Updates From The Activism And Yoga Teach Training World. What happens how?
You might have heard the story of infamous yoga teacher Bikram Choudhury attempting to host yoga training workshops in Canada earlier this year.
You might have even listened to last week's podcast episode, which was a replay of Shannon Crow's Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast live episode that I was involved in.
And you also might be wondering what is happening now.
The truth: not too much. But that doesn't need to necessarily be the case.
The news cycle for all of us is short, our attention is even shorter, and it is really easy to push uncomfortable topics into the background. To me, this is too important to just let it be pushed aside.
Women who sign up for Bikram's trainings all over the world are not safe, this can be said with certainty. So now what?
This episode will give you an update, but also call you to help us do some much needed behind-the-scenes work to keep women safe in our YTT spaces. This will also serve to support and nourish all of us as we go through the uncomfortable growth phase of becoming a more whole and professional industry.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. Organizing is hard work, and while it is great & important to say "hurray" when we win a victory, the true work of social change happens in the quiet moments, the slow times, and behind the scenes. Don't forget to check in with your favorite causes even when they aren't actively campaigning.
2. Weather you agree or not, we are all in the same yoga industry. The language that seeks to create divisiveness is dangerous, no matter what side of the argument that person might be on. Use better language, and go find your favorite person who teaches yoga in a different methodology from you and take them out for tea. Getting to know others in our field is *vital* to our survival.
3. We need to hold our leadership organizations accountable for their position within our industry. Sign our change.org petition to demand the Yoga Alliance state publicly they have no confidence in the safety of participants of Bikram Choudhury's yoga teacher training programs. Make them say it loud enough that it is the first thing that pop's up on a Google search about Bikram yoga teacher training.