Head Down: Bum Up

Feb 3, 2012 | Yoga Media, Yoga practices, Yoga teaching  | 5 comments

- Head Down: Bum Up

Simon'12


We’ve had big rain storms this week on Mitchells Island, but there’s a much bigger storm going on out in the yoga world.
The brouhaha seems to stem from the December 2011 article in the N.Y.Times discussing how yoga might be responsible for injuring practitioners. The link to the article has been sent ’round the world thousands of times on the Internet, along with responses, counter-arguments, blog posts, and YouTube clips. It’s a lively discussion.
I’ve kept my head down until today when I received an impassioned email from an old friend as well as an email from one of the yoga associations I belong to. The one email gives further evidence of the dangers of yoga, and the other one states:

“No publicity is bad publicity if you know how to work with it.”

I’ve been steering a careful path through the world of yoga for more than 20 years. Sadly it’s a sphere that’s rife with factions, and it’s been that way for as long as I can remember. This debate may be fruitful in that it will put more of the essence of yoga back into yoga, rather than the calisthenics and dance approach that’s become so popular.
Who knows?
One of the things that I love about yoga is the way it brings people together in a meaningful way. I’ve just enjoyed the privilege of working with a family who came up to do yoga over the last 3 days in the Yoga Shed. And then, out of the blue, my old friend and yoga student/colleague Simon Borg-Olivier showed up to spend last night at our home. Our connection goes way back to the early 80’s.
Maybe the way yoga is practiced can be injurious at times but my experience is that the good it does and the evolution in consciousness that’s possible far outweighs any liabilities.
 

5 Comments

  1. Well said, Eve. Say hello to Simon. xxx

    Reply
    • Simon’s says to say hello to you! XO E

      Reply
  2. Re the NY Times story, I have observed that many hatha yoga devotees are survivors of abuse/trauma, and therefore seem to have a high pain threshhold and vulnerability to over-performance. I’m so grateful I backed off years ago!

    Reply
    • You took care of yourself, Lindy. Do you still to Jane’s classes? XO E

      Reply
  3. Thanks Eve. I find Jane’s classes safe and nurturing.

    Reply

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