I am entering into this question with still more questions than I feel like I have reasonable answers. I have been a teacher for nearly 20 years and appropriation has been something that has been on my mind more recently, frankly because it was not even a thing I considered or was discussed when I was a newbie teacher. I went with what I was taught and blindly followed those doing the teaching to me. I feel like when I was first being trained to be a teacher we had channeled this idealistic view onto many of the “teachers” of yoga. They were put on pedestals and you blindly followed what they were teaching because they were the teachers. I don’t think until I was comfortable enough in my own skin to start questioning and digging deeper for a different understanding. Frankly, through this class, I have had a greater pause on what I have been taught. I have not had such a “full” education on any of the topics we have discussed in this course. Due to this, I am questioning so much more and realizing where I have so much opportunity to grow. Overall this class has made me think about how I am approaching my teaching and what I am or not saying. I live in an area where I have grappled very strongly with the question of… “Is the yoga being taught in my area evolving for the better or would I even call it “yoga” anymore?” Some of it feels like a boot camp cardio class versus a deeper connected practice. There is a sentiment that it is yoga because the room is decorated with yoga-inspired things, then finishes with a namaste, however, some of the qualities of what I would consider a yoga class are not present. So is this yoga? For me, I am inclined to say no. I feel like there yoga-like things being layered into things that don’t resonate with my perception of a yoga practice. But, that goes deeper into this question, my perception of the practice is my perception and perhaps there is a deeper level of something I don’t know that inspires what I see?

I also see yoga in my area feel more disconnected than connected however because a bunch of “Love and lights” are thrown around, so everything is fine??? We need to take a deeper look at what we are teaching, saying, empowering, etc to understand what it means to do what we do, say what we say, and share what we share. If you are being an ass, “love and light” isn’t going to hide the fact that you are being an ass, but it is going to make me question what you are all about and if you are authentic in what you are teaching. I think this holds true when appropriation happens, is there an authentic connection to the symbol being used, word being said, etc., do you understand the symbols, words, idols, etc. or is there a different intent to the usage?

As a whole yoga is an appropriation. That point was made clear. In the higher realms of looking at it, a certain group of people have better access to yoga as a whole. Studios and teachers are bringing in the teachings, idols, words etc. of a culture that they may not fully understand and this is where I think there is an opportunity for growth and a deeper level of understanding. We need to have an understanding of the why behind what we do and why we do it. I think the biggest opportunity that comes from this class is that many of us need more education and understanding of where yoga comes from, how it has evolved, the influences of the people and cultures that have shaped it, the understanding of, overtime who has or has not had access to it, etc. I think we also have an opportunity to not let history repeat itself in some regards. We need to take notice who are the teachers, sharers, and consumers of yoga. What is the lens in which it is being distributed? Understand that the 30-second reel on Instagram isn’t the full story behind yoga. It is also important to understand the source of the knowledge. If we are receiving our information from a highly politicized area, how is propaganda shaping the message? We need to be able to listen, have dialogue, and discuss the blending of cultures and influences that have shaped and continues to shape yoga.

I also think there is an opportunity where as a community there is not quiet compliance. We should have discussions, question what we thought was a norm, and be open to people questioning why we do what we do. Where are we doing harm and where are we doing good? How can we make yoga more accessible while still understanding for many of us, we still need to make money? The questions can go on and on but I guess that is the point. To try to learn from what we did before that doesn’t serve what we will do in the future.

Thank you for the opportunity to think about this in greater detail. For me, it is certainly still grey, but I now feel more comfortable having a conversation around it.