Hi grainne uaile, thank you for your kind words regarding my posts and for mentioning books you have found to be helpful. I started exploring all this stuff to help me deal with insomnia, ongoing health issues and for boosting my mood when I'm feeling spent. Up to now doctors and alternative practitioners haven't been much help. While my past work with affirmations didn't ach
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteWhen yoga people get a bit older, or preggers and their metabolisms slow down and gravity comes forward to claim its due, just watch. You'll see the trend change to looser fitting pants. People will start craving those and throw yet more money into the maw of Kama, the the God of Capitalist Craving. corboy, does this mean I'm a trendsetter for going loose before everyone else?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The next time I'm gazing at my navel on my favourite mountain top, I'll have to ask the almighty universe/god/the goddess/my magic penny how I ever managed to do yoga and meditate sans Lululemon. Oh wait, I can always ask my cats who run, stretch and play as they are... Simplicity is so nice, but you can't get rich on it. Here's an article on Lululemon. How Lululemon
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The book Top Secret by Robert M. Price has a chapter on ACIM.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi corboy, Thanks for your feedback. I had been considering going away to meditation retreats, but after reading some of the posts on this site I'm thinking it might not be such a good idea. I don't like the idea of someone else deciding when I should have to get up to meditate or how often I can eat. We all have individual needs and if people aren't eating often enough or sleep
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThen there are all the Yoga equipment vendors who have convinced people they need all sorts of expensive mats, blocks, special towels etc before you can even one downward facing dog. Talk about a racket. If people are interested in Yoga they are better off just buying a DVD on it. Just make sure to avoid anything by Shiva Ray as her stuff will wreck your back and neck. The same goes for Pow
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotecorboy Date Added: 06/19/2002 Posts: 3512 Re: Goenka/ Vipassana Vipassana is mistakenly taught as just a mere method. It arises straight from the world view of Thervedan Buddhism. And in Buddhadharma it is postulated that everything arises from a chain of causation. There is no Prime Mover, no Absolute/Atman and no Creator who existed before creation itself. Unfortunately, t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A little yoga humour: And an article on Bikram Chodhury in which he claims to have the ability to cure Parkinson disease and change people like Patti Davis (Ronald Reagan's daughter). Quote‘Reagan was so stupid. It was amazing this man could ever be president. He said to me, “What’s wrong, Bikram: 33 years and she never listens to me, my Patti? She hates her father so much she does
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I never understood why anyone would want to work out in a hot humid room. There is a reason why health experts warn the public to take it easy and find ways to cool off when it's hot and humid outside. But because some yoga teacher claims it's the best thing for you, people ignore what should be common sense and pay money to put their health at risk. And here's another thing I d
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I came across this and thought I'd share. “The Downside to Down Dog” by Kelly Grey. This is one of the best stories I’ve ever read about Yoga, no, make that “one of the best stories I’ve ever read, period.” It’s a little long for an Elephant blog, but I encourage you to take the time to really enjoy it. Kelly’s story originally appeared in Yoga in America: In the Words
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Oprah is coming to Canada. A second Oprah's Lifeclass was added after the first one sold out in 24 hours! Guest experts include Tony Robbins, Deepak Chopra, Bishop T.D. Jakes and Iyanla Vanzant. Tickets are priced between $49 and $395. I'm amazed so many people would pay that much money to listen to these so called "experts" given their track records, especially when so
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

If you don't think yoga wear is revealing enough, there's always naked yoga. I'm sure Lululemon won't be promoting this because not much $$$ to be made if this were to really catch on. All I can say is I hope people bring their own mats. Bringing a whole new angle to downward dog: How a Brooklyn yoga studio hosts NAKED classes for men only By Victoria Wellman PUBLI
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

corboy, I agree with you. I would add one thing, his students not only appear to "submit" to his disrespectful treatment, they seem to put him on a pedestal. It's because of his students that he's become a very wealthy yoga celebrity, and instead of being grateful, he's got a huge ego. So large, it's a wonder he can fit through doorways. I don't get it.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

No ego here as Bikram Choudhury, self-proclaimed guru to the rich and famous, claims he alone teaches "true, pure hatha yoga" in the U.S. http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/328]
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

