Guest guest Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 I don't know if anyone gets the magazine Business 2.0, but there was an article in the current issue on Yoga. They only focused on Hatha yoga. It ended up 'slamming' yoga in general, but did so based on interviews with 4 'top' (meaning popular with celebrities) yoga instructors. I only remember 3 of the instructors: Bikram (not sure I'm spelling that correctly), Rodney Yee and a man/woman couple. I forget their names, but I remember seeing them on the cover of Yoga World a few months back. The woman has straight, black hair and the man has a bunch of tattoos. Anyways, my husband first read the article and started commenting, in his sarcastic voice, about the benefits of yoga according to the article. So I read it and my mouth hung open through most of the first interview, which was with Bikram. They have him quoted throughout the interview and I couldn't believe the things he was saying. The one quote that sticks in my mind I'm not at all comfortable with posting, but suffice to see he strikes me as being VERY strong in the first three chakras. He REALLY gave yoga a 'bad name' in that article. After reading the interviews, I can't totally fault the author for his conclusions. However, I would have hoped that he would have interviewed other 'less popular' hatha yoga instructors to balance out the one-sided perspective in the article. The overall gist of the article was that it's difficult if not impossible to find a release from stress and daily life through yoga, because money, materialism and greed can corrupt that as well. And I certainly agree that it can corrupt it, but it doesn't necessarily corrupt all people who teach it. Christa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 Hi Christa, "Anyways, my husband first read the article and started commenting, in his sarcastic voice, about the benefits of yoga according to the article." --no offense to your husband's unique western viewpoint on yoga, but that is like reading an article on the benefits of bicycle riding. Also, its easier to knock something that's scarry and unknown and mystical to you than to try it. And no offense to Business 2.0 which I've always considered to be a "Me Too" business rag (though they try to pass as cutting edge), please DON'T TELL YOUR HUSBAND THAT :-), but when I want yoga articles I'll go to Yoga International or Yoga Journal, or Aqaurian Times. Another thought comes to mind, if you showed your husband a negative article on the pharmaceutical industry, from Yoga Journal, what would he say? Thanks for the tip, I'll read the article then send them an email to straighten them out. Blessings Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 Hi to All Reminds me of an interview on CNN I saw some months ago, with a "top" Hatha yoga instructress, who went to great pains to reassure the viewers that contrary to many people's fears and misconceptions, there was nothing spiritual about yoga - it was just a great way to keep fit! ! ! With these kinds of attitudes prevalent in sectors of the Hatha yoga community, it is small wonder that yoga itself is getting a bad name. Just my $0.02 Sat Nam! Gordon - "spatialagent1" <spatialagent1 > I don't know if anyone gets the magazine Business 2.0, but there was > an article in the current issue on Yoga. They only focused on Hatha > yoga. It ended up 'slamming' yoga in general, but did so based on > interviews with 4 'top' (meaning popular with celebrities) yoga > instructors. I only remember 3 of the instructors: Bikram (not sure > I'm spelling that correctly), Rodney Yee and a man/woman couple. I > forget their names, but I remember seeing them on the cover of Yoga > World a few months back. The woman has straight, black hair and the > man has a bunch of tattoos. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 Hello All, As usual, synchronicity had breakfast with me this a.m....I was reading from "How to Know God, the Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali" Sutra #34. This Sutra deals with calming the mind with the expulsion and retention of the breath. The following discussion then talks about what "uninformed people imagine yoga is..." they go on to say: "When they speak of "yoga" they really only mean HATHA YOGA, which is the correct name of this system of exercises, as originally practiced in ancient India. Hatha yoga was designed to prepare the aspirant for spiritual experience by perfecting his body; but it has been condemned by spiritual teachers because it tends, in practice to concentrate the mind upon the body itself. In the West, it is to be found in a completely degenerated form, as a cult of physical beauty and prolonged youth." (Etc.) And how about this...When I decided to search out a yoga instructor HERE, in Espanola!, every single person I knew said to go to Susan _____, who teaches hatha yoga. I said that I didn't want that kind, I was looking for a more spiritual approach. The pastor of my church even recommended hatha yoga. Luckily I hooked up with someone who knew about the Sikhs. No, not luckily, thank God! So even here, right where Yogi Bhajan resides, people are unaware of the differences in various types of yoga and the benefits of each. Sat Nam! Hety Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 I agree completely Brad. And my husband won't be offended. He knows that's not the kind of yoga I practice. He just likes to pick on me (he doesn't do it to hurt or anything -- it's all in jest). If you get your hands on a copy, try not to laugh too hard when you see the photo of Bikram clad only in his black speedo 'surveying' his students. (ugh) Gordon, I don't watch CNN, but I'm sure that the (hatha) yogi's and yogini's of long past are cringing as they see and hear these things. Christa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 Do you have a copy of the offending article? I'd like to read it and respond to the magazine in question and also Bikram if that seems warranted. Seva Simran Brad Greenstreet wrote: > Hi Christa, > > "Anyways, my husband first read the article and started commenting, in > his sarcastic voice, about the benefits of yoga according to the article." > > --no offense to your husband's unique western viewpoint on yoga, but that is like reading an article on the benefits of bicycle riding. Also, its > easier