Is it okay for a yoga teacher to hug intimately with his students, give them massages, and even massaging thei?
This yoga teacher is my boyfriend and he says he is just helping them. . . men and women alike.
Yoga For Your Health
Yoga:The Essence of Body and Mind
No, it isn’t okay.
What do you think?
If you think it is okay, why are you asking the question?
A masseuse ( or a lover ) may give me a massage, but a yoga instructor? Not for me.
It depends how old he is and how intimate it is. In most people’s opinion, no matter how old he is, that is not appropriate.
I know from experience that some yoga teachers are like this perhaps because it’s just in their nature or they’ve picked it up from teachers they’ve had. Yoga’s supposed to be a spiritual exercise (though today it’s more of just exercise) and it’s about opening up not only your body, but your mind and soul. In our culture, the hugging may seem odd, but it relaxes people and makes them happy so it’s perfectly understandable that he gives them hugs. How “intimate” they are, I’m not sure, but if he treats everyone alike and none of his students are uncomfortable with it, I’d say he really is just helping them. And the giving massages to students while they’re in poses can relax them and help them move deeper into a pose.
Overall I’d say about half of the yoga instructors I’ve met are touchy-feely. It’s nothing sexual or even inappropriate.