How Yoga Lost Its Way

The old gurus in India looked at all the tense, uptight Westerners and thought that those folks sure could use some yoga.

So they sent their ace number one students to help out.

Pattabhi Jois focused on the young energetic crowd.

BKS Iyengar focused on the older, less physically mobile geriatrics.

Bikram focused on the wealthy.

At first, all went well. Students came. Students learned. Full force, all you can eat, no holds barred, cage style, old school yoga.

They practiced hardcore, in dimly lit backrooms. In tatty cotton hippie pants. Underground, guerrilla style.

They practiced with their foot behind their head, while balancing on one hand. With the other hand holding the other foot in padangusthasna...And still they were beginners.

Soon word spread. There was a new fitness kid on the block.

Yoga and the modern, hyper-connected, politically correct, ethically conscious, carbon neutral westerner fitted together hand in glove...it was a match made in heaven.

Demand exploded.

Supply expanded to meet the demand. And here's where yoga started to get off track.

There was a buck waiting to be made.

Triple could be charged by slapping a recycled label on some expensive haute couture, uber trendy, tight leggings and singlets.

Or by making matts, staps, blocks and bolsters from recovered rubber tyres and repurposed bamboo.

Just like owning your own money printing press.

Now yoga wasn't in charge of yoga anymore. Money came to be in charge of yoga. Sure.

A few concessions had to be made by yoga. But what's a short cut here and there between friends. Who's gonna notice or complain? It's win win.

Students get to feel that they are making a difference just by working out! Now that's multi-tasking. What's not to like.

The more you work out. The more you save the planet.

More soon, J.