To Do Yoga Assists Or Not? #Yoga #MeToo #YogaAssists

My teacher,  Manju Jois, doing assist.

By Allen Barkus


To Assist or Not? To me one of the best things in a yoga class is getting a great assist helping me to go deeper into my asana/pose. Unfortunately whether to give assists or not has become a big issue to studios and teachers in classes largely due to the pervasive culture of abuse that we live in. Even in the yoga community there are accusations of abuse, something I find very disturbing.

How Studios and Teachers deal with the Assist Issue- Some studios and gyms have no touching policies and some distribute cards or have other ways for students to give permission to get assists. My approach has become much more personal asking individually if there are any things I need to know about their specific issues that day that could include stomach issues, back issues, strains and menstrual; whatever they wish to share for me to adjust their practice to their individual needs.

Self Empowerment-  One of the things I have also found disturbing is people do not always speak up, giving others power over them. I've heard people say "it was ok because" who the person was. In one case a woman told me a well known yoga guru did a very invasive assist but it was ok since he knew what he was doing.

It is Okay to Say No- I honestly expect in most cases people don't know when they are being too intrusive and they may assume it is okay if someone does not speak up. Some are even naturally affectionate like Joe Biden.
I think it is best to address the issue as quickly as possible with the person in private, ideally say no when happening.

By Allen Barkus. Allen has been practicing Ashtanga yoga since 1998 and teaching since 2004. His initial teacher training was with David Swenson and has been the student of Manju Jois since 2004. Manju, along with his father, introduced Ashtanga/Vinyasa yoga to America in 1975. His studies focus on Healing Therapy. He is available in Philadelphia for private lessons and clinics and travels around the world teaching clinics. www.AshtangabyAllen.com

Every-Body Can Benefit From Yoga By Allen Barkus, www.AshtangabyAllen.com #Yoga #yogaForAllBodies #Ashtanga #AshtangaYoga

Every-Body can benefit from yoga -As a yoga teacher one of the most common things I hear is I can't do yoga "because I am not flexible". In fact some of the more advanced yogis I've met could not touch their feet when they started. I have even had students that were obese, with accompanying physical issues including back and joint problems, that are now fit and back to their normal active lives. One of those people is a doctor who had a series of injuries leading to weight gain, balance and other issues; demonstrating that anyone can be vulnerable to these type issues.

Body Acceptance -  I think people have always been more judgemental on themselves, sensitive to things most other people do not really care about. Therefore we have a multi-billion dollar plastic and cosmetic surgery industry largely playing on people's insecurities.

Big is Beautiful- Yes our bodies in all shapes and sizes are beautiful and a miracle that we exist and function. I once dated a doctor newly finishing her medical education and she found it frightening how many things could go wrong with our bodies, even the slightest imbalances could make us sick or kill us. What I find very disappointing is that our current generation may be the first not to outlive our parents due to lifestyle including drug abuse and obesity.  

  Lack of Exercise and Bad Diets- The shift to sedentary lifestyles in our society and acceptance of fast, engineered, foods has helped to cause health issues. Fortunately food-wise we are seeing  trend towards better affordable healthier options at places like Aldi and real-food alternatives to McDonalds.  I personally do not believe in diets since they are typically not sustainable long-term, rather making simple alternatives that can include smaller portions and ways to reduce fat and sugars with natural alternatives. I am personally using stevia in my coffee at home, using applesauce and bananas to reduce fat in baking, and gave up meat while continuing to eat seafood. You just have to find what works for you.

 As for exercise..Yes any-body can benefit from yoga or just take a walk, use stairs at work or when shopping, and/or park your car a little further than usual. It all adds up.


By Allen Barkus. Allen has been practicing Ashtanga yoga since 1998 and teaching since 2004. His initial teacher training was with David Swenson and has been the student of Manju Jois since 2004. Manju, along with his father, introduced Ashtanga/Vinyasa yoga to America in 1975. His studies focus on Healing Therapy. He is available in Philadelphia for private lessons and clinics and travels around the world teaching clinics. www.AshtangabyAllen.com

Is Ashtanga The Most Misunderstood Yoga Practice? #Yoga #Ashtanga #AshtangaYoga

By Allen Barkus


Is Ashtanga Yoga

misunderstood? When the word Ashtanga is introduced to yoga most people only picture in their minds people doing a very physically challenging practice, more like gymnastics. 

 I've actually taught Ashtanga to all types of people 15-85 including with/recovering from different types of cancer, obese (one person lost 70 pounds in 8 months, no other lifestyle changes), recovering from injuries and surgeries,children and even a woman with emphysema and COPD. Yes I've also taught athletes including a teen at the University of Pennsylvania, a baseball player and a marathon runner.

