The Anusara Drama - I'm Over It

Like many in the Anusara kula - I have felt a whole spectrum of emotions the last few weeks. At times I have been indifferent, defensive, angry, sad, just plain anxious, and more. It's been a little exhausting for everyone I'm sure. The drama has been flying. Even when you aren't directly involved in the story it's hard not to get defensive when people start accusing you of being in a cult. All this considered - I have been silent on the whole issue here at Hearts Expanding. I've been absorbing all the information I could and assessing what action, if any, was the right action for me.

In case you've managed to miss the whole John Friend controversy - you can go see 

a Timeline of Events at Bay Shakti to get caught up.

Some people's reaction to the news.

People that I know and love, teachers I respect - almost everyone is kind of scattering to the wind. Some declared their loyalty while others declared their resignation. At first it was like I wasn't 100% sure what to do with myself with all my teachers no longer under the same umbrella.

Since I never went all the way through with getting my Anusara-Inspired certification (I started but changed my mind some time last year) I have been looking at this entire debacle primarily from the eyes of a student. After a lot of inward contemplation I came to recognize that I have been following certain teachers more than Anusara itself. I never followed John Friend individually. He is not and never was my teacher.

As I recognize that my practice is so much more than that - I no longer list Anusara yoga as my primary yoga; but I will still practice it as long as some of my favorite teachers are involved in the method. I will continue to try new systems and be open to yoga as a whole. Some of my teachers are choosing to stay with Anusara, and some have chosen to leave. I fully respect and support both decisions. I will study both inside and outside of the Anusara community. As long as their teachings resonate with me - I will study with them wherever they are.

TL;DR
Here at Hearts Expanding, I'm not attached to John Friend or Anusara Yoga.
I just love Yoga and the teachers that made me.

John Friend Collection from Manduka

A few different videos have been making the rounds lately announcing that Anusara and Manduka have partnered up to create a new collection of yoga mats and accessories. This is my favorite of the videos.

I may just have to buy the John Friend Collection eKO SuperLite® Travel Mat because I love purple and I don't own a single travel mat. My primary mat is like 7 pounds (heavy for toting around), whereas the superlite is only 2.5 pounds and easily folds up for packing.

Readers via Email - Click Here for the Video.

John Friend on Light and Dark

"Orient to the light, and extend it back into the dark"  - John Friend

Photo Source: found over at Devil Wears Prana

John Friend on Sex & Tantra - (Video)

I came across this short little video on the Devil Wears Prana yoga blog and I had to share it here. It's John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga, talking a bit about Tantra and what it may or may not have to do with Sex. Check it out!

Email Readers - Click Here for the Video.

John Friend Interview via Bay Shakti Part 2 (Video)

As promised, here is Part 2 of the Bay Shakti interview with John Friend as he kicks off his 2011 Dancing with the Divine Tour. This interview features an interesting discussion on Anusara's Shiva-Shakti Tantra philosophy and whether it's supposed to be dogmatic.

Spoiler: *Anusara supports thinking for yourself.*



Readers via email - Click Here for the video.

John Friend Interview via Bay Shakti (Video)

Anusara and John Friend have been everywhere I look this week, so I might as well finish off the week with more great videos. These two Bay Shakti videos are a little long for those with a short attention span, so I'll post Part 1 today... and tomorrow Part 2.



Readers via email - Click Here for the video.

John Friend Wanderlust 2010 (Video)

I know there've been a lot of videos on here lately. I'm not sure if you guys love or hate that. Maybe you're indifferent... but it makes me feel like i'm being a lazy ass. So I apologize for that alone. However, this video just got released and I think saying it's "worth watching" is a massive understatement.

At Wanderlust Festival 2010 John Friend gave a talk... which I didn't manage to attend. Now that it's available I think I was really missing out, but I'm thrilled they've made these available to the public. Listen as he speaks about living a full and wild life... I love it. ♥



Readers via email - Click Here for the video.

Gardening of the Heart

"If you think you're enlightened, go visit your family."
- Ram Dass

There's a lovely article in the November issue of Yoga Journal based off of this quote. It doesn't appear to be currently available on the website, or I'd give you a link to it. Go buy the November issue - read "Branching Out" by Sally Kempton. By now the December issue of YJ might be the one on Newsstands... but if the November issue is still available - you'll notice it. It's Orange with the lovely KK Ledford on the cover wearing fuchsia clothes and long blonde hair. Actually, I don't care if you buy the magazine - stand in the aisle and read it if you must - just read it.

"On this powerful New Moon plant your prayerful seeds of reconciling with anyone with whom you are in conflict."

- John Friend via Twitter as @anusarafriend

These two quotes go together really well I think. If you have some tension building about visiting family for the holiday - just remember it's never too late to plant your prayerful seeds of reconciling.

John Friend’s 5 Principles (to create a new paradigm) - Video

John Friend spoke recently at LEADERShift 2010 - here is a video of some of his speech, but if you want to skip that and get right to the point - a short summary is below - and below that - an even shorter summary of the summary! Yay for concision!

John Friend Leaders Causing Leaders from davekennedy on Vimeo.

Every word below this point comes via Lia Aprile at Leaders Causing Leaders:

John Friend’s 5 Principles (to create a new paradigm)...

1. Be like the sky. Be open, have a beginner’s mind.

2. Be like the Earth. Embody your deep talents. (Like blogging. Um…wait…).

3. Be like water. Feel. Be fluid, be sensitive, be compassionate. (Yes, yes, and double yes)

4. Be like fire. Have a burning for the highest. Aspire to serve. Dare to be courageous no matter the darkness.

5. Be like air. Like the wind, that can move around any problem. Be imaginative and innovative.

In a nutshell: start fresh, be steady, feel deeply, burn with the desire to evolve, and let your mind and your heart be flexible and inventive.

(He also gets the Best Line of the Evening Award for: “All the opposites come together as contrary compliments.” (Love that.))

John Friend on Anusara Yoga (Video)

Here's a spectacular video about Anusara Yoga from the AnusaraVideos YouTube Channel. It's got some lovely Anusara yogis practicing throughout with voice-over from John Friend himself talking about what Anusara Yoga really is... and is all about. It's only 2 minutes long, and has enjoyable background music by Todd Boston... so please watch it. ♥



Readers via email - click here to watch the video.