One of the biggest misconceptions about the yoga community is that we’re all lovey-dovey peaceful hippies who hold hands and sing “Kumbaya.” It’s good that people think we’re an agreeable bunch that goes with the flow and accepts everyone no matter their flaws. And it’s true … to an extent. But there are a few hot-button, controversial topics in yoga that can quickly disrupt the peace. And while we might not exactly go for each other’s jugulars, we debate these topics with such passion and conviction it might even sound (to the untrained ear, of course) a lot like petty arguing.
Photo by Robert Bejil
Here are the five most hotly-debated issues I could think of, and why I think we should all just get along.
5 Most Controversial Topics in Yoga
1. The Great Vegetarian Debate
Some schools of yoga say you absolutely can NOT eat meat and call yourself a yoga student. That’s because one of the niyamas of yoga is ahimsa, or non-harming. And, well, you can’t eat meat without harming another living being. Of course, you can’t eat anything without harming something. Consider the harm you’re doing to the environment when you drive to your local grocery store or farmer’s market to buy vegetables. I’m not saying it’s a good practice to eat animal products, I’m just saying that all of us are responsible for harming in one way or another, why condemn others for choosing to find other ways to harm less?
2. Religion
In ancient times, yoga and Hinduism went hand-in-hand. Even today, yoga philosophy sounds a lot like Buddhism to me. And yet, I still maintain that yoga is NOT a religion, unless you want it to be. Sometimes yoga feels a lot like church to me, and other times it doesn’t. As far as I’m concerned you can call it whatever you want. Yoga is about connection and mindfulness. If chanting to Krishna helps you find that connection, great. If banning all Sanskrit and philosophy helps someone else find that same connection, great.
See also 3 Lies Your Yoga Teacher Tells You
3. The Yoga of Money
Should one person be able to trademark (and make $$$ from) a set of yoga poses, even though those poses were passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years? Is it OK to charge others $18 a pop to lead them through those poses? How about $98 for a pair of oh-so-flattering yoga pants (I love yoga fashion!)? Yoga and money might not always fit together as gracefully as Up Dog and Down Dog, but how can you fault someone for doing what they have to do (charge money) for making the practice of yoga available to others? Capitalism is the name of the game today, and if it weren’t for the exchange of money for yoga I’m pretty sure I would never have set foot in a yoga studio. Does it cheapen an ancient practice? Or is it a necessary means to an end? We could debate this one for months and never come to any worthwhile conclusion, so maybe we should just forget it and practice yoga… a highly INDIVIDUAL practice! To each his or her own, I say.
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4. Yoga is an All-Girls Club. (No Boys Allowed!)
I’m not going to lie. I love seeing the magazine covers with strong, beautiful, bendy women practicing awe-inspiring poses in front of a girly pastel pink backdrop. I pick it up off the shelf and think, “Finally! A magazine for ME!” It just wouldn’t have the same effect for me with a male model. But I also realize that the same pictures that I find so inspiring turn thousands of men away from the practice of yoga–which is a shame because they need it SO badly. But you know what? My yoga history studies have taught me that years ago, before yoga came to America, women weren’t even allowed to practice. It was for men only. In a few years when yoga becomes more commonplace for men, maybe we’ll be even. As long as you’re warm and welcoming to everyone who plops down on a mat next to yours, you’ve done your part.
5. Gym Yoga
Yoga purists sometimes poo-poo gym yoga classes because the main objective is usually to get a workout, not to eventually reach enlightenment. And, of course, there are gym yoga fanatics who prefer fitness yoga because they don’t like the spiritual aspect of the practice or they just don’t want to pay yoga studio prices. But how can you make such sweeping generalizations? There’s no way you can put all yoga classes that take place in gyms in the same category! Besides, even the most fitness-oriented gym yoga class is often a gateway to a more “spiritual” yoga practicce. Practice wherever you feel at home! And don’t judge other people for doing something different… It’s not very “yogic.”
