Nina writes-I am concerned about the effect Bikram Yoga has on people. I used to date someone close to Bikram and got to know the motivation and results behind Bikram’s empire. The emphasis on the physical, with the military style drills of the same 26 poses over and over again; the subtle pressure to do many classes a week, often 2 in a row, to “reap the benefits” of “his” sequence; the absence of all the other poses, bound to cause neglect to all the areas that these forgotten poses maintain… It was disturbing to see someone I cared about be so tied to earth as a result of Bikram Yoga. Not only was he focused on all things earthly, but I saw it in the Bikram classes I attended - the instructors (I cannot in good conscience call them yogis) had a mindless approach to the poses - how fast can you do the poses and then lock it in to that position, rather than a mindful approach of how slowly can you do the poses and feel each muscle fiber move and focus on breath… Their eyes were blank, like zombies, and their voices flat, and their words and phrases echoed each other, even chatting out of class. It saddens me to know that these franchises are popping up across the country and teaching this way, and these results, as yoga, and then “copyrighting” it as if Bikram himself invented the poses or even the sequence. I am a lawyer by day and an existential philosopher by night (making up for the daytime, ha ha, don’t hold it against me - I am a human rights lawyer) and there is no law where this is a positive thing. I know that they are even pushing for yoga as a sport, and a yoga Olympics! What is your advice to those of us who want to decrease the influence of this “anti-yoga” influence in the yoga world?
Bikram is an example of a good thing used to extreme. It mirrors how the world is today-excessive and fast. The sages that came up with Yoga posture only meant for it to be used as a tool for opening up the body so the practitioner could sit in a comfortable cross legged position ready for breathing and meditation practices. This is why they copied the animals (hence most postures have animal names) because animals stretch without ego and only for keeping the body healthy.
It is not that Bikram is bad or that the people who set it up are terrible people. It is that it is too extreme and the people who are attracted to this style of posture practice tend to be over heated and extreme in their lifestyle. We should never look outside of ourselves for blame or finger pointing, rather contemplate why we have attracted something to our self in the first place. This way we will always grow on our path.
Yogi Cameron
on Apr 6th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
I agree with Nina 100%. Why do you think it’s called “McYoga?”
I began practicing Bikram around 1996 after developing back problem. The recommendation in Allure magazine for the only Seattle Bikram studio (at that time) sounded interesting. I believe it did it consistently through 2000. I even did the modified pre-natal version, sequenced by Bikrams wife. I almost went to the teacher’s training. But I began to crave more spirituality. I started to see how much Ego came into the Bikram studios. Not only in the Instructors, but the ‘Elite’ crowd that always had their spots up front by the mirror. The arrogance and lack of humility became off-putting. I came upon a vinyasa studio & discovered how weak & tight my body was–after years of practicing Bikram. I am an Ashtanga Practitioner.
Interestingly enough, as I have gained a little weight, I have started doing classes at my local “Hot Yoga” studio because the heat DOES help one lose the weight. But due to my Ashtanga practice , while my previous observations are even more magnified, I approach the environment differently. I use my breath more…I ease into the postures rather than muscle through them, I shut-up the barking of the instructor. Basically I take what i like and leave the rest.
on Apr 7th, 2009 at 12:03 am
Good day sweetheart Cameron, Ray, Love, Dani, Nina :p
How are you all doing today? Thanks YC for writing and Nina.
