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| take a look! call him what you want, you can't say he's boring. http://www.motherjones.com/news/dispatch/2005/03/Money_Pose.html |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
 
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | All I could see was File not Found on this website. |
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| Try it again Cyndi Lou--I fixed the link. |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Thanks Bruce, but that really s*%ks!! I couldn't read the entire article...they wanted me to pay $10 for a subscription. So, will you paste it here so we can read it, I know you paid the $10 to read the rest of it  |
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| thanks bruce...i read enough!!
eeeewwwww (insert gagging smiley here)! |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
 
Location: A Blue State |
Ick.  |
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| Yuck, he really should be ashamed of himself.
By the way I sent it to my mom, and she said that he really sounds like a Pr*ck....couldn't have said it better myself.
.....But, I still love the yoga 
Edited by Gracie 2005-03-30 10:21 PM
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Expert Yogi
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Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | and he has a great BODY too!!!! Must be doing something right! |
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| Cyndi wrote: " So, will you paste it here so we can read it, I know you paid the $10 to read the rest of it  " Bikram and his thieving apostles already have stolen my money--ain't getting anymore unless the purchased portion shows him in a lip lock with Brintey Spears. |
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| *shakes head in bewilderment and muttering'only in America'*
If this article truly repersents a session with Bikram himself, would someone please explain why on earth this form of yoga seems to be so popular?
I got a headache just reading about it!
Fee
Edited by Orbilia 2005-03-31 7:34 AM
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| Bruce - 2005-03-31 6:51 AM
Cyndi wrote: " So, will you paste it here so we can read it, I know you paid the $10 to read the rest of it " Bikram and his thieving apostles already have stolen my money--ain't getting anymore unless the purchased portion shows him in a lip lock with Brintey Spears.
I could see the entire article without registering or paying a fee. Also, it should be noted that the $10 fee request at the top of the page is for a subscription to Mother Jones magazine. |
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| Probably has his own fitness instructor and cook judging from the Roller and the Rolex ;-)
Fee
Cyndi - 2005-03-31 4:34 AM
and he has a great BODY too!!!! Must be doing something right! |
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| Orbilia - 2005-03-31 7:33 AM
If this article truly repersents a session with Bikram himself, would someone please explain why on earth this form of yoga seems to be so popular?
I believe it is the yoga which is so exceedingly popular and believed in, not necessarily the man himself. I'm certain he would be the first to admit that he's not looking to win any popularity contests.
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| So a 'normal' Bikram class would not be taught in his style?
Fee |
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| The classes I've had with Bikram himself have never been quite so outrageous as described in that article but some came close. I'm not one to try to explain or defend Bikram, the man, but I am sure he is well aware of the effect that his actions and words can have on people.
The mood and tenor of any class is ultimately determined by the teacher (and of course by the studio management/owners). There may be some Bikram instructors who try to emulate Bikram's personality and teaching style but in my experience they are in the minority and will hopefully some day find their own voice. I have met many inspiring Bikram Yoga instructors and practitioners.
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I was able to read the first part of the article, didn't try to get the 2nd part.
what I read was right on target with my experience. classes are l-o-n-g ego masturbation sessions- peppered with insults and profanity.
the grabbing of "the tiger" (?) was a new one. I never saw him do that.
it WAS made clear however that the Speedo contained TNT. ("2 mega tons" BTW...)
all of this has no effect on how I feel about Hot Yoga/Bikram Yoga.
it does help me remember to keep good company- and that in this instance, being "on the fringe" is way better than being "in the fold".
Stepping ever so lightly,
Dee
Edited by miss dee 2005-03-31 9:26 AM
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| thanks for fixing the link, Bruce. i guess copying and pasting links doesn't work? i'm half a luddite bout this stuff. what do you do to post links correctly?
anyway- and this is not to take away from him as an amazing businessman and inspiring( to some) teacher- but his personality seems to have some manic components. any health care professionals have an opinion? |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State |
How about extreme infantilism as a diagnosis?
