Changing the Way We Teach Yoga
I was raised with a Guru. I bowed down to my Guru with love and respect. He inspired me and challenged me and pushed me to break through my conditioned mind. For these teachings, I will always be grateful and humbled and respectful. I adore my Guru, the lineage that I come from, and the beautiful global community, my sangha, that comes along with it. Having said that, I am totally disgusted by the countless stories in the media about abuse in the yoga industry. I have openly mentioned in the past, even our lineage isn’t spared of stories of harassment. It’s messed up and really confusing.
Having just read Julie Salter’s horrific account of her life in service to Swami Vishnudevananda (read: https://gen.medium.com/how-a-metoo-facebook-post-toppled-a-yoga-icon-c25577185e40 ), it has broken my heart again. I also watched the documentaries: Wild Wild Country and Bikram. Both were so off-putting, I found myself questioning whether the idea of finding enlightenment was a big fat scam.
Abuse in our yoga industry is too common. It’s no wonder that Guru culture is dead. Or as my friends, Jesal Parihk and Tejal Patel say, “Gurus killed Yoga” in their Yoga Is Dead podcast. Many of these revered Swamis have come to the end of their lives, and suddenly it has become a safe space for victims to share their stories. And I’m so glad that they have done so. It’s so important to see things for what they truly are — the light as well as the shadows that lurk behind.
Where does this leave the many talented and dedicated devotees and monks who are left behind to make sense of it all? It’s not okay for people to be abused. It’s not okay for the vulnerable and down-trodden to be taken advantage of. It’s simply not okay. We have these beautiful teachings, delivered by an incredible master and we also have a mess. It’s not one or the other, it’s BOTH!
What on earth are we to do with it all? Digging deep inside of me, in the space that goes beyond my mind reeling from all of this, I come back to what I have learnt on my own path. The teachings are the real Guru, and these teachings — universal truths — need to be shared in a way that suits the culture and the age that we live in. (Words from my own Guru.)
So now, we live in the age of the #metoo movement which empowers victims to share their stories and shame the perpetrators (instead of it being the other way around). We also live in an age of self-empowerment where being happy is the best rebellion we can give to every thing that is trying to tell us otherwise just so we will buy stuff.
It’s time to teach a different kind of yoga. This means re-evaluating the Guru-Shishya way in its most literal sense — unwavering commitment, love and obedience to serve to the Guru with blind faith. I’m not in any way saying we should disrespect our teachers… on the contrary. I will always honour my Guru. Just because that was my path, it does not mean the same path must be taken by any of my students.
Instead, my narrative is this: Blind faith is no longer needed — faith with eyes wide open is the new way forwards. Honour your teacher, but don’t serve them to the point of you being broken, poor, resentful or confused. Instead, devote your time and energy to serving your own inner-Guru. This means to do what it takes to find your peace first. Then when you have it, go and find a cause that speaks to your heart and serve that purpose.
Personal boundaries and self-limiting beliefs are totally different things. All the stories I have heard blur these two things. Learn to listen to your body… if it says no, then believe it. Resist any temptation or peer pressure from your yoga teacher to do something that clearly your body does not want to do. This is not a ticket to laziness, rather an invitation to own your yoga and understand the difference between performing and practising.
First and foremost do no harm to yourself and others, and let no harm come to you. As much as we are all striving to love unconditionally, it’s equally important to know where your capacity to love unconditionally ends. You will know it’s not okay because you will feel depleted instead of empowered.
Sri Patanjali teaches Practice & Non-attachment. So what about this:
Practice what nurtures you; what helps you to cultivate strength of body and mind. Open your heart to giving to others without any expectation of what they can give to you. Give only what you can.
Let go of attachment to the bullshit. Walk away from the abusers. Say no to adjustments that don't work for you. Drop anything that takes you away from your glorious, authentic shining self.
Your best measurement of your progress is your peace of mind. If you lose your cool when a person insults you, then you know you still have a ways to go to strengthen your mind / spiritual muscles. Keep following the teachings because they work! The only catch is that you have to do the work.
If you’re lost and need guidance from a teacher, then it’s okay to ask for help. But please be aware of the teachers you seek. Does a teacher need you to server worship him/her? Does your teacher try to save / fix / help you? Or rather encourage you to help yourself or make your own decisions?
Only you can save yourself. Only you can help yourself. If there is something about your life you don’t like or feel ashamed to face, then seek strength in the community that builds you up. Always come back to the teachings, because the teachings are the real Guru. The teachings are universal and timeless.
As we enter the Year of the Rat — I encourage you to be the master of your own destiny. Change the way you practice and teach yoga.