We choose the right studio for ourselves and be kind enough for the commercial ones and be good example :p
Mum did yoga with me the tree and the balance position :p
Love, i love you , keep bringing your purity part :p
Ray, no toxin spray in the house ,use mask or get profesional ones to do. Take care your kind voice for chanting :p
Cameron and all i went to merit ceremony this morning and share natural pure energy to u all with love and hugs :p
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi2mR1VMXRw
on Apr 7th, 2009 at 3:05 am
”…because animals stretch without ego and only for keeping the body healthy.” : Yogi Cameron
That is sooo sweeeet! meoooow Cameron I’m gonna tickle you with my whiskers.
on Apr 7th, 2009 at 3:31 am
Yogi Cameron :
”We should never look outside of ourselves for blame or finger pointing, rather contemplate why we have attracted something to our self in the first place. This way we will always grow on our path. ”
Cameron I’m glad to read these lines right now.After this weekend since yesterday the effect upon me has been negative.It may be that I still do not have the propper control over myself.I have fallen into depression and fearfulness and anxiety.And I slouched back into old habits feeling so depressed like what’s the use of it all if nothing is ever going to change in my life.I cannot go on like this.
Reading your lines I have copied and pasted above tells me that if I don’t alter this condition then I will be attracting shit.So I better go back to my new habit so I feel stronger again.Someday there will be change I wish for.I think I must have gotten scared of being trapped.
And anyway I always get biologically depressed as one of the pre menstrual syndrome symptoms.And a cramped vein.It is like the ticking of a clock and I can’t help that depression in anyway.
Anyway I have to help myself mentally today to keeping up my new habits till they are second nature to me.Then one can never regress back into the old ways when something becomes second nature to one.
Bikram yoga sounds good for me - Cameron maybe I should do Bikram yoga?I love being down to earth and earthly.For me it is a fantastic thing - maybe not the same for someone else’s path as we all have different paths on all levels and with variations as learning is an individual process which is accelerated by other people and outward situations and events.
So Cameron I have updated you darling and I feel like I have helped myself now and I will inspect myself thoroughly.I have to do surya yog to overcome my darkness.
I love you Cameron.Hugs & kisses
I want to meow now.Pet me Cameron please.You can for example carry me over your shoulder(you know) and then we walk away.Meeeooow…..
on Apr 7th, 2009 at 3:57 am
Cameron I have done Bikram yoga a couple of times and I actually liked it.I liked it very much infact.We should not be focusing on someone to tell us to breathe but we should regulate and control our breath ourselves.Being responsible for oneself means breathing independantly without being told now breathe in and now breathe out.
Namaste
on Apr 7th, 2009 at 5:08 am
Cameron darling,it’s about a month now since I started with mantra yoga.Lately I heard myself on the webcam video and I was so happy to hear my voice as it has become like my own voice always is like myself - it has become clear and calm and like a nightingale.
When I was not myself,had become so sick and lifeless - my voice sounded strange and like a little child’s voice in a strange way and short breathed and nervous and tired - and all that was not the way I am!
There have been instances in my life where people have said I sound like a nightingale but they always said it full of sarcasm and people turned and looked at me with hatred.During all that time all these things hurt me so badly and I never understood why other people are encouraged and their talents are paid attention to and they can build upon it.But as I told you since a few years I was tought spiritually about the existence of different energies and all things on the astral level and the existence of demons and entities(bad & good ones) as well and I have studied these things and now I know what was happining in my whole life.
So now I want to tell you that my voice sounds lovely after doing mantra yoga for a while now.Sometimes I sound like Madonna.But I have my own voice and I’m happy with it.I don’t want to sound like anyone else,famous or not famous.I am me and I have my own identity.meeoooow iloveyoucameron
on Apr 7th, 2009 at 7:40 am
2012 SIRIUS RISING
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXD53Z87hfc
If we can get the bigger picture instead of whining over our tiny selves then it is ourselves standing in our own
way.Some Nina is whining over bikram yoga,some Karina is whining over seperations,and I am whining over myself causing more meaningless and void sorrow for myself and crying over when will things change for me?!How stupid.
When we get the bigger picture and see how we are all connected then we will know we are being guided by divine energies and we should do our part in our conscious minds by keeping daily spiritual practices,by eating healthy and keeping healthy and fit.And all that I mentioned about - things like demons,entities,etc - are all energies in the universe.All these energies whatever our minds choose to name them - cause the stirring up of divine energies and when we bring ourselves in alignment with divine energies then we become in harmony and unison with divine bodies.
