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John Friend, the founder of Anusara yoga, is facing some serious accusations of both sexual and financial misconduct. Here, he attends day one of the Leaders Causing Leaders event on November 6, 2010, in Long Beach, Calif.
The ever-balanced world of yoga is rocking after a sex scandal involving a big-time guru has many wondering if the phenomenally popular practice is about to take a tumble.
For the uninitiated, John Friend, the founder of the fast-growing Anusara style of yoga, is currently in the downward doghouse following a series of accusations against him involving both sexual and financial misconduct.
"It's really just everywhere in the yoga community right now," says Amy Hess, a 35-year-old yoga instructor from Richmond, Va.
As a result, Friend has taken a leave of absence, sent out a public letter of apology and told his many followers that he's immersing himself in a period of "self-reflection, therapy and personal retreat."
While Friend reflects, about 60 to 75 teachers of Anusara -- a form of yoga based on alignment and teachings from Tantric philosophy -- have resigned, according to Yoga Dork, which broke the news of the scandal. Many others are wondering if Friend's alleged penchant for sex, drugs and other peoples' money will taint the entire community of yoga, a form of exercise that touts physical as well as mental and spiritual discipline.
"My biggest concern is the negative impact this scandal will have on the world of yoga," says Tommy Rosen, a Vinyasa and Kundalini yoga teacher and co-founder of the Tadasana International Festival of Yoga and Music in Santa Monica. "Some people will be turned off and at least for the short term, [they] might avoid some of these wonderful teachings from Anasura yoga -- John Friend's yoga -- because they come from that camp. And that's a shame."
Yoga students seem to have mixed feelings about the decidedly unyoga-like behavior.
Some feel betrayed, like fashion blogger @ModernGirlStyle who posted "Are there other yoga peeps that are as upset about the fraud of #JohnFriend as me?" on Twitter Thursday.
“I'm not a prude, but yoga is kind of an otherworldly experience. This just stains it for me,” says Barbara Ross, a 63-year-old sales and marketing professional from Seattle. "It's not going to dissuade me from yoga -- nothing will dissuade me from yoga -- but it's so unprofessional.”
Others point to previous sex scandals involving powerful, charismatic men.
"The misappropriation of funds is totally unethical," says Jill Nussinow, a 56-year-old cookbook author from Santa Rosa, Calif., who's practiced Iyengar yoga for the past 16 years. "But this is not the first nor will it likely be the last yoga and sex scandal... President Clinton even screwed up, but I'm not going to say, 'I don't want a president.' We all have human foibles. I'm still going to do yoga."
Stacey Johnes, a 43-year-old marketing vice president from Los Angeles, who has practiced Anusara yoga for a number of years, says that she, too, will remain "a grateful student."
"In the past, I think I put my teachers and yoga itself on a type of pedestal," she says. "But ... I realized that yoga teachers, like the rest of us, are fallible humans. And actually that's okay with me. This has not tainted how I feel about my yoga practice."
Although, she adds, she feels the teacher-student relationship should be treated with appropriate care and respect.
Yoga instructor Amy Hess says the allegations about Friend aren't that shocking, not because she knows anything about the man -- or his behavior -- but because of the powerful nature of his position.
"The sexual indiscretions are deplorable and gross and an abuse of power, but I don't think it's unique to people in positions of power," she says. "I've seen [men] who tend to flex their power. They're surrounded by fit, active, typically young attractive women. Maybe it's a big 'duh' for everybody, but I'm reading all these stories about these gurus who've had issues and the majority of gurus in yoga are male. And in the West, the majority of practitioners are female.
"I think it lends itself to the idea that yoga instructors and gurus can take advantage of students," she says. "Not to suggest that all teachers have that in mind or all men have that in mind. But there are some that do."
Tommy Rosen, who's been practicing yoga for 20 years, says student-teacher relationships do happen, but they've been happening for thousands of years.
"The idea of a student being attracted to a teacher physically or some other way is so old and ingrained, it's almost a human archetype," he says.
But that doesn't excuse gurus or teachers who act on that attraction, he says.
"My guru was very clear on this point," he says. "When you teach yoga, there's a mantra you say before you teach. 'I am not a man. I am not a woman. I am not a person. I am not myself. I am a teacher.' When you step into a yoga studio and you're the teacher, there needs to be a boundary there."
