The article
On July 19th, 2010, Mimi Schwartz wrote a five page article on the New York Times profiling John Friend and Anusara. I read it and had flashbacks of the Yoga Journal cover story on Anusara several years ago. In that article students of Anusara were described as "Friend Heads" and John was depicted as an Elvis Presley-type guru. In the New York Times article, there's something about the tone that I find similar to the Yoga Journal one- a tone that's a bit distrustful and mocking I guess. But overall I have to say that I'm humbled that Anusara was featured on the New York Times.
I was surprised by several things though, including the statement of "men and women pressing hotel keys" to John. I and several other teachers whom I have spoken to have never seen nor heard of that ever happening (that's not to say that it never has happened but truly in all these years we've never heard of that). And I was also surprised that of the teachers quoted in the article, none of them was an Anusara teacher. It would had been nice to have had Desiree Rumbaugh quote or Sianna Sherman quote.
But to be honest, I read it the article twice and then, kind of started to forget about it afterwards.
I can see why Anusara might seem a little strange for someone on the outside- it really is so different from most styles. I can see why people would have a hard time understanding it and how easy it can be to mock it.
And I also know, that as someone who has been doing Anusara since 2001, how life changing, transformative and creative this style is.
All in all this is a time for me to be grateful for my teacher and for my style of yoga. Tomorrow on the full moon of Guru Purnima, I'm just so grateful to all my teachers, to yoga, to Anusara, to my kula, and to the fact that every day, no matter what- I roll out my mat and do yoga. And no one will ever write an article about all of us who do that, so quietly, so humbly, with such ease and grace every day of our lives. Those of us who do our yoga, who try to live by the yamas and niyamas, who try to pause and respond from the highest, we will never be captured in these articles; we will just keep doing what we do, because we love it. No matter what.
Here here!!! It's so true!
We will keep showing up because the practice transforms us, because it connects us, it uplifts us, gives us strength and courage to offer our best selves and to touch this life with reverence and care. Because it leads us from the darkness into the light and reminds us that we are not separate, but that we are all One.
It's truly phenomenal! So we will keep showing up, no matter what.
And to the mockers and scoffers, in the words of John Lennon, "Imagine all the people, sharing all the world… You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday, you'll join us, and the world will live as One."
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Thanks for your summary of the NYT article. I also felt some uneasiness after reading it. A friend had recently asked about Anusara, and initially I thought, great I'll send him the link to this story. I decided not to...
I've yet to have the pleasure of meeting or taking a class with John Friend, but the NYT article widely missed the mark in term of how Anusara is taught by my teacher, Olga Rodriguez Rasmussen, and others I've taken class with. I began to practice Anusara in 2004, after several years of practicing other styles of yoga and it is now an integral part of my life.
Reading your blog posts adds to that joy, so thank you for all that you share!
Un abrazo,
Lavonne
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thanks for your lovely and balanced perspective on this. i came to similar conclusion, that what matters is what i experience in the practice and what i see in my immediate community, and the transformations that happen within myself. and to feel gratitude for the teachers in my life.
http://itsallyogababy.com/2010/07/25/nyt-on-john-friend-yoga-mogul
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