The being said, I enjoyed that the Yoga Journal Magazine panel, moderated by Kaitlin Quistgaard, had to say.  Present were Mr. "Don't Say I Sensationalize" Broad and three senior practitioners and teachers-David Swensen, Gary Kraftsow and Ana Forrest.  Including Board, there were 160 years of yoga experience sitting at a 10-foot table.  They were assembled to discuss the recent focus on yoga injuries and they had Mr. Broad present to confront.  The video, at 29 minutes, is longish.  But skip around(1) to listen to Ms. Forrest and Messrs. Kraftsow and Swensen offer their sometimes brilliant views on why we should be doing this practice we call "yoga" and their suggestions on our needed approach.  It's different than you may think.  For me, it was inspiring and instructive.  Mouse over the image at top or click to load the YouTube video.  You can also find it on Yoga Journal's site here.  

Here are a few excerpts and some thoughts: 

David "Yoga Is Like Eating Pizza" Swensen (at 13:10 and 22.10) - Gotta love Swensen.  He gives analogies about hammers, pizza and oranges.  He says yoga is like eating pizza-you can read about pizza, study the origin of pizza, see photos of pizza, but you don't know it until you taste pizza.  Yoga is an experiential practice.  We should practice yoga in a way that makes us feel good and we don't need science to tell us how we feel.  And, I like this:  "A teacher should encourage, inspire and facilitate the practice of a student. . . and instill responsibility in a student."   This is good for us teachers to remember.  Could it be, he says he's "never had an injury practicing yoga" in his life?  Impressive. 

Ana "We Need More Intelligence" Forrest (at 9:53 and 18:18)  -  Ms. Forrest feels that we are "totally clueless about our body" and "as humans, we have a lot of problems".  Right or wrong, no one wants to hear they're a bunch of clueless, problematic people, but she seems adamant.  From our disconnection with our body we do thinks that can hurt our bodies and that unless we're taught how to come into it "we stay locked out".  She considers the yoga injury discussion a "call for all of us to pull up our intelligence.

 Gary "I've Been Saying This For Decades" Kraftsow (at 17:08 23.34) - Here's what he says:  "Yoga will transform your relationship to your life at every level . .  . If you're doing the right practice, you'll be more stable, you'll feel better, you'll get sick less, you'll be less attached to things, you'll be less irritable and you'll be more tolerate of others".  Wow, we could all use a bit more of that, don't you think.  He goes on to remind us that the physical practice of yoga is not exercise--it's a part of yoga.  The poses are not about the poses, they're about the student.  Teachers should not be teaching postures, they should be teaching people that are practicing yoga.  Well said. 

At 25.57 on the clock, Broad points out on a model spine why standing on the head every day will cause injury.  It's compelling and I agree with him that the top of the head was not designed to bear the weight of the body.  There are many yogis, however, who could give a compelling argument that headstands can be done safely and with many benefits. 

I guess the topic has not been beaten to death.  I imagine we'll continue to hear about yoga and injuries.  I know many teachers that are evaluating what and how they teach.  I think that's good. 

Do you wear sunscreen?  Neither do I.  But, I know many people that are fanatical about it.  Problem is, most people don't use enough (slather it on) or reapply often enough, especially if you're outside.  

Check this out from my favorite go to site:  kottke.org.  Here's their posting via gizmodo.   

"The New England Journal of Medicine recently reported on the 69 year-old man in the photo above. Constant sun exposure to one side of his face resulted in premature aging, though, the other side doesn't look too bad for 69. The condition is called unilateral dermatoheliosis, which I think is Greek for make sure to wear sunblock.

The patient reported that he had driven a delivery truck for 28 years. Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays transmit through window glass, penetrating the epidermis and upper layers of dermis. Chronic UVA exposure can result in thickening of the epidermis and stratum corneum, as well as destruction of elastic fibers. This photoaging effect of UVA is contrasted with photocarcinogenesis."

Yikes!  Where's the sunscreen.

There are lots of reasons why going to a public yoga class is not always right for you.  Maybe the class times are wrong or the location is inconvenient.  Maybe you're new to yoga and feel intimidated by a public class or you have an injury or condition that requires some individual attention.   Private or small group classes at your location at your chosen time can be the perfect answer.

It's fun to get friends together.  Treat your friends to Yoga and Tea rather than Food and Booze.  Inviting friends to come together for a Gentle or Restorative Yoga class is a perfect way to enjoy each other's company and do something good for yourselves.  Many yoga parties end with tea or champagne and some munchies.  Your friends will thank you!

Please call on me if I can help you book a private yoga class or answer any questions.  I can be reached at cheryl@cherylthomas.com.