Jivamukti response(part2)

[Guest guest]

Xposted from the Jivamukti message board.

(part2)<br>-------------------------<br><br>"Wh\

atever happened, it can’t have been worth the disrespect

you showed your own students"<br>It was in defense of

students that our actions were taken. We were always

trying to find a teacher who could be devoted to

establishing a lasting, autonomous, authorized, and authentic

Ashtanga program for the students at Jivamukti. Time after

time we saw that a split alliance with another yoga

center undermined confidence in our own program. The

attitude - that real Ashtanga is done elsewhere - led to

the teacher’s resigning from Jivamukti in every case.

As you have experienced, Ashtanga teachers tend to

come and go a lot. They seem to be searching for a

more authorized and more authentic school. Perhaps,

they lacked confidence and maturity. At the beginning

of his short tenure we tried to get Christopher (and

his staff, led by his example) to practice in his own

program. It was their decision not to honor our request. A

teacher’s actions set the example for the students. We

observed this same pattern undermining the program every

time. This week we gave Christopher the choice to renew

his alliance with Jivamukti and his students here

100%, or to follow his heart elsewhere. He chose

elsewhere. We are happy for him and hope that his future is

bright.<br><br>It was not easy to see the program end. We finally

admitted that we couldn’t keep a good teacher around. We

started the program in 1990. We were the first to host

Pattabhi Jois in New York several years later. When David

ran the program his dedication to it was greater than

his selfish desire to "his own practice." Each

morning he sacrificed the solitude of "his own practice"

to train assistants in how to give assists. The

program grew and was very successful under that kind of

dedication and leadership. We have never been able to find

anyone else that had that level of commitment to

Jivamukti students. <br>After 12 years of trying we have

surrendered.<br>Of course you can have your money back, because this

episode is not about money. As many of you put it so well

it’s about honor, love and respect for each

other.<br><br>As for us, we continue to teach Jivamukti Yoga

because we believe in it. We continue to struggle to hold

together our school in the face of many subtle forces that

are determined to undermine that

effort.<br><br>Sincerely, with many blessings,<br>David Life and Sharon

Gannon<br>Directors Jivamukti Yoga Center