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
D, I also forgot to share that i gave attended several of Yoga Journal’s conferences in Estes Park, CO and am always SAD to see that you are not one of my options to sign up for. I have practiced with some of the what the Yoga world calls ” The Best” at these events, but I have traveled all over and taken your workshops and to me you are “The Best” and need to be at these YJ conferences offering up your brand of yoga, the yoga that fixes our spirits and helps us get through day to day issues.
And so you hit the nail on the head! I absolutely love your workshops and feel that my soul and my spirit are more spoken to than at some of the more ” popular” teachings..you speak to us the busy person running to work while texting and drinking a cup of joe. BRAVO!
Your single-paragraph blurb to YJ pretty much sums up exactly what I’ve been feeling! I’m definitely on your bandwagon:)
Great shtick David! I just think that there has to be enough room in today’s yoga community for lots of different voices and styles!
Well said David – I couldn’t agree with you more!