Who Owns Yoga?
Yoga “belongs to” Hinduism the way prayer “belongs to” Christianity. It’s a practice. It’s a vehicle for growth. It’s a tool for peace. As it was originally a Hindu practice, we may give it a polite nod of gratitude, but its physical and psychological benefits have outgrown one group of people.
As a yoga teacher, I like to make my classes about inclusiveness and acceptance. To me, trying to fit yoga into a religious pocket misses the point and the beautiful thing about yoga: there’s room in it for all faiths and belief systems.
In a country that so strongly believes in personal rights and freedom — not the least of which is freedom of religion — but also often struggles to find common religious ground, it seems as if yoga is a perfect opportunity to bring together many religions in an environment of mutual values of good health, celebration, gratitude, acceptance, and personal and spiritual growth.
As a yoga teacher, I like to make my classes about inclusiveness and acceptance. To me, trying to fit yoga into a religious pocket misses the point and the beautiful thing about yoga: there’s room in it for all faiths and belief systems.
In a country that so strongly believes in personal rights and freedom — not the least of which is freedom of religion — but also often struggles to find common religious ground, it seems as if yoga is a perfect opportunity to bring together many religions in an environment of mutual values of good health, celebration, gratitude, acceptance, and personal and spiritual growth.
