week 7

Yoga has made a transition from "traditional culture" to "counter culture" to "pop culture" here in the West. What have you observed about yoga that firmly establishes it as "pop culture"? What has been the effect on yoga in the West?

I think what gives yoga such a pop culture feel is heavily influenced by those who practice it. For example, in the film Ashtanga NY, famous actors including William Defoe and Gwyneth Paltrow have jumped on board the yoga experience, practicing Ashtanga every day. Bikram, another popular modality in yoga has practitioners from every day people, up to Jennifer Aniston and Gisele Bundchen. I feel because we have some of the top people in Hollywood endorsing the use of practicing yoga every day has given it a drenched pop culture feel, when in reality yoga is a very intimate and individualized practice. It also seems that some of the most popular yogi’s that reside in the United states live in the most celebrity filled states. The founder of Bikram, for example resides in Hollywood; in Ashtanga, the founder, although lives in India, visited New York to teach his classes.

Yoga no doubt has a very glamorized component to it, according to the West, and I feel because of this, yoga has transitioned into a more “pop culture” feel compared to Eastern yoga. In many way, I feel these endorsements coming from some of the best in Hollywood, is why yoga in the United States is so popular.

This week I did practice with Ann Gray, and our Professor taught Shivananda. Some of these poses with Shivananda frighten me, I’m not going to lie. The idea of doing a handstand I don’t think will ever be incorporated into my individual practice. I did enjoy the class overall; however, I don’t think the flow of Shivananda is quite for me.