The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards (47 page)

142
chronic pain in her right shoulder:
Nora Isaacs, “The Yoga Therapist Will See You Now,”
New York Times
, May 10, 2007, Section G, p. 10.

142
published them so other health professionals:
Loren M. Fishman and Caroline Konnoth, “Role of Headstand in the Management of Rotator Cuff Syndrome,”
American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
, vol. 83, no. 3 (March 2004), p. 228; Loren M. Fishman, Caroline Konnoth, Alena Polesin, “Headstand for Rotator Cuff Tear: Shirshasana or Surgery,”
International Journal of Yoga Therapy
, no. 16 (2006), pp. 39–47; Loren M. Fishman, Allen N. Wilkins, Tova Ovadia, et al., “Yoga-Based Maneuver Effectively Treats Rotator Cuff Syndrome,”
Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation
, vol. 27, no. 2 (2011), pp. 151–61. For a popular review, see Jane E. Brody, “Ancient Moves for Orthopedic Problems,”
New York Times
, August 2, 2011, Section D, p. 7.

143
had written a book:
Loren Fishman and Ellen Saltonstall,
Yoga for Arthritis: The Complete Guide
(New York: Norton, 2008).

144
only rough outlines:
For Fishman’s detailed prescription for treating spinal stenosis, see Fishman and Ardman,
Relief
, pp. 134–46.

144
Fishman came in:
Yoga class with Loren M. Fishman, Manhattan Physical Medicine, April 8, 2008.

144
showed us a simple treatment:
For a more detailed description, see Fishman and Saltonstall,
Yoga for Arthritis
, pp. 244–45.

145
promoting a better quality of life:
Fishman and Small,
Yoga and Multiple Sclerosis
, pp. 2, 112–26.

147
a device worn inside the vagina:
Medical regulators have questioned its safety after reports of injury and death. See Shirley S. Wang, “FDA Panel Takes Second Look,”
Wall Street Journal,
September 8, 2011, Section B, p. 6.

150
regularly uses the phrase:
See, for instance, Carol Krucoff, “Facing Cancer with Courage,”
Yoga Journal
, December 2004, p. 143.

150
“sensitive to individual needs”:
Anonymous, “New Yoga Classes, Beginners to Advanced,”
Record
, Montgomery County Recreation Department, Silver Spring, Maryland, vol. 1, no. 6 (March 2006).

150
“30 years’ experience”:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Yoga-and-the-Wisdom-of-Menopause/Suza-Francina/e/9780757300653
.

151
face no requirements:
Michael H. Cohen, “The Search for Regulatory Recognition of Yoga Therapy: Legal and Policy Issues,”
International Journal of Yoga Therapy
, no. 17 (2007), pp. 43–50.

151
Yoga Alliance:
www.yogaalliance.org
.

151
“A growing number”:
Georg Feuerstein, “Editorial,”
International Journal of Yoga Therapy
, no. 12 (2002), pp. 3–4.

151
used liberally and often interchangeably:
Georg Feuerstein, “Editorial,”
International Journal of Yoga Therapy
, no. 13 (2003), pp. 3–6.

152
Anyone can claim:
For a discussion, see Lynn Somerstein, “Licensing is No Merry-Go-Round,”
International Journal of Yoga Therapy
, no. 18 (2008), pp. 15–16.

152
“provides in-depth training”:
Anonymous, “Yoga Therapist Training,” Namaste Institute for Holistic Studies,
www.namasteinstitute.com/yogathera pist.html.

152
“There is no such thing”:
Email to author, John Kepner, International Association of Yoga Therapists, May 23, 2008.

153
its membership rolls increase:
Isaacs, “The Yoga Therapist.”

154
released a market study:
PR Newswire, “Yoga Journal Releases 2008 ‘Yoga in America’ Market Study,” February 26, 2008,
www.yogajournal.com/ad vertise/press_releases/10.

154
a good life:
A biographical sketch of Payne can be found in Larry Payne and Richard Usatine,
Yoga Rx: A Step-by-Step Program to Promote Health, Wellness, and Healing for Common Ailments
(New York: Broadway Books, 2002), pp. xiii–xiv.

155
Payne was hooked:
Larry Payne, “President’s Message,”
Journal of the International Association of Yoga Therapists
, vol. 2, no. 1 (1991), p. v.

156
Payne found a book:
Email to author, Larry Payne, Samata International, August 13, 2011.

156
federal investigators:
Robert J. Cramer,
Diploma Mills Are Easily Created and Some Have Issued Bogus Degrees to Federal Employees at Government Expense
(Washington: Government Accountability Office, GAO-04 -1096T, September 23, 2004), pp. 3–4.

156
blacklisted its degrees:
Oregon, for instance, ruled the professional use of degrees from Pacific Western as a misdemeanor carrying a punishment of up to six months in prison. See Oregon Student Assistance Commission, Office of Degree Authorization, “Use of unaccredited degrees in Oregon,”
www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.aspx
.

