Why The Sexy Equinox Yoga Video Pissed Me Off.
You really shouldn’t get involved in Facebook comment fights. It’s a bad idea: your well-thought out opinions, thoughts, and insults are wielded with no stronger weapon than a thumbnail picture of your face on New Year’s Eve.
This time, I just couldn’t help myself. The Equinox Yoga Video has been making its rounds like a tumbleweed in the yoga community’s firestorm, and yeah, it’s got me pretty heated.
And indeed, this blog post means probably even more people will watch the video, thus giving Equinox more free advertising (which, sure, they probably knew what they were doing when they created it), but I think talking about media in a critical way is incredibly important, and much more valuable than pretending it’s not there. If I ever have a teenage daughter, I am going to sit down with her and go through every page of Cosmopolitan with her and discuss the shit out of what it means and what it makes her feel and how close or far its impressions are from reality until that magazine is so boring she will not ever want to read one again. Also I will show her this:
And the Equinox video, which made its way onto my Facebook stream with words like ‘beautiful’ and ‘gorgeous’ attached to it, gave me the same feeling those magazines do now. It’s what I like to call the ‘No’ feeling: your gut twitches, and you know somethin’ ain’t right, even if you can’t quite articulate it yet. Perhaps it was partly the video’s description: “Equinox’s Briohny Smyth shows there’s no limit to what the artfully honed yoga body can do.”
Firstly, I admit, it is beautiful. It’s a beautifully photographed, definitely erotic video with a gorgeous, strong yogini and lovely music that’s very well done. I’m not denying that. But here’s what it made me feel.
Yoga advertising has been trying for a while now to make me feel bad about my body so that I get insecure enough to buy whatever they are selling. This is the number one MO of teen and adult women’s magazines (and men’s magazines for that matter): subtly hit the reader in an insecure place so that they buy more of this magazine and its products. Let’s try some real world translations of cosmopolitan.com‘s website headlines:
“The New Girl Quality Men Can’t Resist” or, “Why You Are Not Like This Girl and Don’t Deserve a Quality Man [unless you buy this STUFF!]“
“This Common Goof Will Tick Off Your Friends” or, “There’s something wrong with you. You don’t know what it is. We do. [You can help by buying this STUFF!]“
“Are you Lying–To Yourself?” or, “You are lying to yourself. You are actually fatter than you could ever imagine. [So you should buy this STUFF!]“
These magazines, mixed with the dangerous brew of early teenage life and all its pressures, created so much anxiety that I became anorexic. At 5’8, I weighed 102 pounds. All my friends thought I was soooo pretty, my mom was desperately trying to get me to eat a piece of toast, and I still thought I was fat.
Then yoga came along. It taught me that I could be strong and beautiful with muscles instead of just bones. It taught me that it didn’t matter what I looked like, as long as I felt good. It taught me that I could be a fighter jet made of biceps, and that was awesome.
I teach yoga because it helped (and continues to help) me overcome my anxiety and depression and empowers me in more ways than I can name, and that‘s what I want to share with people. I tell my students over and over again to close their eyes. Stop looking around–it doesn’t matter what you look like, and it doesn’t matter what the person beside you looks like. It matters how you feel.
And for all we tell our students to turn inwards and not worry about what other people think, we yoga teachers sure do worry about it. We try not to, but in this incredibly competitive community, we feel like we should be the ones with the strongest core, the most amazing practice, the most advanced postures. We feel like we should know everything and be able to do everything so we can pass it onto our students. We need to constantly be reminded that we are still students–on a path of learning, and the only one putting pressure on us to do crazy poses or have a perfect butt is us.
Well, us and this Equinox yoga video.
I think if I wasn’t a yogi or a woman or some combination of things that make me who I am, I’d see just the beauty of the video and move along. But the woman in the video is not only sexy, she is sexualized. This video exemplifies the male gaze: the sense that a woman is being watched, looked on as an object, (in pieces, at that: hip, thigh, butt, feet) from the heterosexual male perspective. Some feminists argue that even when women subject themselves to and desire this gaze, they are towing the line of the norms of a gender-unequal society (this is a big topic: see Laura Mulvey, “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema“). This video pretends intimacy and innocence (just rolled out of bed for a 3.29 minute morning practice? Really?) but is carefully crafted: the lace underwear, the unmade bed, the closeups of hair coming loose and quick breathing, not to mention the butt shots in updog: it all says, subtly but very clearly, SEX. Heterosexual sex that puts the male gaze in a position of priority, and minimizes the female gaze (which some say can’t or doesn’t exist yet). And I’m not even going to touch on the money/class/yoga is only for rich people/peace is only for the superrich reading of this penthouse apartment. There is a difference between an erotic, sexy female body and a sexualized female body, especially when it’s being used to sell something.
Some of those of us made uncomfortable by this video are being accused of a puritanical hate for innocent naked bodies due to our overly sexually repressed culture. I disagree. Not all white Americans hate breasts (anyway, I’m Canadian). I think yoga is sexy. It literally does make your sex life better, and eroticism in our culture is something we could use more of in a respectful way. But here are two problems with sex in yoga culture when presented this way:
1. You don’t need this kind of ‘yoga body’ to be sexy.
And 2. when people see you as an object, they treat you like one, which is why you get sexually assaulted by your boss at the yoga studio and you are told you can never ever tell anyone about it, so you don’t, until 7 women speak up all at once (and I wish it had been me that broke the silence). And yeah, that wasn’t fun.
