You unroll your mat. You settle into a downward dog. The instructor’s voice is calm, guiding you to connect with your breath. It feels good, right? But have you ever stopped to wonder about the journey of that pose—the entire philosophy behind it—and how it landed in your local studio? Honestly, that’s the heart of a massive, and often uncomfortable, conversation happening in the yoga world today.
It’s the tension between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation. And navigating it isn’t about pointing fingers. It’s about understanding, respect, and moving forward with more intention. Let’s dive in.
So, What’s the Actual Difference?
At its core, this is about power, history, and credit. Think of it like this: appropriation is taking something without permission, often stripping away its original meaning for profit or trendiness. Appreciation, on the other hand, is about building a respectful relationship with that same thing. It involves learning, honoring context, and giving credit where it’s due.
Cultural Appropriation in Yoga: The Red Flags
This is where things get messy. You’ve probably seen it. Maybe it’s a yoga brand using sacred Sanskrit terms to sell expensive leggings. Or a festival where bindis are handed out as fashion accessories. Here’s what appropriation often looks like in modern yoga:
- Decontextualization: Teaching yoga as purely a physical exercise, completely divorcing it from its philosophical roots in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The poses (asanas) are just one limb of a vast, profound system.
- Commercialization: Using spiritual symbols like Om, Ganesha, or mandalas on products without understanding—or caring about—their significance. It turns sacred iconography into a marketing tool.
- Trivialization: Reducing complex concepts to buzzwords. “I’m so zen” or “Find your inner guru” can empty these terms of their deep meaning.
Cultural Appreciation: The Path of Respect
Appreciation is the antidote. It’s an active, ongoing process. It means acknowledging that yoga is a gift from ancient South Asian cultures and treating it as such. Key elements include:
- Education: Making a genuine effort to learn about yoga’s history and philosophy. Read the Yoga Sutras, learn about the eight limbs, understand the concept of dharma.
- Attribution: Crediting the source. A simple “This practice originates from…” or “The mantra we’re chanting today means…” can make a world of difference.
- Amplification: Centering and supporting South Asian voices in the yoga community. Hiring teachers of Indian descent, promoting their work, and paying them fairly.
Why This Conversation Matters Now More Than Ever
Well, the modern yoga industry is a multi-billion dollar beast. And with that scale comes a real risk of diluting—or outright erasing—the very culture it sprang from. It’s a classic case of the teacher becoming erased by the student. The physical benefits of yoga are undeniable, but when we ignore the spiritual and ethical dimensions, we’re only getting a fraction of the practice. We’re missing the point, honestly.
Plus, in an age of social media, the line is blurrier than ever. Is a beautiful photo of a pose on a mountain top appreciation or exploitation? It depends entirely on the intention and context behind it.
A Practical Guide: Moving from Taking to Honoring
Okay, so this all might feel a bit theoretical. How do you, as a student or teacher, actually practice appreciation? Here’s a kind of checklist, a way to audit your own approach.
| Action | Appropriation | Appreciation |
| Using Sanskrit | Throwing out pose names incorrectly or without explanation because it sounds “authentic.” | Learning proper pronunciation and briefly sharing the meaning of the pose’s name (e.g., “Virabhadrasana, named after a fierce warrior…”). |
| Chanting Om | Treating it as a cool sound to start class, with no context. | Explaining that Om is a sacred primordial sound representing the universe, and inviting students to chant with that intention. |
| Wearing Symbols | Wearing a mala bead bracelet purely as a fashion statement. | Understanding that malas are used for mantra meditation (japa) and wearing one with that respectful purpose. |
| Teaching Philosophy | Ignoring the Yamas and Niyamas (ethical guidelines) entirely. | Weaving lessons on non-violence (ahimsa) or truthfulness (satya) into the physical practice. |
It’s a Journey, Not a Destination
Look, nobody is expecting you to become a Sanskrit scholar overnight. The goal here is mindful progress, not perfection. We’re all learning. The very fact that you’re thinking about this puts you on the right path. It’s about shifting from a consumer mindset to a participant mindset.
Ask questions. Be curious. Support teachers and studios that are doing the work to honor yoga’s roots. And maybe, just maybe, the deepest yoga pose isn’t a handstand at all—it’s the humble act of listening and learning.
Because when we approach this practice with genuine respect, we don’t just transform our bodies. We connect to a lineage thousands of years old. And that connection, that reverence, is what turns a mere workout into something truly transformative.
