LG38 – Genny Wilkinson Priest and Sarai Harvey-Smith – Controversy and Updating Ashtanga Yoga

Lonely Guru Dialogues with Ryan Spielman

In this episode my guests are Genny Wilkinson Priest and Sarai Harvey-Smith. We discuss two topics, the allegations about Pattabhi Jois’ sexual misconduct and the ambiguity around the qualifications to become and maintain status as a recognised KPJAYI Ashtanga teacher.

Genny quit full-time hard news journalism to focus on her yoga studies, becoming a Shri K Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute Authorised Level 1 teacher, as well as British Wheel of Yoga and Yoga Alliance-certified teacher. She is fascinated by yoga philosophy, and is pursuing a Master’s Degree in the Traditions of Yoga and Meditation at SOAS in London. She returns as often as she can to Mysore, India to study with Ashtanga Yoga lineage holder Sharath Jois, who has given her authorisation to teach Ashtanga as set out at the KPJAYI. She is also a BWY-qualified Children’s Yoga teacher. In addition to teaching at triyoga, she is the Yoga Manager at Europe’s biggest group of yoga studios. She continues to write, editing Pushpam — a new, global yoga magazine published by Hamish Hendry that explores the state of the practice of contemporary yoga. Her articles have also appeared in Huffington Post, the Daily Mail, Elephant Journal, Cosmopolitan, and Yogadork. She is also the yoga columnist for Healthista.com. You can find out more about her at www.gennyyoga.com

With over 16 years teaching experience and 20 years of practice under her belt, Sarai is a Senior Yoga Teacher, Teacher Trainer and Yoga Teacher Mentor. She has taken many lengthy trips to Mysore, India between 2003 – 2011 to study ashtanga yoga at KPJAYI. She is Authorised Level 2. Sarai has an MA in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy from the University of Essex. She continues her training at the Tavistock Clinic (BPC) and is an Honorary Psychodynamic Psychotherapist within the NHS. She is BACP registered and has a private practice in South West London. www.saraiharveysmith.com

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