This is a stand alone post for now but will end up as an update to my 'Ashtanga Authorisation 1980s to present' post as I kind of feel I've retired from posting and want to keep my end of year post as the last.
Note: This post will likely be updated over the coming days/weeks
Update:
As well as KPJAYI authorised teachers writing to me concerned about the new authorisation code of conduct, there are other authorised teachers who are writing to tell me that they personally are comfortable following it. They perhaps tend to maintain a small, humble shala, offering morning Mysore,they have the habit of Moon and Rest days and welcome the clauses regarding sexual harassment and discrimination. Nor perhaps do they have any interest in offering teacher trainings or intensives, I suspect they find running a Morning Mysore program pretty much plenty to be going on with, the code is basically representative of how they have been teaching all along. Also, several teachers have mentioned that Sharath is not, in practice, as strict or as rigid as he can often appear in writing. All the students of his I've come into contact with have tended to stress his warmth and good humour.
That said, in the context of the recent removals of Certified teachers from the list I still have concerns, those are expressed below, the relationship between finances and the list in particular, I still don't understand for instance why there is an authorisation fee, especially one so large when all of these perspective teachers have already been paying a small fortune in shala fees over the years. That a livelihood can be removed or at least compromised so easily. As well as teachers struggling to maintain their shala and wanting the freedom to explore their teaching of Ashtanga with integrity I also find myself uncomfortably in the same camp as teachers who are constantly self promoting themselves through social media, something that bemuses me as much perhaps as it seems to Sharath. I however am prepared to let them get on with it (and unfollow those who share their posts) and allow them explore their practice in their own way, it's a long term practice after all, such obsessions with self are no doubt passing. My anger perhaps comes from the recent treatment of senior teachers of the tradition who I have looked up to. In his forties now I would have thought that like me, in my fifties, Sharath would be looking to them for the wisdom that comes with practicing, from a youth into middle age and beyond.
Note: I've also removed the over the top 'Sign it or Else' from the title, the word 'demand' with regards to signing the code and clarified the paragraph on teachers who have and haven't spoken out about the recent allegations.
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UPDATE 2
Sharath's new post on the KPJAYI website, Changes to the Teachers List, a response to the recent criticism. has been added to the end of this post.
Update 3 (Feb 8th 2018)
New 'honorary' certified teacher category, still only a few names added compared to the number of names removed, a case of too little too late perhaps and bordering on the patronising.
My original post follows.....
*
Hard on the heels of Sharath's culling of 20+ senior Certified teachers from the KPJAYI list last week is this new 'Authorization/Certificate Code of Conduct' which has been sent out to all teachers to be signed and returned.
It's assumed that if a teacher doesn't sign it they too will be removed from the list.
Note: In the post title I've referred to the list as Sharath's, the iconic kpjayi.org address now directs to Sharathjois.com.
Many teachers are upset by being forced to sign this legal sounding document (such that a couple have sent a copy of it to me to share), many have criticised it online in groups, shared their confusion and frustration, some have refused to sign and have returned their authorisation.
I've been getting a lot of mail this morning telling me that first 'this teacher' is suddenly off the list and now 'that teacher', it could be that the list is being updated as signed copies of the code are returned to Sharath, we may have to wait a week or two until the dust settles to see who remains on the list and who has been removed.
"To be respectful in conduct, speech and dress".
I'm hoping this clause wont be used against those who question or speak up regarding the current and future administration of KPJAYI or those who may have written comments or shared posts in support of Karen Rain and the accusations of sexual assault by Sharath's grandfather Pattabhi Jois (for unwanted fondling and sexual touching while bound in a posture and under the guise of an adjustment/assist). I've seen no direct evidence of this, quite the opposite in fact regarding the latter, some who have spoken out have remained on the list.
I'm hoping that it's not nor will be the case. In this climate however it may explain why so few teachers have spoken out in support, out of fear perhaps of their own Authorisation being revoked.
This is especially ironic as one of the new clauses on the code include
"To provide a safe and professional environment free from sexual harassment or discrimination of any kind".
