Now, let’s look at the student.  

Students in yoga are (mostly) adults. They are people who buy a car, a house, take out a loan from the bank (well, maybe not in that order, but you get my point): They show responsibility. They know that they need to own up for their deeds. That decisions have consequences. They are handling large transactions, getting and quitting jobs, pay off debt, sign papers.

Not only that. They take responsibility for others. Most of them. They raise kids. They decide what’s best for them. How do they know? Well, they read, learn, trust their gut feeling. None of them is born with an innate knowledge of how to do this. They learn to distinguish what’s good and what’s harmful for their little ones because they have to. No one else will step in and help.

Kids, at least up to a certain age, think Mum (or Dad!) is a hero. Parents know everything. Therefore they must be right. In the ideal scenario children know: Mum and Dad know what to do, what’s good for me, and they would never do me any harm.

The perfect yoga teacher would behave in the same way. And of course in the perfect world, all teachers would be perfect. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. And unfortunately, the same people who take responsibility for their kids, buy houses and cars, the very same people get on the mat and switch off their ability to question and make judgements. Because “the teacher knows better”. Apparently.

It's not because every one is doing something that it's good for you

But the teacher cannot know how Mum and Dad are feeling on the yoga mat. Cannot know if this already hurts, feels like a good stretch – or feels too easy a posture. Even teachers with the best intentions can hurt a student. How many students reply “yes” if asked if this is still feeling OK, not wanting to disappoint the teacher. Or worse, because they think it should feel OK. How many students when instructed to hold the posture “as long as feels comfortable” hold it much longer – because every one else does?

Students have to take responsibility. But this chunk of responsibility should not be taken away from the teacher. The instructor is responsible for, well, the instructions and the teachings. The student is responsible for his or her reaction to it. Only if the student gives honest feedback can the teacher tailor the practice to the student’s need.

Of course instructors are trained to see what students don’t say. They see what’s difficult and what’s not and can make suggestions on how to move forward. But they cannot read a student’s mind.

Now you’re saying: Well, fine, but is yoga not meant to develop this body awareness which is necessary to not just blindly follow the instructions? Yep. That’s right.

But as long as we’re living in a world with yoga teachers who cannot read your mind (or who are not perfect, can you imagine!) adult students need to perceive their bodies like they do their kids. They need to figure out what the body needs. Without any prior training. Like raising kids.

Just throw yourself into it. See how you feel. Trust this feeling. If something feels dodgy, it probably is. Tell the teacher – and make this teacher be the best teacher for you. You’ll rock as a team!

On 26 February 2012 “yoga teachers and schools around the world will donate their time and space to a two hour yoga session which is devoted to human rights“.

In 2011 WYD collected US$ 25,484 (17,915 €) in donations for UNICEF, and this year’s WYD will support Reporters Without Borders in its fight for freedom of press.

Learn all about it and how to participate here.

Let’s sweat for a good cause!

Namaste!

However, he indeed does raise several valid points (as some readers pointed out in their replies to my earlier post) and admits that there’s a lot of things about yoga that science cannot answer, describe or quantify such as “what is enlightenment?“.

Bottom line : He says that overall the risks are outweighed by the benefits – not something we could have easily guessed from the NYT’s extract, right?

Enjoy listening!

The risks and rewards of practising yoga – an author interview

“The science of yoga – the risks and the rewards” is written by William J. Broad, a NYT senior science writer, and business minded as he is, the author is now travelling the world, promoting his work. He’s in the UK at the moment, creating a big stir. Here’s just some of the headlines the British press (known for its measured approach, ahem) used:

More risks than rewards?

• Can yoga classes kill you? (Daily Mail) – “The startling question posed by a leading science writer.”
• ‘Green’ yoga teachers could kill (The Telegraph) – “Performing yoga while being instructed by an inexperienced teacher can be deadly as they sometimes put pupils in life threatening positions, an expert on the activity has warned.“
• Can yoga kill you? (BBC)

Something major is going on here. Non yogis will hear about this and may decide not even to give it a go. Beginner yogis will hear about it and may decide to stop their practice. While I don’t think that committed yogis with a daily practice will feel their life is upside down now, the majority of people will fall into the first two categories.

Sure, the author has landed a big coup in terms of marketing (after all, we’re talking about him right here, right now…), but:

Will yoga teachers around the world pay a high price for Mr. Broad’s cheeky marketing methods?

The book’s just a few clicks away, right here. However, should yogis support the author’s “science” with their hard-earned money, teaching yoga?

What do you think?

As seen here.

Life is short. Time is fleeting. Desire is rampant.

Slay desire, the enemy of Peace. Meditate on the desire-less and fear-less Brahman.

You will become desire-less and fear-less.

The sole object of life is the attainment of Self Realization; Absolute Freedom.

Devote every minute of your life for this grand attainment.

 ~ Sri Swami Sivananda

The "No Limits Tank" will make you go places...

You obviously need a mat (40 USD), which needs to go into a bag so that it’s comfy – and looks good! – so that’s another 128 USD if you go for Lulu’s flow and go tote. Now look at yourself in the mirror. What you need is something along these lines: Ebb & flow bra, Deep breath tank top, Wunder under pant (believe me, it will work wonders, you’ll go up in handstand in no time), Yin Me pullover, oh and while we’re at it, just throw in a sparkly mat cleaner for good measure.

I won’t bore you with adding up numbers, but all that’s totalling close to 500 USD. Oops, and we didn’t even pay for our classes yet (I remember there was a reason why we’ve bought all this in the first place..), so why not adding another 140 USD for a class pass for ten lessons (I guess I’m being conservative here), but as a dedicated yogi of course you won’t leave it at that. (Insert seminars, yoga holidays and private lessons here…)

You are one of these yogis who just show up in their old sports pant, with the worn out t-shirt tucked in, using the mats your studio provides without bringing your own (you pig, you!)?

Hopefully all this hopelessly outdated gear is covering a very thick skin. You’ll be looked at, whispered about, made fun of.

You’re telling me that all this is a very un-yogic behaviour? Well…

The question, of course, is: Is yoga pricing itself out of reach for many people?