156
when Payne got his doctorate:
Interview, Alan Baker, PWU Services, the official custodian of records for Pacific Western University, March 13, 2008. The Los Angeles school closed its doors in 2005.

156
On his résumé:
Anonymous, “Larry Payne, Ph.D., Biographical Information,” Samata International,
www.samata.com/LarryP-4.php
.

156
“Look within yourself”:
Home page on the Internet of Pacific Western University, August 3, 2002, as archived at web.archive.org/web/*/
http://www.pwu-ca.edu.

156
worked hard in his new job:
Larry Payne, “President’s Message,”
Journal of the
International Association of Yoga Therapists
, vol. 1, nos. 1 and 2 (1990), p. v.

157
“responds to his clients
’
”:
Georg Feuerstein and Larry Payne,
Yoga for Dummies
(Indianapolis: Wiley, 1999), p. 2.

157
“loads your blood”:
Ibid., p. 64.

157
“allows you to take in”:
Ibid., p. 67.

157
“treat your body”:
Ibid., p. 71.

158
“steps up your metabolism”:
Ibid., p. 67.

158
“boost your metabolism”:
Ibid., p. 281.

158
“helps you step up”:
Ibid., p. 331.

158
“the best manager”:
Ibid., p. 67.

158
“keep the rolls”:
Ibid., p. 331.

158
“helps you shed”:
Ibid., p. 344.

159
“Health Maintenance and Restoration”:
Ibid., pp. 87–228.

159
a Samata news release:
Chris Fletcher, “Larry Payne, Ph.D., Selected as First Yoga Teacher to Participate in the World Economic Forum,” Samata Yoga Center, May 2000.

159
a close relationship:
Payne and Usatine,
Yoga Rx
, p. xiv.

160
“on every page”:
Ibid., p. xviii.

160
devoted a long section:
Ibid., pp. 249–63.

160
Weight Management for People:
Larry Payne,
Larry Payne’s Yoga Rx Therapy: Weight Management for People with Curves
, DVD, Newport Media & Samata International, 2005.

160
he helped found:
John Weeks, “Yoga Rx University Yoga Certificate: Yoga Therapy’s Future?”
Yoga Therapy in Practice
, December 2006, pp. 28–29; Anonymous, “Larry Payne Establishes New Yoga Rx Therapy Certification Program at Loyola Marymount University,”
Healthy News Service
, August 17, 2005.

161
Payne told me:
Emails, Larry Payne, Samata International, June 15, 2011, and August 13, 2011.

161
“Yoga is in danger”:
Interview, Loren M. Fishman, Manhattan Physical Medicine, February 7, 2008.

VI: Divine Sex

163
The Complete Illustrated Book:
Vishnudevananda,
The Complete Illustrated Book.

163
One said yoga reduced:
T. Schmidt, A. Wijga, A. Von Zur Mühle, et al., “Changes in Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Hormones During a Comprehensive Residential Three Month Kriya Yoga Training and Vegetarian Nutrition,”
Acta Physiologica Scandinavica, Supplement
, vol. 640 (1997), pp. 158–62.

163
speaking with great candor:
See, for instance, Yogani,
Advanced Yoga Practices: Easy Lessons for Ecstatic Living
(Nashville: AYP Publishing, 2004); and Stuart Sovatsky, “On Being Moved,” in Tami Simon, ed.,
Kundalini Rising: Exploring the Energy of Awakening
(Boulder, CO: Sounds True, 2009), pp. 247–67.

163
called her blinding ecstasies:
Interviews, Jana Dixon, author of
The Biology of Kundalini: Exploring the Fire of Life
(Raleigh, NC: Lulu.com, 2008), July 23 and 24, 2009.

164
“harder, deeper, and further”:
Jacquie Noelle,
Better Sex Through Yoga, Advanced
(Los Angeles: Starlight Home Entertainment, 2003).

164
the world’s most celebrated gurus:
For an overview, see Geoffrey D. Falk,
Stripping the Gurus: Sex, Violence, Abuse and Enlightenment
(Toronto: Million Monkeys Press, 2009).

164
victims who tended to rationalize:
The women have spoken out only occasionally, and often anonymously, but have said enough in public to give a sense of their views. For a glimpse, see the website Leaving Siddha Yoga,
www.leavingsiddhayoga.net
, as well as the Adi Da Archives,
www.adidaar chives.org
. Joan Bridges was one of the first women to speak of her experiences without the shield of anonymity. See her website,
www.shadowofthe guru.com

164
protestors waving placards:
Rex Springston, “Yoga Guru Devotees Rally to His Support,”
Richmond Times-Dispatch
, August 3, 1991, p. 13.

164
the man who impressed scientists:
The swami also had a reputation for philandering. See Katharine Webster, “The Case Against Swami Rama of the Himalayas,”
Yoga Journal
, November–December 1990, p. 58.

164
evaded deposition:
Memorandum, Thomas I. Vanaskie, chief judge, Middle District of Pennsylvania, “Jasmine Patel versus Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy of the USA,” December 9, 1999, p. 12.