It is in the silence that you can hear the true calling of the heart…
To our beloved community of teachers, students and friends,
As some of you already know, Anusara yoga has been in a serious crisis the past ten days. Allegations spread via internet about the unethical behaviour of its founder, our teacher, John Friend. Naime has been in Athens teaching all week, experiencing crisis in a different way as the city has been under seige with riots. This past week, I have spent every free moment scrambling to make sense of the ‘mess’. Through an endless stream of conversations with many of my friends and leaders in the Anusara community, and through John’s own admission, we painfully discovered certain accusations to be true. Banding together in hope John would pay attention to our unified voice, we offered our heartfelt pleas and recommendations on how to best support Anusara through these turbulent waters. The level of integrity, commitment and raw honesty that I witnessed this week with my colleagues has left me with profound respect for each of these courageous hearts as well as for the entire Anusara kula. We have been brought to razors edge of our emotions, each one of us being asked to ‘risk it all’ in the name of our highest truth. I realize now that John’s actions have become a catalyst for all of us to dig deeper inside, and along with John, start answering some tough questions. Are we offering ourselves the dignity to be honest and real with ourselves and each other? Are our words truly in alignment with our actions?
After much deliberation and a heavy heart, Naime and I feel it is time to move in a new direction, away from John. We have the utmost respect for the teachings of Anusara yoga and will always honor John Friend for all that he has given us personally and professionally. We remain steadfast and forever true to our commitment to the Principles. Having served the Anusara community for 13 years, we are trained to seek nothing less than excellence and Shri (beauty). Our commitment to these values and the beautiful communities we serve are unwavering. We intend to complete all of our 2012 Anusara trainings with integrity, clarity and dedication, and are confident our students will receive the total support and credits necessary if/when they seek Anusara certification.
As we peek delicately off into the horizon, we are inspired by what we see. We are birthing our second DIG YOGA studio, in Philadelphia, in just a few months with our new partner Mariel Freeman. Many collaborations with our beloved friends are already in the works, including advanced trainings and workshops with our pals/teachers Noah Mazé, Sianna Sherman, Douglas Brooks, Amy Ippoliti, Paul Muller-Ortega, Christina Sell, Desiree Rumbaugh, Martin Kirk, etc. Our vision for DIG is to expand the boundaries of yoga to celebrate the diversity of many voices and humbly serve our yoga communities with integrity, compassion and depth.
Our dedication to living yoga has lead us to everything we have today, and while it surely is not always the easiest path, it has offered us the ability to sit closer to the very light and core of our heart. We lovingly accept John for his humanity, offer him blessings for true healing and thank him deeply for every gift he has given us.
In love and light,
Sue and Naime (arriving home tonight!)
Naime and Sue – I always think fondly of the classes I was able to attend with Naime at City Yoga before you moved from Los Angeles. I admire your decision – and thank you.
As an entrepreneur and marketer, I bring a more jaded perspective to the running narrative in our larger community, and I’m not surprised by anything I’ve read. Sole proprietorships of the size of Anusara, Inc. become increasingly unstable, and actually merit the scrutiny that appears to be underway.
All of that aside, Sue and Naime, it is you who’ve made the indelible impression on our Delaware River community and far beyond (even Greece!). You are the ones who brought the life-alterating UPA’s to those of us fortunate enough to have found you. Anusara the Brand is no more resplendant than any other “Yoga School” label.
What you both bring to the larger community is a real-life understaning of the responsibilities inherent in the taking of the seat and careful guidance of the aspirant. You inspire and respect our adhikara, and I for one cannot thank you enough for making me a better teacher, and student.
In summary, it is your teaching that makes Dig the coolest kula, and the most enriching place of practice I’ve known, not the fact that it was an Anusara studio. My teaching has evolved, and will always be marked by your determined efforts to help us grow. I know I’m not alone in expressing profound gratitude, and hope to continue to have you in my life.
Sue, your post was eloquent, compassionate and heartfelt. I had been following the story about John also with a heavy heart. I know that the decision to move away from Anusara was a hard one, but am glad to see you follow your principles. As a newbie to Dig, I am thrilled to see it grow so much, with the wonderful classes, workshops and Kirtan. Nameste.
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I look forward to every opportunity life presents me to be in company with teachers like you and Naime. I respect you both and appreciate the courage it has taken you to move on. I am really intrigued and excited to see how all of my beloved Anusara teachers now evolve in their own light. Many blessings to you both! You are in my thoughts. xo
Peace and prosperity to you and your family.
You are a great inspiration, Thank you.
you rule! rock on….love and light
xoxo jenny brill
Sue and Naime-
Beautiful!
…always filled with integrity ,inspiration and honesty!
You two introduced the Anusara Kula and its spirit to me.
I thank you for being my teachers!
Namaste, Sue and Naime. Thank you for your living yoga example. Peter and I send love to you and your family and best wishes for your peace and happiness. We look forward to hearing more about the new Dig Yoga!
Sue i was wandering too but somehow i knew i don’t know why! i think the group moving to is growing bigger to build a new kula stronger and real, funded on the principles of the inner guru. love to you and i hope to train with you soon, i so much loved your workshop in chippenham ❤
i am honored to be your student and friend. Your articulate and eloquent letter spoke to my heart…you and naime have my respect, support, and love. sending love and blessings
Dear Sue and Naime,
It must have been a really difficult decision but I feel it is the right one. I was remembering you standing on a similar brink a couple of years ago right before you opened Dig. You were sweating the details and wondering how it was all going to work out. Do you remember the road was closed and you worried how people were going to find you? Well find you they did. And we’ll stay with you. It is only in part because of Anusara. No one can deny the beauty and elegance of the principles. But clearly in light of what has been going on, they are not enough. You actually have to live them! Keep up the good work, guys! I look forward to more fabulous things from you two and Dig in the future!
Karin
I can’t wait to hear Naime’s theming on his experiences in Greece from the past week. It’s going to be solid! 🙂
(I’m a former student of Naime’s–teacher training in Flagstaff, years ago … don’t know if you remember me).
Thank you for honoring your core principles and doing the courageous and honest thing. Because of the decisions made by you and teachers like you, I will be returning to my yoga practice with a renewed enthusiasm. I deeply admire your integrity & courage and I am sure that you will have a devoted group of followers no matter what direction you move in.
lots of love, light & good stuff.
Blessings and Love.
Wow! Thank you Sue…as I and my Anusara kula in Israel try to make sense of it all in lieu of John’s tour to the middle east, it means a lot to me to read your words – after all you and Naime were my very first Anusara teachers and I trust your judgment and sincerity.
Right now I am puzzled as to what will happen with John’s visit to Israel and how I feel about all of this. I’ve been an avid member of Anusara in Israel with Michal Lichtman in the past 3 years and I’m not quite sure if my goal is still to get certified after all this has come down.
In any case, lots of luck with your new endeavors and I hope to make it to the east coast soon and pay you a visit!
All my love
Tamar
Wow Sue. I was wondering why I hadn’t heard your voice. Thank you for your eloquent and sincere post. Thinking of you and Naime, and all of us effected throughout the community.