I want to start this blog by acknowledging yoga’s roots, acknowledging that this beautiful practice, and all that it offers us actually comes from somewhere, India.
The discussion of appropriation in yoga is a huge topic, and as a white, Scottish yoga teacher I have often felt unequipped to take part in it. Recently though, I’ve started exploring and teasing out meanings within yoga and learnt that I actually have a duty to take part in this discussion, to learn from BIPOC teachers and to challenge what I say and why. The discomfort that I shied away from around cultural appropriation has now become my fuel for change. I’m embodying the Niyama ‘ Svadhyaya’ by practicing self reflection, observation and study of the self.
Through this self study and learning from some amazing yoga teachers I’ve decided to change up some of my yoga teaching. I’m no longer going to end our classes with ‘Namaste’.
For as long as I can remember, most classes that I’ve attended have always ended with Namaste, and in my first teacher training, that’s what I was taught to say. But Namaste is actually a greeting, not an ending. It’s a welcome, a reverence and sign of respect., a phrase that would be used to say hello or to welcome a spiritual teacher or elder. It makes more sense to say Namaste in the beginning of the class, not the end. I’ve realised that over the years, I’ve been misappropriating the word.
Rather than feel judged, or feel like 'I’m doing something wrong’, I take this is an opportunity to get curious about yoga’s roots, to be a student, to delve into self study and to explore how we can embody yoga’s wisdom within all aspects of our lives.
And I very much look forward to exploring and journeying with you all.
References