Take Yoga Back

The popularity of yoga continues to skyrocket in the Western world as yoga studios become as prevelant as Starbucks and the likes of Lululemon find continued success in the mass marketing of $108 form enhancing yoga pants.  As this $6 billion industry completes one Suryanamaskar (sun salutation) after another, there has been growing concern from the Hindu American Foundation about a conscious delinking of yoga from its Hindu roots. 

 

From asanas named after Hindu Gods to the shared goal of moksha to the common pluralistic philosophy, the Hindu roots of yoga seem difficult to deny.  Yet, more often than not, many Western yoga practitioners are aghast at the very suggestion that the cherished "spiritual practice" of yoga is firmly grounded in Hindu philosophy.  In fact, in a letter to Yoga Journal magazine, HAF noted its disappointment at finding countless descriptions of the Upanishads or Gita as "ancient Indian" or "yogic", but rarely "Hindu".

 

Shortly after being told by Yoga Journal  that "Hinduism carries too much baggage," the Foundation formulated its stance on this important issue with the release of its paper Yoga Beyond Asana: Hindu Thought in Practice, quoting extensively from both the legendary yoga guru B.K.S. Iyengar as well as his son, Prashant Iyenagar.  The stance paper highlights not only the delinking of yoga from its Hindu roots, but also the erroneous idea that yoga is primarily a physical practice based on asana.  Yoga covers a wide array of practices, embodied in eight “limbs,” which range from ethical and moral guidelines to meditation on the Ultimate Reality.  Asana is merely one "limb" which has become the crux of Western yoga practice.

 

In December 2009, HAF's Suhag Shukla had the opportunity to bright light to yoga's Hindu roots at the Parliament of World Religions in Australia during a panel discussion. Shukla spoke out against the commercial appropriation and misappropriation of yoga which purposefully delinks yoga from its roots in Hinduism.

 

A piece in the LA Times, Bending yoga to fit their worship needs, quoting yet another yoga instructor denying any and all religious roots lead not only to a Letter to the Editor, but also to the publication of The Theft of Yoga, the beginning of what eventually became know as The Great Yoga Debate: Shukla vs Chopra on the Newsweek/Washington Post On Faith site.  As HAF's Dr. Aseem Shukla proudly brought to light yoga's Hindu roots, Dr. Deepak Chopra penned his disagreement.  Shukla's reply, Dr. Chopra - Honor Thy Heritage, was met with continued resistance from Chopra.

 

The Great Yoga Debate received hundreds of comments from readers across the board. Within days, the Pioneer requested HAF to provide a piece of a similar strain, leading to yet another opportunity to take yoga back. 

 

The interest of the Interfaith Alliance was also peaked and lead to a radio interview with HAF's Sheetal Shah (the yoga interview begins approximately 13 minutes into the recorded segment).