Yoga appropriation or yoga appreciation?
Updated December 2022
Have you ever felt that excitement of seeing something familiar while watching TV? I remember watching Hallmark’s Christmas on the Bayou for the first time last year. My eyes opened wide at the representation of my hometown. I was so proud to say I knew exactly where they filmed it because I went there so many times before. The movie reminded me of the area, but also heavily romanticized it.
Fast forward to last week when I decided to watch Never Have I Ever produced by everyone’s favorite actress from the hit sitcom The Office, Mindy Kaling on Netflix. The show begins with a South Asian American high-school sophomore named Devi praying in front of her at-home puja altar. The camera pans the altar with Hindu murtis, like Ganesha and Shiva. I looked with amazement as I was seeing the Hindu traditions depicted in a Netflix comedy-drama. After studying yoga and the Hindu traditions for years, I was proud to know the history behind this representation.
I cannot imagine identifying as South Asian American and feeling the pride and recognition of watching. During this year’s Asian Pacific American Heritage month, Allyson Escobar wrote about her feelings towards Never Have I Ever. Recent events and my experience of watching this show brought up a topic that is begging to be written about: are we practicing yoga appreciation or yoga appropriation?
You may be wondering why a “Christian yoga” teacher might be talking about appropriation. It’s true, on the surface this term “Christian yoga” is textbook cultural appropriation white-washing yoga’s history. The difference is intentionally recognizing what we are adapting, and honoring its origins. Christians practicing yoga who educate themselves on yoga’s roots point to a form of embodied empathy and compassion that recognizes and fights the colonization of yoga. Below I have listed a few resources and advocates for further exploration on this topic.
Yoga and the Roots of Cultural Appropriation, Shreena Gandhi
I first questioned my yoga practice in 2018 when I saw the headline “Americans who practice yoga contribute to white supremacy.” I read and reread this backlash article multiple times questioning the purpose of this news. Then, I read the actual article and found the genuine substance of it. The authors were calling for the rightful recognition of yoga’s roots, something usually overlooked in a high-end yoga studio. An empathetic dagger was sent through my heart that any human could feel such a way. The article weighed heavily on me especially being a young, white, Catholic, female yoga teacher. Since then I have been searching for the answer to my initial question: how can I extend compassion and understanding to those who feel as if their identity is shaped by a culture of people who are inclined to misunderstand? This is a question I am still wrestling with.
I cannot stress enough how important the Yoga is Dead podcast is for anyone and everyone who practices yoga. Through each episode, Tejal and Jesal talk about who killed yoga with thoughtful yet witty stories beginning first with “White Women Killed Yoga.” The titles point to different groups of people who have taken yoga for their own, justifying their practices under the veil of yoga. Not only is it an insightful podcast, but each episode includes over 20 resources.
Be sure to check out Jesal’s picks for decolonizing your yoga playlist.
As I have harped on this idea in so many blog posts: yoga is about the union with the Divine. This union is about the Divine within every being on earth. Susanna focuses on this quality of yoga in particular by saying, “Let's work together to realize yoga as unity and make yoga fully inclusive and diverse.” Her blog posts are revolutionary and beautifully written to bring awareness of the connectivity in all of us. The titles of her posts include, “How to Practice Yoga Without Appropriating It,” “How to Decolonize Your Yoga Practice,” and “What is the Difference Between Cultural Appropriation and Cultural Appreciation?” She is recognized as an advocate for BIPOC yogis by organizations such as the Huffington Post, Yoga Girl, Yoga Journal, and many more.
I took the initiative to begin defining myself as a Catholic who practices yoga (or a Catholic, yoga teacher) rather than just a “Catholic yoga” teacher. Though I fail in my wording at times, this intentionality of separating the two reminds me of the consequences of white-washing or colonizing yoga’s roots. Although combining descriptives like "Christian yoga," "goat yoga," or "drunk yoga" seems more tailored to the experience, we have to recognize that this naming weakens our respect of yogic philosophy and practice. These titles may have their place, but our awareness is key here.
Followers of Christ have the responsibility to listen, honor, and love our neighbors as ourselves. This means our neighbors’ culture, heritage, and voice. The Second Vatican Council urges Catholics to engage in ecumenical studies regularly. Interreligious dialogue between Christianity and other faiths reflect the love and compassion Jesus had to individuals of all faiths and backgrounds. We are called by Jesus to "love everyone as yourself." Understanding and lifting our neighbors' voices is one practice of love.
Of course, my voice on this subject does not mean I have included all, or any, Indian-American voices. I encourage you to seek out BIPOC voices to promote inclusivity in your yoga practice. This post by no means fulfills the duty of learning about yoga or Hindu traditions’ roots. Please look in-depth to the resources listed to explore what everyone needs to know to combat yoga appropriation.