![]() The backstory-
I keep getting called out on Facebook to comment on the current situation with Yogaglo (outlined above) so I thought I might as well say a few words on my blog. Here's the thing: I have been on the teaching faculty of Yogaglo for several years and have enjoyed a wonderful working relationship the production and management team. As a result of my involvement with them, their excellent technology and an enthusiastic community of subscribers, I have had a chance to teach yoga to a diverse community of people around the globe. All in all, it has been a great thing and I have enjoyed the opportunity to be part of their professional team of teachers. In fact, I have loved being part of the Yogaglo team. During the summer we ran into some conflicts over the YogaTips on my Youtube channel and rather than take down the short clips which were seen to be in conflict with the terms of the exclusivity agreement I had signed, I terminated my contract with Yogaglo. I understood the exclusivity agreement to mean that I could not post full "yoga classes on any streaming site" and they felt that the terms meant that I could not post any portion of any "yoga class on any streaming site" and so we parted ways. Yogaglo owns the content I created while under contract with them and my classes have remained up for my students to use. Whether a class remains up or comes down is under Yogaglo's discretion per the terms of the contract, not mine. So, folks keep wanting a statement from me as a "Yogaglo teacher" on the matter. Another person told me "the yoga community would boycott me if I didn't do something" and still others are politely inquiring why the Yogaglo faculty is so silent on the matter. Just for the record, I am doing what I have always done which is practicing yoga and teaching yoga as best I can. (Oh I did just buy a new mountain bike so this week I have been riding that a lot also. But I digress...) My point is that I am not going to do anything new because there is nothing left for me to do other than what I have already done. I do want to say-- for the record--that I love teaching yoga. I wake up most days in awe that I landed in this job that often kicks my ass and yet always shows me that deep meaning can be created through mindful movement, honest expression and dedicated efforts over time. I came to yoga as a life-saving measure. I think that is why I am so intense about the practice. Had I been casual about yoga in those early days, I would be dead today. I didn't become a yogi because I was some holy person so full of integrity or because I was so predisposed to the inner life. I became a practitioner because I needed the teachings one day a time to stay alive and to climb slowly out of a mire of self-hatred and self-abuse. Personally, I do not understand what peculiar function of Grace gives a job like this to someone like me but most days I figure it is because I needed to be kept close to the Teachings, lest I forget the Source of my life. And sometimes I find it ironic, overwhelming and bizarre that because I teach yoga I now have a lawyer, a corporation and I am called to make "public statements" about current events but those things are part of the game of the yoga business for me these days and that is what it is. And-for the record- I am happy and honored to have the opportunity to play this particular game. And--for the record-- for me, the practice itself has no politics. Practice is between me and God. Practice gives me the tools I need so that I can rest my head on my pillow at night, look back at my day, review what went well, where I felt short and pray to do better tomorrow. Practice connects me to the trunk of the tree when I have walked too far out to the skinny ends of the branches and have lost my way. Practice bolsters my faith, strengthens my courage and softens me just enough to notice that I am not alone on this great path called Yoga. So anyway, put a patent on that. Oh wait- it is not for sale.
38 Comments
so beautifully said. I really admire your clarity and your willingness to cut right to heart of things. Thanks for being a consistent voice of wisdom in the yoga world. I appreciate you, and watch you, though I have not had the pleasure to study closely with you ~yet.
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Jessie Diaz-Perez
9/26/2013 01:45:50 pm
what buffy said. your openness in this post is so beautiful. thank you for sharing.
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9/27/2013 05:23:50 am
You are welcome. Thanks for reading the blog. I appreciate it.
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Shari
9/26/2013 04:30:26 pm
As always, you are thoughtful, honest and full of integrity...it is an honor to be your student in person. Unfortunately it's not possible on a regular basis, as I live too far away. So, much gratitude for your stance on this matter...your generosity in sharing your hard earned knowledge epitomizes community and grace. Shame on Yogaglo.
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9/26/2013 07:21:17 pm
I think I love you Christina Sell. I'm going to have to come to your workshop in Portland me. I was on the fence. Not anymore. See you in Nov. :)
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Christina Sell
9/27/2013 05:24:52 am
Thanks, Leslie. It will be great to meet you in person.
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Leslie
9/26/2013 10:13:43 pm
I came to yoga to stay alive as well. Totally resonated with much of what you said. Plus, I am a fan of things well written. Glorious words, awesome clarity, lovely to read.
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Christina Sell
9/27/2013 05:25:14 am
Thanks, Leslie.
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Michelle
9/26/2013 10:37:57 pm
I respect you sooo much for your honest, candid and timely message you sent out to us yoga peeps. I recently discovered your YouTube clips and love the snippets; and I also pay every month to subscribe to YogaGlo. You are a superb teacher and no matter what politics arise, that is the bottom line. You da best!
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Christina Sell
9/27/2013 05:25:45 am
I am glad you find the tips useful. so happy to hear that.
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Mindy Willis-Menard
9/26/2013 10:46:31 pm
So much love and respect to you Christina! I wondered what happened on Yogaglo and I'm glad you have been transparent in what went on previous to this incident. I had to question whether this was the first issue that someone had with them and it's good to know where you stand since it deeply inspires me to stand in my Self and in my practice. It's clear to me now that the future of yoga will somehow involve contracts, lawyers, lawsuits, competition clauses and so on and not just a teacher, some mats and an amazing experience which I naively thought it was many years ago. So, are you able to teach streaming classes elsewhere now since I will need a fix of your awesome classes? Congrats on the mountain bike, love it!!!
