Re-introducing Mind•Body•Spirit Connexion

We sit down with Hali Tsotetsi, CEO and Founder of Mind•Body•Spirit Connexion

BiologiqueLife just re-launched a spiritual wellness service directory that connects spirituality through wellness professionals, wellness studios and clientele interested in wellness services. 

We are so proud of this venture. And, would like to share more about this endeavour with you. Our team asked The Founder and CEO, Hali Tsotetsi some questions about Mind, Body and Spirit Connexion: 

1. Why have you decided to re-launch Mind, Body, Spirit Connexion? 

I strongly believe that we need to take the power of studios’ hands and into the healer and practitioner.

I left the yoga industry after encountering and working for a number of abusive yoga studios. Through it all, I learned that a healer’s power should never be taken away from them.

This platform allows the healer/lightworker to make their own rates, hours and teach from where they want to.

2. What’s behind the name? 

We speak of the holy trinity of spirituality. Mind, Body and Spirit. All are necessary for true healing. 

Someone’s wellbeing can thrive if they take care of all aspects of their health; not just practice yoga, not just go to a reiki healer... But, a combination of what that person needs to be at their best. 

3. Who is Mind, Body, Spirit Connexion for?

From a professional standpoint, it is for someone who is a healer or wellness practitioner who believes that they deserve to make money and sustain a career off of creating health for themselves and others. Many of us (in wellness) are not treated well, paid enough or don’t even believe that we are worthy of making the same as someone who works a traditional office job. However, Mind, Body, Spirit Connexion is here to debunk that. If you believe that you are worthy, invest in yourself first. Don’t wait for others to invest in you, first! 

From a client perspective, it is for the person who believes that preventative health will help them live a more full and happy life. Everyday, more and more science reveals to us that taking care of yourself is number one. If we take care of ourselves, we are better off - in the long run. 

4. What’s your vision for Mind, Body, Spirit Connexion?

To build a platform where millions of people around The World can connect because they share a commonality. And, that is to see the world in a better state of being. A World where practicing yoga is just as important as your daily coffee, where visiting a holistic practitioner supports seeing your modern doctor and where people who work in wellness are taken as seriously as a technician, engineer or even a lawyer.

Should we blame or console the wives of sexual predators?

Image by Getty images  

The ‘Me too’ movement has taken The Western World by storm. It has shaken up the use of those who have abused their power whilst taking advantage of others.

With people like Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby and more closely to The Yoga World, Bikram Choudhry. The question that surrounds this movement is that, how did all of these men’s’ wives not know the ‘truth’ of what has been going on? How did handfuls of alleged victims bypass a partner’s intuition of what they were really up to behind closed doors?

Were they really unaware of what was going on? Were they in denial? Or, did their wives have too much to lose to be truthful?

Whether you may admit it or not, The Choudhry’s have had a big impact on the yoga world in The US, particularly hot yoga. The yoga that was created by Bikram Choudhry. Bikram, he says, had been a yoga teacher in India when he was visited by a few American celebrities at his Ashram, where he studied under his Guru, Bishnu Gosh.

Allegedly Bikram was encouraged by his Guru and celebrities that he had cured to move to Los Angeles, which he did. In interviews, he often talks about how Hollywood needed him because of the lack of spirituality and common sense here.

Many have argued and said that what he spoke of being the problem in Los Angeles is what led to his demise. How ironic! The fame, being surrounded by women, money and cars created the person we have come to infamously know as Bikram Choudhry today, the man who went from having it ‘all’ to being exiled and an American fugitive within a couple of years.

Behind all the allegations, alleged abuse and debauchery was a woman who stuck by him, Rajeshree Choudhry. A woman who is/was beautiful inside and out. A woman who is, and has been, the source of so much love and knowledge in the yoga community.

Granted, it may be none of our business. However, if someone is a public figure and goes through a very public and nasty divorce, are we deserved an explanation as to why these women stayed in such a toxic environment for so many years? Should we paint them as the accused too? Or, accept them as the victim?

Is it our place to ask the questions? Or, are questions un-necessary?

In most cases, when you marry someone you split their financial gains? So, do you split their faults, mistakes, wrongdoings and mistakes?

5 cosas que me gustaría saber antes de mi primera clase de yoga caliente

imagen de Getty Images

He estado practicando diferentes estilos de yoga por mucho tiempo; sin embargo, comencé a practicar yoga caliente hace tres años, y estoy tan increíblemente agradecida de haberlo hecho. Me volví adicto al calor y a las condiciones disciplinadas.

Actualmente estoy en el proceso de convertirme en instructor de yoga. Estoy aprendiendo que el yoga es un milagro científico que no solo requiere que el estudiante se presente a la clase, sino que el alumno también hace las siguientes cosas, todas las cuales desearía haber sabido antes de entrar en mi primera clase de yoga caliente:

1. ¡Hidrata con electrolitos!

Lo maravilloso del yoga caliente es que, a través de condiciones estrictas, resalta lo que le falta a su dieta. A menudo escuché a la gente decir: "No puedo hacer yoga caliente, me siento débil durante la clase". Sin embargo, a menos que haya sido diagnosticado con una enfermedad grave, el yoga caliente no debería hacerlo sentir débil. Las personas que se sienten débiles por lo general necesitan mantenerse hidratadas con agua mineral cargada.

2. Tu maestro también es humano.

Del mismo modo que los estudiantes necesitamos tiempo para captar por completo la profundidad de una pose, también lo hacen los profesores. Aprenden como nosotros, y tienen un tiempo limitado para decir cada aspecto de la exploración con respecto a la pose que están describiendo. Sugiero tomar una variedad de clases de diferentes maestros para ampliar su comprensión de la postura y la práctica.

