Yoga Inc?
| Member Comments (6)
Added Jul 31, 2009
An article in this week's New York magazine both criticizes and lauds Yoga goods retailer Lululemon for it's commodification of Yoga through merchandising the clothing as an essential part of Yoga practice. Personally, I do like the brand however the more I get into my Yoga practice I find myself less enamored of the trapping than I was when I started. My first experience with Yoga was in a NY health club - possible the worst environment to experience Yoga--the classes are a scant 45 minutes (forget about final relaxation), the studio was loud thanks to a techno spin class happening just next door, and the participants were type a competitive. I felt out of place with my generic blue wal-mart yoga mat (not of post-consumer recycled waste) and I even more out of place because I didn't have the "right" Yoga pants with matching om-printed tank top and Christie Turlington-esque headband. I busted in there with running short and a cast off tee from my husband- oh, and I got looks from the UWS Yogascenti. I was astounded by how much money could be spent on getting ready for a experience developed to be practiced wherever, whenever, in bare feet. I certainly don't remember seeing and Indian Yogi sporting the Yoga pant and doing asanas on J Crew mat.
Now I do Yoga at a private studio with the same old mat and wearing "whatever works"- I have the same old mat and I feel just fine. Actually, I feel better because I am in a class with people who are there for the practice and not the fashion show.
How do you feel about the proliferation of Yoga gear? Harmless or against the basic tenets of the practice. Or just the usual way that consumer culture corrupts everything. Also have you seen Yoga Inc.? If so , what are you thoughts?
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By Victoria Klein, Jul 31, 2009
Like any other industry, there are those that take it too far. I think many of the hundreds of yoga products available today are not needed to make your practice beneficial. I don't think yoga is corrupt, but more the people who do yoga (not ALL of them). Many only see the superficial side of yoga and how it can help your body. As many historical yogis have stated before, the Western world often forgets that asana (poses) are just one of the 8 basic concepts and practices in yoga.
What you are wearing doesn't matter. The company who made your mat doesn't matter. If you show up ON your mat every day (or at least a few times a week), you are starting on a path to mental AND physical transformation. Pretty soon, your practice will be less about products and more about cultivating patience, balance, and peace.
By Lauren Colley, Aug 02, 2009
Great topic. All I can say is, even if I could spend $80 on the cutest pants to wear to Yoga class, I wouldn't. I watched a trailer for Yoga Inc. just now and I feel like I should really see it.
It's a huuuuge industry-- there's tons of money to be made, but yes, I think that definitely corrupts the practice in a lot of ways. I don't know if I blame it on any one brand in particular-- I think it's the natural progression in America for our culture to commercialize an ancient practice. Make it sexier, make it more competitive, make it shiny and new... make it all of these things that are not really the aim of Yoga.
By Amy L, Aug 03, 2009
Haven't seen Yoga inc but will check it out. I'm glad you don't fall for all that!
I'm sure the ancient practitioners would tell us that the trapping that people sell mean nothing to the true Practice of yoga. But we do live in the US the heartland of Capitlism.
We just need to separate it from the practice and what it means to us, think. Like Valentine's day, which brings in a lot of money to card companies and jewelry makers, it doesn't have mar our own rituals and its history. I don't think we should throw the baby out with the bathwater or anything!
I'm glad other responders seem to agree!
By Baily, Aug 27, 2009
I was reading this article with my mother and we found it laughable that people would spend lots of money just to do yoga. I do yoga and the only thing I bought was a mat because the floor isn't comfortable to me. I have not seen Yoga Inc. Yoga gear may be ultra over rated but I think at least the mats and blocks are useful.
By Wes L, Sep 09, 2009
Wow! This topic is awesome! I have such mixed feelings about this stuff. I mean, part of me really wants to believe that whatever brings you to the mat (including looking sexy in a pair of Lululemon pants) is a good thing.
On a good note, the commercialization of Yoga has helped make it more accessible to many more people that probably never would have approached it. On another note, Yoga has become somewhat of a "premium practice, a luxury", which I think is so sad. Even doing private lessons, why is it SO expensive to work with a teacher one on one. Yoga is free, Yoga IS accessible to all. And, at the end of the day, Yoga is a path of self renunciation....but like most things in American Culture, Yoga has become a path of self indulgence.
I can really go on and on about this subject. I can fully understand and appreciate that people come to the path of Yoga for many reasons and thats fine. I really do believe that eventually as it takes root in a person's soul the truth, or Satya, will manifest itself. But, I also full heartedly believe it is the responsibility of the teaching community to stay true to the practice. If you want to become an instructor, and you have NO interest in the holistic and spiritual components of Yoga, then maybe teaching Yoga isn't your calling (maybe teach Pilates instead?).
By cindy s, Sep 15, 2009
I absolutely agree. I do it at the Ymca right now, but that is because we don't really have any other options where I live. I already had the membership and I wanted to take my at home practice a step further. I have "yoga" clothes that I bought at the thrift store. I got my mat from amazon, and that is really for hygeine purposes, and I hate smelling the rug. LOL any ways, I see all these advertisements and I am like, is this what yoga is about now? $80 pants? At least the yoga instructer at the ymca wheres shorts and a tshirt. She doesn't care. That makes you feel comfortable at first. It is loud there because we are by the weight room, my dream would be to open a studio here in town.