I think the commercialization of yoga HAS gone too far. The big studios sell all this stuff you really don't need, and classes are so expensive that I can only go once in a while. Used to be you just showed up with your mat, comfortable clothes, and $7 in your pocket. Not anymore.

There's no proof yoga can be traced to india. Patanjali was a grammarian.
For eg practice of martial arts is a form of yoga and it is found in all cutlures.

There is absolutely no doubt that Yoga originated in India. All the sutras of Patanjali were written, taught and practised in India thousands of years before other countries even knew about it. But India has always believed in sharing it's knowledge free with world citizens since India belives that knowledge, wisdom and the path to nirvana is for all and not limited to any race or religion. The obvious examples for this are the Vedas, Kamasutra, Bhagvad Gita, Yoga and many more which people across the globe have access to. It doesn't mean therefore that these don't belong to India. They do. Therefore read them, learn them, practice them but please don't commercialize them.

I don't love the commercialization or branding of yoga. But that motivates me to have a happy home practice, to go to a donation-based studio, and to wear the oft-mentioned "comfortable clothes." Fortunately for yogis, the popularization of yoga means that the quality of teachers is better, the options are greater, and the lifestyle isn't seen as weird or marginal.

Wait - are Americans patenting postures? American patents are only good in the U.S., no?

i fully support the commercialization of yoga. it's a business and someone has to make money. if you don't want to buy all these props and things that you don't need, don't buy them. no one is making you. I own nothing but a few ashtanga videos and two yoga mats. the rest of the stuff i agree is unnecessary, so I don't buy it.
just do you're practice, there's no need to be concerned with extra stuff. and there are hieroglyphics from egypt that have been dated older than much of the info we have from india and they show people practicing Urdhva Dhanurasana and other poses.
So, i don't think 'india' owns it nor does anyone else. technically those who made it own it and Krishnamacharya who invented alot of the poses we practice today happens to be good and dead.

America again destreoying what isn't theirs. When will people learn???

It is strange how a spiritual thing like yoga can be turned into a money-making machine. I guess this is what happens with everything which travels from the East to the West.

There are certaintly lots of similarities between yoga and other traditions around the world such as martial arts or Thai massage. This does not necessarily mean that these traditions interacted, I believe it is more likely that different people came to the same methods through intuitive knowledge.
Intuitive or traditional knowledge should not be trademarked as it is not the 'right' or 'ownership' of those patenting, merely an interpretation which they seek to safeguard from competitors. In many cases, patenting is far removed from claims it is to safeguard money invested in research. I'm surprised by Jeanne Ricci's comment that we "may want to work faster" to patent yoga.
Patenting yoga through excessive branding, suing competitors and exploiting all possible avenues for revenue works only to undermine the tradition, isolate students and cheapen the experience.

Hi Jeanne! I remember a few years ago when you contacted us to put Sewall House in your beautiful book and then visited us and wrote an article,which unfortunately didn't go past fact check(editorial changes?)..even before I met you you were supportive of our little endeavor! And so I agree with Ann Cushman that part of me was excited when I got on Martha Stewart and thought more of this would be great!!..but still mostly I have devoted my life to learning, teaching and growing from Yoga as a way to improve our life experience, which goes way beyond the commercialization of yoga..the good news, I guess, is that the more teachers created the more people will do yoga..but I got to admtit I avoid the trendy centers and still think wine in a yoga studio is an oxymoron(as mentioned in NY Times). It is certainly ok to get paid well for something we do well, we have to eat!and some of the "star" teachers are amazing teachers(and some nonstars are too!)..but to exploit it all within the marketing machine of commercialization is how our system seems to work with anything that "catches on!".Believe me, some of my peers have also had discussions on this whole phenomenon and just because someone is famous they are a yoga master>> Thanks for letting me put in my two cents..on a last note, I think it is funny how people who have been teaching less time than I call themselves Masters, maybe they are not even teachers!! Let's leave that to Iyengar, Pattabhis Jois and Yogi Bhajan for example..not those on the marketing bandwagan.
Peace!

Greetings creatures of the light,

The issue here is not marketing, commercialization or ownership.

The issue is disconnection from the source. If someone is connected to the source and living in awareness or total consciousness, a need or desire to claim ownership does not exist.

A person in this state of consciousness accepts that all aspects of the physical realm including spiritual practices are created in the higher consciousness, source, infinite existence etc...

It is impossible for ownership to exist. American and Indian governments are doing only one thing by buying into the "patent game" - creating separation - dividing the source.

Just because yoga is a billion $ industry does not mean we will see better yoga instructors. I think we are more likely to see instructors who are less aware.

