Do Yoga Instructors Have to Be Young, Beautiful Women?
Some guy – and yes, it would be a guy – went off on my Namaste Yoga review, suggesting that I was just “jealous” of the so-called “gorgeous and talented” cast. Well, first off, that would imply that I, myself, am neither gorgeous nor talented…but I will leave that for you to decide.
The bigger issue for me here was his idea that they “had to” cast beautiful women. To quote Randy:
“Having said all that, why would you then cast such a special yoga series with ugly bag ladies? I mean, again, get a clue!! They have to cast someone beautiful so that when you turn their show on you say “I would like to look like that…how does she look so good? Maybe I should start doing yoga like they do…””
Ummm…first off…I never said they needed to cast a bag lady. But does “beautiful” have to be a 22-year-old midriff-baring female? Ali MacGraw’s video is considered by many to be an example of a very beautiful yoga video, and there Ali herself is 50-something and there’s a mix of men and women in the shots.
(Granted, I’m a big bugged by how out-of-shape Erich Schiffman appears there, but my gripe isn’t his face or how hot he is. He just seems a bit, well, flabby, and that’s a different issue entirely. I’ve been meaning to write something about out-of-shape yoga gurus…you know…the gurus with the huge beer bellies…and will do so soon.)
Second, I personally don’t find women that are obviously fit due to their youth and not their workout routine to be inspiring. Women at that age who have the right metabolism are hardly examples of the success of a particular workout. When I was 22, I had naturally flat abs that you could bounce a quarter off. I was super skinny (probably too skinny). And I did not work out one bit. So I look at those women in the video and know, for a fact, that I will never in a million years have the natural board flat abs that they obviously have, without ripping mine into that more muscular look that women after their 20s must have to achieve the same effect.
Don’t get me wrong – I have a super nice body, but my body is just softer in my 30s than it was in my 20s. My skin is not as resilient. My body is different. No amount of working out will return it to the state of a 22-year-old or even a 27-year-old. My abs are mostly flat but they have a bit of softness to them. I could spend a zillion years working them out to be “ripped” but why? Does that actually make them more attractive to men? Would a man rather rest his head down on some stringy abdominal muscle or a nice soft tummy?
And that’s the thing my friend Randy just doesn’t get. I am not jealous of Pretty Young Things. I have been a Pretty Young Thing and basically what that gets you is a lot of men who want you for the wrong thing – your body, and not your mind. I’ve been actively toning down my looks over the past few years. I’m sick of being “just” a hottie. I’ve been letting some of my gray hairs show. And so when I do yoga – and excuse me, but more women are my age and above than younger in this game – I simply want to be in good shape and healthy. But I absolutely have no need to be so fit as to be a supermodel.
Which is why – given that the majority of people I see doing yoga are women who aren’t all super young and buff – having young pretty models as yoga instructors in a yoga video is hardly necessary. And given that more women consume yoga, is there any damn good reason not to balance out the female hotties with some male eye candy, if it really is about the “beautiful scenery”?
Furthermore, when it comes to my actual yoga classes, I will run like the dickens from young women like those shown in Namaste Yoga, as they tend to be doing yoga because they were perhaps dancers or gymnasts growing up, they can easily bend in 10 directions, and have no clue how to actually teach someone who has a normal body. (Not to generalize, but that’s my experience with young yoga teachers.) They are into yoga because they are good at it, not because they are good at teaching it.
And that brings me to my bottom line: Namaste Yoga, no matter how beautiful, is a crappy yoga workout for where I’m at with my level of yoga. No amount of scenery or pretty young things will change that. And anyone who truly is serious about yoga will judge a yoga video by the quality of the workout, not the quality of the eye candy.
Can’t really fault anyone for marketing yoga—either live classes or instructional videos—using sex appeal. Depending on our level of interest it probably begins to matter less but personally I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.
Look at Shiva Rea. Very accomplished, sure, but that doesn’t stop her from posing in only panties in the June 2007 Vanity Fair.
As a follow up to this topic here’s a letter to the editor from the August 2007 Yoga Journal:
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The covers of Yoga Journal are always the most difficult for me to relate to. I’m 49 years old and know that yoga isn’t about image. Even my teenage daughter said she could never look like the women on your covers. Be brave, be real, and treat us to a cover that we identify with.