See, for example, Toesox: I much prefer these ads (not that they don’t have their share of controversy, too). I think they are beautifully photographed, I see a human doing a strong, amazing thing rather than a sexual object doing as she’s told. The ads are unapologetically sexy, if not erotic, they are clear about their intent, and they are kind of funny (Toesox: all you need to wear! get it?). Kathryn Budig is certainly naked, but she’s not being put in an obviously sexual position or in a sexualized gaze, you see her whole face and body, not just a cut of meat, she’s just naked, doin’ her thing. These ads didn’t get my ‘No’ spikes up. (Should they have? Comment me back).
Another example is this video by my friend Meghan Currie.
She is undoubtedly a sexy woman, and the video is erotic in its own way, but the bright coloured boy-cut undies, the cat sleeping and licking itself in the corner, all the stuff on the walls, the intelligent, creative (and symmetrical) sequence all humanize her rather than sexualize her. She may have actually rolled out of bed and filmed herself doing this. She is an awesome yogi and interesting human, not an object to be sold in the marketplace in exchange for insecurity and fear. And even though I wish I could do some of that stuff, her video didn’t make a part of my soul want to die.
The Equinox video turns its gaze on this woman as an object, and defines her as a “perfectly honed yoga body” that can, robot-like, do anything. As a yoga teacher and a woman, I feel that gaze turning its head, Exorcist-like, on me–This Yoga Body is valued for its butt cheeks and MOST incredible yoga poses (dance, monkey dance!). She is not valued here for her teaching, her passions, or anything about her mind at all. I don’t want my students looking at this and thinking of me. In any way.
I struggled for 6 years in academia to be taken seriously as a woman. My friends assumed professors wanted to work with me was because of what I looked like. I was harshly critiqued in my essays and presentations, assumed stupid until proven otherwise. I decided on a gender-neutral academic name (JC) so as to avoid assumptions when I was submitting papers. (And people still assume–I still get an email now and then about my published papers titled Dear Mr. Peters)
Now I am a spoken word poet, which is a competitive ‘sport’ where you are judged on your performance as well as your words, and it’s even worse when people can see me while I’m speaking. I’ve learned to cover up a lot and wear the most boring thing in my closet when I perform so people can hear the words rather than look at my body. I’ve heard (female) poets criticizing me for ‘using’ my sexuality to get scores at the slam, and several (male and female) people thinking they were complimenting me for saying, “Of course you won, you were probably the best looking person there.” These are all ways in which I have felt that my first and most important value in this world is how sexy I am, and that it’s not a given that I also have a brain. Actually, I (of course) wrote a poem about that:
I think it’s awesome and impressive that some “liberated women” have zero problem with this sexualization, and miraculously don’t have histories of being objectified as women. And maybe it’s just me and my own personal triggers that saw a little past the beauty of this video and into some serious ugliness. I can’t get away from the fact that this is happening, and that people that are going to call me sexually repressed for my negative reactions. But I am more than a body: I have words, and words are my best weapon.
In my opinion, it’s still, and always, worth fighting for the right to be seen as a human, and not an object.
Incorrect source, offensive, or found a typo? Or do you want to write for Elephant?
I thought her practice was very powerful, graceful, and gorgeous—- however, I could have totally done without the butt shots (I mean come on!! Was it really necessary!!!)… and the guy laying asleep in bed??? hmmm… yeah- there was a bit of a sexual conitotion there, that's for sure. Make the same video of her, without the butt shots, without the guy, without the messy bed, and have her put on some clothes— well- you still have a very athletic, fit (obviously you have to be to do what she is doing), powerful and amazing women/ yogi. I could not agree with you more, and I think you are Very correct in your opinions of your article. Hey- sex sells… that's advertising 101.
I loved the passion in your poetry, the fuel of your wounds and healing. Beautiful writer you are! "…because the body has a rhythm and that rhythm is poetry…because sex has a rhythm and poetry's in my body…"
The fact that we don't see this video as selling sex is a brilliant example of how shrouded in maya our culture still is.
Thank you JC.
This sort of reminds me of a video I saw a long time ago at Borders (see also: Anachronistic Things, "Borders", "video") for "Nude Yoga." Ever since I have wondered what the deal with it was. Was it just titillating? (Look the teacher is naked!) Or was the instructor fully clothed and doing a regular yoga video, but just every once in a while saying, "Go into downward dog, while remaining naked…"
Thank you for speaking your truth JC. I had the same internal response to the video that you did.
I cant do this. (insert equinox yoga video here please)
I have pretty serious back pain, still. (degenerative discs) I shake in poses. (insert poor out of shape excuse here) My hips are tighter than the jaws of life. Sanskrit is not my second language. I have not practiced for longer than 20 months. I am a newly certified 200 hour RYT, almost. I am the worst yoga teacher ever. And I am ready to make this my living. Close your mouth and hear me out. IF you read my posts, I hope you get laughs. But really you might see my journey through this awesome thing. Or my awesome journey through this thing called yoga. Maybe like you, I have been noticing a lot of speculation, criticism of teachers, and its pretty controversial. It’s yoga teachers fault that people get hurt in yoga right? Or the commercialization of yoga? Or your own ego? D. All of the above. No one gets off, trust me.