The reality is that we are all masters. We all have a guru that lives within our being. Placing Iyengar, Jois and so many others on the "guru" or "master" pedastool is also another means of creating separation.

There is an implication that these "masters" know more. Yet, all people are equal before infinite existence and all people hold the same power in their hands - unlimited potential. We give our power away to "gurus" and "masters" because we are afraid to look deep inside our own existence for guidance.

I have practiced Iyengar, Astanga, Kundalini and Bikram yoga - plus explored many other paths and I have found one thing to be true...

These paths they are all ONE. Call it what you will, spend money to patent whatever you want - the reality is still the same yoga exists as ONE entity, ONE union - LOVE and CONCIOUSNESS. The rest is politics (poly = many, tics = parasites)

In Zen, it is understood that all private agendas and personal goals are neurotic...

Go within and all answers shall be found, may your heart light the way :)

Namaste,
MamaG

Hatha Yoga can be commercialised. (I mean physical yoga). If i want to get a good relaxing high, i might want to do yoga near the beach, in a relaxing setting with good ambience and with good yoga teacher. All these setting would cost money, so to get this experience you have to pay for it. Besides yoga also has therapeutic benefits. If doctors can charge money, yogis can also. It may not be good to have it to be as a competitive sport because of the internal and spiritual side to it.

Funny thing that they want to own "Yoga" as if it is somekind of car engine design. If they can own Yoga then can I throw my hat into the pot for ownership of "Static Streching" and "Plyometric Exercise"? Because if you bend over to tie your shoes I want my nickel!!!

Also why do we need any props anyway? Now I will admit that I own a mat and strap, but after reading this and looking at my strap I find that I could have saved the 9.95$ and just purchase a piece of rope of used my belt that I take with me everywhere anyway.

I also will agree with an eariler posting that it is getting harder and harder to find a studio that will just allow you to walk in and take a class. Most places make you sign contracts or want 25$ just for a drop in session. I was in Denver and felt I needed the comfort of a classroom setting and found a Dahn yoga studio's website and times for classes. When I arrived I found myself greeted by a very "spiritual" feeling person that informed me that I would have to make the commitment for a six month contract if I wanted to take part in classes and the membership was 60$ a month. Drop in class was 25$ and I dicided to just do my practice in the park that day as that only cost a bit of thread off my shoes and a few extra calories. A more than fair trade off for the sunshine that I was able to enjoy.

Sorry useless rantings.

I also believe it is a bit against the principals of yoga to "Patent" certain types. As MamaG said, There is only one Yoga. So we must find the God within us...That is all the Yoga we need.
Om Shanti Peace Om
Namaste~ Yogi C. Mike

As Sri K. Pattabhi Jois' comment in one of the Yoga Documentaries that "YOGA IS UNIVERSAL AND IT'S NO ONE'S PROPERTY!" - and so I'm really against the copyright and patent issues of one of India's philosophies.

It's is a fact (was proven) that Yoga originated in India 5000 years ago but what is disappointing and frustrating now is that after India was robbed of their country's riches during the colonization, they still openly shared the wealth they've had left (of which being the philosophy of yoga)to the entire world. But now, because of the possible implementation of copyrights and patent on yoga, I tend to feel that India is being robbed again.

I read the article about Bikram Choudhary and his collection of Rolls Royces and Rolex watches. I couldn't help but wonder if he had read the Yoga Sutras recently. As we all know, non-grasping is a big part of the evolutionary process of yoga. It seems like Mr. Choudhary has strayed from the true purpose of yoga, to see the divine in ourselves and each other and to focus more on the spiritual and less on the physical. The pratice of yoga should not require vast amounts of money, and yogis should not be taking each other to court and patenting something that God had given to all humans.
Namaste!

June 6 update: The United States denies having granted patents and trademarks for yoga asanas. The statement, which emanated from the U.S. embassy in New Delhi, said "Although the US government is unaware of any US patents on yoga, the US Patent and Trademark Office has granted patents on new and non-obvious devices that may be used in conjunction with yoga," the statement said without explaining what the devices were. The announcement followed Indian health ministry officials saying they were scrutinizing yoga-related patents and trademarks granted by the United States to have them invalidated.

well, of course yoga was born in india.

i do agree that in the west we tendo to exaggerate in money milking, and india is just trying to protect the tradition because right now lots of things called yoga in the west are not yoga anymore, but some new thing that has been made up with the name and some elements of it.

i agree that they have a right to protect this and make sure the world remembers what yoga was, is, and should be.

