“Namasthe” warrants a post of its own as it has become the poster child of appropriation that “lay Indians” - meaning everyday people from India or of Indian heritage - (not just yoga practitioners or academics) are getting annoyed with. Namasthe has become the trigger for the exclusion that is seen in yoga spaces and studios in the west. Many BIPOC people (Black Indigenous & People Of Colour) feel they do not belong, as they enter white spaces and this is the push back for that.

This is also the push back from years of imperialism and oppression, where yoga was banned in India during British rule (around 200 years) along with other sciences and arts like classical dance, Ayurveda and martial arts. Weavers were taxed so highly (more than 70% tax) that many were forced to buy British, machine made clothes that were only taxed around 1/25th of what Indians were taxed. The sheer atrociousness of all of this seethes within the corners of one's mind, carrying ancestral pain, as many revolt against the Namasthe being exoticised.

Last week we focused on the list of 9 points that supports reconciliation. We need to take steps to bridge this divide and create inclusive spaces where we can speak about the yogic life.

If you find someone using a derogatory term or misconception about another culture or specific misconception about yoga , we can invite them into a conversation , instead of ignoring it.

Many of us are programmed to avoid uncomfortable conversations and this avoidance or ignoring only further perpetuates ignorance. We can be kind, gentle and inclusive.

Maybe we misunderstood or the other person misunderstood. However we will never know until we ask or speak.

In the last session we discussed what is needed to reconcile:

1. Understanding and empathy - Observing history in the context of colonization is very important to see how race, language, religion and way of life can become an excuse to oppress and exploit by a so called superior race. A deeper understanding of the science and art of yoga is also needed.

2. Cultivating culture - We looked at culture as a process of refinement where the senses and being are happy with what is and not addicted to more and more. This more can be more of anything - be it money, sex, yoga postures, knowledge, etc. Hence moving away from Vikrithi (misuse of senses/degeneration) to Sanskrithi (refinement of senses/regeneration) is important.

3. Spiritual maturity - We will explore this and the points listed below, in this blog. This means cultivating the capacity to listen, understand and contemplate many viewpoints. Then there will be no space for a self-righteous attitude that masks as being mindful.