The New Yorker

[Guest guest]

I am wondering what people's responses are to the

New Yorker's August 14th article titled "The Yoga

Bums: the west beats a path to a guru's door". I was

particularly struck by the following statement:<br><br>"One of

the constant topics of conversation among the

students [visiting Guruji in Mysore]was whether you could

have satisfying yoga practice and also have a

conventional life: a job, a home, a spouse, a family. The

general consensus seems to be no." <br><br>I have been in

the community and practicing Astanga since 1993, and

while I have found that the practice is very demanding,

I also am saddened that people have to put their

lives on hold in order to maintain and develop a

practice. It has always been my perception that a practice

like that of yoga is designed to enhance our lives, to

make us better people. Often what I have seen is

people who are hiding behind their practices in order to

protect themselves from facing their personal lives.

Granted, as I deepen, I notice that I am less interested

in a lot of the hubbub that a lot of "conventional"

people find fascinating, but I have also witnessed the

tendancy within myself not to expose myself to life

situations that are uncomfortable--liek carreer and

relationships. I have used the storyline that "I need to be able

to get up and practice tomorrow" as a way not to

face life in its entirety. <br><br>While yoga has

enhanced me deeply, I find that there are personal issues

that my practice simply has not touched, and as much

as I practice, these issues will not come to the

surface on the mat. They need to come to the surface

through regular so-called "conventional" life situations

that dedicated yogis I have known through the

years--including myself at times--have avoided.<br><br>I pose this

question to others in order to evoke discussion. I am

curious about how others try to balance their dedication

to their yoga practice and to their personal lives.

[Guest guest]

Check out posts #1629 and on for some reactions.

[Guest guest]

The dichotomy between what you experience and

learn on the mat and off the mat is false. The journey

you take to the mat, while you are on the mat and

afterwards are all in essence the same. They are all

governed by the law of nature, ie, the laws of the

universe and the laws of karma. It is more useful and

meaningful to see things in terms of analogies, principles

and metaphors to make those lessons evident off the

mat. The ashtanga practice enhances the quality of

your life by developing your intuitive attunement to

the laws of nature. The duality of personal life and

practice life is also inherently false and unreasonable.

It's ultimately about personal priorities and what you

believe and have faith in. <br><br>Are you trying to

determine an objective reality of life that can be applied

universally? Are you trying to establish some kind of guiding

set of criteria, ie, a view of the world of what is a

good, balanced life? Sorry to tell you this, but our

paths and pre-dispositions are governed by our karmas.

Perhaps the only important universal objective is

God.<br><br>How would you define "better" when you profess the

ideal of yoga making us better people? There are some

really dedicated practitioners of ashtanga and other

spiritual practices who focus so intently on their path

that the world around them melts away. There is a

difference between what is uncomfortable and what is simply

no longer logically consistent or compatible with

their philosophy of life. They don't see it as avoiding

reality or the chaotic, material world. They may see it

in a variety of ways, such as devoting oneself to

God or they may see the illogic of worldly and

material pursuits.<br><br>Granted, there are those that

focus on their yoga practice to avoid other commitments

or to avoid responsibilities to the people around

them. This is sometimes easy to see from the quality

and depth of their practice. What almost always does

happen is that they often lapse in their practice, and

only return when they need to escape from life.

<br><br>It's a little like being vegetarian. If your

commitment not to consume flesh is borne for personal health

reasons that you're going to waver and lapse every so

often. If your intentions are built on a strong moral

foundation, chances are you'll be committed for this life and

beyond. It always goes back to discovering where the

action is arising from.The heart of a person is not

always easy to discern or judge. <br><br>So the question

you got to ask yourself is: is this person avoiding

life because of ashtanga or because of their innate

character fallibilities and inadequacies? The ashtanga

practice will open you up but only if you practice with

your heart and breath. Still, in terms of karmic

influences, all practices are never wasted.

[Guest guest]

namaste-<br>I think that statement is accurate.

Even though I dislike labels like "ashtangi,"I suppose

I am one. And it is true that I dont want to go out

as much at night, definitely don't want rich food, I

am booze free, but I'm not sure my friends think I'm

not fun. Guess I gotta find some more friends if

that's the case!<br>I haven't yet read the article. I

think Yoga Journal means well,I but they often can be

confused.

