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Question – teaching with respect & ahimsa
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Question – teaching with respect & ahimsa
Hello, fellow students. (: I’ve been contemplating something the past few weeks as I make my way through my training, and I wanted to hear your thoughts.
It is of value to me to make sure that I honor yoga’s cultural & historical traditions in my teaching, especially as a white woman teaching in America. However, this can feel like a blurred line whenever yoga is at times… subjective or perceived differently in different contexts. For example, I recently attended a workshop on the yoga sutra where I learned that yoga at the base, definition level in Sanskrit, has over 50 different meanings – some even conflicting each other (ie – yoga meaning “union” vs. yoga meaning something more isolated for the self). I’ve also been taught to take what is needed for my practice and leave the rest. I’ve seen yoga as Patanjali intended it, that different schools have different ways of doing things, and that historically, yoga is being developed and added to by different humans. I’ve also seen people from India online ridicule western ideas like “goat yoga” or certain workshops as appropriation and as not being yoga at all. All of this to say, I wonder where the line is between cultural appropriation vs. subjective / personal spiritual practice or creativity. I wonder if any of you have any advice or insights that could give me a better understanding, as I truly desire to reflect respect and ahimsa as a teacher. I appreciate your time and thoughts. Love, Bailey
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2 Replies
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I love this question, because I have the same concerns of wanting to respect the vast and beautiful tradition of yoga in my teaching, aknowledging that is not my original culture.
I feel like probably one of the ways of maintaining this respect is continuous study and humility but also curiosity and oppennes while learning.
Also, I would add that diminishing other people’s practice because yogic tradition is not in their cultural roots doesn’t seem very open hearted if their will and path is true.
Curious to hear other opinions and thoughts regarding this subject. 🙏
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My perspective on this as a British Indian is that at the heart of the practice, yoga is about being in the present moment and feeling the one-ness of everything around you – even if that includes goats haha.
I do think its culturally respectful to still highlight the traditional origins of yoga as the practice adapts to the modern world.
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