There has been a recent uproar of criticism of Kino
MacGregor. It seems as though Ashtangi Bloggers are maxing out on their
one-percent theory. Remember folks, ninety-nine percent practice, ONE
percent theory. One Percent. I’m pretty sure Guruji didn’t
mean for this theory to include your analysis on someone else’s short
shorts. But if we must talk about short shorts, I have a few things to
say about this. Kino has at least three reasons to wear the hot little
shorts that she wears. So here we go: Un, deux, trois; Ekam Dwi,
Trini; Insert your favourite language, (knowing that Sanskrit is definitely the
superior choice):
1. Miami is hot.
2. Kino’s legs are hot
3. It is much harder to perform arm balances when you’re
wearing shorts and your legs are all sweaty.
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“Cosmic Love to Kino MacGregor’s thighs.”
Kino in Bakasana |
As everyone knows, your practice is an offering to the
Supreme Divine Brahman. If you require the traction of long Lululemon
pants to get into Bakasana, well, everyone knows what that says about your
Supreme Divine Offering. If you’re lucky, no obnoxious blogger will say
anything about it. I say, “Cosmic Love to Kino MacGregor’s thighs.”
The Blogosphere has been particularly critical of the
trailer to the TV show, “The Yoga Girls of Miami.” The show was supposed
to delve into the inner workings of the yoga studio, “Miami Life Center,” run
by “yoga master” Kino MacGregor and a team of attractive and charismatic
ladies. The Highly Evolved Ashtangis of the Blogosphere have accused this
video of being vain, flakey, self-inflating and excessively commercial.
Certainly, the tone of the trailer isn’t as down-to-earth as Kino’s wonderful
articles and the audio podcasts of her excellent workshops. But let us
remember that this sort of thing is often scripted. That is to say, Kino
is probably not a self-proclaimed “yoga master.” And even if she is, we
all know that yoga is about Loving the Self. As my grandmother, an
extremely advanced yoga practitioner, regularly repeats, “If you don’t toot
your own horn, no one else will.” So toot away, Kino. Toot
away. In any case, I feel like Kino’s underlying intention was to attract
a more diverse audience, including tweens and entirely un-spiritual people who
pollute their higher selves with corrupt indulgences such as reality
television. In all honesty, I’m pretty sure that if the show hadn’t been
cancelled due to the malicious online feedback, I would have watched it
religiously. I’m okay with this fact, since honesty is one of the
sought-after ethical precepts of the Ashtanga Yoga system. I’ve got it in
the bag. Thanks be to God. And to Kino.
Harsh judgment is also being passed about Kino’s Youtube
channel. Here, Kino futures enlightening videos on how to access elusive asanas
such as Marychasana D, Kapotasana, Scorpion Handstand, and my personal nemesis,
Karandavasana. If Kino were truly the egomaniac that bloggers are calling
her, she would demonstrate these postures on her own, inserting cocky comments
about your, the viewer’s, inability to honour the supreme divine Brahman by
grabbing your ankles or maintaining your uddhiyana bandha. As it is, Kino
features models of all shapes and sizes, and remains extremely light-hearted
and empathetic in her explanations of each posture presented in the
videos. I’m both a yoga teacher and Ashtanga practitioner, and to be
honest once again, I find the videos to be rather useful. Some of us
don’t have the cash to fly around and follow Senior Ashtanga teachers on their
international tours. One day I hope to become an un-kept woman and meet
Kino MacGregor in person. But for now, I heart Youtube.
My one-percent theory of the day is probably up, so I won’t
go on for much longer. However, I believe that as yogis who strive
towards peace and compassion, we should be as generous in our thoughts and
words, as Kino MacGregor is in her sharing of Ashtanga Yoga.
The End.
