I have found myself a bit overwhelmed lately about the path of yoga in so many classes I attend and media I watch and read. I don't strive nor claim to be a "purist" by any means, yet I still cannot shake the notion that so much of the yoga "for sale" today is somewhat removed from the meditative, contemplative, ego-controlling practice I have come to know and love. So many times, rather than teaching students how to relieve themselves of the control of the ego, many teachers are allowing themselves being controlled and driven by their egos--whether it be through their clothes, how many students they have in class, how many "master teachers" they've studied with, how many students "like" them on Facebook, or how many views they get on YouTube. They are driven by these phenomena, rather than being motivated purely by the reliability and effectiveness of the teachings they are striving to share. By the time a student arrives to a teacher, all these external influences, the desire to "succeed" and become a much-loved yoga teacher, have somewhat tainted the original message.
What are we missing here?
The overwhelming popularity of yoga in the West is partially responsible for the shift in focus. With so many people becoming interested in getting their weekly yoga fix, usually in less than an hour's time, teachers are trying to deliver the message to a larger, more diverse population, and trying to keep everyone happy in the process. With so many new students, many of whom are somewhat concerned that the teachings of yoga may conflict with their own spiritual beliefs, teachers are avoiding the spiritual, psychological aspects of the practice altogether. Left with only asana to teach, instructors are left with more space to worry about wardrobe, soundtrack and inspirational quotes, rather than delivering the scientific facts that yoga practice is designed to teach us to withdraw our senses in order to see the truth.
So, if yoga is truly a deeper, more powerful, more meditative practice than simply asana. If it truly is about recognition of the ego as the driver behind our thoughts, words and actions, what does it say that so many of today's "up and coming" yoga teachers allow themselves to fall victim to the very ego yoga is designed to help us vanquish? I've been so saddened to see some truly beautiful and inspirational yogis follow the path of celebrity, popularity, and the almighty dollar, seeming to forget the true meaning and practice of yoga. And yet, perhaps it's a case of "when in Rome..." I know many teachers who also claim that they are using their celebrity-yoga-teacher, best-that-money-can-buy status to further propagate the teachings; because they're famous, they'll be able to get the message to more people. This may be true, but I also think that only a true master of yoga can walk the fine line between Guru and Celebrity Yoga Model without losing some connection to the true Self, without letting the Ego regain a bit (if not a lot) of control. Can a yoga teacher become a yoga celebrity and still walk the yogic talk? The teachings of yoga have been around for centuries—they speak for themselves. But is the teacher capable of living the teachings they're committed to delivering?
It shouldn’t matter if the conveyor of the message is wearing pink and blue designer yoga capris or sweats and a t-shirt; it shouldn’t matter if they’ve studied with 8 big name yoga “masters” or one true nameless guru; if they’ve traveled to exotic, far-off shalas or if they’ve taught upstairs at a natural grocer: if the teachings are true to the source, seek to shed the ego, aim to reveal the true nature of the Self—if the teacher walks the talk, then that ‘s all I need to know.