3. No estás en un póster de yoga; estás en una clase de yoga

Se lo conoce como una práctica por una razón: lleva tiempo. Si esperas ser perfecto, entonces estás entrando a la habitación por una razón que nunca se logrará. Durante cada clase, me recuerda que no puedo hacer las poses sin imperfecciones; sin embargo, puedo usar mis imperfecciones para fortalecerlas a medida que las destaco y me concentro en lo que puedo hacer para ayudar a mi cuerpo a sanar y crecer.

4. Hot yoga no es solo por 90 minutos, es por todo el día.

A medida que practica más a menudo, comenzará a identificar la diferencia entre saludable y no saludable. Esa clase no dará sus frutos si, por el resto del día, estás estresado, comiendo poco sano y llevando equipaje mental. Los beneficios de salud exactos se obtienen tomando un enfoque holístico de cómo trata su cuerpo.

5. ¡Sonríe!

Veo a tanta gente frunciéndose el ceño a sí mismos durante la clase o pegándose a sí mismos por una pose de la que se cayeron. El yoga es una metáfora de cómo te tratas y manejas tu vida. ¿Eres tú el que menosprecia hacia ti? ¿Estás a menudo frustrado contigo mismo? ¿Te das una paliza sobre el pasado? Si lo haces, ¡ALTO! Solo creará energía negativa que derrote el propósito de hacer yoga para empezar.

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4 things that make a yoga teacher stick out.

image by Getty Images 

I live in the ‘capital’ of Western yoga, Los Angeles. There are a ton of yoga studios and, therefore a ton of yoga teachers. These days, it is cool (particularly if you are in entertainment) to become a yoga teacher. However, teaching yoga can be challenging.

As I live in LA, I have taken a ton of classes taught by many different yoga teachers. I am not a pro, nor shall I be (in this lifetime); however, I have been practicing for over a decade and can speak from my heart about what spoke to me when I took, and still take, class from other teachers as a student:

1. Believe what you are saying.

When teachers believe what they are saying, it allows the students to trust them. It’s just like when you go to a doctor’s office and the doctor is stuttering and unsure, the patient doesn’t feel taken care of. As yoga teachers, we are dealing with people on a healing level, our students need to trust us. That means taking responsibility for what you know and believing that what you say matters because, it does!

2. Speak from the heart.

When a teacher lets their guard down and shares a bit of their heart, students respond well to this. Particularly because a student could’ve chosen to take someone else’s class but chose to take yours. Remind them of that. They deserve more than just words, they deserve words with love. When you soften up, they soften up- which allows for a more meaningful practice than just dialogue.

3. Know what you are talking about.

I am a firm-believer that yoga teachers should know the body. The way that we teach yoga in The West may be different to how they teach yoga in The East; however, aspects of how the body works still apply to both. When I learnt the body, I grew as a student and teacher because I was able to relate to my students on a deeper level, particularly students with injuries. I developed a broadened view of what they should like as opposed to what they look like.

4. Be true.

When I first started teaching, I was told by a senior teacher of mine that I was similar to another senior teacher. The other teacher, who I was told that I resembled, was sassy and a little bit rude. I emulated her a bit until I realized that I was coming off too strong. I realized that just because the other teacher and I are similar, does not mean that we are the same person. I can still be true to who I am as a person and teach, confidently.

10 awakenings quotes by Sadghuru to apply to our Modern-day World

Born by the name, Jaggi Vasudev, widely known as Sadghuru is having an influence on the modern world by applying yogic beliefs to our city and day-to-day problems.

Sadghuru was born in 1957 and began practicing at 13 years-old. He practices Hinduism faith and is the founder of The ISHA foundation.

I hope one of them resonates with you:

1. ‘If you resist change, you resist life.’

2. ‘The fear is simply because you are not living with life, You are living in your mind.’

3. ‘The most beautiful moments in life are moments when you are expressing your joy, not when you are seeking it.’

4. ‘Sex in the body is fine. Money in the wallet is fine. It is only a problem when they enter your mind.’

5. ‘Love is your quality. Love is not what you do. Love is who you are.’

6. ‘When pain, misery, or anger happen, it is time to look within you, not around you.’

7. ‘People have gotten used to living a botched-up life — to be anxious, insecure, hateful, jealous, and in various states of unpleasantness through the day — slowly humanity has begun to see it as normal. None of these things are normal. These are abnormalities. Once you accept them as part of life they become normal because the majority has joined the gang of unpleasantness. They are all saying, "Unpleasantness is normal. Being nasty to each other is normal. Being nasty to myself is normal." Someone trusted that you would be doing good things at least to yourself and said, "Do unto others what you do unto yourself." I am telling you, never do unto others what you are doing to yourself! By being with people, I know what they are doing to themselves is the worst thing. Fortunately, they are not doing such horrible things to others. Only once in a while they are giving a dose to others, but to themselves they are giving it throughout the day.’

8. ‘If you think hundred percent logically, there is really no possibility of life.’

9. ‘Learning to listen is the essence of living.’

10. ‘Confidence and stupidity are a very dangerous combination, but they generally go together.’

Sourced from Goodreads.

Bikram Choudhury, The Man vs. The Monster

image from Bikram Yoga College of India

There is no doubt that Bikram Choudhury has had an impact on yoga in The Western World. If you are unfamiliar with Bikram, let me tell you more about him.

