Is This Yoga?
- Gloria Finnan
- Nov 13, 2019
- 3 min read
Yoga today in the West is vastly different than what is was.
People are spending $100+ on LuLu Lemon yoga mats and pants? Why are people spending a ridiculous amount of money on expensive black leggings that look and feel the exact same as black leggings from Walmart, Kohl's, and Target? Not only are people buying it to show off the little logo on the side of the pants, but to "prove" they are serious about yoga? If you're serious about yoga, why not, ya know.... just do it? Yoga isn't meant to brag about. Now, people are comparing their strength to the practitioners around them and bragging about it to people who don't practice yoga. In one minute I heard a girl brag about the cost of her leggings and mat, how she feels like she's better than everyone in her class, and about the new essential oil she just bought. 🙄
Why else are people buying these insanely expensive pants?
Because sex sells. People will spend whatever amount of money on leggings that will make them look slimmer, but also curvier, and of course, to make them have a nice butt.
More pop culture yoga...
Yoga with goats? cats? dogs? bunnies? horses?
Even aquariums and zoos offer yoga because of their scenic views.
The reason? Simplicity and innocence. These animals are there to make a connection with and to forget about stress and noise, such as cellphones. Of course, you will find MANY people at goat yoga trying to take the "perfect" instagram picture.
And yoga in pop culture continues...
Namaste Rose and Vino Vinyasa anyone?
Why are people drinking wine and practicing yoga??
Usually tastings take place at the end of the yoga session. That's a way to motivate people.
People go to benefit socially. They go to make friends or they bring their friends. The alcohol is supposed to give you "double the zen" when relaxing. It was also stated that being in a "mindful state" will help you appreciate the taste better.
I guess wine and spirits help the mind, body, and spirit?
Sorry lame joke... lets move on....
I did some research into more material pieces of yoga that have been consumed by popular culture. In 1912 there was a Yoga Mascot where newspapers headlines "Buy a Yoga!" This figurine was of a man in a rob and turban sitting crossed-legged while holding a book. The base on the figurine said "Now you hold me in your hand- Do now wish, but make Demand!". This was marketed as a good luck charm. Keeping yoga-inspired items for good luck was popular for decades. There were good-luck coins with a printing of a turbaned swami manufactured and by the end of the 30s, a soda brand had a "Lucky Sam" soda with a logo of "Lucky Sam", a logo of a turbaned swami looking into a crystal ball.
In the late 20s swami jewelry and fabric were popular. In the 50s there was the Yogi Bird. The toy parakeet that had a coil-driven wheel and the feet were suction cups. Since it could walk on ceiling and up walls due the the suction cups, it was called Yogi Bird because it could defy gravity.
Next was the Swami Home Kloth that could clean a dirty car in 6 minutes because of its "magical" fast cleaning ability in the 50s. And of course, there came the Swami Fortune Teller toys.
When you hear the word "Yogi" what do you immediately think of? Is yoga really the first thing that comes to your mind?
Famous baseball player, Yogi Berra got his nickname because him and his friend were watching a movie and one of the scenes had a yogi it who looked very similar to the athlete. Fast forward to everyone's favorite bear, Yogi Bear. Now, this doesn't have to do with yoga, but it is interesting how the word "yogi" inspired a baseball player and then an animation studio.
Yoga today is heavily commercialized
I know this is meant to be comical, but is it offensive? Yet, we still buy these things, and still have children run up to the Swami Fortune Teller with coins to get a reading from him. That's not yoga, but it's where we took these products from.
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