namaskar,
chelle

I’m sorry about my feeling; if I may use my feeling, for me trade marked any asana poses is really unfair, it is selfishness and way far from the philosophy of yoga. Yoga is to be shared with every body who want to come to yoga. It is more than just sharing the body and mind experiences, but deeper in to our spiritual growth.
Personally I do not agree specially to Mr. Bikram does; suing yoga teachers and instructors. This is too much Americanized! Seems thing have no value but money, neither the great spirit of yoga. Yoga is to be shared with any body who want to get a great well being, experience the unity of their body, their mind and their spirit.
But does he care? NO, no at all. For him being rich and famous is the ultimate object. I understand, because he was having difficulty financially for long time. But I just do not understand why he starts being arrogant, ignorant, greedy and selfish after passed a long spiritual journey throughout yoga.
Yoga teacher have right to earn money as much as they want from their teaching or their workshop, I believe most of yoga teachers charge in reasonable fee and depend on who are the student.
I do not look at Mr. Bikram’s type is bad or wrong, just his way of suing people create image in my mind that he is playing the king of yoga in the world.
Keep doing yoga as much as you enjoy beloved yogi and yoginies.
Namste
iyan

The only yoga that you can "own" is the yoga that you are doing right now. The origin of yoga is immaterial. The point of yoga is to discover the unknown, not bicker about what other people are doing or information that you are only repeating. Yoga can only be found inside yourself new each moment. It cannot be found in old books from India or new products from America.

As a regular practitioner of Bikram yoga, I'm often asked about Bikram's "copyrighting of yoga". Well, he is not copyrighting or claiming to own yoga. He is copyrighting a sequence and the name Bikram Yoga. As he said, this is absolutely no different than someone writing down a variety of musical notes, creating a song or some other piece of music, and copyrighting it.

I have read through all the comments made regarding yoga trademarks and while I honor everyone's right to their opinion, I am deeply saddened to read various comments that show animosity between India and the US and even yogi against yogi.

People mentioning such words as "robbing" and "destroying what is not theirs" shows me a deep division, not just between countries, but a division within their own true Selves.

I do not say this to cause more division, but to bring an awareness to what motivates each and every one of us from within. Regardless of where or exactly when yoga originated the fact remains that the practice of yoga can release us from such divisions within self as well as within larger groups, organizations and even countries.

The issue of "patenting yoga" seems to be such a difficult topic, yet if we each found our own inner truth regarding the creative beings that we are, would we not release such a problem with "who deserves what"? When we take responsibility for our own life and actions then there is no room for blaming others for something we do not agree with. What does your "blaming" mirror back to yourself?

Yoga is what it is....Yoga... and as MamaG says, it is all ONE....WE are all ONE. The patenting of creative ideas using a yoga concept is completely acceptable under the laws of the Creative Universe. In the process of awakening, we all are in a state of creation whether we manifest that into the community/world at large or we create on a more inner level. We then, as yogis have the responsibility to ourselves to find peace within and to also create peace outside of ourselves to perpetuate the healing practices of yoga.

In these changing and modern times the face of yoga IS changing, but the heart of yoga is still beating very strong as it has for thousands of years. So, perhaps we can all witness and honor the growth and creative processes of our brothers and sisters (and ourselves) without jealousy and blame.

After all, EVERY ONE of us is infinite and has the power and grace to achieve ALL that we desire. Isn't that what living on planet Earth is all about? ...to realize that "Divine" potential within ourselves. As long as we are moving toward enlightenment and assisting our brothers and sisters along the way, yoga is doing what was intended whether clothes, sequences, titles, or business names are patented or not.

Let us truly remember what the sanskrit word, Namaste` means..."I honor you as I honor myself! I acknowledge we are ALL One".

May we embrace the true light that yoga brings whether it is patented or not...Love and acceptance of ALL THAT IS.

