Reflections on Patriarchy, Pushing & Neck Injuries (vs. Being with What Is) in the Nepal India Yoga Scene
Are you feeling called to study yoga or chanting in India? Ever wonder what the yoga scene is actually like in international hotspots for yoga & spirituality, like Pokhara Nepal, Rishikesh India, or Dharmshala India?
Dear Katey Justice wrote this diary entry a while back about her experience taking yoga classes in Pokhara. Have a read, and get a feel for what a common experience of travellers and yoga students is these days. We hope it helps you discern what to look for in a teacher, so you can get the outcome you desire.
Pokhara Yoga Diaries, by Katey Justice
I stepped out of my room this morning and both fellow attendees of yesterday's yogāsana class were on the balcony. One was in a neck brace (he does have a pre-existing spine issue) and was stopping his week-long yoga retreat after 2 days of classes, and my neck pain was back following that yoga class.
The teacher was a young Indian guy. I don't mind being adjusted in classes, but during a sitting twist he twisted me round what felt like an additional 90 degrees (it wasn't this that hurt my neck, but certainly could have been!). It was forced, harsh and brutal. I was surprised by it, but I didn't say anything.
On reflection though, what was the purpose of that? I was already deep in the āsana that I knew well, I didn't require any forcing, brutality or harshness in my practice. I never require any of that. Does any body? For me, yogāsana is about being in my body, listening to my body, moving gently with care and respect, and stretching, flexibility and strength building all come along with that naturally and gently.
This type of forced teaching is not unusual.
As participants, we often give our power away to the "teacher", trusting that they know best, when actually, they know nothing at all about the bodies in the room and really should be encouraging and empowering each person to listen to their own body, not physically forcing their bodies for them.
I don't believe the words brutal, forced, command, harsh, push should ever apply to a yoga class, but these words all came up in the conversation I had with my two fellow class attendees about our experience.
This is a patriarchal system of power, pushing, striving, that I've run into far too often in the yoga world (including in remote Assynt in far north-west Scotland where I was living recently). Will this pushing, striving, forcing, lead you to union (yoga)?
Where is the feminine? Where is receptivity, listening, acceptance, and being with what is?
This is what I want to represent in my offerings as I begin to offer things.
Even within the nāda (sound) yoga world, it seems I will need to stand strong in my message of gentleness. Stand my ground on receptivity, rest and relaxation. What seems to be expected is loud and active, when what I plan to offer will be quiet, introspective, still, and sometimes silent.
Having been doubting my abilities to step into this leadership position the last week or so, the conversation with these two guys this morning really helped to turn that around. As well as yogāsana, we chatted meditation and hiking, with an overall conclusion, for us three anyway, that gentle is better, listening is good, and sitting at a comfortable distance gazing at beautiful mountains is a fine thing to do, we don't have to push our bodies, at altitude, and suffer, to enjoy the mountains.
What I want to offer won't be for everyone, but hopefully some will enjoy and benefit from the opportunity to be still, quiet and gentle with our wonderful bodies.
And I don't think I'll be going back to that yoga class.
Katey is a Heart of Sound 500hr Advanced Teacher Training graduate. She offers 40-day meditation practices through Heart of Sound and teaches class/workshops/retreats wherever she happens to be, which is currently Dharamshala India. Follow Katey on Instagram.
