University yoga class suspended due to ‘cultural appropriation’ dispute
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/university-yoga-class-suspended-over-cultural-appropriation-dispute-a6744426.html
I think it’s offensive for Western people to be eating sushi. Don’t even get me started about them eating with chopsticks…
I saw this on Buzzfeed and nearly puked. Chill out, people. I’m so confused by PC-nuts people. Do they really have nothing else to do? And besides, almost everything in America could be considered “unacceptable ‘cultural appropiation’ of a non-Western practice.” If this is the world that I’m growing into, I plan on moving to Europa and chilling with the microbes I want to study… bye
But why can everyone else appropriate from the Western European culture? That’s it! No more hamburgers and cable TV for the rest of the world!!
No more beer.
People have complained about race and socioeconomic imbalances within the yoga community for years. I am not surprised college students would want to kick it up a notch…
A few years ago Ann Coulter’s appearance at the University of Ottawa was labeled hate speech and the event was cancelled. Afterwards the Provost of the university reminded reporters that freedom of speech was an American concept, not a Canadian value.
Yogi Lives Matter
^this is a good point. All this “free for all” me me me protesting brings down the things that are important and do need to be addressed.
Otherwise, ban blonde hair dye and end appropriation of my culture! Of course I’m being ridiculously facetious!
Perhaps this is a good thing showing how far the pendulum has swung–maybe it’ll change direction now.
This was a peculiar situation, because there didn’t seem to be anybody complaining that the yoga course in question was an appropriation of the complainer’s religious beliefs. But as somebody else noted, this is a controversy in the yoga world. The case might look different if there was a complaint from a religious group.
There is a yoga world???
Sadly the students that protested missed the history lesson on how India deliberately exported yoga to increase cultural awareness and gain internarional support for independence. And that modern “yoga” as such was a bit of a made up thing created for export. By banning yoga the students are actually going against the intent of country of origin, if one can even really claim a country of origin for yoga.
Next up, one wonders if they’re going to try banning all martial arts classes too.
Note: nobody banned yoga classes. An entity that was sponsoring them decided to stop doing so. I think the reasoning is faulty, but if they had given no reason at all there would be no story.
I do have to say I feel stupid and a fraud “ohmmm”-ing in my yoga class. And I quit another yoga class because there was chanting in Hindi… or Sanscrit… or something. Which made me feel like I was an actor in a SNL sketch.
I do Tai Chi in a matter of fact class that has no bs. It is tremendously helpful. Benson and others’ work with medication for medical benefits could also be accused of cultural appropriation. I think it is wonderful that cultures can cross-pollinate but there is certainly a danger, and a reality, of dilution or distortion of the original. Short attention spans in our culture may certainly do that to ancient disciplines, but that does not mean they aren’t still of some benefit.
When other cultures appropriate US ways, it is cultural imperialism- and many times that description fits. I have never heard India accused of cultural imperialism but from what one poster above says, perhaps that was what occurred at some point with some yoga. Honestly, the fascination with all things Eastern started with the Beatles in the early 70’s!!
Hunt–You are right in the “no reason, no story” but this is the reason they chose and it does make it a story.
It’s not finances–she taught the course for free to disabled students. Can’t imagine that many students are happy about another few making decisions about seeming morality for them.
Katlia–The instructor offered to change the name to “Mindful Stretching”. Guess you could hum “get milk and eggs” if that’s what helps focus your mind. Which is another SNL sketch…
Mid sixties, Rishikesh. Beatles were broken up by the early 70s 
OK , I’ m about as liberal as could be, but this is ridiculous!
No chanting and no omhing in my class. I love my class. It’s basically stretching and breathing. It very important to keep yourself flexible as you age.
Every movement has its ridiculous moments. Anyone here ever take part in bra burning? That was the senior prank at my high school: a giant pile of bras went up in smoke. While fun, I really doubt it did anything to advance the feminist cause.