Training with a Yogi with a not so clean background?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Let me clarify this situation prior to explaining it…one of the Yogi I train with in another town is a felon, I did not know it wasn’t common knowledge. He has never hidden it, I was around when he was involved in the incident that he got the felony for and myself and about five other Yoga instructors who “crosstrain” with him have known this for years.

That being said, over the last couple of years I have noticed a different type of Yoga practitioner at his studio…younger, more boastful and looking at Yoga as solely an athletic event.

About a month ago, I asked one of the “students” how the new Yoga class he was leading at a local fitness gymnasium was going and he pulled me aside and said “I’m doing great, but I’m not going to be here much longer. Did you know that ***** is a criminal?!! He is a convicted felon!” I replied “Yes, I do know that.” From there he starting telling me how several people were going to follow him to the class he was teaching and he wouldn’t be back, but he would love to come to my place and take class IF I would do the same at his. :o

A week later I made one of the classes and the instructor was saying how 14 persons had left because they had found out he was a convicted felon. I felt bad for not having “warned” him about what was going on, but truth be told I didn’t want to be involved. Now, I’m being told by three other persons that they are uncomfortable training with him now that they know his background. I’m confused because he is still the same person, he didn’t rape or kill anyone and he has been a wonderfully productive member or society in the 13 years I have lived here (I met him my second week living here).

Should I encourage those that are thinking of leaving for the new hotshot (who is still not CYT 200 yet, btw) to stay and sit down and talk to him about it or should I just stick to my guns and worry about my own studio? Also, what would you do if you were in the situation as the students of the gentleman in question?

Thanks in advance for any and all replies

#2

Interesting! Does everyone, including yourself, know what he did as a crime? Do you know the reasons he commited the crime? Do you know if it was very recent or a few years ago?

Think about all the people who have had difficult pasts, caught up in crime, that try to turn things around with Yoga.

Perhaps it isn’t fair if the ins and outs of this yogi’s crimes are unknown to just leave the class…especially if they were enjoying it!

Talk to him , if you can, and find out more about his crime, if you don’t know. Then, if you agree it shouldn’t stop people from taking his class, perhaps he should be more open to his students and tell them much more about his crime, which may keep them coming to his class… ??

#3

I’ve been doing an assignment where I try to focus on and answer the actual question(s) being asked. So let me see if I can do that here.

It is not our task as teachers of yoga to convince, cajole or persuade others to stay with this teacher or that teacher. Extolling a teacher’s virtues or responding to one of YOUR student’s inquiries is different as they have already chosen YOU as their teacher. For this reason I personally would not take a path of “…encourage those who are thinking of leaving to stay…”

I’m not sure what “sticking to guns” means in this instances and honestly it’s not the best of analogies for Yoga, but that is another topic. I certainly would not “worry” about my studio. However if the question is “don’t I already have enough things to focus on” then I’d likely just say “yes”. You undoubtedly have your own path and that which pulls you along it is wholesome. That which pulls you away from it is distraction.

Finally you ask what would I do if I were a student of the teacher with a criminal background. First move is full personal responsibility. I’ve chosen this teacher, either consciously or sub-consciously and that choosing, when mindful, is for me to learn specific things (read: for a purpose).

Human beings make mistakes. Human beings are imperfect. Yoga teachers are human beings. Would I [B]continue[/B] to study with a teacher who’s sleeping with other teachers or students behind his girlfriend’s back and doing sketchy things with pension plans? No I would not. The teacher I choose is one who lives his Yoga. When a teacher does not live their yoga there is a lacking of integrity which makes Yoga unavailable (and by Yoga I mean the unification in the practice of the mind, body, and soul).

We all have to find the right teacher for us. And we all magnetize or attract the right students for us; the ones who want the teachings we have to offer. If one doesn’t want this person’s teaching, so be it. However if a student is judging someone based on an event in their past and that person has changed their life, then one must wonder how much Yoga they’ve actually been taught.

#4

[QUOTE=joannelewest;74600]Interesting! Does everyone, including yourself, know what he did as a crime? Do you know the reasons he commited the crime? Do you know if it was very recent or a few years ago?

Think about all the people who have had difficult pasts, caught up in crime, that try to turn things around with Yoga.

Perhaps it isn’t fair if the ins and outs of this yogi’s crimes are unknown to just leave the class…especially if they were enjoying it!

Talk to him , if you can, and find out more about his crime, if you don’t know. Then, if you agree it shouldn’t stop people from taking his class, perhaps he should be more open to his students and tell them much more about his crime, which may keep them coming to his class… ??[/QUOTE]

Joannelewest: No, not everyone knows what he did as a crime (at least not until last Friday night when he chose to let the newer students know and explained in full disclosure) and yes, I know that it was exactly 13 years ago. I know this because it happened two months after I met him and that was right at 13 years ago.

To me, the sad part about this is that his life is so far removed from the 30 year old he was back then. I mean he is married now, has a 16 year old awesome son, is a high level web developer and has a fairly successful Yoga studio. I guess it is up to each student to choose now.

#5

InnerAthlete: Thank you for your detailed response. I appreciate it deeply.

#6

Just because he is a"felon" doesnt make him a bad person or bad yoga teacher.

If the teacher is knowledgable, friendly , considerate of students then past shouldnt matter.

Not many people in this world who are free from “imperfections”

#7

Jumpers: I agree that his [B]shouldn’t[/B] matter, but in truth it does. That is why I’m asking. In a perfect world, everyone would realize he isn’t a selfish 30 year old, only living for the moment anymore, they would see what he has become. That being said, each individual has the right of choice in choosing how they want to be led, whom they want to be led by and where they want to their journey to be led from. I just wish the young man starting his own class would just say “look, I need students/practitioners and I want you to leave with me.” Rather than this slander campaign against him. I mean, he has a wife and a teenage son who hear the things being said.

Thank you so much for your insight as well.

#8

If the crime wasn’t a hideous one and if he has indeed changed a lot since then I would say that this might make him an even better yoga teacher in my eyes. Changing oneself is a difficult task, anyone who has accomplished it deserves respect and can perhaps be better at helping other change in the direction they want to.

#9

[QUOTE=NewBreedYogi;74686]Jumpers: I agree that his [B]shouldn’t[/B] matter, but in truth it does. That is why I’m asking. In a perfect world, everyone would realize he isn’t a selfish 30 year old, only living for the moment anymore, they would see what he has become. That being said, each individual has the right of choice in choosing how they want to be led, whom they want to be led by and where they want to their journey to be led from. I just wish the young man starting his own class would just say “look, I need students/practitioners and I want you to leave with me.” Rather than this slander campaign against him. I mean, he has a wife and a teenage son who hear the things being said.

Thank you so much for your insight as well.[/QUOTE]

I agree it shouldnt matter but todays society makes it matter to certain people. I think the people who leave or dont want to be taught by person arent real “yogis” in the first place - as your 1st post alludes they just in for the “coolness” / exercise factor. So maybe its best if these people did leave - i personally would just let them go.

#10

Jumpers: The sad part to me is that this guy has Yoga in his blood. Yoga helped change his life. Yoga was changing him when I met him and it continues to make him a better HUMAN BEING! I just wish everyone well and want to avoid any drama. All in all, it will work itself out and I’m vested in staying neutral.