Crying over our own pettiness in our own minds created by our own minds leads us into miserable conditions.Rising above and freeing our minds and channelling ourselves and our energies into a direction we want and in harmony and unison with divine energy is the solution.This is also what the earth needs.Then these divine energies provide for us.We just have to be in harmony and unison with these divine energies.They open the way.You know it’s like a stargate.You are drawn into the energy field when in harmony and unison with silmilar energies.Because we are particles and bodies of these energies and whatever energy we charge ourselves with becomes us and we become that energy.
So groping in the dark will leave one in the dark and walking into light and energising in light will cause one to become one with light.When you are in light do you feel negative?
Om Shanti Shanti
Namaste
on Apr 7th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
The fully awakened one discipline delights.
Thanks sweetie pie Cameron, Ray of peace and fun :p Love rainbow, beyond limit Babeth, thank you i kiss your soft feet with aromatic mangoes :p
throw me on your shoulders my white bright light energy :p thank for being my embracing wind underneath my wings when i need it :p i realized that be my disipline need your warmth bath. Wake me up inside!!!
let go past and start the new with me sweetie days, months, years,era, next Buddha, Nirvana, ready? Spiritual joy and and fruits are not free, effort and balance, i’m with u 24/7 baby , my cetiya love, you can do this :p Blanket cuddles, you are not alone, keep lighting on , the swan and the warrior ministry of yoga :p :p :p :p :p :p :p
What are the next best things? i need you my white and blue blanket around my angelic waist :p on train’s roof meditating with the wind and all of yo xoxo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE4rotLC3pg
on Apr 8th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Bon soir Yogi Cameron my love, Ray and Love.
Thanks again Ray and all for your caring, loving and reading my mind, high percent right :p Supernatural power you posess :p Well done :p i’m proud of you :p i love you all :p Thanks for raising me up i have a blissful and wonderful sense of calm meditating happy day today, share me yours? :p
22 April, 6 days before my birthday :p is the 112th day of the year and it is indeed quite a special day!
It is called Earth Day.
“Like fingers on a hand,We are all different and unique
We are all of equal value, we are all created to work together…Although we appear separate, we are all linked to-and part of-each other…We are a family!
Again, here I would like to propose that we do our bit to change the world by BEING the change the world needs, ourselves. Close the eyes, still the mind, be part of the culture of peace….The still mind and peaceful mind is what the world needs.
When in Thailand I found out that at the Dhammakaya chetiya there is a venue being created for 1 MILLION people to meditate on Earth day
“… One million peaceful minds create a wonderful peaceful world …”
Let’s all meditate together on this special day! I would like to add to what Mr Thant said, that I hope every day will be cheerful and peaceful…And I am so happy that I’ve found a way to contribute and spread true happiness and true peace.
The world will know peace when we know peace within ourselves..” Thanks Anita from
http://www.peacerevolution2010.org
I love you all honey mediating bees :p have a fab sleep and think of me at your centre xoxoo
on Apr 9th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
I saw a news segment on Bikram. He actually sued another yoga studio for copying “his” posture sequencing. Sometimes I wonder does anything hold sacred anymore? The west is the land of opportunity to make money off of anything, even charities are not really that charitiable anymore. If you knew what a small portion is used to really help and the portion that goes to running the organization, you wouldn’t want to donate.
on May 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 pm
This all sounds quite…judgmental, actually. Eyes like zombies, etc? Really? I’ve had quite a different experience in the Bikram yoga classes I have attended. The instructors have never been “too fast” or “too extreme,” have done nothing that reminds me of military drills, and certainly don’t look or act like zombies. Rather, they have inspired me toward new levels of awareness of my breath, my mind, and my overall state of being. They have been encouraging, positive, understanding and even funny. I enjoy it profoundly.