There’s a new yoga teacher on the block… She’s got blonde hair, big boobs, wears too much make up, and I hear she lives in a beach house in Malibu and drives a pink convertible–totally missing the whole point of the practice. She’s superficial and materialistic and, you know, plastic.
Introducing Yoga Teacher Barbie! (Coming soon to a Target near you!)
It’s ironic, really. All the things that have always made us shake our heads about the unattainable (and maybe a little warped) idea of perfection this iconic doll represents are the very thing that make her such an imperfect yoga teacher. She falls short of what many of us consider the ideal–health conscious, strong but flexible, humble, spiritually awakened, esoteric. Big boobed, anorexic Barbie just doesn’t fit the bill. Sorry Barbie! We don’t want your kind here.
It’s true. We LOVE to tell everyone how great yoga is for all body types. But we were talking about seniors, disabled, plus size and, well, men–not waif-like blondes and their cutesy designer dogs. (Although, maybe Barbie has a rescue Chihuahua.)
It’s not all bad news, though. Yoga Teacher Barbie is part of the “I Can Be…” line of dolls that includes Engineer, Architect, Pet Vet, and Dentist Barbie. If yoga teacher is a career as desirable as engineer, it gives a lot of us more prestige and, dare I say, validates it as a profession that takes lots of skill and training. I’m just glad Barbie isn’t giving up her other day jobs to pursue her dream of teaching yoga. After all a lot of teacher training programs require the salary of an architect (before the housing bubble burst) just for tuition.
Besides, if this doll sparks just a few little girls’ interest learning more about the practice or enrolling in a kids yoga class, I think it’s great! It might just set them on the path of a lifelong journey that we all know teaches self-acceptance, confidence to try new things, and positive body image.
Ha, that made me laugh! Not sure what I think about it really, perhaps like you say it'll serve to inspire.. 🙂
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Ha, ha! I must confess the idea of Yoga Teacher Barbie makes me roll my eyes but then again it does highlight my own personal prejudices. I used to occasionally take a class that was taught by a young, Barbieish-looking woman. At first I thought, 'oh please' but then I realized that she was actually a very good and sweet teacher. Funny thing is her class usually had more men than women (including my dear husband) so I now say good for her for getting the guys out on the mat! And shame on me for assuming that a pretty, blond woman would be somehow less qualified, inspiring or able to teach.
Oh bless, it's true. We love to vilify the Barbies among us…I wrote about this the other day too, and one of the women who left a comment mentioned that being blonde and pretty can be really hard in the world sometimes…
I'm one of those folks who doesn't care that Barbie is a yoga teacher. I really just think the doll is reinforcing an already very present stereotype – that yoga is for the 'waif-like' body, the dancer, the ex-gymanast.
I think you really have it wrong in this statement "We LOVE to tell everyone how great yoga is for all body types. But we were talking about seniors, disabled, plus size and, well, men–not waif-like blondes and their cutesy designer dogs" The reason that we love to tell everyone how great yoga is for all body types is because the folks you have listed are the UNDER represented groups of yogi's. The 'barbie's' of the yoga world are everywhere – yoga magazine covers, yoga clothing ads, yoga prop ads, yoga videos etc, etc. Barbie being a yoga teacher, so not a stretch or surprising – she fits the sterotype.
WOW yoga teacher barbie..I love this and want to take training.lol.
Is she wearing a Prana top and Lululemon pants, carrying a Manduka mat and sipping Yogi Organic tea from Whole Foods? That doesn't sound familiar.