Should yoga teachers be concerned about “cultural appropriation” of yoga?
8In the last couple of weeks there has been a lot of talk about a controversial decision made by University of Ottawa to cancel a popular ongoing yoga class because of concerns about “cultural appropriation.” Apparently some students were concerned that many cultures, including Indian culture “have experienced oppression, cultural genocide and diasporas due to colonialism and western supremacy … we need to be mindful of this and how we express ourselves while practising yoga.” Not surprisingly, there has been a strong response from the yoga community and this week we will feature three different articles that skillfully approach this issue from different standpoints. What do you think?
“Where the Whole World Meets in a Single Nest”: The history behind a misguided campus debate over yoga and “cultural appropriation.”
by Michelle Goldberg
“What these arguments really demonstrate is how jejune the whole “cultural appropriation” charge can be—particularly when it’s wielded by people who know very little of the cultures they purport to protect. In the case of yoga, it completely ignores the agency of Indians themselves, who have been making a concerted effort to export yoga to the West since the late 19th century.” Read more >
by Mark Morford
It’s only misappropriation of if you don’t respect your sources, acknowledge your teachers, and bow to the lineage and the divine wisdom. Oh, and sweat your ass off. And pray. And laugh. And realize you don’t really know what you think you know. I mean, obviously. Read more >
Yoga Trash Talk and Self-Righteous Crusading: Wasting Time While the World Burns
by Carol Horton, PhD
Copyleft Nina Paley mimiandeunice.com
“Meanwhile, on the Internet, I’ve been tracking a seemingly endless stream of ever-escalating vitriol about how horrible yoga in the West truly is. I wonder why people who dislike it so much stick with it nonetheless. I also wonder why it seems to be so impossible for them to find the positive experiences that I find so easy to access.” Read more >
The amount of human stupidity is fathomless, take it in any single point of the earth’s surface or in it’s inconceivable entity.
The best reaction is not to react – they don’t deserve our reaction and waste of precious time.
Let the dogs bark – the caravan will not slow.
Love this! Thank you for opening the dialogue. This is a “hot” topic” in my small yoga-filled town with VERY varying opinions. Talk about divide and heated. It is amazing to me as I step back and observe, as well as join in on the conversation how many “yogi’s” are unwilling to RESPECT a different point of view. To me, that is what it comes down to. Cultures have been taking from one another as long as humans have walked the planet. It will continue. However, offense is made when there is a lack of respect. When we try to “invent” and take ownership without regard, acknowledgment, and respect.
To me, I cannot and do not pretend to be Indian or know the culture inside out as I teach. However, I do make attempts to be conscious and aware of what I am teaching, the messages I send, which I believe and hope resonate in respect of the sutras, and in the hope and spirit of connection and compassion.
Good articles, except Mark Morford ruined his otherwise excellent article with a ubiquitous screed against people with political viewpoints not in line with his own: the “Trump supporters” to “anti-vaxxers,” among others. I have news for Mark: Some of the people I know who are anti-vaccine are, in fact, progressive, New Age, yoga-loving liberals. And some of the people I know who do yoga are, in fact, conservatives, Christians and possibly even members of the NRA.
I myself am a yoga teacher and practitioner of 20 years with a 500-hour certification who will, in fact, vote Trump over Hillary in the next election. I am not stupid or unthinking – I was, in fact, an honor student and had a scholarship to college. I think Trump is actually a moderate and that’s what we need to unite this country – not the divisive PC identity politics that have taken over the Democrats and, in fact, were the fuel behind the shutting down of the Ottawa yoga class. I’ve had enough with the angry political correctness and so have many other Americans.
What Mark doesn’t get with his close-minded political viewpoint is that those of us who don’t automatically tick the “D” box in the voting booth may, in fact, have numerous reasons for supporting a more conservative politician, from their more libertarian views on government intervention in business (certainly of interest to yoga teachers) to the relentless political correctness infesting the country right now.
I am not the only yoga teacher who is not a typical liberal – another self-avowed conservative yoga teacher also commented on his article directly. I am sure there are more of us, many in hiding, who are afraid to be honest about who we are for fear of the PC crowd coming down on us – maybe even losing our yoga jobs because we’re expected to be progressive politically.
As a note to the owner of this website and also any other yoga teacher who is reading this comment – to presume that all your clients and fellow yogis vote a particular way and that it’s OK to shove your own politics down the throats of your students, as if they will all agree, is to assume that your worldview is automatically the right one. Consider that it is not, and that maybe you might have something to learn from a conservative!
I remember during the 2008 election when we were bombarded with “Obama Yoga” classes – can you imagine the outcry if someone had a Trump Yoga class? Aiyiyi. The thing is, I would never host a “Trump Yoga” class – he’s not a God I worship, simply the lesser of two evils. I used to support Hillary, but I feel we can do better for our first woman president.
PS I am a paying member of this website, BTW, using a pseudonym.
Hi Jane, thank you for your comment! I agree with you, Mark Morford has very strong opinions and very broad assumptions. Personally I don’t agree with many of his comments (in this article and others), but I appreciate the passion. Indeed, on this site I prefer to avoid political discussions since I recognize that everybody has their own opinion which is neither right or wrong, just personal. I would much prefer if we would stop passing judgements on each other based on our political beliefs, diet, lifestyle choices and many others. That kind of inner work is yoga in itself, in my opinion 🙂
I have been to India 3 times spending almost 2 years there. I am a fan and student of BKS Iyengar. Everything starts somewhere by somebody. It is with gratitude that I express my sincere thanks to India for the gift of yoga. But I am not Indian, I am not BKS Iyengar and my yoga practice and teaching belong ultimately only to me. My effort, my practice, my progress and my mistakes are all my responsibility. The idea that the West or the East or anywhere else has pinched Yoga is politics and power – not Yoga. As with all institutions people play endless games of “do this, do that”. Yoga is personal and beyond such endless bickerings. A good heart with good intention and some sensible teaching and practice methods is all most people need in their teacher. Lama Yeshe of Kopan Monastery Kathmandu Nepal once said “the incantations we do are because we are Tibetans, the incantations you should do when you return to the west might be to wash the dishes for your mother”.
Thank you for your lovely comment Nigel! I could certainly do with less bickering in the yoga world. 🙂
You are most welcome. I enjoy your regular articles greatly and I recommend them to fellow teachers and yoga friends. Love and best wishes to you. N
I actually agree with the sentiment that the way yoga is practiced, promoted and taught in the West is cultural appropriation. Due to such, I often struggle with my own practice and teaching because my practice and teaching is a big part of who I believe myself to be. It’s also how I support myself. I feel threatened, angry and guilty.
I wonder how Ahimsa is best practiced here. How do we honor the beliefs needs and experiences of others, without being violent towards them because it challenges us? How do we practice Ahimsa towards ourselves and move forward with a sense of integrity?
No answers just thoughts and questions 🙂