Anusara Yoga in New York Times

August 9, 2010 By

The founder of Anusara Yoga, my teacher, John Friend was featured in a multiple page article in the New York Times Magazine entitled “The Yoga Mogul.”  You can read the entire article here:  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/magazine/25Yoga-t.html?_r=1&emc=eta1.  It is an informative article discussing the philosophy of Anusara Yoga, different styles of yoga taught in America today, his personal history (including his yoga performance and work with the Yoga Ashram described in the book Eat,Pray,Love), and his plans for opening a center for Arts and Yoga in Encinitas.

I found the article informative and  I found it to be slanted in a way that portrayed John much like a rock star of yoga.  Yes, he does have a large, passionate following but he is also incredibly dedicated to the empowerment of each person he teaches.  For me he has helped me to open to my own gifts, powers, and passion.  I find him to be a stable, intelligent, loving, artistic teacher who has a charisma to lead and inspire.  He has shown me the value of opening into the full spectrum of life both the light and the dark and holding it all in a grander field.  And he was the first person to invite me into the spiritual journey of awakening.

John’s response to the article in the New York Times can be found at http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/07/ele-exclusive-yoga-mogul-john-friends-response-to-sunday-ny-times-magazine-feature-article/.  To find out more about Anusara Yoga visit their web site at www.Anusara.com or come to an Anusara class at Yoga Del Mar.

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Home Practice

January 15, 2009 By

An Interview with John Friend

by Kathy Carroll

For 15 years, I was a once-a-week yoga practitioner. Week after week my teacher would extol the value of home practice, but week after week I was too busy — too preoccupied — to heed her advice. About four years ago something inside me began to shift and I started to make the time to do yoga at home. At first I felt resistance; it took a lot of effort to get myself to the mat. Over time though, my home practice has become what is often the sweetest time of my day. Doing yoga at home is paying off on many levels. I am enjoying a greater sense of peace, more connection with that silent observer within. My yoga postures are becoming stronger and deeper. Just the other day my sister complimented me. “It’s not just the blue dress,” she said. “You are carrying yourself differently.” The world looks different when you carry yourself differently.

I am honored and grateful to John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga for sharing ways to help my own practice evolve and to help other students with their practice. This interview took place after an Anusara Teacher Training as we were driving through Washington, DC on our way to a party John hosted for students and assistants at Jane Fryer’s home.

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