More on sexism, greed and sexualizing yoga the Bikram way. Bikram Yoga: The End Logic of a Love Affair with Capitalism
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Since information has a way of disappearing from the Net, I'm going to post the above mentioned feature. The Overheated, Oversexed Cult of Bikram Choudhury The Overheated, Oversexed Cult of Bikram Choudhury At an advanced teacher-training session in San Diego, the inventor of "hot yoga" instructs a new generation of gurus. Is he leading them to enlightenment—or hosting a g
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Speaking of sex and yoga, I found an interesting feature about Bikram Choudhury, founder of Bikram Yoga or "hot yoga." The article is long, but it's worth reading because the man is a vivid example of what happens when a narcissist makes it big as a guru. QuoteAnd with the client list comes a Hollywood lifestyle that has drawn criticism from rival gurus for being insufficiently
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks corboy, when I have more time I will definitely check out the information you have provided.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This piece covers all kinds of territory, including gurus and Transcendental Meditation. Lorin Roche, Ph.D. a zesty, life-affirming approach to meditation "All power corrupts, absolute power is even more fun"- Simon Travaglia, The Bastard Operator From Hell Power Corrupts Gurus have immense power over their disciples, just by the definition of what a guru is – great
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A piece about eating disorders and fundamentalism in yoga world. Lorin Roche, Ph.D. a zesty, life-affirming approach to meditation Eating Disorders Masquerading as Yogic Food Theory Hoosier Yoga A courageous group of Yoga instructors in the Midwest selected me to give the keynote talk and several workshops at their annual retreat. The whole thing was a delight, to me at least.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

An article about the rise in rates of yoga injuries and the lack of standards regarding teacher training. Globe & Mail - Yoga Troubles Trouble on the Om Front Some Toronto yoga instructors go to the mats with as little as two days training. That's left students bent out of shape. By ANNA SHARRATT Special to The Globe and Mail Oct. 10, 2009 A self-confessed A-type, Darl
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

If yoga teachers were smart, they would be open to information about the possible dangers. This way they could help prevent injuries amongst their students and prevent their own likelihood of hurting themselves. Yoga Instructors Push Back at New York Times Article on Injury Risk Jan 10, 2012 4:45 AM EST Instructors are calling it ‘the elephant in the room’: a New York Times story warni
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The oversexualization of yoga amy verner From Saturday's Globe and Mail Published Saturday, Oct. 02, 2010 12:01AM EDT Last updated Sunday, Oct. 03, 2010 7:00PM EDT By the standards of women’s fashion magazines, there is nothing particularly racy about Yoga Journal. Stories in the October issue include a step-by-step illustrated guide to achieving poses, versatile yet stylish clo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

An interesting article on yoga teachers and narcissism. Bow Down to the Yoga Teacher Feb 20, 2011 12:00 AM EST Marco, the tattooed instructor at the front of the room, is all charisma. He stalks; he pounces; he perches on my back as he corrects my Janu Sirsasana pose (otherwise known as a forward bend). “If you tell it to me from your mind, I’m not interested,” he announces, to begin t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A blog post about yoga related injuries and ego. Is yoga ruining your body? zosia bielski Globe and Mail Blog Posted on Friday, January 6, 2012 10:10AM EST "How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body," a controversial article in this weekend's New York Times magazine, is stirring debate between devotees and those who question the Westernization of the practice, which counted some
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I've always heard that yoga wasn't supposed to be competitive, but according to an article in the Toronto Star yoga pose competitions have been taking place for quite awhile: QuoteYoga pose competitions take place in India, where yoga originated, and elsewhere around the world. Choudhury took part in them growing up, as did her husband, Bikram Choudhury, founder of the Bikram Yoga fo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Some questions to consider... What qualifications must people have in order to call themselves yoga teachers? Do they have to take regular refresher courses on first aid? Do they apprentice before being able to start teaching on their own? Are they expected to keep up to date with new findings about body mechanics? Can anyone apply to yoga schools and expect to be accepted in the teacher tr
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yoga teachers are revered as being on a higher level than regular fitness instructors, but that doesn't mean they don't lie, cheat, lust, etc. Here's an interesting piece called Yogis behaving badly. Another story, An Illicit Yoga Love Story -- an interview with celebrity yoga teacher Rodney Yee who surprise, surprise appeared on Oprah and is mentioned in the above articl
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I've been having difficulties sleeping through the night for much of my life, and despite two stays in sleep labs, doctors haven't been able to help me. And so I borrowed the book I can make you sleep by Paul McKenna from the library. I became suspicious after a few pages when I started to feel myself becoming sleepy as I read the book. Much to my utter joy (sarcasm intended), he
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I never understood why some people believe that being fit means having to perform extreme movements under extreme conditions. And yet yoga is revered as being better, safer and more spiritual than other forms of physical exercise and its gurus get away with a lot of big, unproven promises. Here's another article: Thinking of trying hot yoga? Read this first dakshana bascaramurty
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"