A Question For Harmony

by Sherry
(Vancouver)

Hi, I am a woman thinking about a trip to Mysore, India to study Ashtanga. I have been studying for 3 years and can do primary (jump backs are still really hard!).

I want to start by saying I love yoga!!

I have heard lots of stories about Guruji's sexual misconduct, I would like to call them rumors but I have heard a few first hand accounts from other women, some who's friends even saw it happen! So, it seems well accepted fact in the community that this is something that has happened a lot!

When you were in Mysore did Guruji put his hands where they should not go?? If so, how did you handle it?

Two of the women I talked to were very upset,but some didn't seem to care. One woman told me that when she was in Baddha Konasana and Guruji put his hand on her vagina she took it as an opportunity to establish a boundary and simply moved his hand toward her knee.

I am very confused about this!! It is very important to me to feel that my yoga teacher lives the values of yoga. I need to feel that my yoga teachers respect my womanhood. But, almost no one in the community seems to care!! I love all my Ashtanga community but I don't understand why people won't talk about this issue!!

It starts to seem shady after a while you know, nobody willing to talk about it.

please help!

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Hi Sherry,

Thanks so much for your submission and question. It is a good question for sure, and I can understand your confusion and hesitation regarding the stories you have heard, and wondering about making the trip to Mysore or not.

I also have heard similar stories, and by no means do I want to invalidate another person's experience, but I can only speak to my own. I think it is fair to say there were times in the past when certain women felt encroached upon by the adjustments they received.

From my own personal experience in Mysore, I can say for certain that Guruji never touch me inappropriately, nor did I ever feel uncomfortable in his presence. I never felt anything "sexual" from him at all, either in a physical or energetic sense, and I personally didn't see any him touch any other female students in inappropriate ways while I there.

Since Guruji's death in 2009, Sharath (his grandson) and Saraswathi (his daughter) have been teaching all of the morning classes together.

I have never heard any kind of similar rumors or stories about Sharath. I can say for sure that he is very careful and guarded with his own behavior and energy both in and outside of the Yoga classes. He is very devoted to his family, and clearly adores his two children, and beautiful wife (Shruthi).

If you do decide to go and study in Mysore, I am confident that Sharath will give you the utmost respect in this regard.

I know this can be a delicate issue, as everyone has their own personal experience and interpretation of it, and so it is difficult for me to comment much more on the subject.

For me, I can assure you that I never witnessed or felt uneasy during my practice time in Mysore with either Guruji or Sharath.

I hope that helps!

Wishing you all the best with the journey, and the adventure ahead if you do decide to go to India! It will change your life.