More from "Why I Quit - Confessions of an Authentically Fake Yoga Teacher"

Davis Burroughs, author of "Why I Quit - Confessions of an Authentically Fake Yoga Teacher", struck a cord with his recent blog post (www.flowwithdavis.com/boatblog.... He was also a student of my YogaAnatomyAcademy.com Anatomy Mentorship, and someone I always considered authentic. I was curious to know more about his decision to "quit yoga", and to compare experiences,
Get abbreviated notes from this chat (AND a FREE online course for yoga teachers) at yogaanatomyacademy.com/yoga-t...

[@Ariele.Foster]

Between the two of us, one of us is still teaching yoga ;). Join my weekly, livestream, sliding scale classes (or join the membership for access to all on demand recordings) at yogaanatomyacademy.com/classes

[@marlynnek6449]

The problem with yoga in America is they let anybody teach, even if the person has zero aptitude for it. And classes are often very clique-y. It's like high school.

[@Ariele.Foster]

I hear you. But I don't think there are "gate-keepers" on who can teach yoga in other countries, either. Plus, what would that mean? Who would get excluded? The important point is that the human problems we have outside of yoga come into the yoga world with us -- to our mats, to our relationships with students and teachers, and to how people run businesses. Unfortunately this friend of mine was particularly burned out by working for an unethical studio.

[@halitst1]

Thank you so much for doing this! I stopped teaching almost a year ago and started a podcast about how I feel like the wellness industry is unwell. For me, the biggest thing has been narcissism in teachers. I think the rat race creates a pyramid effect where those who crave attention get to the top. I fully agree with a lot of your points and I wonder what will change the yoga community. Teachers are heavily underpaid and made to feel replaceable which creates insecurity in them. I also have a huge problem with yoga communities like Hip Hop Yoga where students are being injured and can’t do anything about it because they sign a waiver. The culture has become very abusive on all sides.

[@Ariele.Foster]

Thank you for writing and for speaking up. You should link your podcast here. As much as yoga has helped folks, there is a LOT going wrong in the world of yoga: actual movements that hurt people, instructions that make no sense with anatomy, disregard for cultural origins, the narcissism you speak of, teachers acting as nutritionists/life coaches/therapists without training (actually the Conspirituality podcast has been pointing out many of the problems). Yoga teachers are sometimes (mostly) underpaid, and sometimes not. This also feeds into the insecurities, as you point out. In my city, those who teach for studios could make anywhere from $25 (or less) to over $120 per class. THAT disparity feeds the insecurity which feeds the narcissism (the narcissism, after all, seems to propel some yoga teachers to the top!). [although one quick point here -- yoga teachers can learn their trade in less than a month and start a new profession with much greater potential earnings than many professions that take years of study...so it's all a matter of perspective, but keeping privilege in mind]. There's also a lot behind the scenes that some yoga teachers deal with that casual scrollers of Instagram don't see: eating disorders, deep body image or psychological issues, spending more money on ride shares to get to the studio than you make teaching...It's a strange, strange world in many ways. And it is rapidly changing. But I will say one positive to close out: being authentically you (or me, I mean this for anyone reading) will always be in style. If you can do that and teach / practice yoga, you are winning.

[@puravidata22]

great chat. Big topic. Living in southamerica the yoga teacher trend is not as much of a consumer item as in northamerika. and yet the challenge of being consumed has hit a big stop when after giving more then 9000 yoga practices over the last 8 years my body reacted with an osteoarthitis in my hip. THe whole how can a yoga therapeutic yoga teacher get sick was the first questioning I recieved and observe and let wash through me the other part... literally I loved these last 15 years of sharing yoga 8 very intense one on one many of them.... yet the call of my body made me realize this is truely no longer theraputic for me........ it is time to change the way I do things and retrun to the freedom of a modern yogi..... in union with the now returning to a more free and creative life... puting now all of this experience in something.. who know what this will be ... continuing with working yet instead of 27 to 35....classes a week 8 and an intensive on deepening into the study....being more flexibe and listening more to just be.... life and yoga..... love your classes thanks

[@Ariele.Foster]

Kasha, thanks for sharing your story. I don't know what your practice looked like, but many popular poses of modern postural yoga involve deep passive hip flexion without complimentary hip strengthening, especially of the glutes. That can lead to degeneration in the joint of the hip, and osteoarthritis. But here's the thing: we (yogis, humans) are all learning as we go. We weren't born with a manual. And yoga teachers ARE allowed to be human and shouldn't feel shame when our bodies are vulnerable. We are humans. This myth of the yogi as the picture of perfect health, incapable of injury or disease, is poisonous, as it forces us to publicly deny the very essence and impermanence of our nature. It sounds like you've been going through a lot of that mental/emotional reconciliation. I encourage you to speak openly about it -- as Davis speaks about his process above. Your liberation will also liberate others. Secondly, if you need more guidance about how to move, and teach in the future, please check out yogaanatomyacademy.com -- we run a mentorship for yoga teachers and dedicated students on this very subject :)

[@eelkeaptroot1393]

Though I'm fascinated by the Ashtanga yoga method I also enjoy skating, but every time I mess that up and injure myself I'm back to restorative or therapeutic yoga, I couldn't afford a therapist every time I have an accident.

[@Ariele.Foster]

alright. I hope you enjoy my KZbin channel then. I've been posting tons of gentle and restorative classes. Best wishes to you!

[@ArijanaLukic]

I am 100% a rebel too I believe lol What is the point of being part of a "group" if you are giving away your authenticity and alignment and are prevented from living it? That is not fulfilling at all and certainly doesn't reflect a higher path that some people are attracted to pursue.

[@myozbubble]

Kids! Kids! You have to pay your dues!! When I worked in advertising you have to sign a non-compete. There is so much stealing of students, should we tell the studio they can't protect their own source of income? You should learn to negotiate. How many yoga teachers do you know that work full-time? And, you have to continually keep yourself relevant. Are you willing to put in that effort?

[@Ariele.Foster]

Of course studios need to protect their income and be able to pay rent and admin. The problem comes when the studio's reputation is built off of the unique talents of human beings, yet those human beings are not compensated fairly / appropriately or even appreciated. I'm not sure if you teach yoga, but in a profession that is ostensibly about creating a better world / better human-ing, we (in particular studios, but teachers have been complicit) have not only recreated toxic dynamics from the greater over-culture, but also furthered hierarchy, inequality, shame (why should a 'full time' teacher be treated differently than a part time teacher by the studio if they are completing the same tasks? -- this is something you imply) and competitiveness. Studios often take advantage of the enthusiasm and idealism of yoga teachers, which isn't something that, say, happens to accountants. It's weird and unnecessary and real human lives are caught in the middle.

[@cliffpakiry4413]

David Stay in martial art, dont teach yoga as a passion teach yoga for the love of human.