Western Yoga: Evolution or Erasure?

Pritha Maheswari
Apr 29
5 min read

In yoga studios and social media feeds around the world, you may have seen a new wave of yoga teachers drawing a line in the sand. Some promote what they call “down to earth yoga”—explicitly stating that they don’t use incense, don’t chant, don’t believe in mantras, and don’t touch philosophy.

Their message is clear: “No fluff, no spiritual stuff. Just movement.”

It raises an important—and controversial—question: When we strip away the roots of yoga, is it still yoga?

This isn’t just a personal preference debate. It’s part of a larger cultural conversation about respect, authenticity, and appropriation. Let’s unpack it.

🌿 What Is Yoga, Really?

To understand this debate, we first need to go back to the source.

Yoga is not just a set of physical exercises. In its original form, it is a holistic spiritual path developed thousands of years ago in India. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning “to yoke,” “to unite,” or “to join.” It's about the union of body, mind, breath, and spirit.

The foundation of traditional yoga is based on Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga, from the ancient text the Yoga Sutras:

Yama – ethical principles (non-violence, truthfulness, moderation, etc.)
Niyama – personal disciplines (cleanliness, self-study, devotion)
Asana – physical postures
Pranayama – breath control
Pratyahara – turning the senses inward
Dharana – concentration
Dhyana – meditation
Samadhi – spiritual absorption, union

Only one of these limbs—asana, the physical practice—is what most Western classes focus on. But the other seven limbs are equally important. Together, they guide the practitioner toward inner peace, liberation (moksha), and a deeper connection to self and the universe.

🤍 There’s a Difference Between Adaptation and Appropriation

Let’s be clear: it’s okay for yoga to evolve. Yoga has always adapted to meet people where they are.

For example:

Trauma-informed yoga may avoid chanting or Sanskrit to make space for safety.
Secular yoga may focus more on the body and breath to serve a wider audience.
Therapeutic yoga might be tailored for physical or mental health outcomes.

These adaptations can be powerful and healing. The difference is intention and integrity.

If you say:

“I don’t include chanting in my classes, but I respect its importance in yoga’s tradition,”you are adapting with awareness.

But if you say:

“Chanting is floaty and woo woo. I only teach 'down to earth' yoga classes,” you are erasing and insulting the very culture that gave yoga to the world.

🚫 When Yoga Is Reduced to Fitness

In many modern classes, yoga is reduced to a physical fitness routine. There’s no breathwork. No stillness. No mention of the self, the mind, or the sacred. The spiritual or philosophical dimensions are not just left out—they’re actively rejected.

You might hear things like:

“I don’t teach woo-woo stuff.”
“No chanting—this is a real yoga class.”
“Keep your incense and mantras, I’m here for the workout.”

Here’s the problem: when you market something as yoga, but erase the very things that define it as yoga, you’re not simplifying the practice—you’re misrepresenting it. And when that’s done without understanding or respect for where yoga came from, it becomes more than just a stylistic choice.

It becomes cultural appropriation.

Cultural appropriation happens when elements of a culture, especially from historically colonized or marginalized groups, are taken out of context, repackaged, and profited from by people outside that culture, often without permission, understanding, or acknowledgment.

In yoga, this can look like:

Using Sanskrit words or symbols as trendy decor or slogans, with no knowledge of their meaning.
Rebranding yoga as a “scientific method” and removing all Indian or South Asian references.
Teaching yoga while mocking or dismissing practices like chanting, mantras, or philosophical study.
Profiting from yoga without ever giving credit to Indian teachers, lineages, or traditions.
Becoming certified in a weekend, then claiming to be a spiritual authority on yoga.

When yoga is marketed without honoring its roots, and worse, when the original cultural practices are seen as backward, silly, or unnecessary, it’s not just ignorance. It’s erasure.

And it’s painful for many South Asian practitioners who see their heritage commercialized, distorted, or used against them.

🧘‍♂️ Can a Non-Indian Person Teach Yoga?

Yes. Yoga is a gift meant to be shared. Being a non-Indian yoga teacher is not cultural appropriation, as long as you approach the practice with humility, reverence, and responsibility.

Ask yourself:

Do I acknowledge the Indian origins of yoga in my teaching?
Am I continuing to study and deepen my own understanding of yogic philosophy?
Do I give credit to the teachers and traditions I’ve learned from?
Do I use Sanskrit and spiritual elements with care and knowledge, not just because they “sound cool”?
Do I avoid turning yoga into a product or brand that erases its roots?

We’re all students. We don’t have to be perfect. But we do have to be honest.

💭 What Kind of Yoga Do You Want to Practice—or Teach?

If you're a student, ask yourself:

Do I want yoga to be just physical, or am I open to exploring it more deeply?
Does my teacher honor the traditions of yoga, or market it as a workout in disguise?
Do I leave class feeling more connected to myself and the world around me?

If you're a teacher, reflect on:

Am I a steward of this tradition, or just a seller of a service?
Am I committed to lifelong learning, not just memorizing sequences?
Am I contributing to the integrity of yoga, or diluting it for convenience?

✨ In Conclusion: Let’s Honor the Wholeness of Yoga

Yoga is more than shapes. It’s more than sweat. It’s more than what fits in an Instagram reel.

It’s a practice of liberation, of compassion, of truthfulness, a path that helps us become more awake, more connected, and more aligned with who we truly are. Whether we chant or don’t chant, burn incense or not, what matters most is whether we’re practicing from a place of awareness and respect.

Yoga is vast and evolving—but evolution doesn’t mean erasure. If you teach yoga, you're a steward of an ancient path. You don’t need to be perfect, fluent in Sanskrit, or a scholar—but you do need to be humble, honest, and open.

If you're a student, seek out teachers who honor the roots, even in subtle ways. If you're a teacher, be clear about your intention—and always remember: the goal of yoga is not performance, but union. Not branding, but liberation.

So yes, yoga can adapt, but let’s not forget its soul.

Let’s keep this conversation open, not canceling but educating, reflecting, and evolving in a way that honors the wisdom of the tradition and the people it comes from.

If you teach yoga, be a bridge. If you practice yoga, be a listener. And always, always, be a student first.