While I appreciate this clause and the insistence that it be on prominent display I can't understand why Sharath STILL hasn't issued a public statement as well as an apology on behalf of the KPJAYI for the actions of his grandfather, that he himself is said to have witnessed and attempted to stop.
*
Lets take a moment perhaps to remind ourselves who these Authorised and certified teachers are who are having their authorisation/certification removed and or living under the threat of it.
These aren't teacher's who have practiced yoga for six months or less, attended a Yoga Alliance 200hr TT and then started to teach .
These are teachers who have made a commitment of time and money over years, decades in many cases. They have practiced daily, visited Mysore year after year for several months at a time, been given authorisation after paying a large Authorisation fee and then struggled to open and maintain a shala while continuing to return to Mysore.
The commitment is anywhere between five and ten years, between $4000 and $8000 in shala fees, Authorisation fees of $1000 each for level 1 and level 2 certification. Another decade or more of shala fees for Certification and a Certification fee of perhaps $3000. On top of that, the flights and accommodation.
Revoked on a whim.
Where then is the tradition
where the loyalty.
*See running the numbers in the appendix below
*
There is much more in the code one has to agree to that gives cause for concern.
There seems little understanding of how hard it is to set up and maintain a shala in a climate of cut price yoga classes on more corners than Starbucks.
The unfortunate necessity of using social media
(however much I might find it grotesque at times some recourse to social media seems to be largely unavoidable)
Is one only to teach as Sharath teaches today rather than how Pattabhi Jois taught in the decade you may have spent with him?
What if an Intermediate series student turns up at your shala, do you have to turn her away, can you adjust, assist or leave them to their own devices. or if you are level 2 and somebody working on 3rd comes into your shala, must you say to them "Sorry, only Second" or if L1 then "...only Primary"
And clause nine, DRESS!!!!
To be respectful in conduct speech and dress
A say in what one wears in his own shala is one thing but is Sharath really seeking to dictate what one wears in ones own shala?
It should all be common sense, but with certification/authorisation being revoked without reason being given and respected senior, certified teachers treated like children, it is perhaps a little vague.
Do you really have to contact kpjayi (Sharathjois.com) to ask about each and every workshop focussing perhaps on practicing some aspect safely, or on Yoga philosophy, a reading group on the Gita?
Does Sharath even understand why you might wish to attend an Anatomy training course or one on Yoga therapy rather than think that Primary is all the therapy you need.
And is it even legal to demand that you return your Authorisation certificate or that you sign this one.
*
A friend pointed out that there is perhaps nothing in that code that should be that much of a surprise to KPJAYI teachers, that may be true but context is everything. In this case the context is of twenty certified teachers having their Certification revoked. You can do pretty much anything you like when the criteria is vague and unclear.
Here is the criteria from the kpjyayi.org 2008, the year before Pattabhi Jois' passing.
from my earlier fb post
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Surely there has to be a better way to go about this whole list business, hopefully all the teachers themselves will come up with a better option that removes the control of one party as well as the financial aspect altogether.
*
Appendix
Lets run the numbers
Shala fees for 24 months worked out around 500,000 Rp
that's approx. $8000.00
* note: the 500K rs is an adjusted figure, taking into account shala fees when a teacher perhaps firsts started going ten or more years ago and the fees now.
Authorisation Level 1 $1000
Authorisation Level 2 $1000
Note: Some teachers get authorised L2 straight away so only the one fee 8 not sure if that's higher).
- and remember there are flights and accommodation on top of that.
All that commitment of time and money, a decade or more of ones life revoked on a whim as well as perhaps ones livelihood.
That's around 8 -10 trips over a decade, not unusual although more recently teachers are being authorised much more quickly, half that time perhaps although shala fees are higher.
so lets use another example,
12 months of shala fees - corresponding to 4-6 extended trips $4000
Authorisation L1 and L2 $1000
That's $5000 not including flights and accommodation
UPDATE: Just been sent the actual figures for L1 and L2 authorisation
L1 = 88,000rs $1383.36
L2 = 112,000rs $1760.64
So 200,000 Rs - $3000 for both L1 and L2 if done separately, not including the years of shala fees
Note: Sharath has Authorised around 375 teachers since Pattabhi Jois' passing.