Mr. Choudhury came to The United States, as he claims, to heal President Nixon who suffered from phlebitis. Phlebitis is an inflammation of the veins, which can be deadly depending on which vein is inflamed. Instead of having surgery performed on his veins, President Nixon had Bikram come to The U.S.A. to treat his chronic illness. And, it worked. Within two weeks, he was almost completely healed- according to Bikram.

Once other famous people began to see the effects of Mr. Choudhury’s ability to heal using yoga, they became fans of him and would heal their chronic diseases too. Sportsmen like Kobe Bryant and singers like Madonna flocked to Bikram when they were physically or emotionally hurt.

Because of his success with celebrities, he decided to come up with a sequence that would heal most people of chronic diseases and ailments. He worked with Indian and Western doctors to record the scientific benefits of the different postures and, he ended up 2 breathing postures and 26 postures in-between the breath-work.

Thousands, of not millions, benefited from this sequence that was previously copyrighted so that no one else could financially benefit from teaching this sequence.

For almost thirty years, Bikram was thriving. Over 200 Bikram studios were opened across the world. He boasted that he was the richest yogi in the world. Which, was probably true. Bikram famously quoted, ‘I sell the truth’.

Then, in 2014, Vanity Fair wrote an article claiming that Mr. Choudhury was abusing his power to sexually manipulate and rape women. 3 years following that, Bikram was sentenced to imprisonment due to allegedly raping 6 women- including his former attorney, Ms. Jaffa-Bodden.

Suddenly, Bikram’s empire collapsed with him claiming bankruptcy and many studios changing their names from Bikram Studios to another name. Thus, studios no longer needing to pay him a monthly fee for franchise.

A former Bikram Studio owner in NYC says, ‘I don’t want to be associated with a man who has done such horrific things to women’.

Which, is completely valid. As Bikram Yoga practitioners, where is the line between appreciating him for what he brought to The Western World and recognizing what he has done to different women in The World?

What approach do we take towards people who have positively influenced us but committed crimes? Do we still value what they have brought to us? Or, do we shun them and hope that they find their way to a healthier mind by themselves?

Where is yoga headed in The West?

image by Getty images 

There is no question that the yoga industry has rapidly transformed in the past ten years. As a practitioner and teacher, I have  witnessed these changes with yoga being brought into gyms.

I have also seen the inventions of yoga mixed with hip-hop, muscle weights and no pranayama. With all these inventions, I ask the question: Where is the yoga world headed in The West?

Because honestly, I am concerned. I am concerned about maintaining the purity of yoga that The Indian Culture has kept so sacred for thousands of years.

According to Patanjali (author of the sutras of yoga), yoga has eight limbs. Some of these limbs are not being focused on by different yoga studios in The Western World, particularly here in The U.S.A. There seems to be little-to-no focus on the seven other limbs with only focus on one limb, Asana A.K.A. The postures.

So, what happens when we do asana without the other 7 limbs? Well, we are not doing yoga. It’s that simple. Should we still be calling yoga mixed with hip-hop, muscle weights and 0 spirituality, yoga? Or, do specific studios keep calling this yoga so that students will attend and keep up with the popular trend of getting in their yoga while keeping their physiques? It was estimated that the industry is set to be worth over a $1 billion dollars.

It seems that our need to stay trendy, popular and the need to make money has tainted the true essence of yoga at some yoga studios. My only question is, will it continue?

4 questions every yoga teacher should ask themselves

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As yoga expands across The World, it is clear that (just like every other industry) it has become tainted by personal gain, greed and mistruths. Not all of it has but, as yoga teachers, it is our duty to uphold and maintain the purity of yoga that allows us to heal and transform ourselves, our students and The World around us.

Ask yourself the following:

1. Is teaching yoga just a job?

For the most part, I have taken class from great teachers; however, I have taken class from a few teachers that lacked passion. It seemed as though they were teaching from a place of mundanity and boredom. Yes, you can make a career out of yoga! But, that shouldn’t be the only reason why you are a yoga teacher. If your intentions are merely about paying your bills, your students will pick up on this and it will be difficult to come across with purity and integrity.

2. Am I teaching to provide healing or to be seen?

A lot of us who came to yoga in The West used to be performers. I, myself, was a singer and dancer. My journey from being the star to being in the background has been challenging as my Ego took a major blow when I realized that teaching was not about me but about my students. Yes, I am responsible for the knowledge that I bring into the studios that I teach at but it’s mostly about the students and providing them space to heal.

3. Am I surrounded by reliable sources who are genuine in their interest in yoga?

The saying, ‘birds of a feather flock together’, is no joke. It is real. Who you spend most of your time with, can and will have an influence on you. That’s why you may visit a studio and hear a few teachers say the same cues in different classes. It is important to surround yourself with people who allow you the space to grow as a yoga teacher, remain authentic to yoga and pure to your intentions as a teacher.

4. Am I practicing what I preach?

This may seem simple; however, I have had difficulty really being the change that I wish to see and asking others (who take my class) to do the same. I have learnt that I can’t ask someone else to do something that I don’t know or fully understand. I can’t ask a student of mine to practice ahimsa when I am angry at someone for not being vegan, I can’t ask someone to practice asana if I don’t have the time to practice, I can’t ask someone to practice pranayama when I hold my breath during class, I can’t ask someone to adhere to the niyamas and yamas when I have no moral compass, I can’t speak about stillness if I have not developed a relationship with it myself and I can’t explain what Samadhi is if I haven’t experienced it. Our power as teachers comes from how it has had an impact on our lives and those around us, not on how we think it should.

A breakdown of the different (popular) styles of yoga.

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A lot of the time when I tell someone that I teach yoga, they respond with a question, ‘The regular one or the hot one?’

