As we head for the home stretch in 2009, I think many would agree on an enduring lesson. Those in authority, whether Wall Street executives, bankers, or trendsetters, need to be challenged.
In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell breaks it down by socioeconomic factors and shares research on how wealthy children feel comfortable challenging teachers in school while less privileged children are more likely to accept what they’re told. Later in life, this inclination to question authority leads to better negotiating and decision-making skills. Just another reason why the rich get richer.
So if your bank account is feeling the grind in 2009, will you be quiet and reserved as Gladwell suggests? Or will you speak up and challenge the authorities, trendsetters, and pacemakers? As a yogi, I’d like to personally challenge the single most impactful voice in my industry: the Yoga Journal.
Here’s my letter to the editor:
"Having spoken with many yoga teachers of my generation who pack their classes and are committed to spreading the joy of yoga, we’d love the opportunity to share at your Yoga Journal Conferences. Beyond the Shiva Rea’s and Seane Corn’s, there’s a whole new generation of yoga teachers out there. This generation is less interested in physical alignment and more interested in alignment with the challenges of the day; less intent on a diet of seeds and water and more intent on a post-yoga bite of chocolate and sip of wine; less focused on speaking perfect Sanskrit and more focused on speaking the language used in New York, Santa Monica, Duluth, and Detroit. Someone recently shared an awesome quote that I think applies to your readers: ‘People don’t care how much you know. They wanna know how much you care.’ "
Namaste
David Romanelli
www.yeahdave.com
Great post, Dave! Your post reminds me that I need to add Outliers to my list of books to read. Your challenge to the authority of yoga also embodies the challenge that is needed in all of the wellness landscape as well. It will be exciting to see what new changes will be occurring in the coming years.
Points well made, Dave. Isn't it interesting that a few select teachers are featured in all of the articles and advertisements? Yoga Journal is in the magazine business like any other magazine. They make their money from advertising sales and their rates are governed by their "circulation." So I guess it does matter to them what the readers think. Having practices yoga for 40 years, I have seen many shifts in what is popular in teaching and practice and IMO, the business of yoga in general has moved away from the joining of spirit to body through breath and moved towards ADD athleticism. As Yumi says, it will be interesting to see what comes next!