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It depends on the specific facts of the case, but it would have to be something pretty extreme to justify a lawsuit. Injuries are part of the risk you take when you do any training.

I recommend everyone go to Elephant Journal for Waylon Lewis' take on this. He knows the studio and teacher in question. Click on this link to go straight to the article: http://bit.ly/3IrB4

Bob W. http://YogaDemystified.com

Sorry that shortened link didn't work above. Here's the full link:

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/11/man-sues-richard-freemans-yoga-workshop-for-unwanted-adjustment/

To be clear, The Yoga Workshop and Richard Freeman have not been named in the suit at present. Seems like the Daily Camera article headline isn't true, or they know something folks here in Boulder don't know somehow. I've changed my reporting to better reflect the case, having just received this news.

I hope the yoga community can all support all concerned, including Luke, who's wonderful, gentle, skilled.

Thanks Waylon! I've updated the post here, too!

As a student (I am not an instructor), I do not always welcome instructors quietly walking around and pushing on people. It's a surprise and may not be what my body needs. There are times a gentle push has been nice. But, student should be told in advance and agree that this is an intervention they want. As always, there is risk in getting into poses on our own. But, when someone else 'encourages' a deeper pose than one's comfort level, there is further danger of injury. The lawsuit above seems extreme but we don't know all the details. So, no comment there.

Adjustments I think do come with some controversy on both sides. A forceful adjustment could cause discomfort or injury but no adjustment when a pose is held incorrectly can do the same. I do believe it is both the teachers and students responsibility to know their body and speak up. I have a physical disability and have had to work with my teachers to let them know what I can and can not do, what can be adjusted and what can not. Yoga can be healing but it needs to be practiced with awarness, as a student you have responsibilty in letting your teachers know what works for you.

Students are required to sign a form prior to the class. The form mentions that the student should let the instructor about any kind of injury or problems. In this case it was unfortunate that the student got injured and now has a disablity. But accidents happens. The teacher's intension was to improve the students pose and not injure. "Listen to your body and dont over do it,take it easy". I would not modify my pose if I am in pain or not sure. After all we all are above 18!

On my first-time-to-the-studio-data sheet, I have a question asking students if adjustments are ok, as they are an integral part of my teaching style (I believe in teaching to the 3 different modalities of learning:kinetic, auditory, and visual). My philosophy on is that adjustments should be first and foremost for helping with alignment rather than pushing farther into the pose. That being said, it is still up to the student in the majority of cases to tell the teacher when too much is too much. I have been adjusted too far, but it was entirely my fault, since I knew where the line was (where I should not cross) and let it be crossed. A power dynamic can come into play which prevents the student from stopping the teacher, either from being in a "subordinate" position, or through a belief that the teacher knows where the point of no return is.

Not sure of all the details on this specific case, no comment. Generally speaking, a yoga center should cultivate an environment that allows for each student to be able to decline an adjustment. At the end of the day we all have a choice to ask not to be physically manipulated. There should be mutual respect between teachers and students. Thankfully, I have always found yoga studios that provide this type of environment.

Your body should not become anyone's battlefield! Not even yours (that's why

The style in the shala precludes an instructor politely asking you 99 times out of 100 if they could adjust you first (this is in the interest of time, time being money, and crowded and back to back classes being king of this shala).

The stealth approach to adjusting you smacks of a police officer approaching a parked car in the dark, from the side and behind, moving in for the arrest before the suspect could reach for his or her supposed gun...

The instructors, being young enough to be my children, do not adjust me as they would their mother ....

I learned after the first (audible) spinal crack and the first few public humiliations and the first few arguments with them .. no adjustments!

They don't want trouble ... (hopefully it's because they can't afford it) ... so they agreed.

Your body should not become anyone's battlefield! Not even yours (that's why I am ultimately not renewing with this studio).

Yikes. I know at my current studio the teach asks people to raise their hand while in child's pose at the beginnning of each class if they do NOT want to be adjusted. I think adjustment is a GREAT part of a yoga class and I have learned a lot more from a few adjustments than I have from hundreds of classes without them. If the teacher is good then the adjustment should correct your posture so there is LESS stress on the body. Also- it seems that if this person did not want any ajdustments, he should have spoken to the teacher beforehand. My mom has a lot of pain because of arthritis and carpal tunnel and she always makes ure to speak to the yoga teacher before hand and make sure they know what not to mess around with. I think this seems like this man is just trying to take advantage of the lack of concrete laws around this subject.