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Of course this issue does feature a makeover story to balance it out. Somewhat.
I’ve been meaning to write something about those cheesecake yoga magazines with the fashion spreads. Stay tuned!
I got the first Season a passed it on to a Female yoga instructor how loves it. I like the break-down of the asana’s and the focus on breath.
a 20 second shavasana is a bit short…
over all it’s a great series
Well everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I’m glad that you’re very modest about your looks.
Considering I gave up on the spinning/power yoga combination at my fancy gym in order to do more biking outdoors, I was looking for a yoga video with some variety to force me to stretch after 2 hour rides.
After checking out some of Rodney Yee’s DVDs and this awful Australian yoga video at the library, I came upon this series. I find it to be a good cool down after a ride, the videos are relatively short and there’s a good variety with the 13 episodes (granted some of them require some work if you’re not familiar with the poses).
I guess I take offense with your stereotyping of the typical consumer. I didn’t know I was some misogynist just because I don’t want to spend hours in a pricey gym listening to some yoga instructor drone on for the benefit of some clients that are 20-30 years older than me, but I wanted something faster paced.
That being said, my rock-climbing gym now offers yoga lessons so I might transition to that.
I had to chuckle as I read your review of Namaste Yoga because a lot of those thoughts went through my head as well when I watched it.
That said, I happen to be a yoga teacher who has been practicing for close to 15 years and teaching for close to 10 of those 15. I agree with you Stephanie about the young teachers/former dancers. I have one of them in a place where I teach and she didn’t even know what Restorative yoga is. Mind you, this is the young woman who is running the mind/body studio of a high-end health club! I find that frightening.
Like you, I too was a pretty young thing who happens to be a little older now but still considered not too shabby by many.
I tried the practice and found it pretty easy ~ I didn’t work up a sweat at all. I agree that: 1) the poses are not held nearly long enough and moves way quicker than I would prefer, 2) the young women are beautiful young women but so what, 3) yes, they could definitely add some male eye candy, 4) Kate Potters voice-over didn’t bother me at all.
I REALLY liked the sequencing of the poses; I found it creative; I thought it flowed nicely. I liked it so much that I incorporated some of it into my own class and my students really like it as well … mind you a slower version and the students held the poses longer.
As for the comments from the guys, I see their point as well. The practices are short, which can be appealing when you’re very tight or short on time. And frankly, I always tell my students it’s better to practice 20-30 minutes each day rather than practice for an hour or two once or twice a week. I believe that consistency is far better and will yield results that could very well inspire these folks to explore yoga even further.
Though you don’t seem to think much of the series, I probably would continue to practice with it for more creative sequencing ideas and for those times when I’m too depleted from teaching to practice a long time.
Based on the above response I have only learned that Stephanie’s obvious insecurities and self-centeredness are so pervasive and annoying that I’ll now avoid any of her writings and instruction. I can’t believe that you take your jealousy so far that you discriminate against athletic young women that could add dynamic and fresh perspective making potentially excellent instructors for your students.
Skinny and “quarter bounce” tight abs do not make a hot woman alone. Those women in the Namaste videos are in such perfect shape over every inch of their bodies that I am in awe. It is the human form at its most finally tuned athletic shape…not just skinny and not just young. I’m a male and athletic, and though I know men have lower body fat percentages and higher muscle mass and definition potential in general, I’m quite motivated when watching those videos with the hopes of obtaining the physical shape that those women have.
Try an open mind and lose the jealous chip on your shoulder.
Matt…it continually amazes me how men will automatically throw out the “you’re jealous” card when a woman criticizes media images that focus on young, beautiful women. No, not jealous. Just sick of yoga turning from a spiritual practice into sexploitation. I don’t want to be bombarded with sexy images of women in my yoga. I just want inner peace.
“Have an open mind” is a convenient excuse for pornographers and the like. It’s meaningless, really.
As for your comment: “I’m quite motivated when watching those videos with the hopes of obtaining the physical shape that those women have.” There’s something a tad disturbing about a guy who wants to be in the shape of a woman…but…I ask you, if fitness is really your interest:
Would you likewise buy a yoga video that had three sexy hot young MEN in it, wearing skimpy clothes, with a breathy male voice and sex-filled overtones in the yoga class? Or would you find that annoying and possibly “gay.” Over 90% of the people on this blog getting ticked off about my criticisms of Namaste Yoga are guys, and I’ll bet you money not one of them would buy a similar video cast with the likes of Orlando Bloom.
