Updated June 20
Many readers inside and outside the Anusara community have asked for a simple, fact-based chronology of what has happened since the allegations of misconduct by John Friend surfaced on February 3, 2012. For that reason, we are compiling, as far as we know, the main events since that day. In addition, we are listing some of the teachers who have resigned their licenses since the 3rd. We have only included those teachers to which we have been able to link to a specific message on their respective websites. Not all teachers that have resigned their Anusara licenses are listed. We are not listing teachers who have resigned previous to this controversy surfacing.
NOTE: This does not presume to be an exhaustive accounting on this subject. Principals have not to date made themselves available for interview by Bay Shakti. This is a summary of events as verified by public communications or Internet documents.
Chronology:
February 3: Yogadork.com publishes a blog post with links to an anonymous web site accusing John Friend of sexual and financial misconduct, involvement with a Wiccan Coven for sexual purposes, and marijuana drug use.
February 6: Laura Christensen announces her decision to terminate her Anusara license.
February 7: John Friend sends a letter to the Anusara community responding to the allegations.
February 7: Standing in the Light Amidst Controversy (several Bay Area teachers and students reflect on the current situation and provide advice).
February 8: John Friend responds to the allegations in a letter. John Friend is interviewed on Elephant Journal by Waylon Lewis about the allegations.
February 8: How Should the Teacher Behave? vs. What Can I Receive?: Understandings and Misunderstandings Around the Role of the Teacher by Chris (Hareesh) Wallis.
February 9: A committee of Certified Anusara teachers forms and meets for the first of many meetings with John Friend and a mediator to examine the allegations and determine a course forward for Anusara. The committee consists of: Tracy Silver, Deb Neubauer, Ellen Saltonstall, Jimmy Bernaert, Andrew Rivin, Desiree Rumbaugh, Todd Norian, Martin Kirk, Denise Benitez, Betsey Downing, Suzie Hurley, Noah Mazé. This interim committee outlines an action plan for the future.
February 9: The Path to Our Inner Guru by Michelle Indianer.
February 10: Leadership in Times of Great Need by John Watkins. Changes ahead: Anusara to become a Teacher Driven Organization.
February 11: A second letter from the Interim Committee is sent, regarding ongoing negotiations, specifically about John’s teaching in Miami.
February 11: It’s Nothing Less Than a Revolution by Katrina Hokule’a Ariel
February 12: Letter from Ross Rayburn, a Certified Anusara Yoga Teacher, about his involvement with negotiations with John Friend and the Interim Committee, and why two teachers resigned in relation to the committee’s deliberations. A major area of disagreement was whether John should teach at the workshop in Miami or not. Noah Maze and Tracy Silver leave the committee.
February 12: Certified Anusara teacher, and Interim Committee member, Noah Mazé announces he is leaving the committee and Anusara.
February 12: John on the influence of Wicca on Anusara philosophy to Bay Shakti (excerpts from an interview with Ginger Coy from 2011).
February 13: Further Reflections on Opening to Grace by Michelle Indianer.
February 14: Integrity and Lack Thereof: What it Means to be in Processby Chris (Hareesh) Wallis. Gratitude, Truth, Love, and New Beginnings by Katrina Hokule’a Ariel. Amy Ippoliti shares in full detail her reasons for leaving on Elephant Journal. Douglas Brooks who once told us how Anusara got it’s name publishes a letter in response to the Anusara controversy.
February 15: Standing in my Yoga by Alfredo Guastella. John Friend’s First Workshop post Controversy: A Report from Miami by Maryl Baldridge. Put on a pot of Tea by John Watkins.
Ross Rayburn lets us know that he’s spoken to John Friend and “He’s told me he will be leaving on sabbatical for an extended time“. The list of teachers below continues to grow. Another private list online tells us some 79 103 Teachers have now resigned.
February 16: John Friend takes a Leave of Absence for an undetermined duration of time in the wake of this controversy.
February 25: John Friend steps down as CEO on Anusara, Inc. Michal Lichtman appointed new CEO with plans to move forward with Anusara, Inc. and a teacher run non-profit Yoga School.
February 27: New York Times article: Yoga and Sex Scandal: No Surprise Here.
February 28: Letter from new CEO, Michal Lichtman announces 50/50 partnership with John Friend. In response to this letter, Douglas Brooks calls for the dissolution of Anusara, Inc.
March 1: A Yoga Coalition is created by former teachers, studio owners, and advisors of Anusara Yoga.
March 15: Statement of Progress Letter from Anusara, Inc. which includes “Michal Lichtman is not a co-owner, nor is she serving in any executive capacity for the company, she remains a great supporter of Anusara yoga”.
March 18: Editor In Chief of BayShakti.com, Ginger Coy publishes an Open Letter to John Friend.
