Opinion | The Westernization of yoga
Since the boom of yoga in the Western world, the way of movement has lost its meaning, blurred by the drive to look a certain way. With yoga’s popularity, it is vital to understand where it's derived from and how diving deeper into the roots can expand one’s mental well-being. Illustration by YANA SAMOYLOVA, Illustrator
Since the beginning of time, transcultural interactions have had a direct impact on how a society functions.
Transculturality is a process of cultural transformation due to the emergence or loss of cultural components through exchanges. From beliefs, languages and cultural practices, the way we are stems from the world around us. It’s vital to understand the places where cultural phenomena took place and where they are now. Cultural competence allows us to connect with individuals on a deeper level, and diversity guides our minds into new ways of thinking. But in those exchanges, sometimes we lose some parts.
Modern-day yoga is built on something more substantial than what is practiced in the Western world. History reveals itself in an unwavering manner that proves the cultural significance of yoga, which has become a transcultural phenomenon.
The word “yoga” is derived from “union”, which means “to yoke”, which connects to religious ties. It is known as an ethical, mental and physical practice that liberates the consciousness to undergo the transformation of self-realization. The practice was created to control the senses of the body, not to perfect it. Yoga began to spread along the Silk Road about five centuries BCE. And each place it passed, it evolved to fit that particular culture.
Kendal Roney, freshman business administration major
Yoga truly arose when it was brought back to life after India gained independence from the British in 1947. As the country gained independence, nationalism and interest in Indian culture rose.
With the Westernized culture focused on science-based practices, yoga was seen for its practical benefits. Health retreats started to become popular. For instance, yoga researcher/educator/pioneer Swami Kuvalayananda created a center for yoga in 1924 called the Kaivalyadhama Health and Yoga Research Center and invited researchers to come study there. This allowed yoga to become more widely accepted.
Soon, DVDs, classes and books on yoga emerged. Western culture emphasized the prevention of the body changing through yoga, whether it’s from disease to its shape. These media platforms made it very accessible to the population.
Traditional yoga has a deep emphasis on the emotional and mental aspects, whereas Western yoga is rooted in physical movements and perfecting the bodily form. According to Maxi Meisser in a study conducted on traditional yoga versus western yoga practitioners, traditional yoga participants showed a significant increase in their mindfulness scores, whereas no changes in mindfulness were observed in Western yoga practitioners.
The results exemplify how although Western yoga revolves around physical benefits, traditional yoga seems to be better for the mind, as it is centered around awareness. It also presents one of the ways Westernization changes cultural practices; in this case, from a spiritual to a more practical approach.
An alternative view of Western yoga practice is that it’s a product of the dialogue between the Indian national movement and the Western political, economic and cultural influences. In other words, the Westernization of yoga is a part of global capitalism.
Since the United States is focused on consumerism and the production of goods and services, the cultural practice of yoga has turned into a way of profit. I noticed growing up that there was a boom in yoga videos targeted to “lose weight” or “to become fit”.
A particular icon that transformed yoga into the public eye is Brittany Spears. Once she began to glamorize yoga, it was fed to an audience that idolized her, therefore resulting in some people wanting to replicate the form she had. This is only one example of the fault in the Westernization of yoga. As instructor Hanna-Leena Ylöen said: “For some of these practitioners, yoga was a hobby, while for others it was a way of life.”
Ylöen did a study on yoga concerning transforming bodily habits of ‘being in the world’. She looked at ten individuals who prioritized yoga as a way of life and found that modern yoga is centralized on movement without the thought of religion.
Mary Douglas, a British anthropologist and cultural theorist, conceptualized it as purification or awareness of impurities of the ego. In other words, in order to find purity, you find it in the ‘spirit’, which translates to the true essence of the self.
Yoga poses were originally utilized to help remove unwanted habits, ideas and attitudes. This reveals the traditional way of thinking, which is how yoga was seen as a mind-to-body connection rather than just movement.
It is important to honor the traditional values of yoga and understand its origin. Especially since the practice has gained popularity as it has globalized, bringing awareness to the pioneers and its core values can help deepen one’s practice and understanding.
Having cultural competence can transform cross-cultural relationships and barriers. Yoga has emerged as a global practice in today’s world, evidently seen in Western society. No matter your religion, yoga can act as a way of transformation of the mind, body and spirit to uplift your wellbeing. It can be used as a tool to tune into your physical, intellectual, intuitive and emotional side of yourself.
These ideas are all derived from traditional principles, which would have not been understood without an intercultural understanding. This reveals the crucial point in unearthing common practices that you do so that you can become closer to other cultures and backgrounds, and therefore, increase global connection.