Thursday, August 18, 2005

The Yamas of the Yoga Biz....

I am not sure when this article, entitled "Yogis Behaving Badly first appeared, but I stumbled upon it today when I was looking up a question about Bikram Yoga for a friend of mine. I surmise it is more than a year old, based on some potential content that is not included, but I think it is worth a read. I won't say more than that....read on....

YC

15 comments:

Soapwalla Chef said...

interesting article...makes me thankful to be under the tutelage of my incredible teachers!

have you been following the bikram litigation?

Yoga Chickie said...

I read some of the stuff on Sri Ganesha Tea and Book Stall, but now I can't quite remember where it's all at. I'm thinking that the end result of the lawsuit in California was that the "rogue" teacher could go on teaching. We have "fake" Bikram here in NYC too. I have tried it, and it sucks. If it's Bikram, I want Bikram. Like Ashtanga. I want the real deal. I am finding myself longing to practice at Eddie's now that I have had time to think and process everything. But I won't be able to get to the early morning classes almost ever. Do you think that taking the 11 a.m. classes will be as wonderful as your early morning classes?

Lauren

Soapwalla Chef said...

i think practicing when you can practice is the most important thing. i also think that the space eddie has created is special in and of itself. he's been so careful to keep the space sacred and as a result, i feel a peace of mind the second i enter the shala.

the 11am class is great. i prefer the 6am class myself, but that's because it works for me. in my opinion, i think getting yourself to practice everyday is what matters. 11am or 6am...it all works out in the wash. what matters is that you've made the commitment.

Yoga Chickie said...

The truth is, it was Eddie's place that I always intended to practice, it was his place that I sought out. At Guruji's workshop, I didn't even have to look hard in order to find Eddie in order to introduce myself. I practically bumped into him....kismet. The first time I practiced Mysore style it was at his place, with Sarah as my teacher, and I noticed the same thing you notice - that it feels special. Ultimately, it is where I think I need to be. I can't wait to get back to it....

Lauren

Soapwalla Chef said...

eddie, and his shala, will be there when you are ready to come back. focus on healing yourself right now:-)

when i first got diagnosed with lupus and was going through rather uncomfortable treatments, i was away from the shala for a year. when i returned, it was a homecoming. but i made sure i was ready before i went back.

i'd recommend going to the shala and talking to eddie and/or sarah before you start practicing again, to give them a sense of where you are physically and mentally. it will help everyone gauge how much you should be pushing yourself at the beginning.

Yoga Chickie said...

definitely good advice! and such a good excuse to go there and be in that environment, if only for a few minutes.

i have certainly toyed with the idea of setting down my mat and seeing what i can do, if anything, and if nothing, just going to savasana and soaking in the good energy. i don't know if that's kosher though...

i didn't realize you had been practicing that long (long enough to have taken a year off in the middle...). has the lupus set your practice back? did you have chemo (for some reason, i seem to remember your writing that you did...but could be a memory-hallucination!)

Soapwalla Chef said...

i started with eddie july 2002, had to stop nov 2002, started again late october 2003 (after guruji's LAST tour). i've been on 3 different chemo drugs, so you definitely didn't hallucinate that one. the lupus made it so i had to start over from scratch when i came back. for the first 2 weeks after i returned from my hiatus, my practice consisted of 3 surya namaskara As. after 2 weeks, eddie let me add 2 more. and so on and so forth. i'm still about 6 poses away from finishing primary, and only a few months ago did i surpass where i was when i left nov 2002. but i don't really care about that. it was a huge blessing that eddie made me start over. i learned to revel in each asana in a way i hadn't before.

as for going to the shala and plunking down your mat to do sivasana, i've had MANY practices where, during a flare, all i could do was opening chant and sivasana. i loved those practices. and the teachers were always very kind. plus it might do you some good to get out of the house and be around other yogis:-)

Yoga Chickie said...

you are inspiring me BIG TIME!!! thank you for the encouragement!

Soapwalla Chef said...

glad i could help! i'll keep an eye out for you this sunday...

Yoga Chickie said...

if sarah says it is okay, and my husband does not insist that we leave town at dawn (going to fire island for the week on sunday), then i am there...you might recognize me from the photo - kjs's neigbor did - but my hair is strawberry blonde, which doesn't read on the black and white photo...how will i know you? do you practice near the neigbor?

Soapwalla Chef said...

no, usually don't practice near the neighbor -- closer to the front. i'm small with short brown hair and a tattoo on my left bicep. i think we'll spot each other.

Yoga Chickie said...

that will be cool. Lauren

Anonymous said...

just look for the tiniest person,
(sorry rew, i just had to put that in :-)
ivdp

Anonymous said...

Ah, a private club. I'm envious! Anyway, rew, I'm grateful for what you said about your appreciation of having added one asana at a time ... how much that benefited you and how you were able to revel in each one. :o)

Soapwalla Chef said...

yeah, i think the approach of getting one pose and working with that one for a really long time -- sometimes months at a time -- allowed me the time to grow a special relationship with each one...i know that sounds a bit corny, but it really did make a HUGE difference in my practice.

and just for the record, i'm not thumbelina small or anything--just vertically challenged:-D

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About Me

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Northern Westchester, New York, United States
I live by a duck pond. I used to live by the East River. I don't work. I used to work a lot. Now, not so much. I used to teach a lot of yoga. Now not so much. I still practice a lot of yoga though. A LOT. I love my kids, being outdoors, taking photos, reading magazines, writing and stirring the pot. Enjoy responsibly.

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