Teachers to date who have resigned their Anusara license since the beginning of this controversy:
- Laura Christensen
- Emma Magenta
- Sarah Faircloth
- Lara Demberg
- Sue Elkind
- Naime Jezzny
- Bernadette Birney
- Noah Mazé
- Katrina Ariel
- Olga Rasmussen
- Sara Rose
- Erin Hansbrough
- Bruce Bowditch
- Katie Myer
- Stacey DeGrasse
- Kate Miller
- Katie Stephens
- Erin Nealy
- Michelle Synnestvedt
- Cat McCarthy
- Lila Rasa Brown
- Lucy Lomax
- Sarah Jane Higgins
- Darren Rhodes
- Christina Sell
- Amy Ippoliti
- Elena Brower
- Susan Wiens
- Shelley Bello
- Jenn Asplundh
- Dianne Falk
- Naomi Gottlieb-Miller
- Kendra Hodgson
- Lucy Lomax
- Susan Wiens
- Michelle Berman Marchildon
- Kelley Gardner
- Heidi Kyser
- Jonathan Shoemaker
- Jordan Bloom
- Dara Brown
- Betsy Poos
- Tara Judelle
- Stacey Millner-Collins
- Susanna Harwood Rubin
- Dianne Bondy
- Buffy Barfoot
- Natalie Miller
- Joe Miller
- Betsey Downing
- Cheryl Chaffee
- Holly Horvath
- Chris Gordon
- Patience Armstrong
- Tara Lemerise
- Erin Keeley Phillips
- Liz Belile
- Jordan Louise Kirk
- Maria Cristina Jimenez
- Jordan Mallah
- Marc Holzman
- Jennifer Stark
- Martin Kirk
- Kathryn Wiese
- Hagar Harpak
- Nealy Fischer
- Zhenja La Rosa
- Beryl Herrin
- Vesna Petrovich
- Lisa Blair
- Becky Jordan
- Robin Daniels
- Elisa Camiscioli
- Julie Coopersmith
- David Reiner
- Bo Srey
- Dina Crosta
- Deb Neubauer
- Livia Shapiro
- Philip Humphrey
- Aska Yoshizu
- Amber Huttner
- Kilkenny Tremblay
- Lydia Russell-McDade
- Mary Bruce
- Pam Mulligan
- Cecile Desire
- Annie Wright
- Jane Burdette
- Carol Wray
- Marcia Wilson
- Jessica Archer
- Allison Terracio
- Theo Wildcroft
- Edie Swensen
- Janet Vecchia
- Shalini Latour
- Naomi Seager
- Mark Frankel
- Robyn Capobianco
- Sunshine Deal
- Cheryl Crawford
- Allyson Levine
- Jason Lobo
- Jessica Graham Robinson (formerly Stout)
- Elissa Gumushel
- Bianca Raffety
- Nora Maskey
- Leah Pearson
- Magdalena Koob-Emunds
- Marcia Rose
- Monica Muniz
- Julie Coopersmith
- Debra Hodgen
- Alison Alstrom
- Tony Giuliano
- Todd Tesen
- Shelley Jones
- Vicky Smith
- Steffany Vance
- Lilith Rockett
- Chrissy Graham
- Dana Greenbaum Schachter
- Cathy Dasson
- Marjorie Nass
- Sandy Curry
- Olga Rasmussen
- Annie Barrett
- Laury Wills
- Ian Douglas
- Amy Jo Metzendorf
- Angela Caplan
- Jen Hecht
- Matt Newman
- Michele Bollo
- Amy Kraft
- Maria Stylianaki
- Georgia Psyhogiou
- Andrew Riven
- Desiree Rumbaugh
- Luna Annie Carr Richards
- Jennifer Harvey
- Janna Barkin
- Ulrika Engman
- Tony Giannetti
- Ross Rayburn
- Yael BenReuven
- Kit Muehlman
- Scott Newsom
- Jane Fryer/ did not renew inspired status/restorativeyogatraining.com
- Sharon Neubauer
- Marion Griffin
- Patrick Montgomery
- Gina Minyard
- Maria Hamburger
- Lee Carlson
- Bil Gupton
- Karen Sprute-Francovich
Studios that are no longer exclusive to Anusara Yoga:
Virayoga
Blackbird Yoga
Willow Street Yoga
Yoga Sanctuary
Dig Yoga
Prasad Yoga
South Mountain Yoga
Capitol Hill Yoga
Garden of the Heart Yoga Center
Yoga Evolution
There’s No Place Like Om Yoga Studio
City Yoga
Grassroots Yoga
Garden Street School of Yoga
Editor’s Note: Many thanks to Contributor John Watkins for assisting us in compiling this information.
If you have teachers or studio names that can be added to the list above, please send us their name and a link to their resignation on our contact page.
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