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How can Yoga be tarnished, just because a self styled Guru has personal problems?? Journalistic vomit again?
Exactly . Who is even asking the question, besides the reporter? As a journalist, I am offended that Diane Mapes, whoever she is, would do that. I want to apologize on behalf of reporters everywhere.
I am pretty sure this isn't the death of yoga, there has been authoritative sexual abuse since mankind started walking upright.
Just look at the church.
Thank you. This one guys actions aren't anything that could tarnish Yoga itself, it simply tarnishes his reputation. He isn't Yoga, never will be, this is such an overblown article it's embarrassing.
I agree, it's just yoga anyway, another fad exercise regimen. Let the 'yoga masters' get rich off the people who think its so wonderful, buyer beware.
What exactly is the end game with Yoga? In other words where does it all lead. In other words...'I'm at peace with myself, alll is well' and then I die and then...????
The end game is every day. I'm at peace with myself, all is well, it's led to a good day. I'll do it again tomorrow. It's not just mental, you know. Yoga and Tai Chi have physical and health benefits.
Tom, I think you have yoga confused with religion. While some religions use yoga in their worship not all practitioners do it for religious reasons. Some of us do it for the health benefits and keep it separate from religion. It's not a game. We do it till we die or we don't feel like doing it anymore and then we stop.
As for this episode I don't even consider this to be part of yoga because this sort of thing happens outside of yoga all the time. Like people at fitness clubs having affairs with the trainers or country club flings with tennis instructors or golf pros. If people are so concerned about sex they should learn to say no when someone asks them if they want to. They shouldn't blame their own weakness on yoga.
What are the specifics? Typical MSNBC story, long on hype and short on facts. What exactly is he alleged to have done? Who is making the allegations? Are there criminal charges? How about some basic reporting on this story?
TOTALLY AGREE!!!!
what a shock, yet another self annointed "guru" can't manage his own house but feels it's his duty to coach others in how to take care of theirs, for a moderate fee of course.
What weak-minded people! You need a "leader" to practice yoga? And then your world falls apart when that "leader" turns out to be a crook and a creep? Try self-reliance for a change!
This was such a weak story it lacked basic information and suggested the Yoga community would be shaken. The writer was weak minded but not the people who practice yoga.
I don't have any problem here.
Westerners become Yoga Masters for the money it can generate for themselves. The tradition of Yoga Masters should be to taking vows of poverty and teach on donation basis. If their Yoga training be the traditional way, vows of poverty must be taken as they would have to surrender to the Lord and all necessary needs would be fufilled by his Grace. Such is true path of being A Yoga Master.
Alpha Omega
While my meditation teachers haven't taken vows of poverty, they don't charge for their courses, residential courses of 10 to 45 days (and even longer), but donations from old students are welcome and are given.
Hilarious!!! Yet another example of how some "liberal guru" teaching "peace, love, and tolerance" is just another jackass using his influence and access to @!$%# beautiful, fit, and wealthy women. And you think only christian evangelists are guilty of this kind of behavior? Most of the liberal men in this world are laughing their asses off as they "hose" all of the gullible women they manage to @!$%# by pretending to be a progressive and enlightened male.
Even more hilarious is you whores set yourselves up for it, by thinking "oh wow! He's sensitive, enlightened, handsome, wealthy and powerul!!" as you continuously fail to realize that men who have that kind of influence, money and power treat women as just another "object" to accumulate.....just like the power, and money that they have acquired.
But hey! Anything but Christianity, right? After all yoga is derived from Hinduism and their "god" is supposed to be a woman isn't "it"? Yet, women still get treated like @!$%# from the practitioners of this "religion". Absolutely hilarious...wonder how many Deepak Chopra has @!$%#ed over while babbling all of his worthless dribble.
How very Christian of you, to call people whores. And why do you assume he's liberal? Most charlatans are not.
what??? I know plenty of christians, conservatives and republicans who practice yoga. I didn't realize it was a "liberal" concept. thanks for "enlightening" me.
"Their "god" is supposed to be a woman isn't it?"
wow, just wow. Please educate yourself before posting.
Nothing but blatant willful ignorance. Yoga as is practice in the US has nothing to do with religion, there is no religious belief required to practice Yoga, and Christianity and Yoga are not mutually exclusive. Please do follow spiritus333 advise and educate yourself.
SouthernG, I'm glad I got to read your insightful post before it gets deleted.