Namaste`

The commercialization of Yoga has brought it out of the closet and more into the mainstream which is good. The bad part is that in our commercial, material culture, we are conditioned to believe that more is better. I have practiced and studied yoga for 39 years when I was introduced to my first asanas by my "hippie" Auntie Ann. I didn't even take a yoga class until 10 years ago and it was really S$%t&*. The teacher was clueless and many more I experienced along the was were too. I continue to practice mostly on my own and now that I have written a book that incorporated Yoga and Art as I am both a Yogi and an Artist/Art Teacher, I have decided that I need the initials after my name giving me credibility in the community as a teacher of yoga even though with all due modesty and humility, I am more aware of YOGA in all its forms than most of those in front of the classrooms I have had to be in to achieve my teacher training goals. I have finally found a studio where most of the teachers are earnest, well trained and very good at getting the message across. There is nothing wrong with wanting to make a living bring the beauty and what I feel is the necessity of a yoga practice to the masses and if that involves a bit, just a bit of commercialization, then that is OK. Just keep it in check as you do when purchasing your comfortable yoga clothing. Personally I never even knew about blocks, straps, mats or yoga pants let alone "chakra panties" until recently. I think it is just to be amused at and as with everything else in life, we need to weed out those who are truly genuine about their practice and practical application of the tenents of Yoga just as we do with whom we choose to associate with or where we choose to purchase our necessities, by researching the farther reaching implications of our actions.
I am offended that newly minted teachers have the audacity to charge as much for practice one on one as more established ones, citing their fee as " the going rate" I personally have never started a job in any capacity at the level of the "boss" and don't think this should be true for yogis either. Again, however, that is up to the client. I teach and practice from the heart and implement my program not just to make a living, but to hopefully enhance the lives of those I teach.
The followers will always be just that, ones unable to think for themselves and until they are,they are not truly in the spirit of yoga. So let them buy all the junk they think they need, hopefully from socially conscious sources and continue to fill the yoga classes until they truly see the light of a higher consciousness.
I am blessed to have the abilities I was born with and hope lots of people will read my book and teach yoga to their children at an early age, just as I hope they will make art. I know the combination of these disciplines will make the world a better place.
AS for the sticky issue of lack of ethics in the yoga studio, that is for those engaged in their own hype, ego and lack of self knowledge. I pray and meditate for them every day.
I know teachers who definitely do not practice what they preach and feel in many instances that they are incapable of anything more. If they are capable of conducting a great asana practice in front of a classroom that's wonderful and I take it for what it is, continuing my prayers for their enlightenment.
Karen La Du--Artist/Yogi/Art Teacher

No one can "own" Yoga, patents or not.
As an American Yoga teacher I feel
The Indian govenrment is not wrong for trying to keep its nations heritage from being locked in a box.

But the act of trying to patent a style for the sake of personal gain is do to HUMAN nature, and we're all guilty from time to time, because being human, we posess all the basic afflictions that hinder our Yogic path. Let's not turn this debate into another America bashing session that makes the USA a scapegoat for our own behavior as humans. After all, it was people from other countries that created "America" as we know it. Let's all review the Yamas and Niyamas and look again at the question.

There are many seeds being planted here - doubt, self-righteousness, guilt, shame and criticism, to name a few.

What do we find appealing about these seeds?

Why not plant seeds of abundance, love, acceptance, compassion and awareness?

Before you write your next post try this:
Take a moment to become aware of your breath - focus on the exhalation
Imagine you are an eagle hovering above your mind
As you collect your ideas and create words on the screen notice:
Does passion, commitment or dedication to the words arise within you?
Do you hear yourself saying you are right about the words/ideas?

See if you can write your post from a place of compassion for yourself and others, from a place of non-attachment to being right or knowing the truth…

May your heart light the way :)

Blessings,
MamaG

The idea that yoga means we should be leaning more in the direction of the spiritual realm and not so much towards the physical realm holds false logic. If we tip the scales to far in any direction there is always the danger of whatever rests on the scales crashing down to the earth and breaking…

Is it possible that balance between the two realms could create harmony?

Speaking negative words about another human is destructive any way you cut it...
Bikram may have many cars and watches but this does not make him a bad man, doing wrong or not practicing yoga.

Bikram was poor and now he is rich. This may be his way of creating balance in his deep-rooted experience of scarcity (until one has been poor one cannot truly understand the depths of this realm). Only he truly knows if his heart is full and his mind free...

It is not for me to place judgement, criticism or shame upon him as he creates his reality.

Could it be more useful to focus on ourselves rather than on others? After all, we can never pretend to understand the circumstances behind another human’s reality.

Jared - your belt works for you then use it - give your strap away...do what works best for you! Props help some people and others don't like them. Are you watering a seed that because props cost money they are not neccessary? What does this mean about you if some people find joy and peace in using props and you don’t think they are necessary?

Just because we pay money for things and take ownership of our ideas does not mean we are doomed by commercialism…

The creative spirit takes many forms, some we can see and others we are blind to. The state of government is in itself a creative identity that we cannot fully see. So, when this aspect of creative spirit makes a motion for something to happen our creative forces begin to spin.

We question, we organize, we debate but in reality we are all working with the same energy.

How are you using your creative energy? To blame, criticize and destroy or to imagine, explore and create your perfect reality?

Love & Light,
MamaG

I don't think Indian government is claiming Yoga is theirs. They are trying to protect it from being locked up by patents and loss of freedom to practice different forms of it. Yoga has been free (never mind if it originated in India or Egypt), and should remain so for the future generations. So support the Indian government initiative if you feel Yoga should remain free for everyone!

But I appreciate USA and its yogis/yoginis, for it gave the glamour, importance and visibility for Yoga and freshened it!!!

Peace for everyone!
(Sarve Janah Sukhino Bhavanthu)