See also 10 Things Every Beginning Yoga Student Should Know
Did I miss anything?
Yoga started from people connecting to mother nature and the belief that mother nature had the power and as time and weather and mindsets changed so did the practice of yoga change. Adapting to those ancient times and society.
The practitioner chooses what he/she wants from Yoga.
You have brought up some very interesting points. Yoga or no yoga one should never judge others.
Again great points for a wonderful discussion
I have mixed feelings on alot of the five topics, but I agree with your underlying statement which I understand to be "Yoga shouldn't tell you what to do, rather encourage a lifestyle".
As far as the women's only club I am used to that, 10 years ago I was the only guy at my Weight Watcher's meeting – while its not 50/50 now – its improving there and it will with yoga as well.
I agree with Yoga Savy, especially about the judgment. I was trying to think of any other controversies and all I could think of was judgment of different types of yoga. People are constantly thinking and often not verbalizing, "This yoga is the Bestest or the coolest, that type is awful." The controversies are in peoples minds. Some judge gentle yoga, and others judge "sweaty yoga" or yoga that they deem too challenging.
interesting that yoga was originally just for men!
This article is based on judgement and harm. For starters, choosing 'five topics' and full of opinions and conclusions is judgement. The article, however, is in poor judgement, void of many facts. Proper, healthy judgement is something to strive for. Even the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali advocates Vitarka (sound reasoning) and Vicara (sound judgement). He makes it clear there is no enlightenment 'journey' without that as part of foundation. In addition to Vikalpa (verbal delusion), i.e: separating meaning from words.
As to harm…the Yogas (Karma Yoga, Bhakti Y, Hatha Y., Raja Y. etc.) are the progressive religious/spiritual practices of Hinduism and sects to yog/yuj/link/join Atmana (individual soul) to Brahman (Soul source) a basic Hindu tenet. There is no Yoga w/o Hinduism and no Hinduism w/o the Yogas. They are specific practices w/i a specific religion. For ex.; Bhakti Yoga is worship and so is Mass, but the similarities come to a close and are specific and recognizable to Hinduism/Catholicism. Re-defining, stealing, exploiting, etc., the meanings of Hindu sacred practices/terms are contrary to many of the Yamas (harming, truthfulness, stealing) as well as plain old common sense. Below are definitions, from scholarly texts vs. opinions, of often misrepresented words. Also,names are often very telling; "Spoiled" (Oxford;1)damage, diminish value of, decay, plunder,2)overindulge, especially a child) "Yogi" ??? (see below).
~Sanskrit: The ancient language of the Hindus [Webster's] Note: all subsequent terms are Sanskrit (Skr.) and thus Hindu
~Aum/Om: The most sacred syllable in Hinduism [Oxford World Religions]
~yoga: Skr. "Hinduism" [Webster's]
~yoga: Oneness of Atmana and Brahman [Dict. of Skr. Names]
~yogi/yogini: (male/female) Hindu Ascetic [Oxford World Rel.]
~Atmana: Skr. Self/Spirit; Hinduism [Webster's]
~Brahman: Skr. Hindu Religion [Webster's]
~yoga: Skr. A Hindu discipline [Oxford Am. Dict.]
~ yoga: Skr. A system of Hindu religious philosophy [Thorndike Barnhardt]
~yoga: Skr. general term for spiritual disciplines in Hinduism [Columbia Encyclopedia]
~Swami: Skr. Title of respect of a (Hindu) Holy man or teacher. [Oxford World Religions]
~Guru: Skr. A teacher of worldly skills…more often of religious knowledge…liberation (Moksa). [Oxford World religions]
~Moksa: Release/liberation – the fourth and ultimate goal of Hinduism. [Oxf. World Religion]
~Veda Skr. The most ancient sacred literature of the Hindus. [Webster's]
~The first recorded evidence of the Skr. word "yoga" is found in the Vedas."Seers of the vast illumined Seer yogically control their minds and intelligence." Rig Veda V.81.
