Yoga with Adriene - Redo of PMS Video

I’d like to know why people have to halt how they feel to do yoga

It must be one if the most inclusive and kind activities you can do

Yes I can think of exact words but being exclusive doesn’t seem to fit

womenspeakout

Well, 10 years of doing it has helped keep me stronger and more flexible, so if it's all the same to you I'll carry on thanks. I don't need the spiritual side nor the accepting my body as it is side. I hate my body and if someone offered me a body transplant tomorrow I'd bite their hand off.

No amount of yoga or mindfulness or breathing or chanting is ever going to make me accept it so I'll do my best to keep mobile with whatever tools I have available and if that offends you sorry (not sorry)

Oh Adrienne. I’m so sad to see this, and will also be unsubscribing despite really liking your videos.

Only women can menstruate. As a yogi you should be encouraging people to accept their bodies, not indulging their dysmorphia. This movement is eroding women’s rights and you have a platform to speak into that that most of us could only dream of. Use it wisely x

Sorry for the repeat posting. Wonky connection on train. Please ignore the first post.

Yoga is very much about working with what you have. Yes, it can help you improve, get fitter, stronger, more flexible, but listening in to your body, paying attention to how it responds to the asanas, to every breath as it flows into and out of your body, to focus your mind on your body as it is in the moment of your practice, not how you wish it to be, that is real yoga for me. The improvements you wish to achieve come with practice, if they are rooted in what is possible for you.

I've done yoga classes with teachers who treat is as nothing but exercise. And I agree with Lamahaha and the others that is not yoga. I also believe it's more dangerous done that way.

Although I’ll add if people do it just for exercise it doesn’t bother me.

I agree. But that doesn’t exclude someone on how they identify does it?

Yoga is very much about working with what you have. Yes, it can help you improve, get fitter, stronger, more flexible, but listening in to your body, pay attention to how it responds to the asanas, to every breath as it flows into and out of your body, to focus your mind on your body as it is in the moment of your practice.

I've done yoga classes with teachers who treat is as nothing but exercise. And I agree with Lamaha and the others that is not yoga. I also believe it's more dangerous done that way.

Maybe yoga helps someone overcome some of that discomfort

Yes. Trying to define Yoga is a purely physical exercise regime is exactly why I'm so sceptical about the new age appropriation of the word. Then call it something else. You will never get the full benefit if you think it's just about getting a fit body. It's body AND mind. Together. Harmonised. That's the whole point. Understanding how they work together, in oneself.

I myself have a disability. I've done yoga for about 10 years now, believe me I don't feel at ease with my body in any way shape or form and I very much reject it. Is yoga not for me either?

It doesn't sound like it is TBH.

I have multiple disabilities, and yoga has helped me on my way to accepting the body I am in and it's limitations and capabilities. It made me accept my conditions much better then many things I have tried before or since. It taught me to be where I am.

Maybe yoga helps someone overcome some of that discomfort.

Lord knows I don't like Trump, but I don't think he has anything to do with this.

Lamahaha

Lots of people don't participate in the spiritual side of yoga though. I looked at the YouTube channel that you linked to earlier - it is exactly the class that we do in our yoga class - in our local authority sports centre. There is no spiritual element to it at all, it is purely an exercise class.

I can't see why that type of class would be unsuitable for any person who felt uncomfortable in their body.

I myself have a disability. I've done yoga for about 10 years now, believe me I don't feel at ease with my body in any way shape or form and I very much reject it. Is yoga not for me either?

"I don't know how they can also equate yoga with their situation. It seems to be at cross purposes."

"Why?"

Because if you're practicing Yoga you cannot simultaneously harbour thoughts that are in direct contradiction to your body. Yoga means listening in to your body, not rejecting it and listening instead to your thoughts about your presumed identity. Body dysphoria of any kind is about as far away from the ideals of Yoga as you can get.

It's probably down to being in the US. The tone of the trans debate is very different there. Because of bloody Trump.

It looks like she's thought about it and is seeking to strike a compromise. I think that's good to see. I assume though that she didn't make it clear in the original email / tweet that she was keeping both videos up? If so that's quite telling I think. Why wait until there's a risk of losing custom before you spell it out?
There are a number of deletions on this thread so I'm guessing this story is attracting attention and I have a feeling it might not turn out to be quite the solution she was hoping for. But she probably needs to learn this for herself, as we all do.

My view is if she’s offering two options, fine by me. Would have been nice to make that clear in her original email or to do so with a follow up message. But fair enough.

*If you're offended by the new video then just watch the old one, surely?

She's creating choice. She isn't taking anything away from you.*

It's more about the email for me anyway.

In ways insinuating saying girls and ladies was in any way wrong.

I also think her reply was great. Inclusion means making options that make everyone feel included. How are women excluded when there is a ‘hey ladies’ option and a ‘hey everyone’ option? I genuinely would like to understand as this doesn’t make sense to me.

I don't know how they can also equate yoga with their situation. It seems to be at cross purposes.

Why?

womenspeakout

If you're offended by the new video then just watch the old one, surely?

She's creating choice. She isn't taking anything away from you.

Everyone was already catered for!

Exactly.

I just don't get it. When you're on your period, it's confirmation of who and what you are, you're a woman, so someone saying they're a man or non binary, They are surely more offended with their own body and their period then the fact of Adriene saying girls.

I don't know how they can also equate yoga with their situation. It seems to be at cross purposes.

Everyone was already catered for!

Well, clearly transmen didn't feel that they were.

I thought this was the whole argument on FWR - don't take away but add.

So don't take away women's sex segregated spaces - if trans men and women require facilities add in a 3rd space. This is what's happened. 2 videos. Choose the one you prefer.

What exactly has been lost?

Everyone was already catered for!

Heismyopendoor

I think her reply is great. So everyone is catered for now.