Elitism sucks

[Guest guest]

There is much to be said for preserving the

authenticity of ashtanga as taught by Pattabi Jois. But not

for cultivating snobbishness and elitism. The Iyengar

community is fraught with these attitudes, too. It's weird

and ironic. Does it have to be this way? After all,

what works for one doesn't always work for

all.<br><br>Had to get this off my chest.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for saying that! I watch this forum and

learn from everybody... that's what's cool about this.

On the other hand... who is better than who, who is

"authentic" and who isn't, etc., who was there, who wasn't,

how good were their postures, etc... jeez, enough

already.<br><br>These banterings just deviate from the goal of yoga,

union. When I was a boy I liked meat, now I don't. I

don't criticize the people that eat meat, because it

wouldn't help to educate or build anyone up... better,

encourage positive experiences and let the ones that may

not be positive to you live on in your head, but to

say one style is the best, or one teacher is the

best, is exactly elitism. When I see these things in

the forum I think of the different denominations of

the Christian faith and all the pain their differing

opinions have caused. It has not helped anyone to be more

open and accepting of alternate ideologies and it

doesn't help here in this forum either.<br><br>Thanks for

your post sunandmike... I feel better for your

thoughts. Cheers,<br><br>Nada

[Guest guest]

Thanks Nada,<br><br>I was afraid to say what I

said because I don't want to sound negative--it's just

the way I feel when confronted with elitism in any

context. I have also thought of it as an analogy to the

multiple facets of Christianity, or to vegetarianism.

Indeed it's a very human thing: when we love something

we often want to shout out to the world "look at

this!"<br><br>It's hard when other people don't quite catch the same

wave we do. We don't think they could possibly be

happy until they do this or that. But the sweetest

thing is when people of different lifestyles can

communicate and enjoy the exchange.<br><br>And I must admit

that when I hear someone say "This is the only way or

the right way," I usually draw the conclusion that it

isn't! No one would turn me off more from converting to

Christianity than Jerry Falwell! (Sorry

Baptists!)<br><br>Cheers!