The
Fire of Yoga
a documentary film narrated by Ali MacGraw
 A
surprising look at Yoga — an ancient discipline that today
is practiced by over 11 million Americans. This documentary breaks
common stereotypes about yoga, as it travels from the South Bronx,
to the Deep South, and finally to Hollywood. Along the way, you
will see an ex-inmate, a Southern Baptist, and a recovering alcoholic
find more than they expected to as they overcome great hardships
through yoga.
Miguel Gonzalez, Bronx, New York
“Mad light…”
Incarcerated from the
ages of 15 to 19 years old, Miguel Gonzalez literally found freedom
through yoga. While incarcerated Miguel began taking yoga and meditation
classes. His practice of yoga and meditation helped Miguel become
a better-behaved inmate, which contributed to his early release.
Today, Miguel works for the Lineage Project; a non-profit organization
based in the south Bronx dedicated to offering awareness practices,
including yoga and meditation, to at-risk and incarcerated teens.
While teaching yoga and meditation to these girls and boys, Miguel
shares his street and prison experience with them. But most importantly,
he demonstrates to them how the path of yoga led him to freedom.
Susan Mason, Jackson, Mississippi
“Be still…”
Susan Mason, is a devout
Southern Baptist who lives in a community where yoga is seen as
un-Christian. But desperate to recover from her cancer treatments,
Susan began taking yoga classes. Immediately, she became aware that
yoga breathing could reduce the pain in her body. Now, feeling more
whole from yoga, Susan made an unexpected discovery. As she began
to deepen her spiritual life, Susan found that the yoga breathing
helped her to be still and feel God's spirit within herself. Still,
Susan’s religious community is concerned that yoga is un-Christian.
In the words of one of the faithful, “Any Christian who is
practicing yoga is skating on thin ice…” Now Susan must
show her religious community that yoga can only strengthen their
faith.
Frank White, Los Angeles, California 
“I’m home…”
Imagine
you are trapped in a 68-year-old body that is riddled with severe
arthritis, emphysema and heart disease. Twelve years ago this was
Frank White's reality, but today he is an 82-year-old yoga master.
Instead of giving up, Frank found yoga and turned his life around.
Now he has the physique and energy of a man half his age. Frank's
dramatic transformation is an example to the dozens of seniors he
is teaching every week at a Los Angeles senior center. Additionally,
years of alcoholism separated Frank from his sons, but through yoga
Frank is alive, sober, and reunited with his family.
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