[Guest guest]

i found the article fun to read. it told a lot of

readers a fair amount about ashtanga yoga and the

personalities that lead it. it was not worshipful, as some here

feel it should have been. it was not denigrating

either. i found it was right on the money in most

respects. i had never thought much about the fact that i

had never seen someone of clear indian heritage in an

ashantga class. the article pointed out that the practice

we so favor is essentially unnoticed in india. i

found that somewhat curious, but then, i have never

traveled and am a typical naive american who thinks that

everyone else thinks the way that we (i) do. i'd like to

know more about the indian perspective on yoga and

ashtanga. if those who have traveled there have any

insights or if there are people from india in this group,

let me know what you think. thanks

[Guest guest]

Chad,<br><br>If you review previous posts, you

will find a variety of opinions and experiences

(including ashtangi beer lovers). We are a diverse

community. We all inevitably have to make sacrifices of some

sort to incorporate ashtanga into our lives: whether

it's spending all our savings on a trip to Mysore or

rearranging our daily schedules to practice.<br><br>However,

we are individuals. We don't all follow the same

lifestyle prescriptions; what unties us is a passion for

ashtanga yoga. Furthermore, we will change as individuals

across the course of our lives: what works for us now

may not work 10 or 20 years later.<br><br>Since I was

10 years old--even younger--I've done yoga, read

spiritual texts, meditated, and have blended these

practices and ideas into a worldly life. It has not always

been easy; often either my spiritual practices or my

'mundane' life would suffer. It was somewhat of a journey

just to find the balance that worked for me. Even more

difficult was finding the confidence to follow my own

truth. I live neither a conventional yogic life, nor a

conventional North American life. In fact, I don't know anyone

else besides my husband with whom I can practice

ashtanga in the morning and share a pint with in the

evening. Or with whom I can practice for two hours and

then go on a 5 hour hike. Or do yoga at 10 AM instead

of 6 AM. I find little conflict now in living as

oddly as I do. Ironically it's being disciplined with

ashtanga that gave me the confidence to follow my

bliss.<br><br>For some the scale leans closer to the ascetic, for

some it leans closer to the partier. What matters in

the end is that we are happy, joyous, free,

unfettered by obsessions, worries, or self-absorption. And

that we can smile at strangers.<br><br>I relate 100%

to what you say, Chad, and it is a worthwhile and

relevant topic of discussion.

[Guest guest]

>From your post Chad--<br>"While yoga has enhanced

me deeply, I find that there are personal issues

that my practice simply has not touched, and as much

as I practice, these issues will not come to the

surface on the mat. They need to come to the surface

through regular so-called "conventional" life situations

that dedicated yogis I have known through the

years--including myself at times--have avoided."<br>I think I know

what you mean. I learn alot on the mat. The way I

practice is in many ways a mirror of how I lead my life.

But off of the mat there are other people, and

interactions with them have a way of revealing things that

yoga doesn't. Sure, I can recognize my stubborness in

my practice. I can observe it and its effects upon

others. But I don't really have to do anything about it.

Not so when my housemate complains about how my

stubborness makes me a real pain in the ass. <br>Then I have

to face it, and then yoga comes in real handy. With

it I have noticed that I can acknowledge faults and

flaws without becoming defensive, and, hopefully, do

something constructive about it. <br><br>So my point is,

yes I agree, real life is going to bring up issues

that my practice doesn't, but my practice makes me

better able to handle those issues.<br><br>I struggle

with trying to practice regularly in my busy life. I

feel sometimes like I have to choose between asana

practice and the people who are important to me. When I do

the trick where I pretend I am an old lady

reminiscing on my life, I usually pick the people over the

practice. I means I don't usually practice more than three

times a week, but so be it. Its a process, yeah? I

don't have to do it all right now.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Hulasana,<br> I appreciate your candid

response.I can really relate to your experience of yoga as a

practice that allows you to face your so-called faults and

flaws without gripping. I obviously also relate to your

struggle in balancing your life and your practice. Thanks

for taking the time. It's nice to know there are

others out there to share with.<br> Chad

[Guest guest]

Hi Chad..I have been meaning to rply to your post

about living Yoga for ages. I have practiced a couple

of different styles of physical yoga..I have also

studied many religions. I have found that yoga has most

of the answers for living a fruitful and satisfying

life. It all begins with the yamas and niyamas. I began

to bring these into my evryday life..not just to the

mat..and slowly to be sure..I find my life changing for

the better..I find myself more peaceful..more

detached from the material..It can be done..it's not

easy..but if it is something you seek..then begin there.

good luck!

[Guest guest]

Already replied to this chad, but I'll say one thing, it ain't happeing to me!

[Guest guest]

As you see, I'm slowly working my way through

....<br><br>I don't know about Indians in yoga classes. I've

never come across any.<br>What does bother me sometimes

is that this particular branch of yoga seems to be

the domain of - and I am generalising here -

reasonably affluent articulate educated Western Caucasians.

I don't recall coming across "ethnic minorities" or

people from deprived backgrounds in ashtanga classes,

whereas I have in other branches of yoga. There aren't

too many elderly housewives either, although that is

a bit more understandable.<br>Is AVY perhaps a

little exclusive?<br><br>Dave