Starting from humble beginnings in the eighties, as a youth hostel converted to a Yoga Centre, Lendrick Lodge has now grown into an internationally respected centre exploring both the inner and outer Yogic practices. The naked truth under the Yoga tartan here at Lendrick Lodge is our sincere desire for our visitors to discover that Yoga is a path to spiritual awakening and love. What drives our continued exploration of the practice, and our expanding circle of teachers and practitioners who visit the centre is a profound respect for what is at the centre of this practice: that is, experiencing the true nature of being alive in connection and harmony with all of Creation.
I do not practice Yoga in my kilt, but be it authentic dress or authentic practice, the spiritual roots of tradition is what has always inspired and intrigued me. But after three and a half years of managing and nurturing Scotland’s only residential Yoga centre one starts to discover trends. Some of these trends have been distressing for someone who, when beginning the path of Yoga, had expected to find as much flexibility of spirit in the Yoga community as flexibility of body.
Over the last few years the centre has had to hone its focus to bring in teachers whose desire is more in alignment with ours. Many Yoga teachers seem to have wandered off the path (some of them scrambling as fast as they can directly to the bank). They have begun to think of this ancient practice, not as a journey of the soul, but rather as a means to bring the 21st Century desire for quick results to their students. As a novice manager of a Yoga centre I’ve had to deal with everything from sexual indiscretions to power and money hungry teachers.
The cultural changes of globalisation, downsizing and hyper speed have taken their toll on the world of Yoga. As Yoga has grown in popularity around the planet we have seen that the essence is threatened by the modern emphasis. The trend is now towards constant focus on maximum results from the minimum effort. The results are unfortunately obvious: loss of essence.
In a society where one can become a Master in a weekend and buy a degree and qualifications on the Internet, there is a dire need to re-find the roots of ancient practices. I believe the present trends of haste will in time lose their allure. We hear the complaints of students who have bought into the hype and have come away disappointed with little more than an over-priced DVD. People deserve more, people deserve the love that is the foundation of Yoga.
As two spiritual teachers in our mid-thirties, my wife and I have had a stretching initiation into this ancient path which is findings its place in the ‘new age’. What drove us to this adventure of owning our own centre was our profound love for Yoga and other techniques to enhance spiritual connection. The really funny thing about thinking back to our transition of moving into Lendrick Lodge was my fantasy of all the extra Yoga classes I could experience a week. I must now emphasise, for anyone who does not own their own business and has similar thoughts about ‘hosting’ their favourite classes so they could participate more, this is a FANTASY. In reality, both Vicky and I have found that we participated in more actual classes when we did not live in a Yoga centre. But, although we have less ‘free’ time to participate in our beloved Yoga, our hearts have grown from the experience of hosting the Yoga retreats and participating when we can.