I have much greater respect for the guys who at least admit they watch Namaste Yoga because they get off on the hot chicks. But those that angrily try to defend it over ideals such as “perfect bodies” and “inspiration” are being disingenuous at best.
Stephanie you state that your body is a bit softer and isn’t bad yet you neglect to show representation of that fact. Not that there would be anyway to prove or disprove any photo you published, but step up to the plate then and unveil what you claim.
Ummm, my photo is on the “About Namasteph” page – hello!
http://www.namasteph.com/about/
Does it really matter what my body looks like? Should I only have the right to make a valid point if I am in shape? Do out-of-shape women not have the right to an opinion about body image issues?
Stephanie,
I understand the point you are trying to make about attractiveness etc…but the fact is how many people would watch or participate in a yoga show that had women or men that would be better off suited to be contestants on the Biggest Loser. Exercise shows have always been about beauty. Denise Austin…attractive woman, would her show have lasted as long if she hadn’t been. No…it’s called marketing. Very simply put seeing something you desire is more likely to lead you in the direction of continuing to pursue the object of your wishes, wants etc. If it wasn’t important then why post your own picture on the site. After all you are an attractive woman, but was it needed or did you put it on the site to market your 1.) experience 2.) what it has assisted or helped you acheive..meaning a fit mind and body….the list goes on but I think my point has been made.
Out of shape women do have a right to an opinion about body image issues…and now with plus size models they are at least represented to some extent, but would you honestly go to an aerobics class lead by an instructor weighing 350 pounds, who looks unattractive when your goal is to make yourself more confident in your appearance?
Also for the record I happen to be joined with Lily Goncalves of Namaste Yoga though LinkedIn. Lily happens to be not only be beautiful, but her beauty goes beyond the exterior and really that’s what yoga is about…..your mind as well. So perhaps that Lily and the other women from the show, which was filmed several years ago now were picked due to those items. Lily continues to work here in Vancouver and is the most sought instructor by both male and females at the center because of what she brings.
Brian,
You guys continually miss the point and get soooo defensive whenever I suggest that not every yoga instructor needs to look like a supermodel!
I never said a yoga instructor should be 350 pounds. What I am saying is that they don’t all need to be 25 years old with abs you can bounce a quarter off of.
As for: “…your goal is to make yourself more confident in your appearance?”
This is key here. The goal of yoga is NOT to make yourself “more confident in your appearance.” Historically, the goal was to achieve union of body and soul for spiritual purposes. How you looked had NOTHING to do with it. For a large number of yogis, the goal of yoga is still primarily spiritual. I also do yoga for my HEALTH.
It is only since yoga came to America that people have hijacked it for shallow reasons.
Back in the 60s and 70s, most yoga “gurus” were old Indian guys with big long beards and sometimes big bellies. Being a svelte 20-something female who’d have that body regardless of yoga had nothing to do with it.
One of the reasons I enjoy Kundalini Yoga so much is that there is a respect for modesty and the wisdom of age. Some of the most respected and powerful teachers are older women who show up in modest clothing and no make-up – and they pack the house! Gurmukh regularly gets classes of 100 people or more and she’s not some 20-something beauty.
PS As for your Lily Goncalves name dropping – I wonder how on earth you can judge her “inner beauty” by a Linked In connection. I’m sure she’s a nice person, but it seems to me your perspective is colored by your lust for her. And at this point, she’s probably sought after for her celebrity status more than anything else.
Stephanie,
As far as I’m concerned, you’re right, the pretty women on the show make it more appealing to specific demographics (straight men, lesbians)…but I’m not sure why that’s a “bad thing” or a “problem”, that’s just what the show is. Also, your initial review of the show Namaste Yoga starts off with a bizarre comment about how “shocked” you are that this could come out of Canada. Do you honestly think Canadian TV is so different than American? It isn’t.
You say you aren’t “jealous” b/c you were a Pretty Young Thing once. Sorry, but no matter how you put it, it’s obvious you have a lingering hatred/jealousy of younger women who are in shape (rather by fast metabolism or through effort)…calling them Pretty Young Things is itself a demeaning and dehumanizing term, akin to a black person calling a white person “cracker” and then justifying it by saying that they “oppressed” them with slavery or what have you. A slur is a slur, regardless of how it’s used, and no justification makes it “better” or right. At the very least, stop being a hypocrite.
