A student of mine recently called and told me that I would be included on a list of the most influential yoga teachers in America. She was hired to work on this list and she's smart and lovely and gets around the yoga scene, taking classes with the best of the best. I was very flattered and surprised to be included among the top 25...but also a tiny bit (not much) conflicted since I don't really believe in "lists" and they are generally reserved for the set of teachers who have found their way to the top tiers of a commodified yoga culture that, in my opinion, values branding and social media presence over (sometimes) quality of teaching. Of course Rodney, Elena, and Shiva would be on the list. They teach to huge crowds (another blog entry on teaching to huge crowds is brewing), endorse products, and have established themselves financially. And lists, of course, are highly subjective -- both consciously and unconsciously influenced by the predilections of the list-makers. In this case the list-makers are the powers that be at Sonima.com who are very keen on Astanga Yoga (not my gig anymore). And, of course, if you look into Sonima you will find an entire narrative having to do with the rifts within the Astanga community but I don't find it that fascinating ... just the usual run of the mill in-fighting and how monetary influence is generally corrupting. But then again, the list included SOME ofthe teachers who have been most influential to me and some of my peers who I love and I feel we have been in the trenches together over the years. And being on the list is good for business (students want to come check you out if you are on a list) and I have a family to support. And....I did feel a tad vindicated, I have to admit. After not being included in these lists of teachers for so many years, I thought it was sort of cool that they included me. I think of myself as an outsider teacher who has been at if for an "insider" amount of time--meaning a very long time...pretty much my whole life. Of course some people complained when the list came out...what about so and so and hey you forgot my teacher so and so. One of my most favorite teachers ever was not included: Kofi Busia?!? But then again, lists are subjective. To check it out click here: THE LIST