to knock something that's scarry and unknown and mystical to you than to try it. > > And no offense to Business 2.0 which I've always considered to be a "Me Too" business rag (though they try to pass as cutting edge), please DON'T > TELL YOUR HUSBAND THAT :-), but when I want yoga articles I'll go to Yoga International or Yoga Journal, or Aqaurian Times. > > Another thought comes to mind, if you showed your husband a negative article on the pharmaceutical industry, from Yoga Journal, what would he say? > > Thanks for the tip, I'll read the article then send them an email to straighten them out. > > Blessings > > Brad > > > "OUR DESTINY IS TO BE HAPPY" > - Yogi Bhajan > > You can UNSUBSCRIBE from this list at the Groups Member Center (My Groups), or send mail to > Kundaliniyoga > NO UNSUBSCRIBE REQUESTS TO THE LIST PLEASE! > WEB SITE: kundalini yoga > > KUNDALINI YOGA ON-LINE TRAINING. Details from > kundalini yogaclasses.html > > Sponsored by YOGA TECHNOLOGY - Practical Books & Videos on Kundalini Yoga & Meditation. Also Meditation & Mantra CDs. > > Your use of is subject to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 christa, thanks for sharing, i am interested in reading this if i can find it. i went to the business 2.0 website but couldn't find this article. is it very recent? do you know what issue? bikram never comes across well in his articles - ha! that is really putting it lightly. the couple you describe sounds like Sharon Gannon & David Life of jivamukti yoga, and i think they are wonderful. they do have quite a bit of drama going on around them in NYC, but i think they have good intentions and strong yoga spirit beneath all the Maya. sat nam! elle/ranjit kaur >"spatialagent1" <spatialagent1 >Kundaliniyoga >Kundaliniyoga > Yoga article >Fri, 16 Aug 2002 14:16:19 -0000 > >I don't know if anyone gets the magazine Business 2.0, but there was >an article in the current issue on Yoga. They only focused on Hatha >yoga. It ended up 'slamming' yoga in general, but did so based on >interviews with 4 'top' (meaning popular with celebrities) yoga >instructors. I only remember 3 of the instructors: Bikram (not sure >I'm spelling that correctly), Rodney Yee and a man/woman couple. I >forget their names, but I remember seeing them on the cover of Yoga >World a few months back. The woman has straight, black hair and the >man has a bunch of tattoos. > >Anyways, my husband first read the article and started commenting, in >his sarcastic voice, about the benefits of yoga according to the >article. So I read it and my mouth hung open through most of the >first interview, which was with Bikram. They have him quoted >throughout the interview and I couldn't believe the things he was >saying. The one quote that sticks in my mind I'm not at all >comfortable with posting, but suffice to see he strikes me as being >VERY strong in the first three chakras. He REALLY gave yoga a 'bad >name' in that article. > >After reading the interviews, I can't totally fault the author for >his conclusions. However, I would have hoped that he would have >interviewed other 'less popular' hatha yoga instructors to balance >out the one-sided perspective in the article. The overall gist of the >article was that it's difficult if not impossible to find a release >from stress and daily life through yoga, because money, materialism >and greed can corrupt that as well. And I certainly agree that it can >corrupt it, but it doesn't necessarily corrupt all people who teach >it. > >Christa > > _______________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 Seva/Ranjit- I went to their website too. They don't post the current issue, which is September. The article is in that issue and is titled: Yogis Behaving Badly. I had read enough after almost 3/4 of the article and didn't finish it the other day. I just finished now. The author at least sums up a more realistic view in the last column. He gives the name of Dharma Mittra, as the owner of a small center since the 1960's. And explains the difference between what yoga should be and what the others are turning it into: "So Bikram built an empire, not caring a whit that his flamboyant display of weatlh and aggressive business tactics made him an embarrassment to the greater yoga community." Below are a few interesting quotes from the article (these all are from Bikram): "Nobody does hatha yoga in America except me!" and "I'm beyond Superman." According to the article, he compares himself to Jesus and Buddha. I personally found that offensive. Seva- I do have the article. If you are still interested in a copy, I can fax it to you (I don't have it in soft copy). My email address is spatialagent1 if you want to email your fax number to me. Otherwise, you could wait until Business 2.0 puts it online (www.business20.com). Christa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 Oh yes, Bikram says some strange things. One quote goes something like all "yoga teachers are circus clowns." I think it was in this Yoga Journal article about him: http://yogajournal.com/views/328_1.cfm Dharma Mittra is amazing. He is the yogi on that great poster "908 asanas" which I have hanging up in my cubicle at work! He took the photographs of himself in the poses and painstakingly cut out and pasted each one on a big poster. This is before the days of computers, circa late 70s/early 80s... or at least by the time he was finished! I was touched to learn he created this wonderful work for his Guru. The poster is back in print and you can order it, or at least read more about it here: http://www.yogaasanaposter.com/ which also has a link back to Dharma Mittra's website for his center. Christa, can you please also fax me a copy? If it's not too much trouble!! I can also wait for it to appear online if it's inconvenient. My fax number: 206.443.6691 ATTN: Elle d'Orado Let me know if that's doable! Thanks so much! sat nam, elle/ranjit kaur >"spatialagent1" <spatialagent1 >Seva- >I do have the article. If you are still interested in a copy, I can >fax it to you (I don't have it in soft copy). My email address is >spatialagent1 if you want to email your fax number to me. >Otherwise, you could wait until Business 2.0 puts it online >(www.business20.com). > >Christa > > _______________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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