Of course, the fact that you closed your review article’s comment section is rather telling about the kind of person you are…one who can dish out insults and negative comments but apparently can’t take it. But it’s your blog, so do what you like.
Richard, your comment really made me laugh. Saying that “pretty young thing” is a slur akin to the term “cracker”? Wow. That’s a stretch. You’re really wrought up over the idea that somebody might criticize the objectification of women in yoga.
I am not jealous of “pretty young things.” That’s your projection. In your limited, sexist mind, you can’t possibly fathom that an attractive woman might actually call to task the objectification of women in the media for any reason other than she’s jealous. How about this – I think objectifying women is hurtful to the soul? Not just the souls of women, but to the souls of men like YOU who get attached to the physical facade and then use this attachment to nurture anger and resentment towards women (for whatever the reason).
Being pretty, young, and thin does not get you lasting love or self-esteem. It gets you men who are interested in not you, but how you look. And that creates a deep insecurity in many beautiful women. I know, I’m in LA, and I’ve seen it everywhere here – often the most beautiful women are the most emotionally messed up for a variety of reasons, but one of which is that they don’t feel loved for themselves.
So you can choose to believe that my criticism has something to do with “poor me I can’t get a date damn those PYTs” or you might consider that I challenge the focus on beauty for other, very valid reasons.
I had a conversation about this with a very attractive friend of mine…we’ve decided that being old won’t be so bad, because then we’ll know for sure that the men in our lives will truly love us for who we are. Something to look forward to.
PS I shut off comments on that other link because obsessive guys like you were wasting my time there. But I approved your comment here because it is such a good, over-the-top example of why those other comments were closed.
Namaste!
This is getting weird with the whole “ofcourse men would throw out the jealous card..” I’m a straight woman, 34 yrs old, who enjoys the show. Yes, the girls are beautiful and I love what they wear because the human body is beautiful as well. It’s also not done in a gym or some colorful room which I find annoying. The whole thing is suppose to relax you and awe you a bit. Ofcourse they will use healthy bodies. Kate Potter uses a meditative voice which many instructors use. And I live in Miami so there are beautiful bodies everywhere, and alot of people exercise and do yoga here. In my gym, you wear modest clothes for running or other exercise equipment BUT for yoga class many women wear things that are very similar to Namaste girls because it’s comfortable. Also, my boyfriend – who isn’t as much into yoga but gives it a try to humor me, lol- said he thought the girls were cute but also commented on the backdrops and how they kept in sync, which shows their talent. Yes, guys are visual but I think they can appreciate the beauty, which OFCOURSE is a draw to sell ratings and DVDs, but if they can then get into the yoga and enjoy it as part of their lifestyle – then that’s great. What’s the harm in that. These aren’t the bimbo’s you see in jazzercise videos! These women look like the girls in my yoga classes! They are healthy, strong, and talented. And yes, they are beautiful.
Good for them.
I think there are some deeper issues here for you. I mean really. Let’s look at what a show like Namaste Yoga brings to the table, convenient yoga that relaxes and still gives us “beginners” a good workout or a great stretch (depending on the episode). The show is shot in high quality and uses great backdrops. All of the “hot” women are also very ept practitioners. If I had a spare 90 minutes, I’d go to the Y and do yoga, but I don’t. I can and do get a good workout, for as long as I can spare, and not have to leave home. Yes, I do have other DVD yoga workouts. Namaste is still the best I’ve seen. If you really have issue with shows like Namaste, it’s your own insecurity clouding your judgement.
Monica, my wife is a Jazzercise instructor and would take exception to “bimbos in Jazzercise videos”. I’m not even sure where you’d come up with that.
Here is one simple question to ask: Does this television show (which is all it is, a show on television) still the mind? Not is it relaxing or does it make you fit but does it make your mind still? If the answer is no, then it is not yoga. If it does, then it is yoga.
Seeing all of the agitation on this and the previous review of this show, especially as all of the argument seems to be over looks and sex appeal (which would be attachment to sexy things), it appears likely that stilling is one thing this television show does not teach.
Jai Bhagwan