Guest guest Posted February 22, 2005 Report Share Posted February 22, 2005 Thanks Adam. This was a question that bothered me a lot when I first started yoga a few years ago. I asked David Swenson about it. In particular, i wondered whether anybody has ever tried to operate a shala or a workshop on a donation basis, rather than charging everybody, regardless of whether they can afford it. David, who has seen it all, said it has been tried several times, but that it always failed, because the students would not donate, or at least would not donate enough for the teacher to survive. In my opinion, nearly all ashtanga teachers are teaching "from the heart." Most of them could make a lot more money doing something else. Even Sri K Pattabhi Jois, perhaps the most financially successful of them all, still teaches locals every day in the old shala in Lakshmipuram for the equivalent of 12 dollars a month. He would not do this if he were not teaching "from the heart." If and when you pay the hundreds of bucks for a workshop, think about the fact that the teacher has to pay rent for the space, airfare, etc., in addition to the need to earn enough money so that he or she can devote his or her life to the practice. Except for Bikram Chodoury, I don't think there are any wealthy yoga teachers. When David Swenson goes to his workshops, he does not arrive in a Rolls Royce. He drives a beat up old bicycle. Hope that helps. Russell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 Hey Adam, I totally agree! Yoga is expensive. There are factors involved: Cost of living - Running a studio isn't cheap. Some places like India - its cheap mainly because survival is lot cheaper there. Livelihood - Teachers have to survive. They can't do it charging a buck a class! I do agree with you that some studios can do with charging lesser. There are teachers who will help you out once in a while but I doubt if they will let you practice for free. There is something called Guru Dakshina on your part too, i.e, offering something to your teacher:-) On that note, some teachers maintain a personal rapport with you which makes you feel connected. There are also teachers who will not bother to find out why you missed classes. So finding a good one is important. And frankly, you should not expect it to be free of charge. Retreats/good workshops are a lot of money. Agreed. I wouldn't know what to say about them. I can't get myself to spend thousands on retreats. I would rather practice on my own and donate the money. Free classes - In most of the Indian temples in US, there are free daily yoga classes. You might want to find out the details in your neighborhood. If you are from the Bay Area, I can recommend one teacher from Santa Cruz who teaches from his heart and charges $6/class (its as good as it gets). Gayathri. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 ashtanga yoga, "Russell Smith" <rsmith@s...> wrote: > > David, who has seen it all, said it [classes by donation] has been tried several times, but that it always failed, because the students would not donate, or at least would not donate enough for the teacher to survive. I have to come out of hibernation just to say that there is a yoga teacher who has worked on a donation basis for many, many years successfully. It's Bryan Kest in Santa Monica, who is no longer an Ashtangi, but certainly comes from the tradition (his Power Yoga classes are usually a mixed-around Primary without the "tricky" poses). He has been teaching classes on a donation basis for as long as he's been around, which has probably been at least a decade, and still does. Even his "suggested donation" is significantly lower than most classes in town. When I've taken classes with him in the past, I saw some people put more than requested in his box and some people walk out without stopping. Since his classes are ALWAYS packed I imagine it evens out. No matter what you think of his yoga style, I've always respected that he truly walks the walk. For all I know, he's independently wealthy, but it doesn't really matter. It feels really cool to truly "give from the heart" after a class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 agree with you 100% - was wondering the same question. I guess we always create new celebrities, even out of good yoga teachers. It became an institutionalized activity and as such even the best idea turns into a material affair, that is measured its success in money. jana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 Yah, I'm sure you right. I don't mean to sound bitter - although maybe that's the way its coming across. Of course people are entitled to earn a living. And I wouldn't hold that against anyone. What I'm kind of looking for is a place where I can do yoga with a group of other people on a kind of co-operative bases – shared cost, shared experience. In my own practice I try to develop my own practice, but it is good to get together with other people on a similar journey without it having to cost the earth. Also I see yoga as being something one develops through one's experience. I think, that in a way, yoga is within us, and its our relationship between ourselves and our practice that brings us yoga and enlightenment. Over the course of time as the body changes, or life's commitments change, then one's practices must to change. Its sharing these ideas and seeking other viewpoints that I am interested in. In some way, when you are paying someone, then you feel they should provide answers. The onus is on them to teach – to earn their money. My problem is, because I feel that yoga is within us. I feel to learn the full depths of yoga requires nothing more than to look in the mirror. Help and guidance can come from other people, but whatever anyone else says, it all comes down to the relationship you have between yourself and your practice. This is why I'm interested in the co-operative style – the sharing of ideas, the sharing of experience, the sharing of thoughts. In essence - the sharing of yoga. I guess, reading through this message, it would be great if someone organized a shared cost yoga workshop/gathering/festival. With your consent, I would like to try and use this site as a gateway to see if this is feasible. Thanks again Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 But how much of it is just teaching from the heart, and how much of it is a simplification of life that derives from the practice? I mean, I've been actively trying to cut "stuff" from my life and I find that I can thrive on very little if I really want to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Hey Adam, I have a suggestion - My friends and I get together few times a month to practice yoga together (free of cost). Each one of us gets to lead a class (no expectations involved). I attend workshops/classes, remember the patterns and lead one of my sessions. We all have fun together. You should think about doing something similar. Gayathri. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 I know who you're talking about, I've heard so much about him (met him for 10 minutes too). When i get back to SF, i have to hit S.Cruz! > > If you are from the Bay Area, I can recommend one > teacher from Santa Cruz who teaches from his heart and > charges $6/class (its as good as it gets). > > Gayathri. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 28, 2005 Report Share Posted February 28, 2005 And may the mystery resolve itself! Let me know when you are in town. I would like to meet you since we belong to the Ashtanga fraternity:-))))) Gayathri. --- gene_tani <gene_tani wrote: > > > I know who you're talking about, I've heard so much > about him (met him > for 10 minutes too). When i get back to SF, i have > to hit S.Cruz! > > > > > If you are from the Bay Area, I can recommend one > > teacher from Santa Cruz who teaches from his heart > and > > charges $6/class (its as good as it gets). > > > > Gayathri. > > > > > > > ===== In silence, teachings are heard In stillness, the world is transformed Sports - Sign up for Fantasy Baseball. http://baseball.fantasysports./ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2005 Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 O.K., so who is this? Please? I'm local too. wrote: And may the mystery resolve itself! Let me know when you are in town. I would like to meet you since we belong to the Ashtanga fraternity:-))))) Gayathri. --- gene_tani <gene_tani wrote: > > > I know who you're talking about, I've heard so much > about him (met him > for 10 minutes too). When i get back to SF, i have > to hit S.Cruz! > > > > > If you are from the Bay Area, I can recommend one > > teacher from Santa Cruz who teaches from his heart > and > > charges $6/class (its as good as it gets). > > > > Gayathri. > > > > > > > ===== In silence, teachings are heard In stillness, the world is transformed Sports - Sign up for Fantasy Baseball. http://baseball.fantasysports./ ashtanga yoga Heidi Quinn myomplace www.myomplace.com (831) 917-6070 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 Gene, do you want to do the honors? Gayathri. --- Heidi Quinn <jivanannie wrote: > > O.K., so who is this? Please? I'm local too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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