~Upanishads: Text in Hinduism which ends or completes the Vedic corpus (body of [Hindu] laws)[Oxf. World Religions]
Great blog post. I like ones that push buttons. They make us think and help us grow as people & souls.
I think your post boils down to common sense and The Golden Rule. We all need more of both in all aspects of our lives.
(aka @Lucky_Yogini)
Dear Yati
You are right – this article is full of judgement. Your response is also full of judgement. My response will be full of judgement as well. In everything we say there is our judgement. This is because we cannot look at things without judging them. Our perception of everything is tainted by our personality, which makes us interpret things in different way. It is a natural thing. Now, it is a very interesting issue you've raised in your post – the fact that our judgement can be harmful. The REAL question, the question I still try to answer myself is this: when is our judgement harmful? And when is it right?
From your post, I surmise you believe the judgement is right when it concurs with what is written in sacred texts and with what is being know as tradition. That is a possible and valid stand. Since I'm not a wise person and am not as well-read as you, I am unable to say whether you're right and wrong. But while your stand is perfectly logical and possibly true, this is simply not what I believe.
I believe that people can be really, really hurt when they are judged harshly on the basis of predefined rules present in sacred texts and tradition. I believe strict rules often do not take into consideration the fact that people can have different needs and limitations. To me a harmful judgement is the judgement that tries to force people into categories they do not fit and make them do something they are not ready for. The right judgement, on the other hand, is the judgement that respects other people – the fact that they need different things, think in a different way and have their own way of finding happiness.
Now, let me tell you my story, so that you can see why I disagree with you. You can judge it as you find fit, since it is your right to do so. I am an imperfect person with a lot of limitations. I perceive world in terms of logic and empirical evidence. I do not believe in God or any higher being, because I can't believe things I do not have empirical evidence for. This is possibly a limitation. Or maybe not – I am not able to say. Whatever the case, I respect it, just as I respect the stiffness of my hamstrings that does not allow me to go into a very deep forward bend or my height that makes most of the yoga mats too short for me. I do not believe (and maybe will never believe) in any God, thus I will not sing to Krishna. I will not believe in chakras, because they are against my reason. I will not convert to hinduism, because it would be something done against me. Still, I try to find happiness – with my limitations, with my needs, with my personality, which is what it is and is not bound to change (and honestly speaking, I don't want it to change very much, because I learned to accept myself, love myself and make the most of what I've got). And it happens so that yoga, my very imperfect yoga, practiced first in a gym, then in a studio, without chanting to Krishna, without forcing myself to follow a vegetarian diet that does not feel ok for me, that this yoga makes me a happier person. It feels right to me. I started noticing positive changes in my life once I took up my yoga practice. So I will continue practicing. It makes perfect sense to me to do a thing that makes me happy in a way that feels right for me. I'm grateful to hinduism for giving me yoga. But please, let me do it my way and don't force anything on me (or other people). I hope it will not diminish your own happiness :).
I love you. Seriously.
Yay! Just talking about these hot button topics lets some air into what often feels like a stuffy, stuffy room. Thanks for opening a window!
It is all very nice to quote from texts but until you actually live and can quote from personal experiences I think the debate is useless.
It is our human nature to judge and times have changed from those ancient worlds and thoughts but it is also in our hands to control what who where we judge or not judge.
'ThisOneOptimistic' point views were based on personal experiences Yati what is your personal journey?
Just my thought
Wow. I knew this post would start a bit of a debate, but I didn't expect such a huge response. I guess it just goes to show that we all have strong opinions about what the purpose of yoga really is! It's an important discussion, and I appreciate all of the opinions–especially the ones that differ from my own. I believe these debates bring us closer to truth, acceptance, and understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
I linked to you http://movinggrace.blogspot.com/2010/07/my-philosophy-on-philosophy.html
Yes, let’s all just get along:)
Hi, I enjoyed reading your post but was researching possible topics for a forum related to meditation. I will continue my quest !