Disclaimer - Hinduism Today Goa article

[Guest guest]

Kirsten Berg, a dedicated student of Sri K.

Pattabhi Jois, asked me to post this letter:<br><br>Dear

friends, <br><br>I must make a disclaimer to those of you

who have read the article about ashtanga in Goa in

'Hinduism Today.' It was so poorly crafted that Rolf's

reply to the question of what the aim, or at least the

potential, of practicing the advanced series is, which is to

"further cleanse the body of toxins, and to develop sthira

baga, or 'divine stability,'" was somehow displaced and

became one of my quotes "...I have now cleansed my body

of all toxins, and it has given me divine

stamina"!!!!! I'm horrified, and in the unenviable position of

being embarassed by something I never said, compounded

by the fact that Guruji has read the issue in

question. It also pulled a sentence out of context, which

was "blahblahblah...it gives women the chance to

develop upper body strength". This was a minor point in a

conversation about how one experiences, and learns to

integrate, the feminine/magnetic and masculine/dynamic

polarities within during every practice. When asked about

the physical benefits in women's and men's practices,

I added the part about "women being able to develop

upper body strength" as well as an external softening

for men-flexibility. Thank you for taking the time to

read this! <br><br>Kirsten Berg<br> <br>Ps-there were

many photographs taken of the women ashtangis, but

somehow they didn't make it to print. A few of you wrote

asking about this oversight. I also found it odd.The

only explanation I can think of is that, because it's

a publication aimed at the Hindu community

abroad,and not yogis per se, there might have been a

question of whether any of us looked 'acceptably' modest

in our shorts and sports bras....