About Spoiled Yogi

When I started this blog, I hadn't paid for yoga in nearly five years. I studied with most of the best asana and meditation teachers in the world. In fact, amazing teachers came to my office to teach me (for free) every day. All I had to do was walk down the hall, and sometimes I chose not to because I didn't feel like it or because I didn't care for a particular teacher's specialty.

Basically, I'm a spoiled, bratty, privileged yogi.

Isn't that an oxymoron, you may ask? Ummm, yeah!

But then, I had an epiphany. As I was walking down the street to my cushy job, I thought to myself:

"Isn't the whole point of a yoga practice to live in the present? If you're a yogi, shouldn't you be content? You should be blissed out and healthy and praising Krishna for all your amazing blessings! What the hell is wrong with you? Wait, nothing is wrong with me, yoga philosophy says I am a spark of the Divine . . . so I'm kind of perfect. But really, I'm a total screwed up mess . . . Or am I?"

I'm human, which is what this blog is all about.

I decided to get back to the basics and approach my yoga as the gift I know in my heart it is. Each day, I'll commit to practice yoga—sometimes alone, sometimes in a studio. I'll meditate (a lot!), and I'll contemplate just what makes me really worthy to be a spark of the Divine. And I'll share with you things that inspire me to keep going even when it seems like everything in my life is conspiring against me. (Yes, I'm spoiled AND dramatic!)

Oh yeah, and I'll blog about it everyday, too. I'm tired just thinking about it. . .

About the Author

Erica Rodefer is a writer and yoga teacher living in Charleston, SC. As the former online editor for Yoga Journal magazine, she lived and breathed yoga at work and at home. She practiced with amazing teachers every day, went to yoga conferences, and had a supportive environment to live her yoga. Now, she's trying to navigate yoga in the real world. This blog is about her journey to find contentment and live in the present, no matter what. Her loves include yoga, writing, crafting, her cat Gracey, and her dog Penny.

Follow her on Twitter, @SpoiledYogi!

27 comments:

  1. hey erica.. so psyched to have found your blog.. can't wait till I have time to actually read it!! you started blogging around the same time I did. :)
    write on!

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  2. Tiffany, I'm so glad you stopped by!

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  3. Hi erica I didnt realize you also wrote at yoga journal I always enjoyed reading your stuff there
    thanks for inspiring me to write about my yoga practice

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  4. Hi there, LOVE your blog. Honest and hilarious :)

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  5. Hi, I'm glad I found you. Wish you bright discoveries.

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  6. Just because you study with a great master, you are still nobody.

    Since you can't learn meditation, because meditation cannot be taught, only discovered in yourself, it doesn't really matter who you studied with.

    Yoga isn't about feeding your I, it's about getting rid of it. And as long as this is all you have gotten, then you have missed.

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  7. oh yeah....you left me off your YJ list of best yoga blogs a while back...that's OK, I forgive you for that, an honest mistake on your part, I'm sure...;)

    love the piece on yoga clothes for guys....:)

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  8. Hey, no fair! You can't hold a grudge against me for something I didn't even write!

    If I ever decide to publish a Spoiled Yogi list of best yoga blogs I'll keep you in mind! :) Thanks for stopping by!

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  9. you are right, a thousand pardons! it was someone else and I wrote about it here: http://lindasyoga.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-life-on-yoga-d-list.html

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  10. Hi Erica!

    I "stumbled" upon your blog and I love it! I have added a link to you on my blog and was wondering if you would be willing to do the same.... I also blog about yoga and my journey in the real yoga world :)

    Thanks for your spirit and your blog girl :)
    Peace

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  11. Hi Erica! I'm happy to have found you - - I subscribed to your on-line YJ blog/emails for awhile and they were very helpful when I first started learning about yoga. Glad to have found you in another place and format!
    :)

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  12. Wondered what happened to you after I stopped getting my personal yoga emails from you and they started coming from YJ. Sorry to say I don't even open them as often now as I used to. Glad to have found your blog and I am enjoying it very much. Keep it up! Namaste!

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  13. hey!
    i would just like to point out i just read your blog front to back and loved every bit of it! only thing is... i now have nothing to read! WHAT WILL I DO NOW :) love it, keep up the good work!
    love from ireland! xx

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  14. Just checked out this blog. You are wonderful. So happy to read your stuff, Erika. I just took a yoga class this week after a year of not practicing and thought of you. Hope you are well. Lauren

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  15. Hi Erica!
    You are truly a gifted, fab writer. I was happy to have stumbled upon your blogs this evening! Have always enjoyed your msgs via YJ. Are you working on your first book? You should be!!
    :)
    Namaste,
    Susan

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  16. You guys are SO sweet! Thanks for your encouraging comments. You have NO idea how much they mean to me!

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  17. Hey There Spoiled Yogini
    Your email form will only allow people with Outlook to contact you. Can you contact me so that I can ask you about some book review opportunities? Please provide an email address! Ps. Cute dog.
    www.RighteousYogini.com

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  18. hi erica,

    love your blog! thank you for all the insights and the funny and really good thoughts, feelings and ideas!

    best regards from europe!
    isabell

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  19. Namaste mitrah,
    sent ya an email prior. Trying to hook you up with some nice dudes plus I have a link for your blog on my website
    Hope to hear from you
    Metta
    Mishy (Mish Volonino)

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  20. Oh I'm so glad I happened upon your blog!!! I look forward to reading your posts. Namaste'

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  21. Hi Erica! Happy to have fond your blog after reading your smart pieces on YJ and Elephant Journal. Thanks for providing inspiration to young yogini-writer types :) Proof (to myself...and my parents) that I CAN make a life out of yoga and my English degree, someday!

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  22. Hi, found you on the Curvy Yoga site. I too am starting my own yoga journey (and blog at http://omnartistry.com

    You are right about the journey - all the best on yours.

    Peace and Health.

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  23. Hi Erica,
    I feel strongly connected to you yet quite awkward in your viral presence. You recently wrote about "Confessions of a Serious Yoga Student" , an article that I read just a few moments ago!! I posted an article on my new blog yesterday and the thoughts conveyed in both articles are strongly similar. So much, that someone may think I committed yogi plagiarism!!
    I want to assure you that I didn't, and that your blog is much better than my rookie attempt. After uploading the blog, I didn't feel that I adequately expressed my appreciation and respect for the yoga sub in my article. I am quite clumsy in this portion of my journey (blogging and tweeting), and there is much more for me to learn.
    Peace and blessings

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  24. I truly enjoy your blog thank you for all of your hard work and putting out such great content.

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  25. Great blog! I'm jealous that you live in SC, and love Gracey & Penny as well...keep up the great posts--we're out here reading every word!

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  26. Dear Erica,
    I have been reading your blog too. I am a hobby yogini and I won't even say I am a beginner because I always let other things get in the way of my yoga practice and thus remain in this status of wanting to achieve more... I am working on it :-)
    Recentely I have been nominated to the Liebster Award by a Singaporean blogger and I would like to pass on the challenge to you! May be you appreciate it. Maybe not. If you do and if you find the time to answer the questions and pass on the award to 11 other bloggers I would be very happy.

    Namasté!
    Sofia

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  27. Nice blog you have: I also have a blog and i am inviting you to join it: i want to share your blog and your information on by blog if you allow me: Please reply me at emad000111@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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