Yoga vs. Commercialization: Can We Reclaim It?

About this episode

Welcome to the Liberating Yoga Podcast. My guest today is Yoga Teacher & Social Justice Advocate Susanna Barkataki. Today’s mainstream yoga culture is steeped in capitalism, exclusivity, and cultural appropriation. How did we get here, and how can we protect the wholeness of the practice for future generations? In this episode we discuss the nuances of yoga’s history, accountability for yoga professionals, and decolonization in practice. 00:00 - Intro 01:25 - What Yoga Means to Us 03:17 - Interconnectedness in Yoga and Daily Life 05:58 - Moving Beyond the Mat: Everyday Practice of Yoga 07:14 - Harmful Norms in Modern/Postural Yoga 10:00 - How Oppressive Systems Show Up in Yoga Spaces 13:07 - Hierarchy in Yoga Studios 15:04 - Yoga’s Resilience and Power Despite Appropriation 16:03 - The “At Least They’re Moving” Narrative 20:07 - Teachers' Responsibility to Go Deeper 25:04 - Internalised Oppression 27:06 - Desire to Learn and Practice with Respect 29:00 - The Emotional Toll of Appropriation 31:01 - Capitalism and Commercialisation in Yoga 34:59 - Historical Context of Yoga 37:02 - Modern-Day Capitalist Exploitation in Yoga 40:00 - Teachers Navigating Capitalism with Integrity 42:27 - Representation, Reparations, and Platform Inequity 48:03 - Mutual Support vs. Competition 52:23 - Humanizing the Experience: Healing Through Yoga 55:11 - Importance of Internal Validation 56:56 - How to Begin the Work of Decolonizing Yoga 58:59 - Move Slowly and Consistently with the Work 01:00:03 - Building Relationships with Stewards 01:03:04 - Ask Hard Questions to Institutions 01:05:47 - Reflections on Slowing Down 01:08:05 - Be Yoga, Not Just Do Yoga 01:10:01 - Uplifting Each Other 01:12:39 - Outro Subscribe ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@harpindermannyoga?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠ Resources Thank you for watching this video and checking out the channel. My practice is rooted in my spiritual background of Sikhism and Buddhism and ancestral roots in Panjab, India - this informs my desire to teach yoga authentically as a spiritual practice. To learn more, please find all of our resources below. Online ⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/harpindermannyoga ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mannharpinder ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/harpindermannyoga⁠⁠ Liberating Yoga Book ⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/book ⁠⁠ Work With Me ⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/work-with-me⁠⁠ #yoga #yogapractice #yogainspiration