Cowgirl Yogi

Last night as I was reading random books at 2am trying to settle to one, I read a passage that stuck with me all night through my dreams and into this morning.   I’m not quoting here and I don’t want to name the book, but it basically said: you are not a real yogi if you eat meat.   And really you shouldn’t eat any animal products either, but I guess you can be a yogi if you still eat cheese.   Judgment much?    On one hand, I get you.   Vegans and veggies, I get you, harm none, do unto others, ahimsa, yes.   What we do to animals in this country in the name of the all mighty dollar is disgusting. Factory farms, slaughter houses, veal, it’s awful.   Unfortunately, most of the people in our country will continue to turn a blind eye because filet mignon just tastes too good.   Can you have your meat and be a yogi too?   In order to eat something you do have to kill it, and that means harming it.   But just because my broccoli can’t mo...

What makes a good yoga teacher?    What makes a bad one?   It is said that no one can be good at yoga.   You either practice or you don’t and all practice is good.   That’s true in a way.   But a person can be good at asana, or good at pranayama.   If someone is really good at asana, will that make them a good yoga teacher?      Some of the best teachers I’ve ever known couldn’t do any “fancy poses”, and some of my not so favorite teachers have crazy physical practices, but are the two things even related?     I have a lot of questions today as I ponder my relationship with my yoga practice.   Do I have a good practice?   Am I a good teacher?   I have been told, by someone very serious, that my style of yoga isn’t real yoga.   I like crazy vinyasa flow.   Or power yoga for lack of a better word.    Some people believe that the crazy fast work out style yoga is somehow missing the point.  ...