaurants, those that I teach, those that try to sell me advertising, those that deliver my mail, and yes those that I pass on the road.

I figure that if yoga is really about union, and union is all about connection....I should at the very least attempt to be present with all those I encounter.

Then I see a pretty barn and I notice how green the grass is and how blue the sky is. I hop out of my car and take two moments to capture it. To remember how pretty this morning is.

these days

I've been admiring how pretty Teresa's classes are when she teaches chair yoga. She did a class with the teacher trainees. It was pretty to watch and makes me happy to know that yoga can be practiced by all. All the gals felt so inspired afterwards.

I've been watching a late showing of Sex and the City. This was after working till 9:30 pm and before being back at the studio at 8:00 am the next morning. My friend couldn't believe I was snapping pics in the movie. Doesn't everybody?

I've been hanging out with my little nieces and nephews when I haven't been at the studio and teaching. I have to say that I have a whole new respect for the mama's and the papa's. Andy and I had the kids at our house four night during the past week. They're big work, big joy, big eaters, big heart warmers, and my goodness you can spend $50 so very quickly. Then you see them tuckered out like this: And you know it's completely worth all the time, energy....and money. ;-)

I'm working on a new business plan in a way that allows me to imagine more and stress less. There is a reason I'm not an accountant.

I'm working on the final details of teacher training. I'm a bit sad and a bit excited about the end. It has been much hard work, but as a teacher it's been the most rewarding thing I've done. I'm excited for the gals, excited about a soon to be completion of the first yoga teacher training, and a little saddened that our bi monthly dates will come to a close in a couple more weeks.

I've bought my plane ticket for Mexico and planning all the details for the days we'll be there. I'm doing down two days early as a litte treat for myself.

That's what's going on these days. I hope it's big happiness and joy where ever you are.