(tricky to calculate as several have since been removed)
on the first example
375 x $8000 = $3 million
375 x $1000 (authorisation fee) $375,000
on the second example
375 x $4000 -= $1.5 million
375 x $1000 = $375, 000
I've been getting a lot of mail this morning telling me that first 'this teacher' is suddenly off the list and now 'that teacher', it could be that the list is being updated as signed copies of the code are returned to Sharath, we may have to wait a week or two until the dust settles to see who remains on the list and who has been removed.
"To be respectful in conduct, speech and dress".
I'm hoping this clause wont be used against those who question or speak up regarding the current and future administration of KPJAYI or those who may have written comments or shared posts in support of Karen Rain and the accusations of sexual assault by Sharath's grandfather Pattabhi Jois (for unwanted fondling and sexual touching while bound in a posture and under the guise of an adjustment/assist). I've seen no direct evidence of this, quite the opposite in fact regarding the latter, some who have spoken out have remained on the list.
I'm hoping that it's not nor will be the case. In this climate however it may explain why so few teachers have spoken out in support, out of fear perhaps of their own Authorisation being revoked.
This is especially ironic as one of the new clauses on the code include
"To provide a safe and professional environment free from sexual harassment or discrimination of any kind".
While I appreciate this clause and the insistence that it be on prominent display I can't understand why Sharath STILL hasn't issued a public statement as well as an apology on behalf of the KPJAYI for the actions of his grandfather, that he himself is said to have witnessed and attempted to stop.
*
Lets take a moment perhaps to remind ourselves who these Authorised and certified teachers are who are having their authorisation/certification removed and or living under the threat of it.
These aren't teacher's who have practiced yoga for six months or less, attended a Yoga Alliance 200hr TT and then started to teach .
These are teachers who have made a commitment of time and money over years, decades in many cases. They have practiced daily, visited Mysore year after year for several months at a time, been given authorisation after paying a large Authorisation fee and then struggled to open and maintain a shala while continuing to return to Mysore.
The commitment is anywhere between five and ten years, between $4000 and $8000 in shala fees, Authorisation fees of $1000 each for level 1 and level 2 certification. Another decade or more of shala fees for Certification and a Certification fee of perhaps $3000. On top of that, the flights and accommodation.
Revoked on a whim.
Where then is the tradition
where the loyalty.
*See running the numbers in the appendix below
*
There is much more in the code one has to agree to that gives cause for concern.
There seems little understanding of how hard it is to set up and maintain a shala in a climate of cut price yoga classes on more corners than Starbucks.
The unfortunate necessity of using social media
(however much I might find it grotesque at times some recourse to social media seems to be largely unavoidable)
Is one only to teach as Sharath teaches today rather than how Pattabhi Jois taught in the decade you may have spent with him?
What if an Intermediate series student turns up at your shala, do you have to turn her away, can you adjust, assist or leave them to their own devices. or if you are level 2 and somebody working on 3rd comes into your shala, must you say to them "Sorry, only Second" or if L1 then "...only Primary"
And clause nine, DRESS!!!!
To be respectful in conduct speech and dress
A say in what one wears in his own shala is one thing but is Sharath really seeking to dictate what one wears in ones own shala?
It should all be common sense, but with certification/authorisation being revoked without reason being given and respected senior, certified teachers treated like children, it is perhaps a little vague.
Do you really have to contact kpjayi (Sharathjois.com) to ask about each and every workshop focussing perhaps on practicing some aspect safely, or on Yoga philosophy, a reading group on the Gita?
Does Sharath even understand why you might wish to attend an Anatomy training course or one on Yoga therapy rather than think that Primary is all the therapy you need.
And is it even legal to demand that you return your Authorisation certificate or that you sign this one.