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Christina Sell
9/27/2013 05:29:35 am
You know, I think business and yoga can meet really beautifully and so in general contracts, lawyers and so forth can be great and quite useful. I am not really too worried about our future with all of that because the heart of it will always live in the hearts of true practitioners. stay in touch- you know me-- I will obnoxiously and shamelessly promote my online classes when I have the next iteration ready and working. (and yes, the mountain bike is super fun.)
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Brenda
9/27/2013 12:38:02 am
I really respect your method of response to this issue. I like the fact that you offered facts, not opinions, and your from the heart comments are how many of us feel, I'm sure, about this wonderful gift of yoga! Thank you it is easy to see why you are such a great & respected teacher! Namaste
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Christina Sell
9/27/2013 05:30:07 am
Thanks, Brenda. That means a lot to me.
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Dave
9/27/2013 01:05:52 am
It's not because you "teach yoga" that you have these things. It is purposely obfuscating & self-victimizing to pretend it is. You have those things because you are a very savvy & ambitious business minded yoga teacher. You have published books, done multiple webinars, own a yogacentric practice space etc.. These are the reasons you "...have a lawyer, a corporation and (are) called to make "public statements" not because you "teach yoga."
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Mary Jane
9/27/2013 02:24:24 am
Don't the think that was how it was meant or meant to be taken.
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9/27/2013 05:22:43 am
Great point, Dave. I agree with you.
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Dave
9/27/2013 10:41:25 am
Christina, thank you very much for this well considered & thoughtful reply to my comment. 9/27/2013 02:29:26 am
You've done a remarkable job clarifying for many the situation and also sharing appropriate links and information. I'd like to humbly add to this list my elephant journal article sharing a link to the petition, in the hopes that anyone and everyone will sign.
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Christina Sell
9/27/2013 05:30:47 am
Awesome. Thanks for adding this link to the list.
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Damn. This is so beautiful, I seriously almost cried. My relationship to my practice comes from a similar place, and you just put into words everything I have been thinking over the last few days re: Yogaglo. Thanks as always for being transparent, sharing your experience and facilitating this amazing and thought-proviking conversation.
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Christina Sell
9/27/2013 05:31:55 am
Thanks, Kristina. I appreciate your insights and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with me and to read the blog.
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Michael Denvir
9/27/2013 03:49:47 am
I really appreciated this humble response to the controversy. I especially love this:
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Christina Sell
9/27/2013 05:34:19 am
Thanks Michael. Congratulations on 19 years. wow.
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Alison Alstrom
9/27/2013 08:27:51 am
Hi Christina, I want to thank you for this, and for your blog in general. Your writing and sharing is clear and smart and honest, and because of that goes straight to the readers hearts. We need more voices like these out there - so many of us have forgotten what it feel s like not to be pandered to, and pleaded with, and manipulated, all to align with someone's agenda. I cancelled my subscription to yogaglo because it's important to me that my actions and my money line up with my values as much as possible. I might renew it after they change their mind about the patent, but at the moment I'm having fun finding out about all the other neat yoga offerings on the wild and wonderful internet, and sharing those with my students and friends. I'm glad to be able to add your youtube channel to my list. xo
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9/27/2013 09:56:27 am
Thanks, Alison. Your kind words mean a lot to me and I am so happy to still be walking this path with you after all these years.
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9/27/2013 08:34:10 am
This is a thoughtful and well written article. I have been teach quite a while and have seen the changes and challenges in the yoga world.i am saddened by many of the situations that have occurred over the last few years. I hope that yogi's begin to follow the teachings of yoga on a deeper level
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Erika DiSalvo
9/27/2013 11:09:33 am
As always I appreciate your willingness to share your experiences and the truth as you know it. Like Allison mentioned above, I am very conscious about aligning where my money flows in the direction of where my values lie. I finally cancelled my subscription because like many I don't agree with what they are wanting to do (although I have been on the fence with yogaglo since summer). Than being said, I really appreciate your candid share. Upon reading this entry, I was transported to when I found yoga and where I was at in my life and how it saved me. The practice and it's teachings are so powerful and rich and this is why I love to study with you. You bring it down to earth and tell it like it is. It is authentic and I appreciate that. No frills, just truth.Thank you. Love
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Scott Newsom
9/27/2013 12:00:11 pm
Hey Christina,
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Tatiana Urquiza
9/27/2013 01:29:23 pm
Eloquent, beautifully written, and you go girl!
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9/27/2013 05:02:59 pm
Stellar and exquisitely eloquent as usual! Love you!
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Thanks Christina for this, even though the play of yoga nowadays is that (a melting between the practice and the marketing) I really appreciate your open heart and your clear voice, specially about reminding what the real yoga is about....PRACTICING (and with practicing I just dont refer to the physical practice or asana). Thanks for always being a mirror and reflect the potential that is within us and for keeping yoga real!!
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10/18/2013 03:50:08 am
Thank you for being vocal about where you stand on this topic, and what truly matters. I appreciate your honesty and your ever-present focus on the truth of what practicing yoga means to you.
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11/5/2013 11:07:24 am
So to me right now, the practice is the toolbox. I study the me I am working on, and select the tool that I think will work well to do what I want, & then I use that tool in the way dictated by my intention. So we have different tools and different ways of using the tool.
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Kelly Randall
3/20/2015 07:07:13 am
Yogaglo is STILL up to no good! Now they are attacking smaller companies who tangentially share yoga OR fitness information with "glo" or "glow" in their name, claiming rights they are not entitled to, while suppressing free speech and free use! Please sign the new petition against Yogaglo's business tactics here: https://www.change.org/p/yogaglo-derik-mills-yogaglo-stop-suppressing-free-speech-and-free-use-of-yoga-fitness-information
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