Let's Talk About Sex Baby, Let's Talk About All These Yogis

First it's John Friend and now Bikram Choudhury, I can't fathom who will be next.

Is it the celeb status of super chain studio owners? Is it pioneers trying to not only sell sexy but rake in the sex. We are used to Celebs doing yoga, being sexy: Madonna, Sting, Adam Levine. But to have the yogi being sexual is a far more novel and somewhat ground breaking effect on many in the yogic community.

Or is this a question of old versus new? Traditional style pouring more emphasis on ethics and behavior toward the self and other more contrived styles like Anusara and Bikram taking a spiritual practice to such a place as to bring physical sexuality in and morals out.

Yoga has always been, first and foremost, non competitive, and our newer yoga heads offering promises of skinny, sweaty bodies, and better (and more costly) egos have taken the primary focus of the self and set it on display as though it were a competitive sport.  I suppose in Bikram class when the smell has finished assaulting the senses it is the smallest bikini's in the room thought to be the most coveted and successful in the practice.

So while our teachers, gurus and leaders may not be monks I do recall celibacy for the sake of higher spiritual attainment being on that prime list of yamas—optional and often open to interpretation but present none the less.

Hey, life isn't perfect, partnerships are found in yoga—including lifelong marriages however I do recall having to sign a certain teacher student code of ethics before I received my teacher certification!

Is it more inappropriate when there is a person in a position of power or unfair influence over the other? Or is that when those grey lines really start to appear more black and white?  

How do we approach these repeated allegations of sexual misconduct in the yoga community? On one hand we are absolutely obsessed with Brionhy Smyth in her barely there black lingerie showing amazing strength, power and training but having sex sell on the close up of her disappearing underwear and barely there tummy. A phenomenal talent indeed—I would love to study with her one day for sure—but add to that the incredibly sexy and romantic acro yoga video of her and hubby Shane Lida-Klein, and you have every yogic mom, housewife and aspiring yogini wanting their partners to get all sexy with yoga to become the next yoga super couple.

The door opens up for the abuse of power from those higher ups—the most recent international spectacle being Bikram. I'd love to say this comes as a surprise but really, does it?

I say no.

Is the media part to blame? Are we confusing the masses with thoughts of sexual yoga exploits only to disappoint with discussions of spirituality and challenging physical movement meant to help steady the mind? Are we blowing up these super egos to become more self absorbed than absorbed with servicing others with their journeys of self exploration? Or are these isolated incidents?

Yogis and Yoginis with superstar egos and a lack of class. Call me crazy but I never heard Guruji Pattabi Jois to be an offender, or any word from the spiritually absorbed Iyengar of taking advantage of their wisdom and teaching role; two roots more directly connected to the traditional tree of yoga.

So what do you think Old vs. New? Sexy celebs doing yoga or yoga celebs trying to get sexual? Any other thoughts? What is the root of this abuse and how do we reign it in so that our spiritual and personal growth persevere without sacrificing any more of the sacredness of the practice?