“take off my fur suit for Yoga Journal? No not for any money!!!”
A few years ago I took part in a training weekend with Judith Hanson Lasater. I came away from it in awe of her down to earth teaching, her practical skills and the way she oozed feminine divine.
Of course this week, unless you’ve been back under that rock, you will have heard of Judith for her role in the latest yoga-gate controversy – this time about sexed up yoga adverts. Roseanne tells the story here and here. Linda replies to the whole fiasco beautifully, reflecting my own thoughts better than I could, here.
I want to approach all of this from a slightly different angle. I want to ask the universe in general “why the holy hell is yoga causing so much controversy anyway?”
I agree that the female form, naked or otherwise should never be exploited by advertising moguls (and if it’s not exploitation then where are the naked men? I am looking forward to the male naked yoga ad myself, perhaps Anthony Keidis is free, it’s not like he’s never been naked apart from a sock before….), but that is a huge issue way beyond the scope of yoga.
I want to know why a practice that is about balance, about finding inner peace, about creating your bliss, has fallen victim to controversy, bitchiness, narcissism and downright unpleasantness, not just this week but last week, the week before…. Yoga isn’t about competition, it isn’t about who can do the best pose, who has the longest legs, the hottest ass, the funkiest clothes or even who is more or less “yogic” than anyone else (whatever that means). It shouldn’t be about making the most money, living in a mansion or sitting on a Bikram style throne. And it certainly shouldn’t be about putting triggering images out into the world (the regular media does enough of that thank you).
Yoga is about each of us as individuals finding our place in the universe, about the ability to connect and balance our body and mind to a point where we are part of the universal consciousness – y’know, our true selves – genderless, perfect and most certainly toesox-less.
I think every single one of us who teaches, practices or writes about yoga need to sit down quietly a little more often and take a deep look inside and ask ourselves why we participate in this beautiful practice. I think ultimately we’d all come out with similar answers. Surely it is this we should be focussing on, rather than arguing amongst ourselves about the validity of something that has been created by our very own f***ed up media.
Stop bitchin’ – do yoga. Just a thought.
And one final word on the whole shebang. Toesox? Really? Now I love a bit of eccentric clothing. Socks with toes are pretty cool but people, people, people, you practice yoga barefoot or not at all. You don’t need “stuff” to practice yoga. Just your beautiful, openminded, openhearted selves.
Love and oms x
absolutely. it has been really disheartening to see this conflict going on. they should all shut up and get back on their mats!!!
amen!
I’m with you hon. Everyone should stop bitchin’ – do yoga, any which way they choose to do it. Old school or in their fancy pants. It’s all valid
I just started reading your blog and I love it. I completely agree with this post. I am entering Yoga Teacher Training in the fall, and it took me weeks to find a studio where I felt comfortable practicing–a lot of the studios around my house are super competitive and about what you can do and how you look–not my style at all. I am so happy at my current studio-where everyone-young, old, flexible, inflexible, at all levels can practice together–that to me is truly what yoga is about.
I’ve mostly stayed out of the whole debate because it was all a bit “whatthe?” AND so much hysteria going on. Plus people making stupid statements in an attempt to be “controversial”. Plus a whole heck load more ’stuff’. And now those most heavily involve say they are exhausted. I don’t blame them for feeling that way. But really!
Yoga Dork has been asking what’s behind the New York Times’ recent spate of yoga related articles. That’s certainly whipped up quite the frenzy. And yeah, why are they doing that all of the sudden? Who knows, but for the most part it’s unimportant.
It’s only recently that I’ve begun to notice that the thing called “American yoga” is a real phenomenon. I think yoga is evolving differently in the US than in places like UK and Australia…
And I KNOW! Toe Sox? Bah!!
I have to say that i completely agree. Being a person who will run in the other direction at the very first sign of trendy-ness, I am loathe to see a practice as beautiful as yoga fall victim to it. I don’t look good when I sweat, just a fact and I accept it, I don’t know where the whole “look good while you excercise” thing came from but it strikes me as backwards.