Obviously, I reply with another question, ‘What do you mean by regular?’ Which is usually answered with an uncertainty of what they meant.

Just like those people, many people are confused about the different styles of yoga. So, if you are, here is a breakdown of the current popular styles of yoga:

• Ashtanga

This style of practice was the most commonly practiced style in India for the past century. This style is very traditional and requires that you follow a morning practice that can be up to 90 minutes or longer. K. Pattabhi Jois, the man who brought it to The US, encouraged practitioners to follow a vegetarian diet and develop practice 6 mornings a week. In the traditional Ashtanga practice, practitioners can spend 5 years doing the same sequence before they are allowed to learn a new sequence.

•Vinyasa

Although this style is derived from Ashtanga, a strict diet is not necessarily encouraged in order to practice. Vinyasa has been said to be created in the 1960s and was a result of Westerners not wanting to follow the restrictions that came along with Ashtanga. It has become the most practiced type of yoga in The US and Europe. Also known as Power.

• Bikram

A style that Bikram Choudhury said that he created. Even though there is evidence to contradict this, Bikram is adamant that he created this sequence to heal himself from an injury that left him paralyzed. Bikram trademarked the original ‘hot yoga’ and sued anyone who tried to teach it at their non-Bikram studios. After much controversy, Bikram lost his many lawsuits and this style is usually referred to as ‘HOT YOGA’ or ‘The 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises’.

• Iyengar

Created by B.K.S. Iyengar, this style holds postures for longer than Vinyasa and props, like chairs, are often used. Iyengar was also one of the first Yogis from India to spread his knowledge in The West and to be recognized for it. Although he passed in 2014, his style of yoga is still practiced throughout the world. Although a vegetarian diet is not forced on practitioners, it is recommended.

 🇨🇿Les différents styles populaires de yoga

La plupart du temps, quand je dis à quelqu'un que j'enseigne le yoga, ils répondent par une question:Le régulier ou le chaud? Évidemment, je réponds par une autre question: «Que voulez-vous dire par« régulier »? Ce qui est généralement répondu avec une incertitude de ce qu'ils voulaient dire.

Tout comme ces gens, beaucoup de gens sont confus au sujet des différents styles de yoga. Donc, si vous êtes, voici une ventilation des styles populaires actuels de yoga:

🇨🇮Los diferentes estilos populares de yoga

• Ashtanga

Ce style de pratique était le style le plus couramment pratiqué en Inde au cours du siècle dernier. Ce style est très traditionnel et exige que vous suiviez une pratique du matin qui peut durer jusqu'à 90 minutes ou plus. K. Pattabhi Jois, l'homme qui l'a apporté aux États-Unis, a encouragé les pratiquants à suivre un régime végétarien et à développer la pratique 6 matinées par semaine. Dans la pratique traditionnelle de l'Ashtanga, les pratiquants peuvent passer 5 ans à faire la même séquence avant de pouvoir apprendre une nouvelle séquence.

• Vinyasa

Bien que ce style soit dérivé de l'Ashtanga, un régime strict n'est pas nécessairement encouragé pour pratiquer. On a dit que Vinyasa a été créé dans les années 1960 et était le résultat d'occidentaux ne voulant pas suivre les restrictions qui sont venues avec Ashtanga. Il est devenu le type de yoga le plus pratiqué aux États-Unis et en Europe. Également connu sous le nom de puissance.

• Bikram

Un style que Bikram Choudhury a dit avoir créé. Même s'il existe des preuves pour contredire cela, Bikram est catégorique qu'il a créé cette séquence pour se guérir d'une blessure qui l'a laissé paralysé. Bikram a commercialisé le «yoga chaud» original et poursuivi tous ceux qui ont essayé de l'enseigner dans leurs studios non-Bikram. Après beaucoup de controverses, Bikram a perdu ses nombreux procès et ce style est généralement appelé «HOT YOGA» ou «Les 26 postures et 2 exercices de respiration».

• Iyengar

Créé par B.K.S. Iyengar, ce style tient des postures plus longtemps que Vinyasa et les accessoires, comme les chaises, sont souvent utilisés. Iyengar fut aussi l'un des premiers Yogis d'Inde à diffuser ses connaissances dans l'Ouest et à être reconnu pour cela. Bien qu'il soit passé en 2014, son style de yoga est toujours pratiqué dans le monde entier. Bien qu'un régime végétarien ne soit pas imposé aux pratiquants, il est recommandé.

La mayoría de las veces, cuando le digo a alguien que enseño yoga, responden con una pregunta: "¿regular o caliente? Obviamente, respondo con otra pregunta: "¿Qué quiere decir con" regular "? Que generalmente se responde con incertidumbre de lo que significan. Al igual que estas personas, muchas personas están confundidas acerca de los diferentes estilos de yoga. Entonces, si lo es, aquí hay un desglose de los estilos populares de yoga actuales:

• Ashtanga

Este estilo de práctica fue el estilo más comúnmente practicado en India durante el siglo pasado. Este estilo es muy tradicional y requiere que sigas una práctica matutina que puede durar hasta 90 minutos o más. K. Pattabhi Jois, el hombre que lo trajo a los Estados Unidos, alentó a los practicantes a seguir una dieta vegetariana y practicar 6 mañanas a la semana. En la práctica tradicional de Ashtanga, los practicantes pueden pasar 5 años haciendo la misma secuencia antes de que puedan aprender una nueva secuencia.

• Vinyasa

Aunque este estilo se deriva de Ashtanga, una dieta estricta no necesariamente se anima a practicar. Se dijo que Vinyasa se creó en la década de 1960 y fue el resultado de que los occidentales no quisieron seguir las restricciones que vinieron con Ashtanga. Se ha convertido en el tipo de yoga más popular en los Estados Unidos y Europa. También conocido como poder.

