John’s Letters
Can Yoga Wreck Your Body?
Tuesday, March 13th, 2012
The New York Times article “Can Yoga Wreck Your Body” raises many important issues: Who should do yoga? Just what IS yoga? What role does teacher training play in the possibility of injuries occurring? What is dangerous and what isn’t? Can yoga really wreck your body?
Continue...The Subjective Nature of Yoga Therapeutics
Wednesday, December 7th, 2011
When you get right down to it, there are some important things that make yoga therapeutic that really can’t be measured all that well. That is one of the reasons why I say that yoga therapy is subjective. Although in many ways it is a science – much about it CAN be predicted, repeated, and measured – yoga therapy is truly more an art.
Continue...Iyengar Yoga’s International Scope and the China-India Summit
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
The truly international scope of Iyengar Yoga is one of its most remarkable aspects. A student from Unity Woods can go to over 70 countries around the world, from Anguilla to Zimbabwe, and find an Iyengar teacher. And because there is a clear, consistent method, that student will feel at home in a class. The same postures will be practiced, and since we use Sanskrit for the names of the poses (much to the dismay of some), even if you can’t understand the individual instructions, you will know what pose to do
Continue...The Challenges of Marketing Unity Woods
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Yoga, by its very nature, is not competitive. The business of yoga is, however. While I trust the universe, I see no reason not to do what I can to grab its attention. Here are some of things we’ve done to catch the eye of the universe—and prospective yoga students.
Continue...Studying with the Iyengars in Pune
Friday, March 25th, 2011
In December, I traveled to Pune, India for two weeks to see my teacher, B.K.S. Iyengar, and participate in the celebration of his 92nd birthday.
Continue...Whys and Hows of Practice Over Time
Friday, December 3rd, 2010
In my last newsletter I wrote (some called it a rant) about the state of yoga teacher training in the US. I grumbled about a few things, one being the short time that so many training programs require for certification. Another gripe had to do with the lack of prerequisites for enrolling in teacher training. [...]
Continue...Important Considerations in Choosing a Teacher
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
What kind of training has your yoga teacher had? I suspect that most folks don’t really know. My purpose in raising the question is to prompt you to think about the person(s) to whom you’re trusting some of the most important things in the world: you own health and well-being. Let’s take a brief look [...]
Continue...Answering America’s Healthcare Dilemma: More Yoga
Monday, July 12th, 2010
Before the health care bill passed earlier in the year, the health care debate provided the primary topic of conversation around the country. Now that the bill has passed, the furor has faded a bit – for the moment. It will, like Gen. MacArthur, return, because being humans subject to the frailties and vagaries of [...]
Continue...Yoga and Love: Remedying the Problems of the World
Friday, March 5th, 2010
Just like you, I get lots of stuff in my email from friends sending along videos they think are funny or shocking or very important. Honestly, I don’t have time to look at many of them, but every now and then, depending on who sent it and what it seems to be about, I take [...]
Continue...Reflections on Unity Woods’ 30th Anniversary
Thursday, December 10th, 2009
It’s such a cliché to remark on the speedy passage of time. Nonetheless, I have to trot out the “how time flies” line to comment on the arrival this year of Unity Woods’ 30th anniversary. To tell you the truth, things are tumbling by so fast, and there so much going on that I might [...]
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