How is the view from inside your colon?
Oh...and this *never* happens in the world of Christianity... What a worthless piece of filthy trash your heart must be to harbor this much vitriol.
Really? I guess it's a slow news day (Yawn).
You beat me to the punch.
Who can blame the guy?
Have you seen some of the positions those women can get into?
Shut up and practise your yoga!
So exactly what (or who) is this John feller accused of doing? "A series of accusations" is pretty thin gruel when it comes to reporting. Namaste.
Hard to do, but this reporter managed to write a story about a scandal without mentioning any details of the scandal. That's not easy.
This is old news! On Febuary 14, 2012, Huff Post Culture online article by Stewart J. Lawrence talked about this scandal, and the CEO of Lululemon. Think the Huff Post article had more info.
This is certainly no stain on Yoga. It would have happened if the guy was a politician or clergy . It only goes to prove that "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely"
This is precisely the kind of news story I hate. It's vague, it's maddening. Nowhere does it tell you exactly what this guy did, and with whom!
My thoughts exactly...poorly written. You mention allegations, and then never say what the allegations are.
STUPIDEST STORY EVER! OMG another man with sexual misconduct? what a surprise.
Why is it sexual misconduct? Did he have a gun, a knife a rock? It takes two to do the deed. If the women are of legal age I think this is blown out of proportion. If she don't want it he ain't gettin it.
Yoga classes was a good way for me to pick-up on women!
We need Rsuh to explain this!
Who is Rush Limbaugh? Who is this man? Well hear is who I think he is.
First he's the prime example of a bully. He literally bullies the entire
Republican party. These people are literally scarred to death of this man. He
reminds me of J Edgar Hoover, You no the man that had all those secrets on
people, he was head of the FBI, when the only secret he really had was his own.
Was that he was gay and had affairs with Washington pages. Limbaugh is hiding
something about himself that makes him behave like this..There is something in
this man’s pass. Its clearly evident that he has a deep seeded hatred for woman
to say the least. What was his mom like. I’m telling you people there is some
there when it comes to this man. The Washington establishment fears this man as
if he were God, why? I just want to know. I’m telling you people there is
something there this big fat ass white man is hiding about himself. He hates
women to the point it make you wonder what type of mother did he grow up with
that makes him out to hate as he does.
I hope that young law student sues the pants off this man, go after his
money girl. Hit him in his pockets. Get that money and pay for your college. I
hope he is removed from the airwave for once and for all. This man has a problem
with himself. Not to mention all the drugs he takes. Prescription drugs, Why is
it some people get dogged out over their addictions to prescription drugs and
others get the awe treatment for the same addition. No one in the Republican
party will or has ever spoken against this man..and those that have run back the
next day lips poked all out apologizing to him doesn’t that just bother you as
to why? What does this fat ass know that makes these lawmakers fear him so. I
want to know more about his pass, His mother, his dad, any siblings, those four
dump ass women he married...where did this fast ass grow up?
Sal.....I have just two questions for you.
Where did you learn your grammer skills?
What does this have to do with Yoga?
So once again there is a fuss about how a santizied for modern sensitivities (anti-sex anti-body) form of Tantric yoga is taught. Tantra can be taught in a celebate form. Not everybody is suitable for or desires a celebate form of Tantra. Many are looking for release from such a straight jacket. The current mood of anti-body anti-sex beliefs in society makes it scandulous to teach the full sexual yoga. There has been a collision in this between the "should be celebates" and the fully "not at all celebate" schools for millenia going back to the prehistoric roots, before it yoga was called yoga. If the fully sexual Tantra could be taught openly instead of driven underground we wouldn't see as many of these behaviors. It is taught, but can be more difficult to find.
Thuper fred!
I love hot yoga chix!!
The choices one individual makes in life has NOTHING to do with anything other than that one person. If he were a scientist, would we distance ourselves from science? Good Lord people.
there has always been somewhat of a rift between the body building yoga (body enhancement) types and the meditative yoga types. the advanced meditative types see the concentration on the body as a waste of time except to keep it reasonably well. they say pay as little attention to the body as you can.
A 7th company has pulled its advertising from Limbaugh....I’m finding this
so odd that the Nations Republican Party is terrified of this man. But the
business world is telling him where to go...Now what's wrong with this
picture.....I can’t be the only one that's wondering this....I just can’t
be.
wrong post
The keyword is "taint"