Like the video above? Chyea, who doesn’t? A beautiful practice. Do I want to do that? Yes and in this lifetime would be nice. But I cannot push or fight to get there. I learned that lesson the hard way. Ex-athlete+competititve+inflexible =OWW (and other cuss words) But trust me, that is not what I get out of yoga. There is so freaking much more.
The Bhagavad Gita illuminates the practice of meditation as defining as to what is a true yogi: one free of attachment thus attained the goal of meditation. “For Yogi literally means “one who is accomplished in yoga,” and yoga means integration of spirit. In this sense, yoga means wholeness or the process of becoming whole at the deepest spiritual level.” How inspiring that is to me? Very. I have physical limitations that may, nay, will take years of dedication and therapy to change. But I desire to be a great teacher today. A dilemma indeed. I must separate the lack of my flashy yoga tricks and figure out a way to show students how to be a yogi. If I stay true to what yoga provides me, that’s all I can do to be a true yogi. That is why I want to teach. The mental training of yoga. The connection of mind to body and inspiring of each other. The connection to others via spirituality within self through body awareness and breath.
The physical will come. I can study and memorize Sanskrit. I might be able to heal my back. But I will never watch a video like the one above and think peace of mind comes from anything other than finding MY place in yoga, whether that be anywhere from child’s pose or one-legged crow. And yes I can teach both, demo-ing or not.
I am working to find peace in being where I am not where I will be. Because, as yoga teachers say, there is always somewhere to go. The summit is non-existent but the journey is now. Reveling in the riches of each day is something I strive for whether it be yoga or giving love. There are no accolades once we leave.
Or maybe I should give up yoga?
F^&* it. I am the worst yoga teacher ever. See you in class!
You sound like you will be a great yoga teacher. Namaste.
Just don't pull me up in an inversion I still won't be ready for, and you sound like you might be the best yoga teacher in the world to me …
Ben love reading your articles. I’m just wondering if you can elaborate on what you mean by “even when things go wrong there is always a reason”. I used to think things happened for a reason but now I think that sometimes things just happen that can’t really be explained but how we choose to respond to them is what matters. As an example, a dear friend of mine just lost her baby 5 months into pregnancy. Medicine can explain it. A common virus most of us have had but she had never had was basically eating the baby. I don’t believe this was meant to happen as a spiritual lesson, it just happened. But I am watching her grieve and I can see how she is responding with love pouring through her tears that is opening her heart even more. I feel sometimes we need to find a reason for why things happen so the world makes sense so we don’t go crazy. But sometimes, things just happen.
Well, I really enjoyed watching it. She's so strong and fluid and beautiful. I don't care what she's wearing. It was beautiful and mesmerizing even though the set up is pretty silly and her asana sequence didn't make a whole lot of sense to me either. It's an ad. Don't get so worked up over it. 25 years ago I was a women's studies major in college and I probably would have been appalled by the ad as well. Now I'm middle aged and I sit and practice some yoga and just don't worry about that other stuff so much. I will encourage my young daughter – and my sons! – to focus inward and not worry so much about all that stuff out there as well, because I wish I had figured out what is important much earlier in my life.
My 2 cents as a heterosexual guy — I (and most guys) watch so much porn, all of which is so far beyond this video, that I got no rise out of it. When I want sex, I'll get it in the purest form I can find, and this isn't it.
Furthermore, as far as how this sets the standard for other women: It doesn't, at least for me. You know what I think when I see an overweight man or woman jogging and sweating in the hot July sun? 100% respect. At least her head is pointing in the right direction, and that makes all the difference.
What do I feel when I see this video? I'm impressed by her fitness, no doubt. But it appeals to the part of my mind that appreciated mechanics and math.
Ladies, relax. We love you just the way you are. Do the best you can with what you've got, and your beautiful souls will come shining through.
[...] THEN…I read THIS article written by one of my personal heroes and fellow Elephant contributor Julie JC [...]
yaaaaaawwwwwn….
You post on this really upsets me actually. I saw the video once and was astounded and in awe at how beautiful it was. While trying to find it again I came across all of the "controversy" surrounding it. Honestly, I am just sick and tired of everyone blaming the media and public perception for negative body image. Yes, it obviously has an impact on it, but if you are that easily influenced by materialistic, superficial, exterior forces then you have much larger issues going on. I agree that "skinny supermodels" can prey on those inferiority complexes and cause greater problems, but something like this video was totally different to me. Even if they meant for it to be sex dripped and laced with body image issues, all I saw was an amazing female body doing poses I strive to do. I saw a strong, empowered woman who is in control and wakes up in the morning, leaves her bed, and starts her practice to be at peace with herself, taking a moment to herself before the day begins. It inspires me every time I watch it to keep working on my balance and to wake up earlier than my boyfriend to meditate in the silence and beauty of my own body. I respect your, and anyone else's opinion, I just wanted to put in my 2 cents that I too am a women and I did not take it as offensive or degrading. If you try to find the negativity in everything, you will.
