Yogini: The Path of Women Teaching Yoga and Buddhism. [via Elephant Journal]
Yogini: The Path of Women Teaching Yoga and Buddhism.
A conversation with teachers Sarah Powers, Shiva Rea, and Lama Tsultrim Allione about the interface between yoga and Buddhism in America, the role of women in these traditions, and the perils and promise of making ancient Asian practices workable in the West.
Traditionally, yoga and Buddhism were practiced predominantly by men. Now, step into a yoga class, and nine out of ten students will probably be women in spandex. Similarly, many Buddhist communities in the West are led by prominent women. As these ancient traditions make their way into mainstream American culture, how are serious female practitioners finding inspiration and encouragement in historically masculine paradigms?
One way is through cross-lineage support networks. Women from different traditions are finding that they have much to share, and that their work is mutually empowering. This connection is exemplified by the relationship that Lama Tsultrim Allione, a long-time practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism and a leader in women’s wisdom practice in the West, has with yoga teachers Sarah Powers and Shiva Rea. Recently, Powers and Rea have taught Buddhist meditation practices in their yoga trainings, enhancing students’ abilities to embody yogic wisdom and to find a deeper connection with their own feminine nature. In 2009, Lama Tsultrim will host retreats with Powers and Rea at her Tara Mandala Retreat Center in southern Colorado, where construction of a 12,000 square foot Tara Temple dedicated to the sacred feminine will have just reached completion.
Ward-Thommes: The practices of Hatha yoga asana and Tibetan Buddhism arose in different cultures during different time periods. Now in the West we have the opportunity to study both. As prominent teachers of yoga and Buddhism, what differences do you see in these paths? How can we reconcile them?
Sarah Powers: In my practice, I’m more focused on the similarities than the differences.
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