Comments on: Yoga fusion run riot

By: punjobmi

punjobmi — Tue, 17 May 2005 05:24:47 +0000

MD: I don’t usually go om after yoga class though. Sometimes I grab a bite to eat, sometimes I go out with friends, sometimes I even go back to work. Do you think all desis are omly?

By: Al Mujahid

Al Mujahid — Tue, 17 May 2005 05:19:28 +0000

MD, My wife has never taken a Yoga class. She was aware of ‘Yoga’ itself but was not aware of its origins. My wife is otherwise pretty well informed about the World. She does suffer from Americanitis though which sometimes leads her to ask questions like “What language do they speak in Bangladesh ?”

By: MD

MD — Tue, 17 May 2005 01:28:32 +0000

AM, re: the not knowing, I didn't mean your wife! Yikes - I was talking about the uptight Praisemoves lady.

Sigh. I always stick my foot into it, don't I? Once again, I have to apologize on SM for being absent minded.

I guess what I meant is that a lot of gyms do yoga classes that don't discuss the breathing or origins of yoga, so that it is understandable that someone might not know. Sheesh.

By: MD

MD — Tue, 17 May 2005 01:25:04 +0000

My first thought was, how dim do you have to be to not get that yoga is related to Hinduism? The om at the end of class didn't tip you off, oh rocket scientists?

I blame this on all these stupid power yoga classes which are basically just fancy aerobics. Real yoga is something different.

Why do people like this get so uptight? I go to church occasionally, go to the synagogue, am not the least bit afraid of it though I am Hindu. But I suppose Hinduism is more open in this way....

Man.

By: DesiDancer

DesiDancer — Mon, 16 May 2005 22:09:48 +0000

I’d like it if Apul bought the box-set and gave us a detailed review and progress report…

By: Maitri

Maitri — Mon, 16 May 2005 20:59:40 +0000

PraiseMoves … hmmm, methinks it’s not so much about praise, but a move to be the first to TM an incipient movement and make $$ off it. Money from religion – gasp! – unheard of!

I wouldn’t worry too much about the (mis)appropriation of yoga moves. Has any one of you been to and observed your fellow exercisers at a Jazzercise class?

By: Saheli

Saheli — Mon, 16 May 2005 19:59:32 +0000

Dude, if they’re going to spazz out so much, then I’m glad they’re not doing yoga. If they have that much contempt for my religion/culture, then I don’t want them to benefit from its products at all. They can make do with their made-up Praise moves.

By: DesiDancer

DesiDancer — Mon, 16 May 2005 17:49:37 +0000

AM- not knowing is one thing, and totally understandable. Spazzing out about it and washing ones mouth out with soap, metaphorically, is completely different.

By: Al Mujahid

Al Mujahid — Mon, 16 May 2005 17:38:10 +0000

A LOT of Americans are not aware of the origins of yoga. My non desi wife was not aware of the origins of Yoga either (not that she cares anyway)

By: DesiDancer

DesiDancer — Mon, 16 May 2005 17:09:15 +0000

I don’t know why the christians are all freaked out about yoga having such (gasp) hindu roots… it’s not like they could convert to hinduism anyway…