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I am really surprised you were offended by this truly retarded yoga ad, and yet not by the illicit toesox pic. If her hand were out of the way you could not only see her blinding vajazzle, you could actually probably see into her lips and her actual female prostate.
As a nude performance artist, I delight in making grand public displays of nudity, but not at a profit, only for the personal and collective pleasure and offenses of being publicly nude… and I don't try to hide my bits, or revel in the artifice that it is for "my practice" … or for my art. It is for turning people on, shocking people, offending people, waking people up and waking myself up! Also for promoting body positivity, which I believe this video does not – it just makes you want to judge your own "practice" against hers.
I put "practice" in quotations because often people who drop the words "my practice" are some of the most self-judgmental.
Despite being the most advanced technology on the planet, the human beings still drive on hormones and their lizard brain, and if someone needs to figure out what authenticity is in their own life, they will have to do it through karma like everyone else. The slow and Saturnian painful way.
If people were not so sexually repressed then it wouldn't even be a big deal… because I see the undercurrent of this video as, I wake up out of bed, do my 3 minute practice, and then will come back to bed and f*uck you.
If you are subject to the mind control of both of these ads, then you and these companies can be conspirators in that kind of reality. In the kindtime we have the delight of mucking about in the utter stupefaction of the dark ages we are still living in, as evidenced, in my opinion by not the ridiculous ads themselves, but that their creators have to stoop to nudity voyeurism and sexuality not for the joy of expressing them, but to themselves know and communicate to others that their products and services have value.
What yoga ad have you seen lately that is like "We are the studio with the most integrity in the area. We pay our teachers fairly, we use eco products, and we love all our students equally and are so proud of everyone!"??? Show me because all I have seen is a bunch of bitches who think they are hot with their leg over their head…
<3
"…we have the delight of mucking about in the utter stupefaction of the dark ages we are still living in, as evidenced, in my opinion by not the ridiculous ads themselves, but that their creators have to stoop to nudity voyeurism and sexuality not for the joy of expressing them, but to themselves know and communicate to others that their products and services have value.
"What yoga ad have you seen lately that is like "We are the studio with the most integrity in the area. We pay our teachers fairly, we use eco products, and we love all our students equally and are so proud of everyone!"??? Show me because all I have seen is a bunch of bitches who think they are hot with their leg over their head…
<3"
Sadly, you are right. It's because of studio attitude that women may flock to a gym to take yoga, but still most likely, despite this ad, not because of it. There has to be an earthy sultriness about the woman, a groundedness, for many women to identify with this level of implied sexuality as portrayed.
Very sad.
This video borders on yoga porn in my view and I invite your critique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNhX_kvN1VY
After reading how you couldn't seem to get through life without being regarded as a sex object first, by employers, colleagues, and friends, I assumed you must be extraordinarily stunning. Seriously, JC, you're just not that hot (physically). I did enjoy the poetry, though!
[...] Equinox video has certainly created a lot of hubbub. All the men I polled said, “what’s the big [...]
julie yes yes. but re: Budig, she is inspiring but..taking off your clothes does not empower women
The video was a viral/social media marketing slam dunk by Equinox and you all fell right into the trap. Stop overanalyzing it.
You are right about that. It remains to be seen if Town Sports International and 24 Hour Fitness follow suit with this despicable formula …
Glad I do not have time for a gym …
I honestly think this got looked into way too much.. Is the camera checking her out? or is it simply showing the beauty of certain muscle groups during the practice of what seems to be a calming, peaceful and internal experience. I think this shows the naturalistic version of a woman who has the strength and internal peacefulness (at this moment at least) without the so called “appropriate amount of body fat”, or the “perfectly toned six pack”.
I find it interesting how some people have described the guy in the background as "her recent lay" when it could just as well be her partner sleeping while we catch a glimpse of her own personal time. Are routines like yoga not experienced the most intensely in the morning? Yoga is supposed to be an internal thing and not to be done for the outward appearance. The fact that anyone would buy a gym membership in terms of what we traditionally think as the purpose of a gym, that is to get in shape for the benefit of others perceptions, I find somewhat ridiculous and backwards. This type of thinking really goes to show that the popularization of yoga has really destroyed the original intention of the practice. Feeling healthy is a personal thing not something to be shared, judged, or experienced by anyone else other then ourselves. That is the purpose of an internal practice like yoga, but yoga is not the only internal practice, just the most popularized one.
I think this video shows a healthy happy woman enjoying her practice in the early morning before the world around her has started. She has caught a moment of peace and isolation and is practicing with a smile on her face. Instead of feeling like we are creeping in and looking inappropriately I find myself feeling privileged to be able to share this moment of incredible beauty, strength and skill with someone that I will never know. Yes. She is wearing lingerie. Is this really different then spandex and a sports bra? Have we not grown up from our young and shy years? I don’t think it is the video that is the problem I think it’s what we are pulling out of the video. Look beyond what you want the video to say and try and see what she is trying to say.
