December 10, 2015
I finished another book! Not sure why it took me so long to get through this one, but it did. Another autobiography to add to my bucket list. Woot woot!
Anyways, this was a good read. Yoga Bitch: One Woman's Quest to Conquer Skepticism, Cynicism, and Cigarettes on the Path to Enlightenment is a book I know my yoga friends would enjoy (cough, cough: Sally and Emily). Suzanne goes to Bali for two months and is on the path to earning enough hours for a teaching certification. She follows a different lifestyle than the one she was living in the United States for the two months overseas, and man did she run into some interesting situations.
After reading this book, I don't think I can call myself a yogi with the definition that Suzanne or her instructors would use. But, that's okay. I use yoga in my own way, and it works for me. Yoga is selfish, isn't it? Many people in Bali within the trip would drink their own pee. Apparently, it's beneficial for the body. Say what?! (Now I know you want to read the book to find out for yourself if she ever does!) They also "chant" during their practice, which I have never seen, nor would I want to during my time on the mat. There are a few other things, but I'm still confident in my practice even though I don't go to the mat nearly as much as I should. The students have to meditate everyday and follow a rigorous class schedule in order to complete and receive a teacher's certification. They are also strongly advised, I guess you could say, to follow other guidelines such as avoiding temptation of eating and drinking specific foods and beverages.
It was really interesting to read and learn about someone else's view of yoga. Suzanne shed light on the yoga frenzy we see here in the United States, and I never took the time to think about it. It's a money maker, and some people are in it for that reason and not for the actual practice of yoga. From the cost of classes to the clothing, a lot of it is unnecessary. I haven't bought into that, besides wearing appropriate clothing and paying full price for the classes and workshops I've attended.
Writing at this moment, it makes me think about the Chapel service I attended this morning. We talked about the different roles in the nativity story, and Chaplain asked about the role of the Innkeeper. There is no such role. The Innkeeper is all the useless, unimportant aspects that we now see in Christmas celebrations. He referenced how families put on dinners upon dinners, take family photos in matching ugly sweaters, make cookies in way too many varied shapes and cut-outs... these are the things that are not necessary and are a distraction from what we all should be focusing on during "Christmastime".
With the way yoga is in the United States, all the money maker nonsense is the Innkeeper of the true meaning and practice of yoga. Do I really need to wear a yoga-specific headband and take my dog to yoga class? Is it necessary to watch a yoga video that costs over $50.00 in order to get the full benefits of yoga? No, not really. It does help to have instructors that know what they are doing and can help when I do something wrong, but it's not necessary for that to come at such a high cost.
Suzanne pointed out that, or at least what I learned from what she was saying, it's better to attend a studio or temple that offers donation-only classes. Yes, instructors sometimes make a living from this, but there's a limit. It's like what she was told: When you thank your instructor, your instructor should respond, "Don't thank me, thank my instructor".
If you're one who is interested in starting yoga, this may not be the best book to pick up. I'd say wait until you're practicing weekly and more knowledgeable of the basics. I'm not saying I'm an expert by any means, but if I read this not ever trying yoga before, I think I would get the wrong impression. Any who, happy yoga, and happy reading!