I teach the traditional practice as taught by Manju Jois, who brought Ashtanga/vinyasa yoga to America in 1975 along with his father. Since 2004 he has been my exclusive teacher for advanced studies into the intermediate practice. The greatest influence Manju has had on me is what the practice in intended for, healing of both the mind and body.

What is Ashtanga Yoga? Ashtanga Yoga is an ancient system of healing in the Hindu tradition: Asta=Eight

Anga=Limbs

Yoga=Union

"The Eight Limbs of Yoga"

The author of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali, described yoga as eight limbs of a tree: Yama, ethical disciplines; Niyama, self observation; Asana, posture; Pranayama, breath control; sense withdraw; Dharma, meditation; and Samadi, a state of joy and peace. Therefore possibly one of the greatest misconceptions of yoga is that it is purely a physical practice.

The physical practice was first recorded by the sage Vamana Rishi in the Yoga Korunta, taught to Pattabhi Jois by T Krishnamacharya. This system links the asanas with vinyasas (connecting movements), with pranayama (breath), drishti (visual focal points) and bandas (internal energy locks)

By Allen Barkus. Allen has been practicing Ashtanga yoga since 1998 and teaching since 2004. His initial teacher training was with David Swenson and has been the student of Manju Jois since 2004. Manju, along with his father, introduced Ashtanga/Vinyasa yoga to America in 1975. His studies focus on Healing Therapy. He is available in Philadelphia for private lessons and clinics and travels around the world teaching clinics. www.AshtangabyAllen.com

Yoga Is About Living Our Best Lives #Yoga #Ashtanga #AshtangaYoga #Motivation

When I was a small child I always had the feeling that I had been on this Earth before, honestly have no idea if that is true. The main idea that I had and continue to have is a focus on the 'Big Picture', optimizing my life for the long-term. In my late teens I think about a tennis match with someone in my neighborhood who was very competitive and had a big ego. I played the first set to numerous tie-breakers, 15-17, looked to the people he brought to cheer him on and decided it was not important for me to win. My real interest was in being able to play at the same level or better  when I became older. While I always kept myself in pretty good shape, my 'almost' daily yoga practice has me in as good or better shape than I was in my teens and I'm now almost 60.

How did I find yoga..  Many people ask how I found yoga. I did not find yoga until 1998, initially at a local health club. I tend to find things that work for me and stick to them. I was also lucky to have teachers taught by one of the most experienced yoga teachers in the world, Manju Jois. Manju, along with his father, brought Ashtanga/Vinyasa yoga to America in 1975. Manju became my teacher in 2004 shortly after I did my first teacher training with another wonderful teacher, David Swenson. My studies with Manju focus on Healing Therapy, what yoga was intended to be.


Ultimately I've learned no matter how much money we have, how well we eat, or even have the best healthcare; our time is limited, maybe tomorrow or maybe well into our 100's. Therefore my conclusion is that yoga is really about living our best lives. And to differ from what many/most yoga teachers say..Something else you love can be the 'yoga' to you.


By Allen Barkus. Allen has been practicing Ashtanga yoga since 1998 and teaching since 2004. His initial teacher training was with David Swenson and has been the student of Manju Jois since 2004. Manju, along with his father, introduced Ashtanga/Vinyasa yoga to America in 1975. His studies focus on Healing Therapy. He is available in Philadelphia for private lessons and clinics and travels around the world teaching clinics. www.AshtangabyAllen.com

Yoga And Ego, Two Things That Do Not Mix. #Yoga

In the past several years we've experienced the downfall of important 'modern' yoga leaders including John Friend who originated the Anusara yoga practice and Bikram Choudhry and his hot yoga practice. While no one can take away the fact that these people have introduced and inspired many people to practice yoga, it is most important to understand that ego and yoga just do not mix.

Yoga and social media has become an interesting trend in recent years, something you will have to make your own personal judgement on. In some cases good instruction comes along with the pretty poses and in other cases it appears to just to be about gaining influence and making money.

While yoga can be a physical practice, is is really about healing and focusing inward. When ego becomes involved we start focusing outward;  caring too much about how we look, teachers seeking to control and not guide students, injuries, and even sexual abuse.

A good teacher is your guide to developing a personal practice unique to your needs, both physical and emotional. I've personally taught Ashtanga yoga Healing Therapy to people 13-85 who are athletes and with serious physical problems including cancer, obesity (now slim and fit) spinal surgery, arthritis (adult and children), emotional issues, and even someone with  late stage emphysema. Therefore perceptions by most people of what Ashtanga is as a purely physical practice are wrong. 


