Is Yoga Cultural Appropriation?

What is cultural appropriation? Cultural appropriation is defined as the process by which Intellectual property, artifacts, dance, clothing/fashion, language, music, food, religious symbols, medicine, wellness practices and more are used for purposes that were unintended by the original culture and may even be offensive to that culture. 

With yoga, this can often be seen through the adaptation of practices in ways that sterilize them for the West by stripping the spiritual aspects of the philosophy, by refusal to use Sanskrit words, or by removing the symbols or stories that exemplify the teaching. Another example of cultural appropriation is at the opposite extreme through the glamorization of yoga through commercialism and marketing. Within the modern Western yoga community, Om symbols, Sanskrit scriptures, and Hindu deities are emblazoned on clothing, yoga mats, and even as tattoos on practitioners’ bodies!

After decades of involvement with a classical lineage of yoga, I have been accused of cultural appropriation. Indeed, I do have a Sanskrit name given to me by my guru in India. I use my legal name in my daily, worldly life. When teaching, I wear the orange clothing of being a swami. I wear regular clothing other times, though I do have a lot of orange clothes! When I teach, I use the Sanskrit terms, but I add the English equivalent until my students embrace the meaning. I have statues of a variety of deities within my living space. I also have many other artifacts and works of art from other cultures. 

I do not feel my choices involve cultural appropriation, rather I believe what I practice is cultural appreciation. As an American within a global community, what hasn’t come from another culture? To me cultural appreciation involves respectfully seeking to learn and understand while honoring the beliefs of others, giving credit to the culture from which information has come, and most importantly knowing the significance of what is being utilized.

From the time of my first trip to India more than 40 years ago, I have felt a familiarity, a deep connection with the culture that far surpasses what I’ve felt when traveling to so many other countries around the world. And I believe that my involvement with yoga came from and continues to manifest from this place of deep connection and cultural appreciation.

Rather than sanitizing yoga of symbols and stories that have arisen from the ancient culture of India, I appreciate them and use them to further illustrate the depth of the teachings. It’s also important to understand that because yoga is based on the science of living, the symbols and stories that have been associated with yoga are as “modern” now as they were in the past. 

The history of storytelling is a part of virtually all cultures as a learning tool to help us connect more fully with life and guide us to find our better self.

In telling the stories we are offering easily remembered life lessons and this should not be confused with advocating for any religion. The stories help us better understand how the difficulties we face that are the same as those faced for eons across cultures and offer lessons that can improve self-awareness and self-efficacy.

Today I will tell you one of my favorite stories. It is the story of Ganesh, one of the most popular deities both in the West and in India. Perhaps you have seen Ganesh? He is the elephant-headed, pot-bellied, eater of sweets! He is also the son of Shiva, who represents the universal consciousness and his consort Parvati, who represents the universal energy. These two forces underpin the entirety of the universe.

Shiva liked to go out hunting with his hordes known as the Ganas. These were all sorts of beings that were frightening to be around but were true devotees to Shiva.

When Shiva went out, Parvati enjoyed the quiet solitude by rubbing her body with turmeric paste and then bathing. However, Shiva knew this habit and often came home early just to annoy her as happens between couples!

After this happened a few times, the next time Shiva left, Parvati took the turmeric paste and molded it into a small boy, then breathed into him bringing him to life. She declared he would be her loyal son and posted him on guard duty outside the door of the house.

It’s important here to remember that Parvati is the embodiment of universal energy and imbued her son with great powers. 

After some time, Shiva came home only to find this strange boy sitting outside blocking the way preventing Shiva from entering his own house! This angered Shiva who tried to push past him only to find this little guy had incredible strength. At this point, Shiva turned to his hordes and told them to destroy the little boy but all failed. This surprised Shiva and in his divine fury a huge battle ensued and at some point, the boy’s head was severed, killing him, and in the chaos of the moment it rolled away!

At this point, due to the commotion, Parvati comes out from her bath and sees what has happened. Imagine what happens when the universal energy gets angry! She decided that her only recourse was to destroy the entirety of creation. 

Brahma, who represents the lord of creation had been out with Shiva and his hordes was a bit dismayed about this, and he began to plead with Parvati to reconsider. Calming her down, Parvati said she would refrain from doing so if two conditions were met. One, that her son would be brought back to life, and two that he be forever worshipped before all other deities.

They all agreed that this would be done, and Brahma was sent with orders to either find the head or to bring back the head of the first creature he found. After some time, Brahma returned with the head of an elephant and Shiva placed it on the body. He then breathed life into him, saying Ganesha would become his son as well and gave him the status of being foremost among the deities and the leader of all the Ganas. Ganesha is also referred to as Ganapati, the leader of the Ganas.

And they all lived happily ever after.

In reviewing the symbolism of the story Parvati represents the cosmic energy that sleeps within us. The process of classical yoga involves the process of purification to awaken this energy, to empower us to reach our higher consciousness. The bath symbolizes the process of purification to release us from what binds us to the external manifestations of life. The turmeric paste is bright yellow and symbolizes the earth element. Once this purification occurs, we meet our higher consciousness which may arrive unannounced!

One reason that Ganesh is so loved is that he is considered the remover of obstacles. However, many don’t realize that first he is the obstacle! Associated with the earth element, he also represents the ego, that aspect of us that can keep us from the process of purification through meditation and knowing our true nature. He is protecting the cosmic energy in the story. He the obstacle to purification.

The cutting off of the head symbolizes the cutting of the ego. It is the ego with its likes and dislikes that keeps us bound to the material life and prevents us from engaging with our spiritual potential. To become successful in the process of purification, we must realize how the ego is the obstacle and it needs to be overcome.

Replacing Ganesh’s head with that of an elephant represents the replacement of our little, petty ego with a big universal ego. This doesn’t mean becoming egotistical, rather there is disidentification with the small self and connection to the more universal Self

Ganesh is therefore the one who puts the obstacle there and has dominion over removing it.

Does this sound like you? Who puts your biggest obstacles in your way? And who removes them? The expression, “you are your own worst enemy” might be true. And it’s often true that we have big breakthroughs in discovering our inner strength when we are challenged by life’s circumstances. 

When we are in the middle of the battle, we can’t always defeat the obstacles preventing us from moving forward. But when we get the guidance we need to reach deep inside and find our power, those obstacles can be removed.

Remember the story. When I see or think of Ganesh I see that part of me, that ego-driven self that gets in my own way from being all that I can be. I am Ganesh. I am the obstacle and I have the power to remove it as well. The story of Ganesh symbolizes each of us.