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Yoga still banned in Alabama.

When I had back issues yoga was the best thing for it. Better than any drugs.

If anyone cares: I followed a specific routine called "Yoga for the rest of us: back care basics" or something similar, from Peggy Cappy. DVD. Specific stretches for the back.

It was like a miracle ;) , I cried a little after the first time because it helped so much. Nothing else worked. Not quite a religious experience though ;)

I never plan on visiting "The South" in this country. I couldn't stand it, I know it.
 
When I had back issues yoga was the best thing for it. Better than any drugs.

If anyone cares: I followed a specific routine called "Yoga for the rest of us: back care basics" or something similar, from Peggy Cappy. DVD. Specific stretches for the back.

It was like a miracle ;) , I cried a little after the first time because it helped so much. Nothing else worked. Not quite a religious experience though ;)

I never plan on visiting "The South" in this country. I couldn't stand it, I know it.
How open minded of you.

Bob is not totally wrong. I think the prayer analogy is pretty good. One can pray without being a member of any particular religion. A prayer can be essentially secular. It doesn't mean it isn't a religious practice.

Most western yoga practitioners do not particularly care about the religious connection, some do, enough that it often annoys many of my associates that practice yoga.

Chiropractic is also a pretty good analogy. Not all chiros believe that subluxations block the good vibes of god, some are basically just physical therapists. You ought to make sure which kind you are going to before you let them twist you.
 
How open minded of you.

Bob is not totally wrong.


"A stopped clock is right twice a day."?

I think, just from evidence presented on this board, that Bob would struggle to match the record of the stopped clock.

I think the prayer analogy is pretty good. One can pray without being a member of any particular religion.


Certainly.

A prayer can be essentially secular. It doesn't mean it isn't a religious practice.
<snip>


Umm, no. Just ... no.

The only way that statement can make any sense at all is if you use highly personal, idiosyncratic definitions of both "prayer" and "secular". If your intent is to apply the definitions used by English speakers in general then it fails.

For something to be "secular" is "denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis." "Prayer", OTOH, is "a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship."

See the problem there?

If it's secular it isn't prayer. If it's prayer it isn't secular.
 
...Chiropractic is also a pretty good analogy. Not all chiros believe that subluxations block the good vibes of god, some are basically just physical therapists. You ought to make sure which kind you are going to before you let them twist you.

Why? Are the twists fundamentally different? In a double blind test could you tell the difference between a subluxious chiro and a non-subluxious chiro? I'm not so sure ....
 
I know that Bikram claims to hold the copyright on the script used in his organisation and that you can't legally get a copy of it without undergoing his training course in India.

That doesn't mean that you can't get a copy of it, of course. But he'll probably try and sue you. Most likely unsuccessfully.


It's been a while since I looked into this, but IIRC Bikram's script has been legally recognized as his proprietary information (in some jurisdictions, at least). So if he were able to show that you were actually using his script or some close variation, and that you were getting paid for it, his lawsuit would most likely be successful. At the very least, he'd be able to get an injunction against you continuing to use his script.


Bikram Yoga, the twenty-six postures, two breathing exercises, (26 + 2), are said to be based on the booklet, "Yoga Cure," authored by Bishnu Charan Ghosh, originally published in 1961. Photos of the poses are Ghosh's daughter, Karuna.

Mukul Dutta, was a student of Bishnu Ghosh. Dutta said in the Netflix documentary, had perhaps the only known published booklet, and was instrumental in getting it re-published. [1][2]

I don't know how, or if, Bikram's scripted dialog, compares to Ghosh's booklet and writings, but Bikram's, 26 + 2 poses, are said to be based on Ghosh's booklet and teaching. Apparently Bikram didn't acknowledge or attribute Ghosh's work for the basis of Bikram yoga.

Sources:

[1] Ghosh, Bishnu Chara (1961). "Yoga Cure." ghoshyoga.org. E-book. (Original work published 1961, e-book published 2019).

[2] Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator [Video file]. Directed by Eva Orner, Producers Sarah Anthony and Eva Orner. Pulse Films, (2019). Retrieved from https[colon]//www.netflix.com
 
I wanted to clarify that the photo's of Ghosh's e-book, a digital re-print of Bishnu Charan Ghosh newly uncovered book(let?) from 1961, are photos of Ghosh's daughter, Karuna, and were taken by Ghosh's son, Biswanath Ghosh, according to the Ghosh Yoga website.

In regards to Bikram's script, as mentioned by ISF member, theprestige,
It's been a while since I looked into this, but IIRC Bikram's script has been legally recognized as his proprietary information (in some jurisdictions, at least). So if he were able to show that you were actually using his script or some close variation, and that you were getting paid for it, his lawsuit would most likely be successful. At the very least, he'd be able to get an injunction against you continuing to use his script.


Two (of many) online sources of Bikram Yoga's script:

One source:
According to an online grouping of documents, "Bikram Dialog Final 073120061238," there's mention that Bikram requires Certified Teachers and Teacher Trainees, to use the dialog as specified, without deviations. [1]

(See the second page, titled, "Bikram's Yoga College of India," dated September 2002, topic, Dear Bikram Certified Teachers and Teacher Trainees. That page talks about the update of the teacher training programs from 1994-2002 and how to use the dialog).

Another source:
archivemistress on archive.org posted a 31-page photoset of Bikram Yoga dialog [2]

So it appears the script/dialog, is Bikram's proprietary information.

I don't know how much, if any, of Bikram's script/dialog, is based on the (unattributed) teachings of Bishnu Charan Ghosh, and/or Ghosh's book(let).

Sources:

[1] (Author of article) Choudhury, Bikram. (Uploaded by) Kimberly Keller. "Bikram Dialog Final 073120061238." SCRIBD online subscription database. https[colon]//www.scribd.com/doc/46115381/Bikram-Dialog-Final-073120061238 Accessed 18 April 2021.

[2] Yoga College of India. (Uploaded by) archivemistress. "Bikram Dialogue ©️ 1997 Oct 2 2018 7 31 PM." archive.org online archival database. https[colon]//archive.org/details/BikramDialogueC1997Oct22018731PM_201810/mode/2up Accessed 18 April 2021.
 
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I don't know how, or if, Bikram's scripted dialog, compares to Ghosh's booklet and writings, but Bikram's, 26 + 2 poses, are said to be based on Ghosh's booklet and teaching. Apparently Bikram didn't acknowledge or attribute Ghosh's work for the basis of Bikram yoga.
That wouldn't surprise me in the least. This is, after all, the guy who said "Why would I have to harass women? People spend one million dollars for a drop of my sperm".

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bikr...ssault-allegations_n_58139871e4b0390e69d0014a
 

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