Cultural appropriation and the Western Yoga Industry.

Take part in this engaging, inclusive workshop that will open up a meaningful dialogue – about Yoga traditions, cultural appropriation, and the western Yoga industry. Everyone is welcome to join. Whether you have already been practicing for years or are just getting started. We encourage you to attend this open discussion. And work out we can move forward together as a community of practitioners.

Cultural Appropriation: What Is It And Why Should You Care?

Cultural appropriation is exactly what it sounds like taking an aspect of another culture, like Yoga. And using it for one’s own benefit without acknowledging its origins. If a practice comes from another person’s culture and you adopt it but do not give back in any way. By giving credit or actually learning about the history, then you are appropriating that culture.

Cultural appropriation is a real and valid concern, especially in the Yoga community. Whatever perspective you hold on cultural appropriation, there are steps we can take to improve our practices.​ ​It’s important to talk about cultural appropriation, by doing this, we can make changes toward a more inclusive society for everyone.

How You Can Help

As a practitioner, you can help by educating yourself on cultural appropriation.  And then make a conscious effort to eliminate it from your practice. As teachers, one of the things we can do to help the situation is to reflect on our own practice and how it can be expanded. Doing so, allows us to see what we are unconsciously bringing into our classes and whether or not it’s appropriate.

What will this workshop cover?

The workshop will include a discussion on some of the following points –

• An introduction to the topic of cultural appropriation and why it matters in the Yoga community.
• A short presentation on how cultural appropriation has affected Yoga in the West. Including historical context and current issues faced by communities of colour in connection with Yoga.
• A discussion about how we can all be better allies to each other. Especially when it comes to issues of race, class, and gender identity
• Tips on how you can get involved and help make a change in your community

We would like to create a comfortable space where all participants feel free to express their ideas and thoughts. And encourage everyone to undertake their own research prior to attending. We hope this will help you participate in the workshop more effectively. 

Booking information

Join us for our first Cultural appropriation workshop please book here.

The event takes place in person Friday 9 June 2023 – From 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm led by Jasminder Bahia  – A Psychologist, Yoga Educator, who has been running the Yoga school since 2006. Her background includes working as an HIV Race Equality Worker. Being on the panel for the first South Asian helpline set up by the NSPCC; as well as offering training days for NHS staff on race and culture.

The cost of the in-person workshop is £30 per person.

Note: This is a continuation of the first workshop that ran in February 2023, however, you don’t need to have attended the initial workshop to join us. Everyone is welcome to join us.

We have up to 5 reduced-fee places available, for the Black, Asian, and People of Colour communities*. The discount for Black, Asian, and People of Colour Communities, is also offered for other underrepresented groups. Underrepresented groups are non-dominant groups such as people of colour; people with disabilities; people from a lower socioeconomic status; people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered. 

Please contact us if you would like reduced admission prices or community discounts.