In the East, yoga evolved in India as an esoteric science. The teacher chose only select students and only the best students became teachers. This process of selection and advancement required both the teacher and the students to learn how to harness the ego. Since the goals of yoga were unification of the individual to the divine, the yoking of the mortal self to the immortal Self, egoism went contrary to the goals of yoga. A chosen student and an elected teacher had to be humble about their roles and duties.
In the West, yoga has taken a different path. It is now considered more of a consumer service, with less focus on the ultimate spiritual quest for yoking with the divine and more focus on self-improvement through movement, breath, right eating, and balanced living.
In western culture, the egalitarianism, democratic ideals and Socratic dialogue makes the idea of shared privileges the norm. Student selection is not based on merit or attitude but merely the ability to pay the requisite fees to attend a session. This may give students a sense of entitlement since they are paying. If the teacher fails to measure up, then their yoga business may close down. In turn, teachers also risk the egoism of having a large group of people hanging on to their every word. So, egoism is possible in both directions. Students can become egoist because they pay for the teacher’s livelihood while teachers can be egoist because they command a large group of people to do exactly what they say
When students assume the attitude of paying customers with a right to make specific requests on how the teacher should conduct themselves in class, like patrons in a restaurant sending back a meal they don’t like, teachers need to decide whether or not to be flexible. Visit www.yoga-teacher-training.org to know more about Yoga Training and Taming the Ego.