Yoga Massage Scandals and Yoga Sex Scandals: A Response from Yogi Dashama

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Yoga is being accused of questionable ethics in an American media frenzy. From its physical safety - including yoga sex scandals and yoga massage scandals - to the virtuosity of its gurus, the yoga world is being called to come out and shine a light of truth upon this ancient system turned modern cult fad.

"Throughout history, any fad that becomes a household name with a cult-like following attracts phonies who must be exposed. That is what is happening right now," said Dashama, founder of Pranashama Yoga Institute, Global 30 Day Yoga Challenge and Perfect 10 Lifestyle. After healing her own spine from several car accidents, she developed Pranashama Yoga and the Prasha Method. A creative dynamo in her field, Dashama is also a multi-media producer with videos, books and DVDs featured on Oprah.com, Walmart.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and Target.com.

"There will always be ego, greed, lust and the full spectrum of human vices to deal with as long as humans are involved. Although it may not be pretty, this is a necessary time for yoga, giving it an opportunity to eradicate the vices, and prove its true value lies in pursuit of truth and not in an impossible concept of perfection that very few people can attain," she said.

"The problem lies not so much in their misconduct, but in the preaching of lies and dogma that eventually exposes their hypocrisy when the truth is revealed. I believe most people wouldn't really care one way or the other about these yoga gurus' sexual conduct, if they weren't preaching the doctrine of celibacy as a 'virtuous life.' It may be time for humanity to come to our senses and realize that sex is natural and the consciousness behind which we allow it to rule our lives is what needs to be addressed. When sex is used to manipulate or take advantage of others and the result is emotional pain and suffering for the parties involved, this is when the actions must be questioned. At the same time, I think it is more valuable to be open about your faults and lead from a place of authenticity, then to pretend to be perfect and be placed on a pedestal only to be knocked off when the light of truth is switched on," she said.

The new TV Show and TV Movie "The Client List" starring Jennifer Love Hewitt is also a perfect example of the negative light that can be placed upon the yoga and healing arts field, when the media gets involved. In this show, Hewitt is a massage therapist with a high-profile clientele. Her indiscretions are the main plot of the script. When just a few inappropriate examples are illuminated, it can appear that the entire industry is operating the same way, which is not the case. This can be damaging to people's livelihoods and their families.

"It's important to realize that media always spins the story to make the headline news, to make a more dramatic story and this can lead to a false sense of the truth and details can be misleading," she said.

"It's time for a complete restructuring of how we see our teachers, healers and our gurus, and what role they play in our journey and life. In most cases, it is best to turn inward, as the Self is the best guru and all of our answers can be found within. This is the power of meditation and the true essence of the yogic path. I hope these controversies will lead more people to this truth, that all we need is within us and that the power of love will always prevail," she said.

Dashama leads 200- and 500-hour yoga teacher training transformational certification programs in Bali, UK and Miami Beach. For a limited time, she is waiving the fee and offering a Skype consultation to each applicant, during which time you will share your goals and dreams and work toward creating a roadmap for your success. Apply today at http://www.pranashama.com.

SOURCE Pranashama Yoga Institute