I understand that we must allow for the open commentary when posting to social media. In my own experience, it's rare that I receive many negative blasts in response to posts. I consider this a good judge of friendships, actually- and I consider myself blessed by those who surround me. Most folks in my circle and extended circle are in that circle because they're kindly folks, who, for the most part, are far wiser than myself.

And, I consider this to be an honor.

Every once in a while, I get slammed and it's always my intention to keep those slams public. If I post it- you have every right to respond, even be it via toxic elitism, verbal slander all while executing your slam with grammatical errors, if you so chose. 

Just be aware that you may not know the full story behind this indecent act which so violently disgraces your own value system and everything you thought you knew about me.

I'm about undergo major surgery a week from tomorrow. I don't expect folks to know this because it's not something I've shared with many folks; it's super personal and I don't feel the need to go in to a whole lot of detail. The purpose for writing this post doesn't come folks not knowing what I'm facing; the issue comes from comments on my public space chastising me for "surprising" choices and changes I've made based on medical necessity- like eating chicken and prepping for a chicken broth diet.

At this point in the game, I'm sort of like the 93-year old Grandma who takes no shit. I've been through enough at this point to know that I am not obligated to honor negative feeds. Say what you like. I'll listen once. And when the judgment is unfounded and unreasonable, I'll end the relationship. Period.  

There's enough dark energy in the world beyond my control: I don't need to further harbor in my world.


Most folks know that I've foregone the eating of meat for years. Some also know I'm a proponent of alternative healing and homeopathic treatments. But when my doctor explains to me that herbal supplements are off the cocktail list for the next month, as they can cause major issues when mixed with anesthesia, guess what? I'm taking them off the menu. And when my doctor explains that my calorie and major protein intake for the next few weeks is of key importance if I'm going to get out of this as healthy as possible whilst coming to terms with the fact that, in these these circumstances, quinoa and kale aren't gonna cut it, guess what? I'm adding chicken and fish to the menu- even if I don't really know how to cook it. Thank goodness for Pinterest recipes.

This has evidently really pissed some folks off- and they feel it a disservice should they not voice that concern...but they also won't take five minutes to pick up a phone and actually ask why they've seen a change.

Strange.

People's diets, lifestyles and choices are sometimes impacted by reasons which remain unknown to us- and are, quite frankly, none of our business. And to critique those changes without having accounted for context and an analysis of those purposes attributed (specifically to medical necessity in my case) is shallow, naive and totally uncalled for, not to mention just a jack-ass move.

I'm going in to major surgery. It's my body. My health and code of ethics, only. One's opinion regarding the matter of my health including my current dietary and physical needs isn't necessary outside of my asking you. My doctor will not make decisions on my behalf unless imperative to survival on the operating table. So, I'm not really understanding why public opinion surrounding issues like my recent ingestion of meat products has validity if it's keeping my blood and protein levels where the need to be.

When you're up next for this kind of treatment, I invite you to cultivate your own diet.

Thank you.

My lifestyle has changed, temporarily. I've done the research. I've sought alternatives and don't feel the need to list those details, findings and practices to anyone, really. I know about Milk Thistle, the Chakras and meditation. I've chosen to marry Western Medical Science with my Traditional Eastern Practices and have a doctor who supports that marriage and even goes out of her way to assist me in combining the two because she gets that I'm a hippie.

Adding meat to my diet has not been an easy choice. It goes against a good number of my values. I don't need a vegan to berate me on Facebook for these "sudden" changes in my diet without having context. It's challenging enough.

Thank you.

Eliminating my physical asana practice from my daily yoga practice has been extremely challenging for me. Yoga Police aren't a "thing" so if you've bestowed this honor upon yourself, do me a favor and spare me your rules of conduct. And to call me a fraud, on my Facebook page is another jackass move. Don't confuse your purity of judgement with context and fact. Context regarding changes is imperative prior to judgement.

Social media has the opportunity to inspire. It provides us a platform through which we are able to share milestones with those we love but are unable to be in our physical presence. It's given us exposure to knowledge, spreads awareness and has the potential to harness sincere love, wisdom and support.

Do that.

If you don't like what folks post or what they write about, unfollow them. Unfriend them. Remove them from your circle. Practice patience and if you feel the need to extend your wisdom sans inquiry, write an angry journal entry and call it good.

We utilize social media for a myriad or reasons. Some we support and some we don't.

It's cool not to support everything. That means you have an opinion. You just don't need to slay and suffocate folks with that opinion all the time.

Save that banter for the social and political rallies. They love that stuff.

I know I sound upset- and I kind of am. It's not cool to place unfounded judgement upon people whose circumstances may be outside of our own understanding.

Dear Bikram Choudhury,

I went to the Doctor the other day.  I've had a cold for nearly one month and an ear infection for nearly two weeks.  Stepping on the scale hasn't really been an issue for me over the last ten years because I've worked hard to maintain the 30 pound loss of weight that I worked my ass off for almost a decade ago.

This time, however, was a little different.  I'd gained some weight.  A lot, actually.  And I wondered how this was possible when I maintain a regular and consistent yoga practice.

And then, I wanted to slap myself.

See, women ask me all the time how much weight they can lose through the practice of yoga.  And, typically, I hug these women and calmly explain that there's no way that I can promise them weight loss.  And, there's no way I can promise them a svelte figure through a practice.

I support women in their practice, daily.  I support women who desire change.  I support them through losses, divorce, break-ups and nasty habits and just bad days.  I also support them in their fight to come Home to their beautiful bodies.  I support their desire for change, growth and healing.  I support these women because I have been in places so dark, I couldn't even find the wall to search for a light switch.  I know what they seek and I have some experience finding the light through my own practice and it makes my heart swell when I can share that with my Sisters.  

I have never practiced your style of yoga- and I'm not all that interested in supporting you, thus I steer far from your method.  See, Mr. Choudhury, you don't practice MY yoga.  What you've brought to this community couldn't be further from yoga, in my mind.  You've raped the purpose of yoga.  That's a strong word and I'm using it in order to make a point.  I've actually lost count of the current number of sexual charges currently held against you and every article I read posts a range of numbers.

That you exploit women through the path of something as sacred as the practice of yoga isn't really all that surprising...I mean, let's be honest, plenty of Spiritual sanctuaries have exploited people in the name of Faith and Practice.  I'm just a lot closer to yoga than anything other Spiritual practice and so, for me, your part in obscuring this practice as a way by which you  cultivate a sexualized damnation against womens' bodies is abhorrent.  

Shame on you, Mr. Choudhury.

This practice isn't about me as a sexually attractive female, with a super-hot body who swoops in to the arms of some perverted Guru. It's about ME, It's about MY space on the mat.  

It's where I talk to God.

It's the space I give myself.  It's where everyone and everything ceases to exist.

It's where I find the strength to push through challenging postures as a way to cultivate that same strength OFF the mat.  

And I wish there were more men who supported women in this practice.  And you had every opportunity to DO that- and you didn't.  You had the charm and the resources right in your hands and you blew every chance you had to be a male role model.  You could have been the man to teach awareness to male teachers.  You could have cultivated a practice that cherished womens' bodies as the Temples they are.  You could have started programs that instilled  self- confidence and support.

You could have been that man.

Thank Siva we DO have those men.