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| A 'normal' Bikram class is not like this. I have never had an instructor grab his/her crotch and rant about their package. That is nasty, especially considering that he isn't the most attractive person I have ever seen. If it were Brad Pitt, maybe I would have a differing opinion (just kidding, anyone doing that is stupid). On the other hand, I have attended a studio owned by his friends (who demonstrated positions in his book), and found them to be extremely rude and crude. This opinion is shared by a lot of people, who refuse to attend their studio now. They yell derogatory things to students about the way they look and their bodies, when they really shouldn't talk. I guess the closer you are to the man, the more you try and emulate him. I agree with Miss Dee, the more out to the fringe the teachers are, the better they are. |
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| Wow that's frightening. |
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| ebenjen - 2005-04-02 7:08 AM
The mood and tenor of any class is ultimately determined by the teacher (and of course by the studio management/owners). There may be some Bikram instructors who try to emulate Bikram's personality and teaching style but in my experience they are in the minority and will hopefully some day find their own voice. I have met many inspiring Bikram Yoga instructors and practitioners.
I agree with this. but there are SO SO many who buy into it, hook line and stinker. (tee hee)
Many, just as this and other articles describe, respond to him with "rock star" like madness.
I've seen and still see those who treat and repeat his every word as literal truth. (there is a teacher deep in the fold who actually sounds like "B". To hear it, it's almost an exact copy. not in the class only but all the time. very strange- since SHE is American and was born up north in one of the Yankee states! I am purposely vague with details as I do not want to offend anyone, but those who have been to the TT know who I am talking about...) Another Male that was in my TT class from the SE likes to peel off his shirt and brag about his "B" Body in class. Sheesh!
You have to be careful and make sure your "B" teacher continues their education- (somewhere other than "THE COLLEGE") and teaches with more allowance and compassion understanding than the typical "monologue" class. This is a great series and a wonderful idea to add the heat. No need to make it harder than it is by ignoring present and potential injuries or by pissing folks off.
I often stop class and demonstrate, break postures down and explain them. I am constantly correcting students directly with useful corrections not with commentary or demeaning banter.
I cant imagine teaching yoga any other way. Too bad so many do.
Peace.
Dee
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| Cyndi - 2005-03-30 9:34 PM
and he has a great BODY too!!!! Must be doing something right!
He does not eat very much and does steam room or suana treatment alot. I still think he does not do hatha yoga. Might have changed, but in 2000 it was five years since he had a yoga routine. |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | After reading what you guys say about the Teachers that come from TT...it just dawned on me. The people that regurgitate the way Bikram acts and the things he says is so ridiculous and stupid. Coming from Bikram, it sounds great, and I'm totally not offended, because I understand him. Now, coming from an American - that is totally different. I take Bikram with a grain of salt and I chuckle at what he says and I like him - a lot.....but an American who is just blabbering and regurgitating someone else, and who is doing it un-mindfully - trying to act like they are smart and enlightened is not only silly, but it even would sound stupid and downright offensive due to their not having the personality and finesse that Bikram obviously has. |
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| Cyndi - 2005-04-02 3:28 PM
trying to act like they are smart and enlightened is not only silly, but it even would sound stupid and downright offensive due to their not having the personality and finesse that Bikram obviously has.
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: New York | Cyndi - 2005-03-31 4:28 PM
After reading what you guys say about the Teachers that come from TT...it just dawned on me. The people that regurgitate the way Bikram acts and the things he says is so ridiculous and stupid. Coming from Bikram, it sounds great, and I'm totally not offended, because I understand him. Now, coming from an American - that is totally different. I take Bikram with a grain of salt and I chuckle at what he says and I like him - a lot.....but an American who is just blabbering and regurgitating someone else, and who is doing it un-mindfully - trying to act like they are smart and enlightened is not only silly, but it even would sound stupid and downright offensive due to their not having the personality and finesse that Bikram obviously has.