*
A friend pointed out that there is perhaps nothing in that code that should be that much of a surprise to KPJAYI teachers, that may be true but context is everything. In this case the context is of twenty certified teachers having their Certification revoked. You can do pretty much anything you like when the criteria is vague and unclear.
Here is the criteria from the kpjyayi.org 2008, the year before Pattabhi Jois' passing.
 |
| 2008 criteria |
and this one from 2012 which i like because it mentions the commitment and dedication of the teachers
 |
| 2012 criteria |
Note: I was informed by a couple of Authorised teachers recently that after Saraswati took back control of the main Shala, Sharath was showing students land outside of Gukulam where a 'mega shala' was planned that might include accommodation. If this is indeed the case, will students and teachers be expected to attend the new shala, paying for accommodation and one might imagine food there which would affect the local economy surrounding the present shala.
from my earlier fb post
Thank you A. (for referring to the community as family) it's helpful. Like many home practitioners I often wonder what, if anything, this list, the recent allegations, or the lesser perhaps Ashtanga debate of the day, has to do with me as a home practitioner, why do I feel so....invested. But that's it, it feels like family, however extended. We all do this same practice in our own way, in our homes, our corners our practice rooms or hallways but have all felt perhaps, at one time or another, somewhat connected, on a Friday perhaps when most around the world are practicing Primary ( we conveniently forget about the time difference). And don't we take delight in and for friends who visit Mysore for the first time or become authorised, however much it doesn't seem to concern us because we know it means so much to them. And thus we are equally hurt and dismayed perhaps when and if they are taken off that same list. The waves in Mysore often..., occasionally, ripple through our own practice, put us off our stride, off our breath. Though the wider family shouldn't perhaps concern us, it does, on occasions, seem to help ground us. For many, that centre might be a senior teacher or not so senior, authorised or not, that we may never have met other than perhaps on a workshop or through a book or video, rather than the actual Jois family, depending on which teacher perhaps first inspired us.
This practice often feels absurd, how we often ground or build our lives around it. The wider community, the senior teachers, the Jois family...., Mysore the place, whether going there interests us or not, can make the practice seem a little less nonsensical at those times when the practice doesn't quite seem to justify itself alone. The abuse in the past affects us, the discord in the Jois family affects us, Sharath's recent actions with regards to the list affects us, the latter perhaps because the list feels like a family register and he shouldn't get to screw with it, nobody should..., like those old lineage charts because whether being on it or not interests us we are connected to many who are, however far removed. However much of a prodigal son (or daughter) we may feel, we're related, connected by those same or similar movements we make on a bit of cotton or rubber or both, each day or most days. And I may have little interest in Mysore today, whether the place or a room but perhaps one day...., perhaps one day I may happen to find comfort and warmth in one of those rooms, I have in the past, I no doubt shall again. We remember and tell tales of those big family arguments on family get togethers, holidays, and so easily forget those other times when family was peaceful, accepting and nourishing even if only felt from afar.
*
Surely there has to be a better way to go about this whole list business, hopefully all the teachers themselves will come up with a better option that removes the control of one party as well as the financial aspect altogether.
*
Appendix
Lets run the numbers
Shala fees for 24 months worked out around 500,000 Rp
that's approx. $8000.00
* note: the 500K rs is an adjusted figure, taking into account shala fees when a teacher perhaps firsts started going ten or more years ago and the fees now.
Authorisation Level 1 $1000
Authorisation Level 2 $1000
Note: Some teachers get authorised L2 straight away so only the one fee 8 not sure if that's higher).
- and remember there are flights and accommodation on top of that.
All that commitment of time and money, a decade or more of ones life revoked on a whim as well as perhaps ones livelihood.