• Bikram

Un estilo que Bikram Choudhury dijo haber creado. Aunque hay evidencia para contradecir esto, Bikram es inflexible en que creó esta secuencia para curarse a sí mismo de una lesión que lo dejó paralizado. Bikram comercializó el "yoga caliente" original y demandó a todos los que intentaron enseñarlo en sus estudios que no son Bikram. Después de mucha controversia, Bikram ha perdido sus muchas pruebas y este estilo generalmente se llama "HOT YOGA" o "Las 26 posturas y 2 ejercicios de respiración".

• Iyengar

Creado por B.K.S. Iyengar, este estilo tiene posturas más largas que Vinyasa y los accesorios, como las sillas, se usan a menudo. Iyengar también fue uno de los primeros yoguis en la India en difundir su conocimiento en Occidente y ser reconocido por ello. Aunque falleció en 2014, su estilo de yoga todavía se practica en todo el mundo. Aunque no se impone una dieta vegetariana a los practicantes, se recomienda.

Are we losing sight of the foundations of Yoga?

Images from Sivanada Yoga and Bikram Yoga. 

You cannot deny that yoga has become popular, for many reasons. The benefits of yoga need no convincing with many describing their relationship with yoga as an addiction and something that has helped them deal with life.

This has helped The Yoga Industry rake in billions of dollars in sales and millions, if not billions, swearing by this practice.

So, how has yoga evolved in the past decade and where is it headed?

Many have mixed views about the future of yoga: some worry that The Western World will corrupt the authenticity of what it has to offer the student; however, others have claimed that it will save The Western World and the practitioners.

I focus on The Western World because we are so focused on consumerism, buying and spending on things that help us stay happy. Which, many have claimed that yoga does.

How did a practice, only practiced by an elite few for thousands of years in India, become so popular in The West recently?

You could answer that Bishnu Gosh, Bikram Choudry, Iyengar and Dharma Mittra spreading their knowledge here had something to do with it. But, if yoga was practiced how it used to be , would it be this popular?

Let me give you a brief history of yoga. Yoga has dated back to before the first handwriting was discovered over 5000 years ago. Then, The Sutras by Patanjali were written approximately 2000 years ago. Yoga was strictly practiced with a guru and coupled with a strict diet by the practitioner as well as chanting and meditation. Very different to today, there were no yoga stars or veterans due to The British Government’s denial of yoga, the practice was a secret and only for those who were completely devoted to being a student for many years before even thinking of becoming a teacher.

A complete contrast to how many may practice today, without a guru and to shed calories, stay happy or keep up with the latest fad. Not to say that all practitioners have adopted this habit; however, this has become the norm.

Will this new approach help us lose sight of the foundation of yoga? Or, will it become more inclusive of those who are not able to follow the strict regime that once was?

Perdons-nous les fondements du Yoga? 

Vous ne pouvez pas nier que le yoga est devenu populaire, pour plusieurs raisons. Les bienfaits du yoga n'ont pas besoin d'être convaincants, et beaucoup décrivent leur relation avec le yoga comme une dépendance et quelque chose qui les a aidés à faire face à la vie.

Cela a aidé l'industrie du yoga à récolter des milliards de dollars en ventes et des millions, voire des milliards, en jurant par cette pratique.

Alors, comment le yoga a-t-il évolué au cours de la dernière décennie et où va-t-il? Beaucoup ont des opinions mitigées sur l'avenir du yoga: certains s'inquiètent que le monde occidental corrompra l'authenticité de ce qu'il a à offrir à l'étudiant; Cependant, d'autres ont prétendu que cela sauverait le monde occidental et les pratiquants. Je me concentre sur le monde occidental parce que nous sommes tellement concentrés sur le consumérisme, l'achat et les dépenses sur des choses qui nous aident à rester heureux. Lequel, beaucoup ont prétendu que le yoga fait. Comment une pratique, pratiquée seulement par un groupe d'élite pendant des milliers d'années en Inde, est-elle devenue si populaire dans l'Ouest récemment? Vous pourriez répondre que Bishnu Gosh, Bikram Choudry, Iyengar et Dharma Mittra répandant leurs connaissances ici ont quelque chose à voir avec cela. Mais, si le yoga était pratiqué comme il était, serait-ce aussi populaire? Laissez-moi vous donner une brève histoire du yoga. Le yoga remonte à avant que la première écriture ait été découverte il y a plus de 5000 ans. Ensuite, les Soutras de Patanjali ont été écrits il y a environ 2000 ans. Le yoga était strictement pratiqué avec un gourou et couplé avec un régime strict par le pratiquant ainsi que le chant et la méditation. Très différent d'aujourd'hui, il n'y avait pas de stars du yoga ou des vétérans en raison du refus du yoga par le gouvernement britannique, la pratique était un secret et seulement pour ceux qui étaient complètement dévoués à l'étude pendant de nombreuses années avant même de devenir enseignant.

Un contraste complet avec ce que beaucoup peuvent pratiquer aujourd'hui, sans gourou et sans calories, rester heureux ou suivre la dernière mode. Pour ne pas dire que tous les pratiquants ont adopté cette habitude; Cependant, c'est devenu la norme. Les Cette nouvelle approche nous aidera-t-elle à perdre de vue les bases du yoga? Ou, deviendra-t-il plus inclusif de ceux qui ne sont pas capables de suivre le régime strict qui était autrefois? 

Estamos perdiendo de vista los fundamentos del Yoga? 

