Yoga Teachers and Movie Extras: A Comparison of Pay and Value

Yoga Teachers and Movie Extras: A Comparison of Pay and Value

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG), now SAG-AFTRA, has long been an advocate for actors, including those in non-speaking roles such as movie extras. Under SAG’s protections, even extras—often seen as the most replaceable individuals on set—are guaranteed minimum pay rates, overtime compensation, meal breaks, and safety standards. These guidelines ensure that even those performing the most seemingly minor roles are treated with dignity and fairness. The union’s advocacy for extras highlights the importance of collective representation in industries where the workers might otherwise be vulnerable to exploitation. With SAG backing them, movie extras gain access to stable pay, healthcare, pension contributions, and a guaranteed level of workplace safety that would be nearly impossible to secure on their own. Yoga Teachers Without Collective Protection In contrast,…

What I Mean When I Say “More Equitable Models“

What I Mean When I Say “More Equitable Models“

To maintain equity for yoga teachers, compensation should vary based on whether the teacher is classified as an employee or an independent contractor, taking into account the responsibilities, expectations, and benefits associated with each role: 1. Employee Compensation Model 2. Independent Contractor Compensation Model 3. Additional Considerations to Ensure Equity 4. Hybrid Compensation Models Maintaining equity in compensation ultimately means recognizing the different responsibilities and benefits associated with each role—employee or contractor—and adjusting pay accordingly to ensure teachers are supported, valued, and able to sustain their livelihood. It also requires open communication and transparency so that teachers understand what they are being compensated for and have the opportunity to advocate for fair treatment.

Little Me Would Be So Proud: From Activist to Organizer

Little Me Would Be So Proud: From Activist to Organizer

If little me could see who I am today, I think he’d be proud—wide-eyed and amazed at how things have turned out. He’d see someone who practices yoga, who teaches, who learns, but more importantly, someone who actively works to make things better in his community. Not just talking about change, not just shouting for it at rallies, but someone who orchestrates the very places where change begins. Growing up, I always had a sense of justice, of wanting things to be better, but the way forward was never really clear. Back then, activism meant holding a sign, standing in a crowd, and hoping that someone listened. And those actions mattered—they planted seeds. But as time passed, I learned that true activism demanded more than…

A New Path Forward for the Yoga Industry

A New Path Forward for the Yoga Industry

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep flaws in the yoga industry, from unsustainable business models to the growing commercialization of the practice. This collection of essays explores the rise, collapse, and potential rebirth of the industry, offering solutions focused on sustainability, equity, and community. By addressing long-standing challenges, we have the chance to rebuild an industry that honors yoga’s spiritual roots while supporting teachers, students, and studios alike.

Prana and the Bathtub: Systems Thinking for the Ashtanga Practitioner

Prana and the Bathtub: Systems Thinking for the Ashtanga Practitioner

In our practice, we’re not just trying to keep the tub full. We’re learning to live in balance, where the ebb and flow of prana supports us as much as we support it. It’s not about avoiding leaks but recognizing that the small, subtle drains often compound our stress more than a single big crisis. The practice guides us in patching those leaks with awareness, restoring a harmonious flow where life feels less like a constant emergency and more like a nurturing partnership
In our practice, we’re not just trying to keep the tub full. We’re learning to live in balance, where the ebb and flow of prana supports us as much as we support it. It’s not about avoiding leaks but recognizing that the small, subtle drains often compound our stress more than a single big crisis. The practice guides us in patching those leaks with awareness, restoring a harmonious flow where life feels less like a constant emergency and more like a nurturing partnership.

The goal isn’t to always be on alert, like the little Dutch boy at the dam. Instead, we want to be more like the Indigenous stewards of land and water—understanding that the flow is only a problem when it’s out of balance. Otherwise, it’s a beautiful exchange, where prana nourishes us as much as we nourish it. This isn’t crisis management; it’s living in relationship.

When the Well Runs Dry: Burnout, Imbalance, and the Practice of Awareness

When the Well Runs Dry: Burnout, Imbalance, and the Practice of Awareness

A colleauge of mine feels overwhelemed and uninspired in their teaching, and feeling sore, sluggish, and resetful of their ashtanga practice . Sound familiar? I’ve sure as fuck been there. When the well is dry, it’s dry. No creativity, more irritation, and a creeping sense of burnout. Sure, our practice can help refill the cup, but one of its greatest gifts is its ability to alert us to imbalances before we hit empty. We might first notice it in outsized reactions to small annoyances—like my mom being more pissed at traffic than her own cancer. It’s a classic sign that something deeper is off, and it’s not just about the traffic. In our own system, when we’re flipping out over something inconsequential, it’s often because…

Navigating Overtraining in Ashtanga Yoga: Signs, Solutions, and Self-Care

Navigating Overtraining in Ashtanga Yoga: Signs, Solutions, and Self-Care

We’ve all been there, haven’t we? You dive headfirst into the wonderland of Ashtanga Yoga, blissfully aware of the transformative power of each pose—until one day, the thought of stepping onto your mat feels more like a chore than a joy. Overtraining can sneak up on even the most enthusiastic yogis, often disguised as the eager pursuit of progress. In a world that glorifies hustle, it’s essential to pause and acknowledge that our bodies need time to recover as much as they need movement. Just like a speedy sports car requires a pit stop, o too do we, lest we find ourselves stalling on the yoga highway. This article will dive into recognizing the early signs of overtraining, crafting a holistic plan for self-care, and…

Self Practice and Grief

Self Practice and Grief

When I got to Goa, I felt anonymous again. In Mysore, I felt like everyone had heard. I was the ashtangi who got hate crime’d in the face after his house burned down. I wanted to be the tall pretty one. Or the smart one. But for now, I was very much the tragic one. Luckily, Rolf wasn’t watching the news. I was just one more 6’3 drop back for him to do. And he was happy to oblige– quietly sharing lite bits here and there in my ear about his work. But not so happy with it that I didn’t get assigned sone extra. Great. After 27 years of shrinking myself for others, I got to just be the big one. You gotta gang…

Context Matters for Indigenous Insight Practices

Decontextualizing indigenous insight practices—like those in traditional Ashtanga Yoga or other ancient systems—tends to diminish their efficacy because these practices are deeply embedded in specific cultural, spiritual, and historical contexts. This “embedding” isn’t a casual detail; it’s essential to how these systems work. When aspects of a practice are extracted or secularized, they lose the nuanced interconnections that support the whole system, similar to removing a keystone from an arch. For example, in Ashtanga Yoga, specific techniques and philosophies are not just exercises but methods developed within a layered understanding of ethics, community, and personal transformation. This is why teachers like Gregor Maehle emphasize that yoga is not just postures but part of a system that includes spiritual texts, breath work, ethics, and ritual. Removing…

The Paradox of the Yoga Flame

The Paradox of the Yoga Flame

In this piece, I dive into the heart of yoga’s transformative journey, examining the balance between the intensity of practice and the tranquility it nurtures. I challenge you to rethink what we truly seek from our yoga journey – is it the relentless pursuit of physical intensity or the quest for inner peace and harmony? Whether you’re a long-time yogi or just starting out, this article offers a fresh perspective that resonates with practitioners at all stages. Discover insights that might just change the way you view your yoga practice.”