[...] testimonials of yoga experiences, while almost sidetracked by the sexy Equinox yoga video and its hailstorm, and closely succumbing to the Cirque du Soleil-ish “Yoga Lady Breaks Both Arms” [...]
leave it to women to be the harshest critics of other women. if you own your sexuality, you cannot be sexualized. to continually view all ads/pix/media that show a woman in all of her sensuality is to reinforce the belief that a woman can not only NOT OWN her sexuality but that should she she will be ostracized, alienated, criticized, and condemned as doing OTHER WOMEN wrong. really? hats off to brihony for celebrating her strength and grace – particularly after body issues so serious she had to seek treatment – and to equinox for doing a superbly beautiful job in capturing her celebration. my favorite thing about her equinox ad was reading in her response to critics how giving birth to her daughter helped heal her. it is sad to me – particularly as a mother of a daughter – that we women of the 21st century still fear ourselves and the power in our feminine form(s).
Women have to be able take back the streets at night and not fear violence from men before you could fully lay claim to all that. A women without protection from a man is treated both as a joke and as fair game.
“Why the sexy Equinox video was such an insignifacant part of my day that I am amazed we are still talking about it.”. My boyfriend showed me this video(not because he thought the woman was sexy…although let’s give credit where it’s due people, that is a beautiful body), but because he knew I would be impressed by her strength. As a yoga teacher, ex gymnast and dancer I was( i also thought “man it would be nice to have that much space to practice at home”) and then I moved on with my day and quickly forgot about it.
I teach yoga(mostly therapeutic asanas, pranayama and meditation) and I respect the need to explain that yoga is not just a physical practice to the world, but I also find it aggravating when yoga purists(if there is such a thing, because ladies you would have never had the option of studying yoga scriptures in ancient India….should we now right an article about how yoga is sexist in nature?) feel the compulsion to push their own definition of what the practice is on the rest of humanity. Her wardrobe doesn’t bother me(at least it’s not lululemon) nor do the camera angles. In art school I always found Mulvey to be a little boring and nagging….but then again I was also the skinny girl taking nude self portraits because I knew it aggravated all of the non skinny girls taking awkward nude self portraits as an act of expressing their distaste for sexuality in the media. If you get to be naked why can’t I be? We all have a right to express ourselves, however we choose, and it seems the lovely lady in this video is quite content with her choice so can we move on now?
If you don’t want your daughter to see it, don’t show it to her, but please don’t imbed the idea that beautiful women shouldn’t be allowed to use their assets. All I really got from this article is how the writer struggles with everyone thinking she is too sexy to be intelligent(woe is me), but as someone who considers themselves both without shame, I say either learn to deal with it or choose a different audience. Anyone accusing you of only winning because the judges thought you were pretty was either jealous, immature or bored by your poetry…whatever the case there are enough other people in the world that their opinion shouldn’t matter. Men and women both have assumed on many occasions that my brain doesn’t exist because of my appearance, and I giggle a little every time someone tries to explain life to me as if I were two. It is usually women, though, not men…and you know what? I just don’t care. I am blessed and if dealing with a few cat calls and bitchy feminists is the price I have to pay then so be it. Life is too beautiful to obsess over silly criticisms.
[...] Why The Sexy Equinox Yoga Video Pissed Me Off. [...]
Perception. One perceives something through a filter of personal resonance. To see this video as merely sexual or based on sexuality is really limiting the scope of reality. Every point mentioned as a negative stance on what yoga is to some or as a stereo type, just shows a limitation on your practice and awareness. What you see is mirrored within yourself. Judgement is not the path of a yogi. In the video I see strength. I see poise, and grace. I see focus, and determination. I see beauty and I see confidence. What I am peeking in on is the motivation of someone doing a self driven practice, while seeing the luxury of their partner is still sleeping peacefully in bed. When something outside of yourself pisses you off, it is time to look within yourself to resolve it.
Excellent!
Hmmm, I must have a screw loose or I wear completely different lenses than the people who saw this as a "sexualized" video. When I first viewed it, I didnt even notice there was someone in the bed. I also was too enthralled with the body as a beautifully fine tuned example of a balanced, graceful body…strong, flexible, impressive. I was surprised that I didn even notice she was wearing panties til I started noticing the comments from so many bitter-sounding people
And I love panties! I’m a girl, I love frilly and feminine things.
I looked again after I began seeing all the bashing comments and still, they looked like some of the bottoms I've seen worn at dance rehearsals and iin dance classes, and I see shorts that small on MEN and WOMEN n "hot" yoga classes.
continued…
I became sadden when I kept seeing so many negative comments. I had watched this video as a beautiful work of art…the body, to me is one of the most beautiful art OBJECTS. I have no objection to objectification in a respectful manner. I saw no disrespect. Perhaps it is because I was looking at it with the eyes of an artist. As a former professional dancer who continues to be inspired by the next generation's ability, beauty, discipline and craft, I only saw mastery, grace, and beauty.
As a fitness professional who is passionate about helping my clients embrace a healthy life style and body image, I am obsessesed with observing the body in movement, in stillness, and in all shapes, sizes, and abilities…
Hmmm, I guess I just have a different idea of what is objectification…If some of the people who think the director of the video is objectifying her, they would hate to think of how I "viewed" the shirtless rock climbers I belayed on many of my climbing expeditions, or the kayakers in full dry suits and PFDs on many of my kayaking expeditions…mmm, some of these athletes, fully clothes would cringe if they only knew how I looked at them….
