Some of you may be aware that Kino has recently been on the receiving end of some negative reactions, both in social media and in the "real" world, over a video about practicing Ashtanga yoga in Mysore that she made about six months ago. Apparently, some Ashtangis who were in the video were offended because Kino did not ask for their permission before filming them doing their practices (for more details about the whole thing, see the January 22nd posts on Kino's Facebook page). Anyway, here is the video in question:
I cannot speak for anybody else's feelings, but as far as I am concerned, the video is very well-made. It is both aesthetically captivating and very educational. If nothing else, it gives somebody like me who has yet to make it to Mysore a close-up and intimate view of what practicing in Mysore is like, and conveys very powerfully the spirit of going to the source of this practice to deepen one's practice.
Based on what I feel, and on my desire to support Kino in her wonderful work that she is doing, I recently decided to write a letter to Sharath expressing my support for Kino's action with regard to this video. Kino has also graciously given me permission to publish this letter here, so that more people can understand what is going on, and her intentions in making this video in the first place. So here goes.
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A Letter about Kino MacGregor's video about practicing Ashtanga Yoga in Mysore
Dear Sharath,
I practice Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, and I live in the United States. I have been a student of Kino MacGregor for the past two years. I live in Pocatello, Idaho, and practice mostly by myself at home, as I am not close to any Ashtanga shala. But I travel to study with Kino whenever I am able to. She is a very dedicated teacher who has given much of herself for the well-being of her students, and in order that more people can come to take benefit from this wonderful method that Guruji has given us. Personally, I also hope to go to Mysore to study with you in the near future, when I have overcome my career and immigration problems in this country.
I am writing you today to voice my support for a video about Mysore that Kino made about six months ago. I attach the video to this email.
I recently learned that some Ashtangis have been offended by this video, ostensibly because they were filmed doing their practices in the shala without their permission. I cannot speak for other people, but I really feel that this video is a wonderful production that is both aesthetically beautiful and educationally valuable. As somebody who has never been to Mysore, I cannot tell you how much I have learned about what practicing at the shala is like from watching this video, and how much this video has strengthened my desire to go there myself someday. From the many positive comments about this video that are on the Youtube page, I believe many people also feel the same way as I do. As such, I believe this video does a great service to the Ashtanga community around the world.
I hope you will take all this into consideration, and regard this project in a favorable light, even though a few people are offended by it. Personally, I also feel that if these people were offended, they could have contacted Kino and voiced their feelings to her personally, rather than publicly jeopardize a project that is offering so much to so many people who are not able to go to Mysore at this moment.
I thank you for reading this email and considering my opinion. I hope to meet you soon.
Sincerely,
Nobel Ang
Pocatello, Idaho
U.S.A.
I practice Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, and I live in the United States. I have been a student of Kino MacGregor for the past two years. I live in Pocatello, Idaho, and practice mostly by myself at home, as I am not close to any Ashtanga shala. But I travel to study with Kino whenever I am able to. She is a very dedicated teacher who has given much of herself for the well-being of her students, and in order that more people can come to take benefit from this wonderful method that Guruji has given us. Personally, I also hope to go to Mysore to study with you in the near future, when I have overcome my career and immigration problems in this country.
I am writing you today to voice my support for a video about Mysore that Kino made about six months ago. I attach the video to this email.
I recently learned that some Ashtangis have been offended by this video, ostensibly because they were filmed doing their practices in the shala without their permission. I cannot speak for other people, but I really feel that this video is a wonderful production that is both aesthetically beautiful and educationally valuable. As somebody who has never been to Mysore, I cannot tell you how much I have learned about what practicing at the shala is like from watching this video, and how much this video has strengthened my desire to go there myself someday. From the many positive comments about this video that are on the Youtube page, I believe many people also feel the same way as I do. As such, I believe this video does a great service to the Ashtanga community around the world.
I hope you will take all this into consideration, and regard this project in a favorable light, even though a few people are offended by it. Personally, I also feel that if these people were offended, they could have contacted Kino and voiced their feelings to her personally, rather than publicly jeopardize a project that is offering so much to so many people who are not able to go to Mysore at this moment.
I thank you for reading this email and considering my opinion. I hope to meet you soon.
Sincerely,
Nobel Ang
Pocatello, Idaho
U.S.A.
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