Kate's Yoga Blog

Prompt: Is Yoga a Religion? Much of the criticism of yoga in the West as "cultural appropriation" comes from the position that yoga in India is part and parcel of the religious traditions of Hinduism. Do you believe Yoga is a religion? Support your position from experience and the materials presented in class. Response: While yoga in the traditional sense correlates with popular eastern beliefs of reincarnation and connecting to a higher reality, yoga itself was never a religion. A spiritual practice, yes, but the idea of yoga being a religion was only brought about as a way to separate it from hatha practices as shown in "Naked in Ashes" and make it more palatable to the west. To me, yoga feels as if it has religious elements, but it has always felt like more of a spiritual practice that can be done regardless of one's religion. I have always seen yoga as a mind quieting practice, rather than some sort of connection with a religious deity.

Prompt: Yoga is described as a breath-based practice. How much attention is given to the breathing in your yoga practice space? How is breathing explained and taught (yes, taught)? What is your experience with pranayama? Response: In my practice space, breathing is used for a couple of purposes. In the beginning of class, we do an exercise to bring consciousness to our breathing. We first focus on even breathing, then we inhale using the sacrum, next the belly, and next the chest, paying attention and constricting each space as the inhale moves upwards. Conversely, we exhale back down these three parts and slowly release the contraction. This exercise is repeated multiple times before the physical practice begins. Even breathing through the nose is maintained through the practice for the purpose of building heat within the body, and we practice "lion's breath" at the end of the physical practice, loudly exhaling through the mouth with tongue out to release this heat.

Prompt: Discuss the ways in which meditation is used in your practice space (or not). How important is the meditative aspect of yoga and how (if it is important) is it presented? What is your impression of meditation? Response: Meditation is typically used at the end of my practice. After the movement is over, we are asked to focus only on our breath. There is sometimes a guided meditation focusing on the chakras and the movement of energy gradually continuing up the body. In my practice, meditation is more of the winding down part of the practice in preparation for the end, and while it is sometimes emphasized, more importance is given to the physical practice. Meditation comes very hard to me because my mind is constantly racing. Guided meditations that give me something to continually focus on are easier, but sitting with my breath and not giving into distraction for any length of time is very hard. When I manage to do it correctly, however, it leaves me feeling very good and ...

Prompt - Think about the ways that yoga has been defined in word and action in your practice space and other experiences. What do you believe accounts for these definitions here in the United States? How does the definition differ from the way yoga is defined in India? Response -  Yoga is often defined as a spiritual practice centered around bettering oneself. In the classroom, topics such as self care, spiritual well being, relaxation, and physical fitness are highlighted. The US has marketed yoga as such, thus producing these types of definitions surrounding yoga in the west today. Yoga is marketed as a form of relaxation, a way to attain physical beauty, improve success, sleep, and sex appeal, and generally as a miracle cure all for the stresses and woes of American society. So naturally, when students flood yoga studios in search of these things, instructors ensure that those are what they will be getting by using them in their classroom dialogue. Yoga in India is also a spir...

Prompt - Yoga has made a transition from "traditional culture" to "counter culture" to "pop culture" here in the West. What have you observed about yoga that firmly establishes it as "pop culture"? What has been the effect on yoga in the West? Response - Yoga has definitely been transformed into a significant part of American pop culture. It is often marketed as a "cure-all" for an unfit body, for stress, for an unhappy sex life, for an unhealthy lifestyle, etc. which is something Americans tend to seek out and buy into. Yoga is also part of a broader "self care" rooted healthy lifestyle that is becoming extremely popular and sought after nowadays. Instagram personalities with thousands to millions of followers post videos of their slender, scantily clad bodies in perfect handstands or flowing through sun salutations against some picturesque back drop in Bali or Costa Rica. In the same breath, they are endorsing essential oi...

Prompt - How is yoga seen as a healing practice at your practice space? How is this communicated to you? Is this part of the class practice? How do you feel after doing yoga? Response - Yoga is often spoken about as an emotionally and physically healing practice in the classes I have taken. Yoga is often seen as energetically restorative and relaxing, and in a recent class I have taken, the instructor spoke about emotional and physical trauma getting stored in different parts of the body. Through different opening and stretching positions in the yoga class, these stored traumas were supposed to be released and those practicing were supposed to be able to heal this way. On a less spiritual level, yoga is thought of as a stress reliever and as a reliever of muscle pain or fatigue. I have also heard these things said in yoga classes. When I do yoga, it forces me to control my breathing and focus on just that and the positioning of my body for a while. The stretching and movement physica...