This debate reminds me of a quote…
We do not see things they are. We see them as we are. – The Talmud
I also saw the video as a tasteful, powerful, and riveting expression of beauty. I also missed the “panties” and “lover in the bed”. I was awestruck by the strength and grace of the yogini. Now after reading her story and learning more about this debate, I believe this quote to be very relevant. Blessings.
[...] Peters writes on the Elephant Journal: I think if I wasn’t a yogi or a woman or some combination of things that make me who I am, I’d [...]
[...] Why The Sexy Equinox Video Pissed Me Off [...]
[...] I actually had the opportunity to have a personal conversation with the lady who wrote the article Why the Sexy Equinox Video Pissed Me Off. It’s interesting, she actually reached out to me making sure I didn’t take things [...]
what is the big deal, honestly people, get a life!
Julie as a woman, I was not turned off by the Equinox video but I just want to say that is post is just brilliant! The choice of these videos is extremely enlightening. I am inspired by your bravery in putting yourself out there in this way. You have made yourself vulnerable by exposing your tenderness and your anger. You are my heroe. How anyone could criticize this beautiful, brilliant post and call themselves a yogi is beyond belief.
I just loved the videos you shared and you have opened my mind and my heart. Self Promotion? Give me a GD break!
Sexism is very much alive and well in America today. If you've never been a girl, you have no right to criticize this post! And yes the Equinox video was sexualizing yoga and shot through the eyes of a heterosexual male. You'd have to be blind and stupid not to see that.
The photoshopped video is brilliant – -thanks for this post. I want to give you an award!
[...] Why The Sexy Equinox Video Pissed Me Off [...]
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[...] First is the idea that women are taught to be very body aware and to be in strict control of the performance (including size) of the body. Second is that, in most cultures, mothers are also taught that their role should include little to [...]
Truly good site thank you so much for your time in publishing the posts for all of us to learn about.
[...] given that the pose part of it is a lot easier to advertise (hot women doing lunges is more sexy than middle aged ladies meditating), and that many people come to yoga through gyms or other [...]
[...] ad campaigns shot by Terry Richardson and their “sexy” yoga video that pissed off yogis the world over, we thought Equinox had a monopoly on tacky, sexist gym ads. But it appears that [...]
This video slams Yoga indeed as a spiritual practice and all that emcompasses. It leads anyone watching that yoga is postures and to some degree doing perfectly. This, however, should be clarified with as promoting yoga posture practice and sex as the medium…sex as we all well know sells and women as we all well know have been the object of such for forever.
When people write about longing for the day when we will be free to love our bodies..that day will never come. WE each on an individual basis need to be that change…otherwise you will be waiting a long, long time.
I appreciate this response a lot…..we need people to voice their opinions such as this in order for others to look, think and question. Often with so many images we fail to see anything important or real…So in my opinion this artilce offers that….
[...] or given grief for only wearing underwear with Equinox Fitness’ provocative viral yoga video, “The Contortionist,” people are talking about [...]
It is what it is. You have your opinion and I have mine. Sex sells, it always has and it always will. Aside from the fact that Briohny has a slam min bod, her technique is flawless. Equinox uses models with excellent technique and physical features to advertise. There is nothing wrong with that, unless you would like to start your own campaign using overweight models with the purpose to tell the masses that it is ok to be yourself. Just this morning I had a yoga flow class with a gorgeous man named Whit, I am a straight male but recognize his features. His focus on the week was to get us to radically realize that our bodies are the way they are. And that we shouldn't expect ourselves to be any other way than what we are today. Tomorrow leaves room for improvement but today we are they way we are. I don't doubt that an ad campaign using non athletic models would put an interesting spin on yoga, being as the majority of us don't have perfect bodies….
As a beautiful woman with a beautiful body that has heard this kind of criticism my whole life – I have to ask you to please back off. The genetically blessed are just as criticized and hampered by insecurities as the not so genetically blessed. Your jealousy thinly disguised as concern is not making the world a better place Keep your own heart clean, and understand that what is right for you may not be right for some one else.
i was simply in awe
[...] or given grief for only wearing underwear with Equinox Fitness’ provocative viral yoga video, “The Contortionist,” people are talking about [...]
[...] [...]
Its great there is a discussion..to some this vid is great/crap but its no big deal so they move… to others it gives rise to an issue and talking about it constructively allows feminist approaches to be more diverse robust and articulate….this is good for all of us.
However I really firmly think you are limiting this women in the video…not by criticising as fair play a discussion is good…but because she is beautiful and it seems she knows it and enjoys it and this somehow damages other women?.
The lady choose sexy underwear so it goes into porn territory but she is not an object. .i really fail to see the objectification. There is no denying she is strong fit and confident and you cant define a wtong type of strong fit or confident otherwise women continue to be passified and constrained. I reckon this lady is just one of those naturally beautifully women luckily or unluckily for her she is going with it. The other videos she has made show a loving respectful relationship being built from yoga. It looks real and so we should be allowed to see it without fear of emotional harm. Dont know her name otherwise I would stop saying ‘she’.
