First and foremost, it is a cult. Yes, a godless, Communist cult. Like a cult, the leaders use cult names. For example, the North American executive goes by Srinavasan; or, more commonly, Sri. However, the name on his driver's license is Mark Ashley. Like most cults, your identity is stripped to conform with that of the group. The group is what matter's, not you. How is that for organicism, huh?
And, unlike other forms of yoga, Sivananda yoga is a cult in that it considers itself a religion, although members will deny it to the last. In fact, foreign nationals have mis-stated their intentions as religious workers on their immigration papers to come and be part of the Sivananda organization. This practice has been used by both high and low ranking members of the group. I was privy to one of these individuals first hand. Makes you sick, doesn't it? What true religion allows for the breaking of laws, including federal crimes and defrauding the US government. But, that doesn't matter to the Sivananda uppity ups. Go to one of their yoga centers and see how many Americans are there...next to none.
Oh, and don't expect to receive good teaching. Their "Teacher's Training" program is a farce. It's 30 days of praying, meditation, chanting, volunteering, taking classes, getting indoctrinated with dogma, and sleep deprivation. That being said, they charge a decent penny for the privilege.
I have met teachers who "graduated" from the program. And, they felt completely unprepared to teach. That's because they are not taught how to teach. They are brainwashed. And, if you don't do what they say, you are a bad person. Swami Padma, the Director of the San Francisco center, is a good example of the latter.
Srinivasan preaches love and forgiving, yet his marriage is broken and he could not stomach it as a Swami. So, he's just plain Sri.
Ray, aka, Swami Padma, comes from South Africa. However, he berates America and our Founding Fathers every chance he gets. Oh, yes, Sivananda uppity ups HATE Republicans. Yes, the people who's mentor's favorite song was "Adapt, adjust, acommodate," LOATHE republicans. Like I said, devout Communists. And, like Communists, Sivananda people love to defacate on the Constitution, metaphorically speaking. And, if you don't believe what they do, well then, you are worthless...unless, of course, you are donating money. Then, you are politely tolerated.
Anywho, I don't teach Sivananda yoga any more because it is ineffective at long term health and longevity. I find it was actually doing my students a disservice. And, my ability to teach was severely limited compared to yoga teachers in other disciplines, like Iyengar and Ashtanga. Since Sivananda yoga is the same sequence of 12 postures over and over again, the muscles adapt and actually begin to atrophy. Looking at the uppity ups in Sivananda, e.g., Mark and Ray, they are in terrible physical shape. Hypocrisy knows no bounds.
There are good people and not so good people everywhere. However, don't profess to be teaching yoga when you are really trying to indoctrinate someone on what religion to follow. And, if you hate America and what it stands for, don't be such a hypocrite as to take their money.
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