Decolonizing Yoga
Recognizing, disrupt and de-link from Western Eurocentric epistemologies. Remembering history of colonialism and racism. We can do this by recentering and amplifying diverse voices and South East Asian teachers and scholars, reconnecting with yoga as a spiritual path.
In order to understand the Decolonization of Yoga and the work that supports it, it is important to know what the Appropriation of Yoga is and to know it’s not without its complexities. This can be a difficult and potentially cringe-worthy topic for most white teachers - myself included. But that’s not a reason to turn away from the conversation. Afterall, doesn’t Yoga teach us to be able to be with the uncomfortable?
It’s natural to feel defensive when the topic of Yoga and Appropriation comes up, I’ve felt it. And it’s ok. It’s ok to feel defensive and listen. To keep your mind and heart open to the idea that there’s more to know than perhaps what was shared in our 200hr programs.
When we know better we can do better. I was introduced to the Decolonization of yoga through my Yoga Therapy Training. Appropriation was always a topic around me but taking a deeper interest was necessary.
“appropriation literally means that when a dominant culture, such as the Western culture or the supremacy, when they are taking a certain culture which belongs to another race, and then they are repackaging it or trimming it, and in that process, they are diluting the very essence of that culture, and at the same time, they are marketing it to make money out of it for their own benefit or the benefit of their masses.
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Cultural Appropriation: when members of a majority group adopt cultural elements of a minority group in an exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical way, even if the intent isn’t to be harmful.
Even if the intent isn’t to be harmful. When I have conversations with white yoga teachers about appropriation the first comment is usually “My intent is to be non-harming”. And I truly believe that, however, intent and impact are two different things.
While I might think the intention of my actions are good, in reality the impact of my actions are harmful.
The Decolonization Conversation…
Respecting and honouring the culture of origin without applying and/or changing it to fit the needs of another culture. There are indeed lots of nuances and I invite you to the conversation, if you’re not in it already. I am not a scholar or authority on the topic, I am humbly learning and keeping my open mind.
As Associate Professor of South Asian Philosophy and Religious Thought, Neil Dalal says we can “cultivate a space, a safe liminal, to try and work through these issues with openness, trust, and clarity.”
I acknowledge that I am part of an on-going conversation and change within the cultural appropriation of yoga. I will continue learning and working towards decolonizing my practice and my offerings, as well as continue to seek education on decolonization. I hope I can carry this practice for myself, and to others, with reverence and respect.
RESOURCES
If you are looking for a starting point to learn more about Decolonization of Yoga and/or Yoga Approriation here are some resrouces/conversations for you to explore.
Video Lecture from SOAS Centre of Yoga Studies on YouTube with guest speaker Neil Dalal is Associate Professor of South Asian Philosophy and Religious Thought, and the Director of Religious Studies at the University of Alberta; where he teaches in both the Philosophy Department and Religious Studies Program.
Podcasts conversations from Venetia La Manna ‘All the Small Things’ guest Angie Tiwari who is a yoga, meditation and breathwork coach specializing in diversity, accessiblity and inclusion.
And Arundhati Baitmangalkar’s ‘Let’s Talk Yoga’ with guest Madhura Bhagawat, Yoga Educator and Yoga Therapist
Watch…
*CC and transcripts available.
