Yogi Aaron
Yogi Aaron | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age Canada |
| Other names | Aaron Star |
| Occupation(s) | Yoga instructor, author |
| Known for | Pioneering nude yoga style in New York City |
| Notable work | Autobiography of a Naked Yogi |
Yogi Aaron (born 1972) is a Canadian-born yoga instructor and author known for his book Autobiography of a Naked Yogi. Also known by the name Aaron Star, he pioneered a style of nude yoga in New York City that blends elements of partner and tantric yoga, performed without clothing.
Early life and career
Aaron started practicing yoga in 1991 and began teaching six years later, in 1997. His training included mentorship from notable instructors such as Bryan Kest, Rod Stryker, and Swami Rama.
In 2001, he launched Hot Nude Yoga in Chelsea, New York City, which quickly became popular within the local gay community. Since then, the practice has spread to other American cities including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston.
Autobiography of a Naked Yogi
Aaron released his memoir, Autobiography of a Naked Yogi, in 2015. The book explores his upbringing in British Columbia, his experiences at a strict boarding school, and his journey of self-discovery through yoga and immersion in nature.
BroadwayWorld praised the memoir as an "empowering narrative with a sense of adventure," although it has received limited independent critical attention.
Criticism
Hot Nude Yoga has attracted controversy due to its emphasis on sensuality. The publication Yoga in the Modern World: Contemporary Perspectives describes it as encouraging sexual expression that would have been shocking to traditional practitioners. Stewart J. Lawrence from The Guardian referred to it as "soft-core pornography."
Joshua Stein writing for OUT magazine commented that the intensified sensual aspects detracted from the core yoga experience. The Associated Press characterized Hot Nude Yoga as "a form of sensualized tantric yoga practiced nude."