Finesse?!? How much finesse is required to belch, grab your balls and holler that you are a Bengal tiger? All due respect, but I think that perhaps "finesse" is the wrong "f" word to use here.
I have a lot more to say here but at the risk of detainment by the negative police, I'll refrain.
OMMMMMMMMMM  |
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| I talked to the director of our Bikram school tonight about the article. He says that Bikram has a light side and dark side, and when he's in tune with his higher goals, he's tremendous. But the director of my school told me that our school will be broadening out soon to adopt other yoga styles into the curriculum. He'll include Bikram classes if Bikram will allow such a thing, but if not, the school will drop Bikram and introduce other yoga styles. After that article on Bikram and the assurances from my school's director that other forms of yoga are just as beneficial to my bad back as Bikram, I can't say I mind. That article was a shocker.
Jeri |
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| i'm curious cyndi, why do you think he does & says the things he does? what's your theory? |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Hmmmm- I get a clearer picture now of why so many people say "I love Bikram yoga BUT..." There always seems to be a qualifier with Bikram yogis.
Cyndi - I think I have a vague clue of what you mean. There are some pretty outlandish and impossible people out there that you just accept but those who imitate (my kids used to call them "try-hards") just look foolish. Nevertheless - not my cuppa chai. |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Sirensong,
My observation comes from the fact that I've been around Indian, Tibetan and Asian people for a long time now and I'm married to one. These people do not take things so serious like we Americans and Europeans do. Some people think that to practice Yoga is like some kind of Sunday School or Baptist Bible Study and its not. Having that said, Bikram is just having fun, being himself and enjoying his life - which is what we should be doing too to get the maximum benefits!! He is also sharing a part of himself and the way I see it, its all innocent fun. We just take things so seriously and are sooo uptight and judgemental about everything - finding fault and critizing. Its a bad habit that is hard to break. Its also about one of the most important metaphysical laws that needs to be observed very carefully. One of the things about having a guru is that they will drive you absolutely crazy - they sorda have a way of mirroring ourselves and basically they are just telling us to "LIGHTEN THE HECK UP"!! It's part of being a true yogi - light, happy, fun, full of life and at the same time, serious when it matters. This is not to say that there are not serious guru's out there, there are. But this one in particular just has his own style and its really okay. As for the obnoxious teachers that don't GET IT, I would keep my distance from them and shake it off. There is always the essence of the truth in everything and that is what I look for, I usually find it in most things. My tolerance test seems to be with these Mountain Hillbilly Rednecks & Bible Thumpers that I live around, LOL!! I'll take on 20 Bikrams any day compared to these guys! 
Edited by Cyndi 2005-03-31 9:00 PM
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State | tourist - 2005-03-31 8:06 PM
Hmmmm- I get a clearer picture now of why so many people say "I love Bikram yoga BUT..." There always seems to be a qualifier with Bikram yogis.
.
I haven't met anybody teaching Bikram yoga who doesn't eventually either start
apologizing for his behaviour or saying "I love the yoga, but not the man" (or questioning
the entire premise).
BTW, he's not in the running to be the guru for Iron John Yoga. Iron John yogi's don't
act like that.
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| Is there really such a thing as Iron John yoga?
Jeri |
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| Yes, Jeri, there is Iron John yoga. It exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Iron John yoga! It would be as dreary as if there were no Jeris. There would be no macho faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which male yogidom fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Iron John yoga! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your husband to watch in all the yoga studios on any weekday morning to catch a guy skippuing work to practice, but even if you did not see them in the class, what would that prove? Nobody sees men ditching work to practice, but that is no sign that there is no Iron John yoga. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Jeri, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Iron John yoga! Thank God! it lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Jeri, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, it will continue to make glad the heart of manhood. --with apologies to Francis P. Church
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| Wow! So there really is Iron John Yoga. I better get my wish list together!
