THIS MAKES ME SICK – Yoga teacher gets sued for “bad adjustment”!!!!
taken from YOGADORK
Yoga Workshop Handed Lawsuit for Improper Adjustment Injury, Are All Studios Doomed for Sue-dom?
More lawsuits! Improper adjustments! This time not as naughty as you’re thinking. Can we just be happy for a moment this is not about sexual assault? OK…moving on.
It’s suddenly a rocky road for Boulder, CO studio Yoga Workshop, Richard Freeman’s joint (he and his wife relinquished ownership and management earlier this yearupdate: they took back ownership 9/09). News hit late yesterday that the studio is being sued by a former student due to instructor Luke Iwabuchi’s “unsolicited physical manipulation” resulting in injuries causing “permanent disability.” yowch! Basically an unwanted adjustment gone terribly wrong, says the CA man, Robert Heit, who’s filing the suit. OK here go…we don’t know the Yoga Workshop, we’ve never experienced an Iwabuchi class, but we’ve certainly experienced plenty of adjustments in our time as yoga students, some not always what we thought as the safest maneuvering for the human body. Seriously ouch! There have also been several occasions where we wish the instructor would pleease come over and give us that extra nudge, but what are we supposed to do? snap our fingers? shout at the teach? *sigh* We digress…
So let’s break this down…
Date of Incident: approx. 4:30 p.m. Dec. 6, 2008.
The Accuser: Robert Heit, former Boulder resident now residing in Santa Rosa, CA. Other info we don’t know? Age, physical condition prior to the incident, yoga experience, etc.
The Accused: Yoga Workshop, by way of Luke Iwabuchi, a well-respected yoga instructor, at the presently well-respected Richard Freeman-blessed studio in Boulder, CO.
The Claim: “unsolicited physical manipulation” resulting in a torn medial meniscus (that precious soft band under the kneecap – the victim of outrageously frequent sports injuries) that required surgery.
The studio should be held responsible for promoting teachers who alter clients’ yoga positions without permission — thus creating hazardous conditions, Heit asserts in the lawsuit.
“Conducting yoga classes where unsolicited physical manipulation is permitted during yoga class poses a danger of injury to patrons and students,” Heit states in the suit.
The studio “failed to exercise reasonable care in that (the studio) failed to warn or instruct against the hazardous condition or activity of unsolicited physical manipulation during the activity of yoga,” the suit claims. As a result of the studio’s failure, Heit claims he suffered “severe personal injuries, causing him extreme physical, mental and emotional pain and suffering.”
What’s at stake: Money of course, no word on how much yet. Let’s not forget Mr. Helt’s grievous pain (physical no doubt, though we have no comment on the extreme mental and emotional suffering); the livelihood of Luke as a yoga teacher; the reputation of Yoga Workshop and all those involved with the studio, including the students. Then of course there’s the potential of this setting a precedent for yoga teachers and studios all over the country should Mr. Heit be successful in court.
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I practice Yoga at home mainly for the purpose of having a relax mind and body. Stress is really high on our workplace and yoga helps me relax.
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I started taking Yoga lessons last month and i am amazed of how it can take away the stress of my mind and body.
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I have been doing Yoga since college and i love the way that it can relax my body. yoga is great for stress relief. ~
my sister practices Yoga and i also find it interesting that is why i am also practicing Yoga now .`
I tore my Meniscus snow skiing… it is not that painfull… what a baby
Yoga adjustments are about connection and communication. It’s important that both teachers and students have a connection and strong communication if they are goin to part take in adjustments.
I always always ask students during an adjustment if they are ok, do they want and more or less. Sometimes the say ‘Not today my back is sore’ or what ever and this communication and is vital.
Along with this the teacher should connect with the student by means of breathing together and energetically with a clear higher intention. Some teachers dont adjust any students until they haven’t been to their classes at least 3-4 times so they can get to know the students practice, level, capabilities. This also builds a deeper connection and understanding through time.
I hope both the Luke Iwabuchi and Yoga Workshop are ok and I’m sending lots of shakti that everything is ok xxx