Yoga has various definitions and meanings depending on who you ask, but broadly, this ancient practice has long been used to promote physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. However, in the United States, yoga often comes with stereotypes like the "yoga body" and misconceptions about who can participate. This article explores these stereotypes, the challenges they present, and how yoga is evolving to become more inclusive for everyone.
What is Yoga?
Yoga– it can be described as a philosophy, religion, or practice depending on who you ask. So, the question of “What is yoga?” is quite hard to answer. At its core, yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India, combining physical postures, breathing techniques, meditation, and ethical principles to promote physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Yet, what is not hard to answer is whether or not yoga has become a huge practice here in the United States.
The Popularity of Yoga in the United States
In an article written by Shreena Niketa Gandhi for the “Religion and Popular Culture” journal in 2017, a study conducted by the Yoga Journal in 2012 showed that around 20.4 million Americans practiced yoga, with Americans, as a collective, spending more than 10 million USD on yoga-related classes and materials. This statistic alone is a testament to the mental and physical health benefits of yoga.
The rise in yoga has been coupled with an American twist to the practice, creating an image of yoga in America that doesn’t explicitly mirror the yoga practiced in India, its originating country, a practice that commonly occurs when traditions move outside of their native countries.
The "Yoga Body" Stereotype
One of the aspects of the image of yoga here in America is what is known as the “yoga body”, the body type typically associated with the image of yoga here in America. This body type tends to lean towards those of smaller size, promoting an idea that yoga is only possible for those of smaller sizes, shutting out those who are of a larger size, discouraging some from partaking in yoga.
Challenges and Misconceptions in Yoga Practice
Not only is there a certain image attached to who can participate in yoga but there is also a push to be able to achieve certain positions within yoga, some of which might be uncomfortable or even dangerous for some individuals. This along with the “yoga body” can also discourage some Americans from participating in yoga as they are being led to believe that their ability to participate in yoga rests on their weight or flexibility.
Making Yoga Inclusive for All Body Types
Thankfully, due to social media and the ability to easily reach the masses, yoga teachers fully aware of yoga outside of the stereotypical image of yoga practitioners have stepped forward to debunk myths surrounding who can practice yoga. In an article written by OM Yoga magazine, tips are given to yoga instructors on how to create a welcoming environment for all body types.
The article points out how encouraging students to not focus on achieving certain positions or maintaining them but to instead focus on making sure that each student is feeling comfortable by incorporating the use of props, not rushing movements, and promoting various variations of positions so that students are able to find positions suitable for themselves.
The Power of Language in Yoga Teaching
Going further into detail, an article posted on the Yoga International website by Amber Karnes discusses the importance of recognizing the power of language as a yoga teacher, stressing that creating a hierarchy in poses, telling students what they will feel during different positions, and forgetting to learn about any potential injuries a student may be currently healing from are all harmful ways to run a yoga studio or teach a yoga class.
Both of these techniques to make yoga more inclusive and acceptable are great, as for many who do not have the traditional “yoga body”, concerns surrounding being in a yoga class and potentially judged are also factors keeping individuals away from yoga studios.
The Health Benefits of Yoga for All
As we can see, there is much effort being put forth by yoga teachers all over to make it more inclusive and acceptable to everyone, and for good reason, as the health benefits of yoga are recognized by health professionals. In the book Debating Yoga and Mindfulness in Public Schools: Reforming Secular Education or Reestablishing Religion by Candy Gunther Brown, the positive effects of mindfulness practices in reducing stress are pointed out repeatedly alongside specific scenarios such as incorporating yoga into American schools to help reduce stress in children.
The Future of Yoga: Accessibility and Benefits
While the studies are still being done, so far signs point to yoga as a great tool capable of improving the health benefits of not just adults but children also. By making sure that yoga is accessible to everyone not just on a physical level but a financial level also, we are making sure that as many as possible are able to try out yoga for themselves and test the health benefits of yoga.
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