Evolution Of Yoga In North America Essay

The Evolution of Yoga in North America

Introduction

Yoga has gained immense popularity in North America in the past few decades. However, the way yoga is practiced and viewed in modern times has significantly evolved from its traditional roots. The commercialization of yoga has resulted in a myriad of yoga styles, accessories, and studios, making it a multi-billion-dollar industry with millions of people participating in classes and workshops every year. In this essay, we will explore how the commercialization of yoga has changed or even evolved our view of what yoga is and how this shift has impacted the practice of yoga in North America.

Background Information To preface, this paper will not cover the whole entire history of yoga (due

In an article entitled: “Evolution of Yoga: From Spiritual Uplift to Business Outburst” written by Dayananda Swamy and Govindasamy Agoramoorthy, the two authors discuss how the commercialization of yoga has come to be, and what it means for the future of yoga. In a more filtered format, the two propose that as more and more companies enter the yoga market, the shift in how North Americans perceive yoga continues to change. This idea is presented when the two authors write: “... the promoters of Yoga adopt dazzling brands that vary sensationally to suit their target consumers and the stunning brand names include Anusara Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Divya Yoga, Isha Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Kriya Yoga, Sivananda Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Jivamukti Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Yin Yoga, etc” (Agoramoorthy & Dayananda, pg. 38). Yoga trends today seem to some as a shell of what yoga used to be, with companies selling expensive goods and offering expensive classes. If this trend continues, it may turn people away from yoga due to its high cost of entry, and could possibly even diminish its value as a practice for physical, mental, and emotional well-being. In support of this claim, the two authors

Yoga has been viewed in many different lights and has been defined in many different ways. More traditionally, yoga was viewed as a way to break free from one's life cycle. However, in recent years, the focus has shifted primarily to the physical practice of yoga, with an emphasis on achieving the "perfect" yoga body as well as having all of the fancy and expensive yoga equipment and gear. This focus on physicality has led to the commercialization of yoga, causing a surging boom of yoga studios, yoga clothing brands, and yoga retreats that cater to a primarily affluent, white demographic.

The commercialization of yoga has also led to a narrowing of the diversity of yoga practices and practitioners in North America. Traditional forms of yoga that are practiced in their country of origin, have been overshadowed by the more popular fad forms of yoga here in North America. Additionally, the Westernization of yoga has led to a disconnect between yoga and its spiritual roots, with many practitioners unaware of the deeper philosophical and spiritual aspects of the