That's around 8 -10 trips over a decade, not unusual although more recently teachers are being authorised much more quickly, half that time perhaps although shala fees are higher.
so lets use another example,
12 months of shala fees - corresponding to 4-6 extended trips $4000
Authorisation L1 and L2 $1000
That's $5000 not including flights and accommodation
UPDATE: Just been sent the actual figures for L1 and L2 authorisation
L1 = 88,000rs $1383.36
L2 = 112,000rs $1760.64
So 200,000 Rs - $3000 for both L1 and L2 if done separately, not including the years of shala fees
*
Note: Sharath has Authorised around 375 teachers since Pattabhi Jois' passing.
(tricky to calculate as several have since been removed)
on the first example
375 x $8000 = $3 million
375 x $1000 (authorisation fee) $375,000
on the second example
375 x $4000 -= $1.5 million
375 x $1000 = $375, 000
- That of course is only those teachers authorised, there are all the shala fees of those on their way to being authorised, as well as shala fees of those who have no interest or likelihood of being authorised.
I worked it out before that Sharath's world tours brought in approx. $1,000,000 a year.
Certification is confusing.
There were 23 certified in 2008,
29 on the current mid Jan. 2018 list
but he's decertified 22,
so I guess 28 Certified at around $3000 each, so another $80,000
Authorisation fees $1,000,000
Shala fees $3,000,000
Certification fees $80,000
And of course all the fees those 28 teachers paid between authorisation and certification.
Authorised and Certified teachers are expected to keep coming back or, as we have seen they will be deauthorised/decertified, so more and more shala fees.
Appendix 2
Another earlier update, a comparison of the KPJAYI Authorisation/Certification list, pre June 2017 and the current list.
Certified teachers names that appear to be left of the list are, I've double checked but it may be that I missed a name if they have appeared on another region. I find it quite shocking, I wouldn't be practicing had it not been for many names on the list. Note too that the archive I checked was the last couple of years before June 2017, other well know names have been left off the list in previous years. others have been Certified by Pattabhi Jois' son Manju (also, absurdly, removed from the list ) and are not recognised on Sharath's KPJAYI List. The list on Saraswati and Shamilla's www.kpjayshala.com/ still hasn't been put up although the online shop was up on day one.
Note: apologies to Tarik Thami, he is still on the list under the Asian region.
I not too this morning that Dena Kingsberg is BACK on the list
Clayton Horton
Louise Ellis
Anthony Carlisi
Mark Robberds - See Mark's response on his fb page 16th January
Ian Clarke
David Roche
John Scott
R. Alexander Medin - See Alex's 'Letter to Sharath'
Tomas Zorzo
Joanne Darby
Mark Darby
Manju jois
Tim Miller
Annie pace
Richard Freeman
Richard Freeman
Chuck Miller
Melanie Fawer
Melanie Fawer
Dominic Corigliano
Mary Jo Mulligan
Guy Donahaye
John Campbell
Olaf Kalfas
David Garrigues.
NOTE: I went through the current list (Jan 2018) against the pre June 2017 archive list and found four authorised teachers names missing. Originally I had a list of thirteen that seemed to be missing but nine of those names turned up in different regions.
See this post http://grimmly2007.blogspot.jp/…/ashtanga-authorisation-198…
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UPDATE 2 - 28th January 2018
I've added below Sharath's response to the recent criticism.
Personally I'm too disappointed to do more than post a screenshot.
I will however, post again the list of names of Certified teachers recently removed from the list, some, one at least, has just been put back on . It's clear some authorised teachers have also been removed, it seems likely that others will be removed in the future
*
UPDATE 2 - 28th January 2018
I've added below Sharath's response to the recent criticism.
Personally I'm too disappointed to do more than post a screenshot.
Perhaps it is Sharath who is going 'his own way' and rather than disrupt the living tradition, partly represented by the KPJAYI List, he should perhaps step down from his position at the KPJAYI ( the actual shala seems to have returned to Saraswati anyway). With the iconic kpjayi.org URL now directing to Sharathjois.com he could perhaps start his own Shala/Institute as well as his own list.
There, I commented after all.
Below the certified teachers removed from the list (only those removed from between June 2017 and January 2018m, some inspiring teachers never went on to the list in the first place, E.G. David Williams, Nancy Gilgoff, Danny Paradise, David Swenson...). At a VERY rough calculation, around thirty to forty years or more of practice each, I make it as representative of 500 years of daily Ashtanga practice.