I do yoga for how it makes me feel, I love feeling my body after a good session and I am more accepting of the world. I hate to think that people are taking yoga classes just to be seen doing yoga in their fancy yoga gear. Who needs that?
Before this gets too rambly, thank you for sharing your thoughts. They really strike a chord with me.
The NY Times is doing the whole yoga thing right now because as a business they know that the movie Eat Pray Love is going to create some serious waves of yoga interest which, for them, means advertising dollars, etc. etc.
Regardless…
THANK YOU, RACHEL!
I am tired of all these little tirades. Just do your damn yoga — and how much do I love what Rand(OM) Bites says about fancy pants. Yes. Do it in your fancy pants — because at least you are doing it. I don’t care how we get people to the mat or for what reason they go there…as long as they go there.
As someone who initially did yoga for “relaxation,” I know that it works its magic on your internal life whether you intend it to or not. Trust the process, people.
Great post, Rachel!
thanks for this lovely and thoughtful post. i especially like your last suggestion: “I think every single one of us who teaches, practices or writes about yoga need to sit down quietly a little more often and take a deep look inside and ask ourselves why we participate in this beautiful practice.”
i completely agree. however, i have to say that i disagree with your following sentence, that we’d all come out with similar answers. i think that there would be as many differing responses as there are people. we each have our own reasons for practicing, and these will vary as much as our individual personalities.
you’ve set forth your own definition of yoga in this post, but i have to admit that it’s very different from mine, which is most likely very different from someone else’s. this is the beauty of yoga ~ and one of the big challenges that practitioners have to face.
personally, i think that a little controversy is good for the community. discussion, debate, disagreement… they’re indicators that the people are thinking, feeling. JHL’s letter was a catalyst for a bigger conversation, which isn’t even close to being resolved. it’s unfortunate that this phase of the conversation dissolved into cattiness and bitchiness… but we’re human. we’re all at different places on the path of yoga, and i’m sure that most of us all still working on ourselves.
for me, as i said in my last blog post, what has been frustrating isn’t so much that people are disagreeing, but that many people responded to (and attacked/defended) the ad itself, without reading the letter or stepping back and really thinking about things. i saw a lot of emotion and reaction, and that was really difficult.
Brilliant post.I’ve been doing yoga ..on and off I have to admit..for over 20 years, and it used to be so simple! ‘ Stop bitchin’….do yoga.’ I’d like that on a t-shirt!
x
Very true. I have kind of avoided the controversies the past month or so. I read about them when they were addressed on blogs I read to begin with, but I didn’t seek out any information, and I didn’t get involved in any of the dicussions. It’s too overwhelming to follow it all – the conversation is happening all over the internet and I can’t keep up with it. It’s exhausting!
Great post Rachel – and I heartily agree with your final thoughts..
I am frequently astounded at the amount of politics and bitching that goes on in the yoga world – but I guess that is the power of the human ego!
The sad thing is that the media portrays yoga in a way that is so NOT yoga… talk about false advertising! And people form their opinions based on that.
But if it gets more people to a mat and they get a taste of what yoga REALLY is, then that must be a good thing.
Just Do It. Barefoot. (perhaps Nike could run an ad campaign)
x
Could not agree more! You said it so well babe xx
I used to be a dancer and then turned into a bit of a gym nut but I read recently that my blood type (A+) reacts well to gentle exercise so I’ve been doing yoga classes at my gym. It should honestly be about what everyone else gets out of it. Competition is ridiculous. Great post!
Wowowowow, I’ve lived under a rock it seems. I read Judith Hanson-Lasater’s letter in YJ, and loved it, but I really didn’t follow the controversy, was too busy enjoying my holidays
Having now read a few posts here and there, I think I will not go further and I will keep practicing!