Like the strongly pitta personality that insists they are only fulfilled by hot fast-paced practices, or the kapha person that revels in restorative classes, it seems many high tech employees want yoga classes they give only part of their attention to. According to Alice Van Ness, the now infamous yoga teacher, coming in late, leaving early, and an inability abandon phones or relax are overwhelmingly common with this crowd.
Some believe that distracted yoga is better than no yoga at all; yet the pitta person still needs cooling, the kapha person still needs cardio exercise, and the obsessive multi-tasker still needs to practice stillness and focus. This is how we achieve balance; we include in our practice not just the things we like, want, or find easy, but the things that may be uncomfortable or don’t come as easily to us.
Most yoga teachers truly want to help their students achieve this balance. When the woman pulled her phone out in the midst of half moon pose, the teacher said nothing. She only gave her a look; granted, it was the look that both parents and teachers know, the look that says ‘you know better’. What many children and students don’t understand is how much caring can be behind those looks. Van Ness later commented, “Really? Your e-mail is more important than understanding your body? It’s more important than taking time for you? It’s more important than everyone else here?” Clearly not understanding this concept, the student reported that she felt Van Ness made a spectacle of her. If she still doesn’t get it, the irony of the situation is probably passing her by, too.
We are clearly a culture out of balance when we can complain about the negative consequences of our own bad behavior and expect someone else to be punished. Companies like Plus One Health Management, the company Facebook contracts to teach fitness classes, help us perpetuate our imbalances. In response to the firing of Van Ness they commented, “unless a client requires us to specifically say no to something, we prefer to say yes whenever possible.” Even if that means running towards those imbalances full steam ahead.
Has the struggle to survive been replaced with the desire to remain comfortable at all times? What do you think about the firing at Facebook?
My point was not to judge the teacher or the student, but rather to point out how hard it can be to let go of things that do not serve us, even in our yoga, meditation, or other spiritual practices.
Namaste
Amber
