Bindu: The Secret Yogic Nectar Thats Most Often Missed

Bindu: The Secret Yogic Nectar Thats Most Often Missed

This is a post created for Ashtanga Tech, Michael’s online esucation platform. What is Bindu According to Yoga Texts? In yogic philosophy and spiritual traditions, the term “Bindu” holds significant meaning and symbolizes various concepts associated with energy, consciousness, and creation. Bindu translates to “point”, “drop” or “dot” in Sanskrit[3]. In yoga, however, the concept of bindu goes beyond its literal interpretation, symbolizing the absolute, the infinite, and the unmanifest potential that lies within each individual[3]. Bindu is viewed as the cosmic seed from which all creation arises[3]. It symbolizes the unmanifest potential that preceded the materialization of the universe[3]. In yoga philosophy, bindu is associated with the fundamental concept of unity, representing the underlying oneness of all existence and symbolizing the union of individual…

Teaching in the Face of Competition and Cooperation

Teaching in the Face of Competition and Cooperation

In the world of yoga, and particularly within the Ashtanga community, there is often an unspoken undercurrent of competition. Whether it’s between teachers vying for students or different schools of yoga positioning themselves as superior, this competitive mindset can create division within a practice that is, at its core, meant to foster unity and growth. As teachers and practitioners, we must ask ourselves: Why do we see each other as competition rather than learning opportunities? How can we shift this dynamic to foster a more cooperative, supportive environment in the yoga community? In my years of teaching, I have noticed that this competitive spirit can often hinder both personal growth and the overall progression of the yoga community. Instead of viewing one another as rivals,…

Creating a Yoga Guild: The Case for Unionizing Yoga Teachers

Creating a Yoga Guild: The Case for Unionizing Yoga Teachers

I wanna start this essay by saying that I have come to this essay as the inevitable conclusion of the work that I have been doing in my market analysis of the yoga industrial complex (system). Like many things that I spent months researching inside tgis system, the conclusions were clear: because Yoga is inherently steeped in values like compassion, social responsibility, and friendliness, the production of yoga requires so many intangible stocks that the industry is a nonlinear system. This means we have to use behavior analysis to forecast trends as opposed to basic input output data. Thats the hard kind of systems theory. When I was 17 years old, the Navy wanted me to join their nuclear program and would have provided me…

The Employee vs. Contractor Debate in the Yoga Industry

The Employee vs. Contractor Debate in the Yoga Industry

In the United States, the debate over whether yoga teachers should be classified as employees or independent contractors is complex and fraught with challenges. The truth is, the role of a yoga teacher often aligns more closely with the responsibilities and characteristics of a contractor rather than an employee. Flexibility and Autonomy One of the main reasons why being a contractor is a more accurate classification is the nature of the work itself. Yoga teachers generally enjoy a significant degree of flexibility and autonomy in how they operate. As independent contractors, teachers have the freedom to choose where, when, and how often they teach. They can work for multiple studios, offer private lessons, lead workshops, or teach online, building a diverse portfolio that aligns with…

Financial Equity for Yoga Teachers: Building Sustainable Business Models

Financial Equity for Yoga Teachers: Building Sustainable Business Models

The financial challenges that many yoga teachers face have been an enduring issue within the industry. For years, teachers have struggled to earn livable wages, often working long hours with little job security, no benefits, and limited opportunities for growth. The COVID-19 pandemic, which devastated the yoga industry and shuttered studios worldwide, exposed just how precarious this financial situation was. Many teachers were left without income, unprepared to weather such a crisis. It has become increasingly clear that financial equity for yoga teachers is not just a matter of fair wages—it’s about creating sustainable business models that can withstand future disruptions. In my work, I have become passionate about addressing this issue, with the hope of helping yoga teachers learn how to create financial stability…

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…

cumulative strength: how a casual approach to chanting helped me appreciate my practice more

cumulative strength: how a casual approach to chanting helped me appreciate my practice more

When my brother passed, I felt blindsided. It hadn’t occurred to me that such a thing would happen, even though looking back I can see that with that kind of drinking, it was inevitably going to happen. You can’t drink like that and not die of either health or fate. I was too young/new to this– I hadn’t actually seen anyone drink themselves to death at that point. Yikes. But, I mean, I didn’t realize what was going on and I get why: a sour combination of cognitive disonance and inexperience. I was heartbroken. So often in those moments, I turn to asana and meditation. These were not readily available at that particular time because of an overzealous deadlifting session gone awry. A very real…

Echoes from the Forest: Insights for a Thriving Mysore Community

Echoes from the Forest: Insights for a Thriving Mysore Community

Today’s post intertwines the wisdom of my mentor, Kristen Krash, with my work as a mysore style Ashtanga Yoga teacher. Kristen, an inspiring figure in both my life and in her groundbreaking work regenerating a cloud forest in Ecuador, offers profound insights into the interconnectedness of all things.  Kristen’s article “Why those big-tree planting projects fail. And why ours is succeeding”  is a story of resilience, regeneration, and the intricate tapestry of community building— all in a forest environ. The gist of it is that it takes more than a bunch of big trees to make a forest. I see parallels between Kristen’s observations about forest regeneration and the nurturing environment of a Mysore yoga community. I believe these insight offers a unique perspective on how…