This past Sunday, the New York Times ran an article about the "First Lady of Yoga", Colleen Saidman Yee. It was basically a biographical account of how she came to be the female half of the Yee Yoga Empire (her husband is yoga-media mogul Rodney Yee). Together, the Yees own two yoga studios, with another in the works, and have appeared in numerous DVDs. In fact, the NYTimes article seems to coincide with the press release regarding Colleen's first solo DVD release later this month. She is self-depreciating in the article, claiming that she wouldn't like to be famous because of all the recognition you get, but at the same time, telling the writer that she doesn't recognize celebs when they come to her studio to practice with her. "Yeah, right." You don't "recognize" Jon BonJovi walking into your yoga studio to practice? Well, one thing's for sure, if the teacher doesn't recognize him, the other students in the class sure will!
The article details Colleen's past - her "perfectionist drive", her modelling career and subsequent struggles with substance abuse, and of course the sensational divorce caused by her hooking up with Rodney Yee during her time in his Yoga Teacher Training Course. Didn't he give her the page that I got in my Teacher Training Manual? You know, the one about ethical guidelines when it comes to relationships between teachers and students?
I get that Yoga Asana is a physical practice, and there's not a whole lot that doesn't get aired on the mat. Teachers will place their hands on students to offer adjustments. There's sweat. Sometimes shirts ride up. All of these observances just emphasize the need for professionalism on the mat. When we were going over these guidelines in class, someone asked what to do if you become physically attracted to a student in your yoga class? The answer was obvious to me - you ask the student to stop coming to your class, and if you need to, continue your relationship outside of the yoga classroom. Not every situation will be solved in such a cut and dry fashion, but it seemed to make sense to me.
I don't really have strong opinions about Colleen and Rodney's relationship, but apparently a LOT of their faithful students did. Their affair, afterall, broke up both of their marriages, and probably severed a lot of the relationships they had with their yoga students. As you can see, they're still happily married, and quite successful, so their affair doesn't seem to have had lasting effects. They certainly are both talented enough in their own rights to keep 'em coming back for more! Nonetheless, they are not the only yogis attributed to hanky panky on the mat. In fact, considering that they are still married, it's quite tame. Scandalous!
Well, I'm not looking to be a Celebri-yogi (but if Adam Levine saunters into my yoga studio, I'm giving a shout out, okay?), nor am I "looking for love" (happily married nearly 13 years, thankyouverymuch), but I do hope to have my own cache of loyal students one day, and maybe, just maybe, someone will be overheard talking about my Celestial Incandescence. It just sounds so lovely!
"Be compassionate. Not just to your friends, but to everyone." - Bhagavad Gita
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