An article was published in Brave New Traveler today, Asanas For Sale: The Privatization Of Yoga. It inspired some thoughts on the economic forms that yoga is growing into. My thoughts will make more sense after reading the article.

Protectionism in yoga for the sake of profit is very disheartening. I fully support anyone who wants to explore a personalized style of yoga, the form that best fits each individual is unique. There shouldn’t be any absolutes, right and wrongs to how someone wants to practice. So I have no argument with diversified forms of yoga, it would be pretty hypocritical of me to say anything otherwise!

But putting a wall around a certain style of expression by slapping on a trademark or registration symbol, is unforgivably capitalist. Our economic system encourages entrepreneurs to seek profit by protecting ideas, and to share them only through licenses and user fees. I’m an optimist though – although yoga may increasingly fall victim to this system, I think generally (in the music industry, software, digital technology, and science) there is a movement to “free ideas” and let them take a natural shape based on shared experience and collaboration. Yoga should be about compassion, acceptance, exploration, unity and hopefully happiness.

Supporting individuals and studios that encourage yoga practice with an open minds and hearts – that’s where it’s at!