No se puede negar que el yoga se ha vuelto popular, por muchas razones. Los beneficios del yoga no necesitan ser convincentes, ya que muchos describen su relación con el yoga como una adicción y algo que les ha ayudado a lidiar con la vida.

Esto ha ayudado a The Yoga Industry a obtener miles de millones de dólares en ventas y millones, sino miles de millones, jurando por esta práctica.

Entonces, ¿cómo ha evolucionado el yoga en la última década y hacia dónde se dirige? Muchos tienen opiniones encontradas sobre el futuro del yoga: a algunos les preocupa que The Western World corrompa la autenticidad de lo que tiene que ofrecerle al estudiante; sin embargo, otros han afirmado que salvará a The Western World y a los practicantes.

Me concentro en The Western World porque nos centramos tanto en el consumismo, la compra y el gasto en cosas que nos ayudan a mantenernos felices. Que, muchos han afirmado que el yoga lo hace. ¿Cómo fue que una práctica, practicada solo por unos pocos elite durante miles de años en la India, se volvió tan popular en The West recientemente? Podrías responder que Bishnu Gosh, Bikram Choudry, Iyengar y Dharma Mittra difundir sus conocimientos aquí tenían algo que ver con eso. Pero, si el yoga se practicara como solía ser, ¿sería tan popular?

Déjame darte una breve historia de yoga. El yoga se remonta a antes de que se descubriera la primera letra hace más de 5000 años. Entonces, Los Sutras de Patanjali fueron escritos hace aproximadamente 2000 años. El yoga se practicaba estrictamente con un gurú y se combinaba con una dieta estricta por parte del practicante, además de cantar y meditar.

Muy diferente a hoy, no había estrellas de yoga o veteranos debido a la negación de yoga del Gobierno británico, la práctica era un secreto y solo para aquellos que se habían dedicado por completo a ser estudiantes durante muchos años antes incluso de pensar en convertirse en maestros. Un completo contraste con cuántos pueden practicar hoy, sin un gurú y arrojar calorías, mantenerse felices o mantenerse al día con la última moda. No quiere decir que todos los practicantes hayan adoptado este hábito; sin embargo, esto se ha convertido en la norma.

¿Este nuevo enfoque nos ayudará a perder de vista la base del yoga? O, ¿será más inclusivo para aquellos que no pueden seguir el régimen estricto que alguna vez fue?  

Dear yoga, I love you

image by Getty Images  

Dear Yoga,

You have been there for me most of my life. However, I fell deeply in love with you when I was in my late teens as I discovered that you can develop my physical and mental character.

When I wanted to numb the pain during a challenging break-up, you taught me that going though pain isn't as dramatic as I had previously thought it to be. You taught me that the same emotions that allow me to smile are those that allow me to cry. Contrary to what I had always believed, smiling isn't better than crying. The emotions that I have when I smile and cry work together to allow me a variety of feelings.

When I hated my body and the way that I looked, you taught me that my body has many more functions than to look pleasing to others. You taught me that my body is doing healthy things for me all the time and you opened me up to have genuine appreciation for my body and my health.

When I was a judgemental and cynical person, you showed me that it is harder to carry negative weight than it is to live with lightness and positivity. You taught me that wanting things to be what others had convinced me was perfect is truly a waste of my time and energy. Through my practice I have learnt that being harsh on myself and others won't bring anything valuable into my life.

When I had stopped believing that I was capable of achieving anything successful in my life, you showed me that I can create my own idea of success. You showed me that to be kind, humble, peaceful, compassionate and content is the type of success that I want to achieve in my life.

Thank you, yoga.

I love you

4 things that all yoga students need to know.

Image by Getty Images  

Although I’ve been a yoga teacher for many years, I started as a student and I will remain a student (first and foremost).

As a student, I have learned a few things about how to maximize my yoga practice. And, I would like to share them with you.

Don’t get me wrong, my students and other students around me inspire me everyday. However, I have come across students who are almost about to injure themselves or those who are not taking full advantage of the powerful benefits of yoga.

This is what I would like all students to know:

1. Be true

I’m such a fan of students giving their all, it’s very inspiring. But, there’s a fine line between effort and force. You can give 100% effort and be safe but you can’t give 100% force and be safe. If it’s not time to be in the full expression of the pose, give it time. Don’t force anything.

2. Enjoy the class.

When I first started practicing, I would torment myself in my head. I would ask myself questions like, when will this be over? Why is it so hot in a hot room? What is that smell? Why does the guy next to me keep farting? My mind would let loose. I see my students doing the same thing, letting their minds run their yogic experience. One of the best things that you can do in a yoga class is enjoy it. Enjoying the class can allow your muscles and tension to relax. You might also leave with a smile on your face and a yoga high.

3. Learn a bit about anatomy.

Yoga teachers are human and with any human, we perfect things over time. Expecting a fresh yoga teacher to know everything is like expecting a baby to walk at two-months-old. When I started practicing, I would get annoyed with teachers for not knowing what they were talking about, only ruining my own practice. I found peace by doing my own research and allowing teachers be human and learn over time.

4. Form first.

Like I mentioned before, being true to your practice is important. Not being true to someone else’s. It’s great when practitioners are able to do a forearm stand; it’s also great when a practitioner can sit in stillness. Get rid of the notion that you have to hurt and push your body to find peace. You will find your fullest posture expression by working with your anatomy, not someone else’s.