By Allen Barkus. Allen has been practicing Ashtanga yoga since 1998 and teaching since 2004. His initial teacher training was with David Swenson and has been the student of Manju Jois since 2004. Manju, along with his father, introduced Ashtanga/Vinyasa yoga to America in 1975. His studies focus on Healing Therapy. He is available in Philadelphia for private lessons and clinics and travels around the world teaching clinics. www.AshtangabyAllen.com

Yoga And Being In The Present - The Only Guarantee In Life Is Change. What Defines Who We Are Is How We Deal The Changes. #BePresent #Yoga #Mindful #Mindfulness

From YogaPragma

Yoga and Being in the Present... One thing I've observed is how most of us spend our lives keeping ourselves physically attractive and acquiring material things, first to attract a mate, then to 'keep up with (and surpassing) the Joneses'. I found myself trying to impress people; teachers, business colleagues, family and friends, with many of them long passed.


The Only Guarantee in Life is Change...Along my life experiences I've observed how how we deal with change appears to largely define who we are as people. Some people are stuck in the past, some in the present, and some focused fully to the future. My yoga practice has me focused on the present, mindful of the future. Fact is we have no way of knowing what the future holds for us; hopefully we live healthfully to 100+, or life shortened by disease or natural disaster.

Why Are We Here?.. This is one of the main questions that holds people back in life. In the Big Picture no matter how advanced we become as a people we will always be seeking the answer to that eternal question.  I've always known my purpose is to appreciate life, do my best for my family and friends, and do for others/volunteer work.

Religion and Spiritual Practice(s)... I've always been fascinated how religion and spiritual practices
have been used to separate people, even been the motivation for taking lives. In my observation all/most religious and spiritual practices have a common thread, 10 commandments in the Judeo/Christian practices and and the Yama/Niyama as the first 2 limbs of 8 in the Hindu yogic tradition; rules of how we treat ourselves and others. I also expect if/when we discover life on the other side of our universe we will find a common DNA link demonstrating we are not as different as
some think we are.

Yoga on and off our Mats...While most people tend to find yoga through their physical asana practice, just as important is how we live our lives off the mat. Therefore  part of your daily practice can be appreciative of and doing for others. One of the
biggest debates in yoga is about Ahimsa, non-harming. Some people interpret it in a way they become vegetarians or vegans, not harming animals. Others have another view, Kosher or Halal,
being respectful of the animals that we consume. From my perspective people have to do what is best for them as individuals and be respectful of others. Judgment of others could be interpreted of a violation of Ahimsa.   

Please share your thoughts?

By Allen Barkus. Allen has been practicing Ashtanga yoga since 1998 and teaching since 2004. His initial teacher training was with David Swenson and has been the student of Manju Jois since 2004. Manju, along with his father, introduced Ashtanga/Vinyasa yoga to America in 1975. His studies focus on Healing Therapy. He is available in Philadelphia for private lessons and clinics and travels around the world teaching clinics. www.AshtangabyAllen.com

Yoga For Healing Of Sexual Abuse. #MeToo

When I talk about Yoga for Healing the eyes of  most yogis glaze over, even teachers that have their own studios. What I've learned is there is a fundamental misunderstanding what yoga is, an ancient practice for healing both the mind and body. Western thinking has turned the practice into mostly physical training. My specialty, influenced by Manju Jois who brought Ashtanga yoga to America in 1975 with his father, is healing.  I've worked with students recovering from surgeries, cancer, emotional problems, emphysema and other issues. Of course I've also worked with people just interested in the physical side too including training athletes at the University of Pennsylvania, some have advanced into deeper exploration of their practices.

One of the things I find most disturbing in our society is how prevalent sexual abuse is, somehow to the point that the U.S. elected a president with many accusations and we have a serving senator accused of child abuse. There are even accusations against influential people in the yoga community.  Of course accusations do not prove guilt or intent so I expect some accused are innocent.

One of the more important things that yoga teaches us is non-attachment, the things that happen to us, disease or different forms of abuse, are separate from who we are. Once we allow
those things as part of us, in my view they create a barrier to the healing process. When my 80 year
old mother was diagnosed with  cancer I found it interesting that she had a yogic view that she saw it as not a part of her, but an invader that just did not belong.

I encourage further exploration of of healing aspects of yoga and welcome questions on this forum, privately via my website at www.AshtangabyAllen.Com , and with your personal teachers and therapists. I am also available via Skype for life coaching and consultations, email directly at AshtangabyAllen@att.net .