Comments on: John Friend’s Official Response to NYTimes ‘Yoga Mogul’ Article – Rebuttal of Falsehoods

By: Elle

Elle — Mon, 02 May 2011 13:24:01 +0000

Angel… So named by the grace and elegance of her words!
Wow, if you ever have the pleasure of meeting John Friend take the time to be open and free of all other opinions. Coming from a true cynic I can honestly say I was floored by his knowledge, humor and kindness. See and believe your own heart read and question the authors.

Peace and love

By: Angel Clawson

Angel Clawson — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 14:35:34 +0000

See the guy for what he really is. A greedy, arrogant, manipulative, egotistical, overly-ambitious, self-serving businessman who chose to exploit yoga to gain fame and fortune. Judge him not by his words but his actions.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 22:04:33 +0000

Wow, people talk so much sh*t. It’s a shame he even had to respond to such ridiculous accusations.

And it’s also a shame that the whole idea of being prosperous is still threatening to some people. As if you can’t be spiritual AND make money. Let’s all be dirt poor and eat out of garbage cans, cause that’s just so spiritual.

By: Bikram Choudhury: Cult Rock Star, Yogapreneur, Magic Genie Sex Machine

Bikram Choudhury: Cult Rock Star, Yogapreneur, Magic Genie Sex Machine — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:17:24 +0000

[...] pretty familiar with Bikram’s megaton balls-out approach to life and/or marketing. While some mogul gurus would take offense to an article hinting at incidents of debauchery, overindulgence and fame, there’s high doubt [...]

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‘Yoga Don’ Bikram to be Bigger Than Elvis? — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:20:28 +0000

[...] 105 degree room at a time! He’ll show you what a TITAN is. Whereas Anusara Daddy John Friend downplays the “Moguel” title, Bikram is having it for [...]

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Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:31:44 +0000

[...] tossing cookies over too-sexy/naked yoga ads, and the billion dollar industry where there are moguls, large-scale mass-produced corporate sponsored events, Hollywood movie franchising and yoga [...]

By: Weekend Round-Up « Infinity Dancing Everywhere

Weekend Round-Up « Infinity Dancing Everywhere — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:06:46 +0000

[...] Comments from Anusara teacher Elena Brower (at the bottom of the page). [...]

By: Sinead O'Connor

Sinead O'Connor — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:50:40 +0000

In response to my previous response I can now say the article was bull shit. I just did a workshop with the man himself this weekend and all I can say is massive spirit, massive heart, full of knowledge, funny, extremely down to earth yet manages to humility. The NYC times article is a real shame as it could sway the mind of someone who isn’t open enough to finding out for themselves. It’s like stupid gossip that acts like a virus infecting any good are truth in anything. Its necessary to ask questions so we don’t enter systems in blind faith but it’s equally as necessary to find out the answers for ourselves. From what I can tell the Anusara kula is a kula because that is what they do. They support each other. John Friend seams to be genuinely attentive to everyone and makes it his business to be everyone’s friend. Isn’t it funny that his name is Mr Friend?! I don’t know how he was taken up so wrongly or why – ???. He’s charismatic but far from the yoga rock star, politician, evangelist that the article claims him to be. From what I can see in the short time over the weekend he is the real deal, a Modern Yogi.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 06:01:57 +0000

I was sad when I read the article, because it does not accurately reflect John as I know him (admittedly not as well as many people), the Anusara teachers I have had the pleasure to study and practice with, and the Anusara kula in general. I don’t think there is anything wrong with making a living in yoga–I want my yoga teachers to be able to pay their bills and thrive, not just eke out a living–but I also know that none of my Anusara teachers are in it for the money. (The idea that anyone becomes a yoga teacher to make the big bucks cracks me up.) I value the extensive opportunities to study yoga history, philosophy, and source texts with scholars and practitioners, including many of hte people John named in his letter (Dzykowski–okay, I can’t spell that one–Wallis, Thompkins, Pomeda, Kempton, Brooks, and more).

Long story short, John and the Anusara teachers I personally know are honest people trying their best to live in line with their ethics. Anusara and its teachers AND students have improved the quality of my life immeasurably. I have learned more about myself in Anusara yoga than I have in my world travels, extended formal education, and Girl Scouts combined. I value the support of the community, and love that we all cheer when anyone in the kula does well in any endeavour.

Anusara, like any other style of yoga, might not be the best fit for you. If that is the case, I hope you have the blessing of finding the style of yoga that best speaks to you and I wish you well on your path. Otherwise, maybe I’ll share an Anusara workshop or class or experience with you sometime down the road.

Namaste.

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