Clayton Horton
Louise Ellis
Anthony Carlisi
Mark Robberds - See Mark's response on his fb page 16th January
Ian Clarke
David Roche
John Scott
R. Alexander Medin - See Alex's 'Letter to Sharath'
Tomas Zorzo
Joanne Darby
Mark Darby
Manju jois
Tim Miller
Annie pace
Richard Freeman
Chuck Miller
Melanie Fawer
Dominic Corigliano
Mary Jo Mulligan
Guy Donahaye
John Campbell
Olaf Kalfas
David Garrigues.
*
fb - Jan 29th
fb - Jan 29th
Perhaps it's the (terribly) amateur historian in me but even though, as a non teaching home ashtanga Vinyasa (krama) practitioner, the (KPJAYI) list should be meaningless to me, I admit to finding a certain.... resonance in it such that I feel (perhaps overly) protective. So many of those names inspired me in the beginning, and later kept me coming back again and again to my mat. It's an imperfect list, so imperfect, a snapshot only and out of shot so many other practitioners who should have ended up on the list, so many men, so many women, often partners of those Certified who practiced no longer than they did and with no less dedication or aptitude...unrecognised, passed over, missed, an imperfect list. But you don't, you really don't, airbrush historical documents, certainly not if you endlessly talk of tradition, you leave it alone, treasure it, respect it, learn from it and through it, you add to it perhaps rather than take away and continue to move onwards. Those names that have been removed are the history of the practice, the tradition of the practice, countless hours of practice, of sweat and devotion and reflection, decades of practice, cumulatively, hundreds of years of daily practice. Why would anyone want to be on a list without such names, doesn't it lose it's magic somewhat?
I've heard from some who feel that their practice has lost it's sheen of late. I'm somewhat surprised to find quite the opposite (perhaps out of defiance), the practice, or rather being within the practice feels somewhat like the eye of the storm, the nonsense and foolishness drops away. When we lose our way it's there waiting for us however modified however 'unkosher', unauthorised.... and lets face it there is a freedom to unauthorised, unsupervised unapologetic practice...,there is also understanding to be found perhaps off the straight and the oh so narrow. And isn't that what we've looked to those Certified teachers for, to those names on the list as well as the unnamed.., to go off piste, to mine the practice for it's possibilities, it's secrets..., over decades into middle age and beyond, just as Jois did perhaps, as Krishnamacharya certainly did, to search out the hidden ways to face and still yet overcome what is ahead of us and to practice, maintain the practice.
*
NOTES
See perhaps my Page at the top of the blog for more context
Page includes....
Original post 1980
Update 1. 2018
APPENDIX
to original post. Includes...
1. First ONLINE mention of the cost of studying at AYRI - Dec 2001
2. First mention ONLINE of Authorisation process - Ashtanga.com - Jan 2004
- Includes request for all teachers to sent in their Authorization letters to be replaced/renewed
"Starting in January 2003, the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute will issue NEW official authorization letters to authorized Ashtanga Yoga teachers. All authorized teachers are requested to send their original authorization letters to AYRI in exchange for official authorization letters on AYRI letterhead. AYRI will then notify Ashtanga.com of the teachers' names that can be re-listed on Ashtanga.com. Failure to turn in your original authorization letter may result in removal from the teachers' list."
3. First ONLINE List of teachers - Ashtanga.com Jan 2004 (basis of the AYRI list)
4. First AYRI Authorisation details mentioned on AYRI website - May 2007
5. First AYRI ONLINE Authorised/Certified List - 22 Aug 08
APPENDIX 2
Jan 17th 2018 - Certified teachers removed from the list.
KPJAYI Authorised and Certified Teachers list Current Jan. 2018 )and Archive (pre June 2017).
APPENDIX 3 Jan 27th. 2018
Sharath’s new Authorization/Certification code of conduct
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