Yoga is no longer just a practice from ancient India; it's now a global phenomenon. Everywhere you look - Instagram, wellness retreats, fitness studios - you’ll find people doing yoga.
That’s fantastic in many ways, but as yoga has spread, it’s often lost its essence, being transformed into something far removed from its roots.
We're seeing yoga being stripped of its cultural, spiritual, and philosophical significance, and what's left is often just a fitness trend or exotic commodity.
This is what we call cultural appropriation.
Let’s break down what cultural appropriation is, how it’s happening to yoga, why it’s a problem, and how we can all do better moving forward.