Yoga

I have just watched a program tracing the origins of Yoga, from its Indian Hindu base to the Americanisation of this meditative exercise regime. Dropping the term Yoga and merchandising the concept, taking care to patent the small differences to obtain intellectual copyright this is the essence of capitalism.
How far from the Science of the Soul, an inward contemplative exercise performed by assuming a series of physically difficult poses to enhance the contemplative aspect of centred thinking. The program, another excellent exploitative piece of journalism by AlJazeera took us on a journey visiting the different Yoga centres which have sprung up throughout the world, each favouring the local culture whilst keeping a traditional flavour.
 Only in America, the land of the brave and the eternal dollar has so much commercialisation been manufactured to fit the business model. The sleek, young entrepreneur in the States are busy carving out their individual business's, modifying here and there to create exclusivity and then, marketing that special exclusivity and its supposed unique outcomes which a gullible public are constantly queuing for.
The stretching and body-tying poses are part of a collective attempt to off set the inherent ravages of modern living. Physically and mentally Yoga stretches people in ways that normal exercise would not do and for the modern, time intensive way of life this oasis of contemplative repose is very powerful for the psyche

 
The modern exponent is a far cry from the hairy wild looking guru of India. With the accoutrement of the Lycra one piece suits these lithe, slim creatures are on show. The very word Yoga has a mystic ring and the club ( Lycra ) shirt lends kudos to the participant in a way that few other activities would.
There have been issues around the use of Hindu chants and the semi religious nature of the proper Yoga tradition particularly in that (god forsaken) American Midwest bible country where the Christians object to any suggestion that a foreign faith has a place on American soil. They insist in chanting verses out of the bible as they stretch into their Lotus position but it all sounds pretty incongruous compared to the unintelligible and un-knowable Hindu equivalent.
It's an industry with its heart in the right place and seeing that it has many benefits, especially for the heart I think we should let sleeping dogs lie.