4 choses que tous les étudiants de yoga doivent savoir

Bien que je sois professeur de yoga depuis de nombreuses années, j'ai commencé comme étudiant et je resterai un étudiant (avant tout). En tant qu'étudiant, j'ai appris quelques choses sur la façon de maximiser ma pratique du yoga. Et, j'aimerais les partager avec vous. Ne vous méprenez pas, mes étudiants et d'autres étudiants autour de moi m'inspirent tous les jours. Cependant, j'ai rencontré des étudiants qui sont sur le point de se blesser ou qui ne profitent pas pleinement des avantages puissants du yoga. C'est ce que je voudrais que tous les élèves sachent:

1. Soyez vrai

Je suis un fan des étudiants qui donnent tout, c'est très inspirant. Mais, il y a une fine ligne entre l'effort et la force. Vous pouvez donner 100% d'effort et être en sécurité, mais vous ne pouvez pas donner 100% de force et être en sécurité. Si ce n'est pas le moment d'être dans la pleine expression de la pose, donnez-lui le temps. Ne forcez rien.

2. Profitez de la classe.

Quand j'ai commencé à pratiquer, je me torturais dans ma tête. Je me poserais des questions comme, quand cela sera-t-il terminé? Pourquoi est-il si chaud dans une pièce chaude? Quelle est cette odeur? Pourquoi le gars à côté de moi continue à péter? Mon esprit allait se déchaîner. Je vois mes étudiants faire la même chose, laissant leurs esprits courir leur expérience de yoga. Une des meilleures choses que vous pouvez faire dans un cours de yoga est d'en profiter. Profiter de la classe peut permettre à vos muscles et à votre tension de se détendre. Vous pouvez également partir avec un sourire sur votre visage et un yoga élevé.

3. En savoir un peu plus sur l'anatomie.

Les professeurs de yoga sont humains et avec n'importe quel humain, nous perfectionnons les choses au fil du temps. S'attendre à ce qu'un nouveau professeur de yoga sache tout, c'est comme attendre un bébé à marcher à deux mois. Quand je commençais à pratiquer, je me fâchais avec les professeurs de ne pas savoir de quoi ils parlaient, ne faisant que ruiner ma propre pratique. J'ai trouvé la paix en faisant mes propres recherches et en permettant aux enseignants d'être humains et d'apprendre avec le temps.

4. Formez d'abord.

Comme je l'ai déjà mentionné, il est important d'être fidèle à votre pratique. Ne pas être fidèle à quelqu'un d'autre. C'est génial quand les pratiquants sont capables de faire un stand d'avant-bras; c'est aussi génial quand un pratiquant peut s'asseoir dans le calme. Débarrassez-vous de la notion que vous devez blesser et pousser votre corps à trouver la paix. Vous trouverez votre expression de posture la plus complète en travaillant avec votre anatomie, pas celle de quelqu'un d'autre.

 4 cosas que todos los estudiantes de yoga necesitan saber

A pesar de que he sido profesor de yoga durante muchos años, comencé como estudiante y seguiré siendo un estudiante (en primer lugar).

Como estudiante, aprendí algunas cosas sobre cómo maximizar mi práctica de yoga. Y me gustaría compartirlos con usted. No me malinterpreten, mis estudiantes y otros estudiantes a mi alrededor me inspiran todos los días. Sin embargo, me he encontrado con estudiantes que están a punto de lastimarse o que no aprovechan al máximo los poderosos beneficios del yoga. Esto es lo que me gustaría que todos los estudiantes supieran:

1. Sé verdadero

Soy tan fanático de que los estudiantes lo den todo, es muy inspirador. Pero, hay una delgada línea entre el esfuerzo y la fuerza. Puedes dar el 100% de esfuerzo y estar seguro pero no puedes dar el 100% de fuerza y  estar a salvo. Si no es el momento de estar en la expresión completa de la pose, dale tiempo. No fuerces nada.

2. Disfruta la clase.

Cuando comencé a practicar, me atormentaba en mi cabeza. Me haría preguntas , ¿cuándo terminará esto? ¿Por qué hace tanto calor en una habitación caliente? ¿Que es ese olor? ¿Por qué el hombre a mi lado sigue tirando un pedo? Mi mente soltaría. Veo a mis alumnos haciendo lo mismo, dejando que sus mentes ejecuten su experiencia de yoga. Una de las mejores cosas que puedes hacer en una clase de yoga es disfrutarlo. Disfrutar de la clase puede permitir que tus músculos y tensión se relajen. También puede irse con una sonrisa en la cara y un yoga alto.

3. Aprende un poco sobre la anatomía.

Los profesores de yoga son humanos y con cualquier ser humano, perfeccionamos las cosas con el tiempo. Esperar que un maestro de yoga nuevo sepa todo es como esperar que un bebé camine a los dos meses de edad. Cuando comencé a practicar, me molestaba con los maestros por no saber de qué estaban hablando, solo arruinando mi propia práctica. Encontré la paz haciendo mi propia investigación y permitiendo que los maestros sean humanos y aprendan con el tiempo.

4. Forma primero.

Como mencioné antes, ser fiel a tu práctica es importante. No ser fiel a los de otra persona. Es genial cuando los practicantes son capaces de hacer una parada de antebrazo; también es genial cuando un practicante puede sentarse en quietud. Deshágase de la idea de que tiene que herir y empujar a su cuerpo para encontrar la paz. Encontrarás la expresión más completa de tu postura trabajando con tu anatomía, no con la de otra persona.

Somethings to consider before you buy a yoga mat.

 Do I need a yoga mat?

This is an important question to consider. On one hand, a yoga mat isn’t actually a requirement to practice yoga, in fact, some prefer to go matless for a variety of reasons. With the rise in popularity of outdoor yoga, some people find that they connect better with various surfaces without anything between them and the ground.