Jeri |
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| While composing your list, just remember that we Iron John Yogis know when you've been sleeping, we know when you're awake, we know when you've been bad or good...so be afraid...be very afraid... |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State |
There's been a report of an Iron John Yoga thread on the second or third page
of the General Yoga forum. |
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| Bay Guy - 2005-04-01 7:46 AM
There's been a report of an Iron John Yoga thread on the second or third page
of the General Yoga forum.
Thank you! Now I get it! There really IS such a thing as Iron John yoga!
Jeri |
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| Bruce - 2005-04-02 9:28 PM
While composing your list, just remember that we Iron John Yogis know when you've been sleeping, we know when you're awake, we know when you've been bad or good...
but can we sit on your lap ?? |
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| Ho, ho, ho...Thought you'd never ask... |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Oooh, that is so gross....ALL YOU YOGINI'S OUT THERE, DON'T LOWER YOURSELVES TO THEIR LAPS.. We must ban together, afterall they are our slaves, we are the QueenYogini's, not lap Yogini's |
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| i digress...but what can i say? santa claus references get me everytime....that has me analyzing santa claus from a whole different angle |
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| Cyndi - 2005-04-02 10:57 AM
Sirensong,
My observation comes from the fact that I've been around Indian, Tibetan and Asian people for a long time now and I'm married to one. These people do not take things so serious like we Americans and Europeans do. Some people think that to practice Yoga is like some kind of Sunday School or Baptist Bible Study and its not. Having that said, Bikram is just having fun, being himself and enjoying his life - which is what we should be doing too to get the maximum benefits!! He is also sharing a part of himself and the way I see it, its all innocent fun. We just take things so seriously and are sooo uptight and judgemental about everything - finding fault and critizing. Its a bad habit that is hard to break. Its also about one of the most important metaphysical laws that needs to be observed very carefully. One of the things about having a guru is that they will drive you absolutely crazy - they sorda have a way of mirroring ourselves and basically they are just telling us to "LIGHTEN THE HECK UP"!! It's part of being a true yogi - light, happy, fun, full of life and at the same time, serious when it matters. This is not to say that there are not serious guru's out there, there are. But this one in particular just has his own style and its really okay. As for the obnoxious teachers that don't GET IT, I would keep my distance from them and shake it off. There is always the essence of the truth in everything and that is what I look for, I usually find it in most things. My tolerance test seems to be with these Mountain Hillbilly Rednecks & Bible Thumpers that I live around, LOL!! I'll take on 20 Bikrams any day compared to these guys!
now i am calling you out dear!
santa7s lap is "grosser" than bikram's crotch grab 
you said: We just take things so seriously and are sooo uptight and judgemental about everything - finding fault and critizing.....in the same thread no less. |
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| miss dee - 2005-03-31 2:35 PM
You have to be careful and make sure your "B" teacher continues their education- (somewhere other than "THE COLLEGE") and teaches with more allowance and compassion understanding than the typical "monologue" class. This is a great series and a wonderful idea to add the heat. No need to make it harder than it is by ignoring present and potential injuries or by pissing folks off.
I often stop class and demonstrate, break postures down and explain them. I am constantly correcting students directly with useful corrections not with commentary or demeaning banter.
I cant imagine teaching yoga any other way. Too bad so many do.
Thanks for the Warning. If I want behavior like that I can turn on MTV or the Comedy Channel late at night. Several instructors have mentioned that his wife is amazing.
For those of us who are not Bikramites and use other forms as our main type, the teachers who follow your advice really shows. They have more concern for the students and are more inclined to deal with modifications.
It's just as important to know when to get out of the monologue as it is to know when to use it. |
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| I am having images of Krishna in lotus with a female on his lap facing him with her legs wrapped around him and her head tilted up kissing him. Very sacred. |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State |
That image sounds like a Yab Yum. |
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Bikram in MotherJones Mag.