And what exactly does “advanced” yoga mean? And what makes someone an “advanced” yoga practitioner, anyway? A May 29 New York Times article attempts to address these potentially off-putting questions. The article states that typically, “advanced” practitioners can hold headstand for several minutes, and “they work on free-standing handstands and attempt deep backbends, forward bends, twists and other arm balances.” The article is wise to point out that “If they’re truly advanced, they don’t radiate smugness as they practice difficult postures.” So true!
The article also points out that as the popularity of yoga increased tremendously over the past few years, the proportion of the yoga-practicing population that could be considered “advanced” decreased. As new students flooded into yoga studios all over the country, the more experienced yogis found themselves outnumbered, and with less “advanced” yoga classes to attend as a result. This phenomenon of “advanced yogis without advanced yoga classes” was significant enough that the NYT decided to write about it.
What do you think? Do you agree with the NYT’s definition of an advanced yoga pracitioner? Have you noticed a lack of advanced class offerings at your studio? Do you think this is a major yoga problem that needs addressing ASAP? Or do you think that the complainers out there should just step into a Mysore-style Ashtanga class and they’ll find all of the challenge that they need? 