On the other hand, a yoga mat is a great reminder of your orientation within a room and can serve as a guideline to stay aligned during harder yoga flows. Other people find that their mat creates a boundary of personal space and that the mat indicates their specific area in the studio. And of course, some of us who sweat more find mats to be a more safe option to avoid slipping.

•Finding a mat that’s right for you

For the majority of us, using a mat is the way to go, but the search for a great one can be exhausting. So many yoga mats seem extremely similar, yet the options and features out there are endless. There is no singular perfect mat for everybody, but finding what’s best for your needs can help facilitate mental and physical advances in your practice.

The team at Reviews.com spent hours researching dozens of mats, focusing on the unique needs of different types of yogis and practices. After consulting professionals and looking at existing research, they determined a few important factors when looking for a great mat for your practice:

•Texture

We’ve all seen the yoga mat section of a sporting goods store: bright colors, beautiful designs and all kinds of textures to choose from. Does any of that really matter? As it turns out, it might. While the design of the mat comes down to personal preference, some people find that a more detailed texture on their mat helps with grip quite a bit. If that’s something that is important to your practice, you’ll want to opt for a mat with more texture for a better grip.


•Material

Many of the most popular mats on the market are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This works great in normal classes for many yogis, but there are other options. For an eco-friendly material (or if you just like a different feel), you can check out mats made of natural recycled rubber, resin, bamboo, hemp, jute or cotton. These are also great options if you’re looking to branch out and try something new.

•Thickness

One of the most important parts of yoga is balance and strength.There is evidence that a regular yoga practice can improve balance. Of course, a super-thick mat can make it hard to hit harder poses, where a very thin mat may not provide enough cushion to keep you comfortable during class. Mats tend to range from 1/16 of an inch to ¼ of an inch (and even thicker), so there’s enough variety to suit many different yogis’ preferences.

•Mat surface

One option you’ll have as you look at various materials is the cell structure. This refers to whether or not moisture is absorbed into the mat, and cells can be open or closed. Closed-cell mats don’t absorb moisture well, so anything that gets on the mat tends to stay on the surface. This tends to make them easy to wipe clean for those who don’t have lots of time for mat maintenance. Open-cell mats are more absorbent, which is great for classes where you’ll sweat more, as it will help the surface stay more dry.

When it comes down to it, the yoga mat that’s best for you depends on your unique needs. Keeping these factors in mind can help you navigate all of the options out there and find a great mat for your practice. To check out the mats that Reviews.com recommends and to see their findings, take a peek here: https://www.reviews.com/best-yoga-mat/

This article was sourced by www.reviews.com.  

Editted by Hali Tsotetsi

Where did Bikram go?

Photo courtesy of GQ magazine

Over the past five years, we have seen the dark side of Bikram Choudhury come to light.

It all began when former students like Sarah Baughn and Larissa Anderson bravely came forward with their stories about being physically assaulted by The Bikram Yoga Founder. This was followed by many others coming forward as well as Vanity Fair publishing an article on him that caused a lot of controversy.

This article, which was published in December 2013, clearly describes Mr. Choudhury as someone who took advantage of his former students. The controversial article mentions the different phrases that Bikram used to lure his former students into sleeping with him or blatantly raping them. 

Sara Baughn was interviewed by ABC news alleging that she was forced to engage in sexual intercourse with Bikram while his wife and kids were asleep upstairs in his California mansion.

Bikram was later interviewed by ABC news claiming that the allegations were due to American people wanting to defame him and what he has done for this country. He seems like has no remorse for what has happened; however, he turns it around to blame the women and this country for thinking such a thing of him.He claims that his yoga has helped heal many, including former President Johnson, from illnesses that Western doctors were not able to.

As someone who practices this type of yoga at least four times a week, I was dis-heartened to believe the allegations. I wondered how someone who gave so much to The Yoga Community behave in such a savage way, allegedly. Truthfully, the twenty-six postures and two breathing exercises helped me through two big heartbreaks, job- changes and life.

My wonder led me to find out what had happened to Bikram and where he is now. You might be asking, why I care? I care because I have noticed a trend in this celebrity-world that is a love or hate. People fall off the map of our minds once they are no longer significant to us. Can we still love someone and appreciate them for what they have taught and shown us regardless of their wrong-doingings?

After googling Bikram Choudhury, I found out that he is in India. I wondered how he could end up back in India after establishing a life here with his wife and kids? I also found out that he is now divorced and owes his former employee, Minakshi Jafa-Bodden, $7 million according to another Vanity Fair article.

Ms. Jafa-Bodden claimed that she was the lawyer who had to deal with Bikram's allegations and was treated inhumanely by Mr. Choudhury. She also sued him based on being inappropriately touched and violated by The Yoga Champion. Her lawyer, Aaron Osten, says that Bikram threatened her life and family.

As many others came forward in the lawsuit against Mr. Choudhury, a California Judge warranted an arrest for Bikram Choudhury on the grounds of sexual harassment and unfair dismissal of Ms. Jafa-Bodden. However, instead of co-operating with the California legal system, Bikram Choudhury fled to India - where he has not been able to be located.

His wife, Rajeshree Choudhury, filed for legal separation and then divorced him in 2016. 'In the past few years, The Bikram community knew that they were not really married', says a source who owns a Bikram studio.

As for the people who own Bikram studios? Many are ecstatic that they can attract new customers with the addition of hot Pilates, hot vinyasa or other additions.

As many hot studios change their name, some other studios worry that this is how Bikram Yoga will be remembered and associated with.

So, can we know what we know about the creator of this practice and still practice it?