[...] focus on the physical aspects of the practice, mainstream yoga has become a commodified and often hypersexualized fitness regimen, rather than a complex, life-long spiritual practice. Focusing simply on asana [...]
[...] often a prototype for the whole of his other modes of reaction in life.” If you look around, sexual energy is an undercurrent in mostly everything in the modern day world—suggestive advertisements, pornography, movies, most of the songs that you hear on the radio, day [...]
This has sparked a lot of debate, good work! I found your article on a friend's Facebook page and had to look into it because she too, was 'pissed off' by this yoga video and I wanted to try and understand why.
Personally, I find it really beautiful and inspiring. Does it trigger some insecurity for me too? Or jealousy? Sure, Yes, of course. Still I find its within me to work on that since I can't control things outside of me. No one forced this woman to dress in underwear and perform yoga postures in front of a camera and for it to be shared with thousands-millions of people. She chose to do so of her own free will.
Since I DO see her as a whole person and not just a sexual object, despite how sexy the film may be, and I wanted to know more about the woman. Her name (which you never mention in your article she is referred to by you only as a "sexy woman") her NAME, is Briohny Smyth. http://briohnysmyth.com/
If you had taken the time before writing the article to learn more about that her, you'd know that she too, just like you, has struggled with an eating disorder, she struggled with Anorexia and Bulimia. I find that very, very interesting, that you happen to write this article about her without knowing exactly who she is.
She is best known for her love for Inversions and Arm balances. She is also a Mother, she gave birth to her daughter in 2004. She and her husband travel together teaching yoga and there are other videos in which she does speak, and offers her skills as a teacher. I just watched one and it was very interesting. Those postures and skills didn't just happen, they take years to develop. That in an of itself demonstrates humanity because it proves that she endured a struggle and suffering to achieve what she has achieved in her practice. It means she most definitely fell down and hurt herself on more than a few occasions, and didn't let it stop her. That's always what it means when you see someone like that who is a master of their art, people don't become masters overnight, it happens only through many long years of struggle.
I highly recommend looking further into this powerful yogi, Briohny Smyth http://briohnysmyth.com/
My name is Leah, aka the Bodybalancer on twitter as @dbodybalancer
and on Zaarly.com/bodybalancer
PS- Here is another video in the same style, which features her voice and great skills as a teacher. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embed…!
you sound like a real pussy
The yogi in the vid is strong, athletic and hot but not erotic at all. A much better combo than the seemingly uptight, retentive prude who wrote this. Chill out. By the way, the toesock yogi rocks too.
I couldn't agree with you more, on all counts, Tobye.
Re: "The last thing any of us want (I hope) is men getting interested in Yoga so they can check out all the sexy women. And the equinox video promotes that"
I had come from taking yoga classes in completely different envir…outside; on sand; on grass; in a dance studio…no mats, no silly grippy socks…just bodies, breath, and intention led by wonderful people…
The moment I began taking commercialized yoga classes in the early 90s I became aware of what we called "The Yoga-Preditor-Guy" You know, the lurker who just stares at girls in class. They've existed before the Equinox video and they will continue to be around creeping people out…I doubt the video will have much impact on the creeps…yoga is not easy, and would be a lot harder on someone too distracted by having to stay focused on objectifying people in class.
There is a man sleeping in the bed.. and? We could draw a million conclusions. He could be her long-time partner or husband, simply sleeping in while she does her morning yoga practice. He could be a one-night-stand, though I doubt she'd be doing her morning yoga routine if that was the case. Or he could simply be her best-friend-with-benefits. We can all guess, but none of us know. It's all subject to our own interpretations, which come from our experiences and judgments. I personally saw it as her boyfriend/partner simply sleeping in while she practices. I saw it as nothing more, nothing less. But my point is that everyone will see it through a different lens, and we are ALL projecting something, something within us, something without of us, or something societal. But it's all a projection.
Well it's my honest view, not much else I can say. You have your view, which I respect. If you want to read my full opinion, I'm the one who wrote this article: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/01/the-equino…
Yes, it is slyly intellectually dishonest to say it is YOUR projection only …
Your comment starts a good debate; "Who is or, what is *A real man*?" Certainly not someone who calls strangers insulting names under the cover of a pseudonym.
pseu·do·nym [sood-n-im]
noun
a fictitious name used by an author to conceal his or her identity; pen name.
@Fran, more pratyahara is in order … watching this video too many times screwed with my OWN practice of yoga (and I am referring only to asana) … it's like watching the Olympics on a wide screen tv and then catching a glimpse of your old, slightly pudgy self in the mirror …
At the very least, I miss the soundtrack of audible and intense ujjayi breathing I get with other, more plausible (because unedited) videos of advanced yogis in actual, mindful practice …
so does that mean that we can never critically analyze the world around us? when does cultivating inner peace mean becoming a silent bystander to things in our culture that are a problem?
right on Jennifer
Great point. It was one of my gay male yoga teachers who first posted about this video. He was appalled by it, which is what got me to wondering… as I only saw beauty. Very interesting perspectives that you point out.
