Greetings my friends,
I’m David Chapman, the new owner of yogaforums.com. I’ve owned the site for a short time now but have refrained from posting about the change, mostly because I would have preferred not to be viewed as the person, “in charge” and was trying to figure out some way to avoid that. I think I have some issue with being, “in charge” because of the common connotation of that making you above others or special in some way, two things I do not consider myself.
Please allow for a short experience of mine:
[I]The studio I first began my yoga practice was where I decided to also undergo my initial yoga teacher training. I chose them because the head of the studio (despite my not knowing him well) was, in my opinion, an intensely wise, realized, spiritual person who was as close to perfection as anyone I’d ever met. I went through my yoga teacher training and all was well. My feelings towards him only intensified. I could sit at his feet and listen to his words all day.
Many months later an employee of the studio told me that the head of the studio, my guru in the making, did not trust me. I laughed it off because I had a belief that nothing should bother yogis, they should be centered (I realized later I BSed myself and not being trusted by him tore into my heart).
As time progressed, I continued to practice at the studio more and more. I also became aware of how much I started to judge the head of the studio. I did everything in my power to nitpick him. I found every flaw. I judged him negatively because he wasn’t perfect, he “Didn’t embody what he taught”. He was a fraud.
One day I decided to (I forget why) have a meeting with him. We went out for coffee and the first words out of his mouth were the admission that he didn’t trust me in the past. I was about to begin defending myself when he said, “That was my issue.” I was floored. How could he have issues? He’s head of the yoga studio! HE TEACHES PEOPLE TO TEACH YOGA. I began to think even less of him.
Later I found a guru who is deeply spiritual and very realized. In the eyes I looked through at that time, I felt he was enlightened. One day he told me that he may still hold pockets of terror within him and he has issues. WHAT THE HELL? Was there nobody for me to turn to for wisdom? Why were all these false people BSing me? [B]Why couldn’t they be perfect and I like expected them to be?[/B][/I][B]! ARGH &#$&^$![/B]
I can only smile when I speak of this. I now realize what absolutely AMAZING people they are, how much they can teach me, and vice versa. What changed since then? How I choose to view them.
What’s my point?
If you expect me to be a certain way, I promise you I will let you down. If you think that I’m perfect just because I own this site, I promise you I will let you down. If you think I have all the answers, I promise I will let you down. If you think I am always right, I promise I will let you down.
I have issues, I am egotistical, I am emotional, I stick my foot in my mouth (sometimes literally 
), I am often confused, and I am told I’m abrasive. I am also loving, compassionate, accepting, patient, and chock full of passion for life. I love to learn and love to teach, often at the same time.
I am human.
I am.
How you choose to view me is up to you, but I prefer not to let you down 
All I can promise is that I will try to love you, accept you, and see you for the utterly amazing being you are, no matter how you choose to view me.
If there is ever anything I can do for any of you, you have concerns, suggestions, etc etc, don’t hesitate for a second to contact me. I’ll be posting ideas for the site in the future, I want to shape yogaforums.com together. I’m not really interested in making money from this site, I’m much more interested in it becoming a vehicle for growth and change.
With love, acceptance, and as many hugs as you want,
David
Last edited 7:04pm Central Time 08/26/2010 to remove some links