I can't really see why, when that hyper-slender body style is very reminiscent of young boys … maybe he felt competitive with her rather than supportive of her …?
Thanks Man
So articulate. Exactly what I felt in watching the video and in how I wanted to respond. Thank you for the thoughtful, accountable rebuttal (so glad that you used quotes from sources actually involved with production, etc.).
Totally right, "
what you think is what you see"
either way its selling sex! why did they decide to show a demonstrational video with a man in the bed in back of her and her in lingerie?? and projecting??? read about that a little!
read your article, not offended that Janet jackson showed her tit while millions of people and young children watched, I mean half those 2 year olds, just got off the tit, right??? So I guess that was a projection on me, hey??? But that wasn't art either, thats called a stunt!!! I went to art school, I have worked in an art gallery, I have had loads of classes in art, art history, media and I will tell you right now that video is never going to be showed in an art anything because its advertising! Know about the world your talking about before you write about it! and I hope Equinox is paying you because you deserve it!
I would also like to say, I have no anger about this video, I could care less, I see advertising a million times a day, they say most people that live in urban areas see advertising every 10 seconds averaged, I am commenting about the differences of art and advertising and that I know a lot about! Not to mention I watch demonstrational videos on yoga technique all the time, and that is exactly what they are.
I have no affiliation with Equinox whatsoever. I was simply exploring a cultural angle that I thought was interesting and asking a question to open a dialogue. No reason to get disrespectful or hateful. I said very clearly in my piece that I respect the views of those who disliked the video. There are loads of different interpretations and I respect all of them. Art is subjective. There is no right and wrong here. I respect your view as well as JC's. I would expect the same respect in return.- Jeannie Page
I wasn't once disrespectful or hateful towards you however, towards me your telling me I am seeing something in myself in that video that is an illusion. thats what projection is!!! so now that you know, disrespectful?? its up to u. Peace, God Bless (and yeah I got angry when you said what I said was a projection, anger is very different than hateful and disrespectful.) (I dont like to be told things are psychological thats called shaming someone) but your right if I was buddha or mother teresa I wouldnt get angry, but I have never claimed to it, but practice and all is coming. hateful and disrespectful, no! I once heard a yoga philosophy teacher tell a student that asked if she could please open the door (because he was hot) say, "what you can't detach from the heat". He was just taking care of himself, what you said remind me of that! Obviously none of the student in her class went back, but maybe you act different in you classes. Its called shaming! Anyway, I have nooo hate towards you at all!
The claim you were not being disrespectful is dishonest. Here are your words exactly:
Know about the world your talking about before you write about it! and I hope Equinox is paying you because you deserve it!
On what planet would this personal attack, an attack on a person you do not know, not be disrespectful? This is called an ad hominem attack.
As a woman, I agree 100% with your analysis. I believe this video is very much directed at women, is not sexualized, and does point to a more internal, self-directed kind of ambition to relate to the body as an adept. It is also marketing fluff and sets unrealistic standards, but no more so than the vast majority of other ads.
Wow! I didn't even get the odalisque angle until I read your comment … turning that paradigm on its head by attributing it to America's ultra- thin ideal … no woman, not even one of small size, is immune from that trope — unconstrained sexuality .. uncontainable woman… too much woman for one man, etc. . Who knew?
Wow. To be honest, this has to be the most racist, patronizing, offensive comment I've ever read.
Exactly!
They are not able to market successfully to many women – even young, attractive ones with a kick-asana practice – with an ad like this … it flies in the face of conventional wisdom on how to market to women!
Great point about the apparent hostility toward small and fit women.
This is pretty ridiculous. The author clearly wasn't talking about "small" women being the problem. (And I suppose I'd be one of those small women to add to the point.) Your implication that only women who are of a certain weight are "fit" or 'pass on the fast food' is downright naive. As a yoga teacher, I see regularly, people of many sizes and backgrounds, several of whom are extremely active and healthy, yet are a bit stockier in size. This is just genetics and anatomical make-up and that only skinny people are healthy is ridiculous and totally off point of the article, which was articulate, thoughtful and smart.
And on a side note to Mike G, this sequence is most certainly yoga (definitely not gymnastics!) proven in that each pose can be described in Sanskrit!
Oh, really!
But that's a whole other argument:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5liKz1X-Tw&fe…
Brilliant, Fatima! I wish EJ would publish your comments as a feature! so they could be upfront for all. Btw, you are right, Bri does have a wonderful story and is a dedicated, thoughtful, creative, and gentle teacher. Knowing her as the one who watches out for the safety and challenges of every student, from those with rheumatoid arthritis to the novice to those of la tercera edad, it was easy for me to see the person and hard to see her as a "model." I didn't think the editing made it look easy, I saw effort and concentration and dedication. MY second take, knowing she is a mother and keeps a very full schedule, was to hope she got to stay in that hotel room! I loved the urban fantasy, much less cliche than those typical shots of teachers posing on the rocks overlooking the ocean. I loved the fantasy of a woman taking time to do yoga for herself, alone, without a mirror , self-guided, tho of course it's also wonderful to experience the breath of many and the artful guidance of a teacher like Bri.
Wonderful reply!
Thoughtful, articulate, and respectful.
love this!