The document discusses the westernization of yoga from its spiritual Hindu origins. It notes that yoga was originally about spiritual liberation and extinguishing the empirical consciousness. Today, yoga in the west focuses more on the physical practice and aesthetics rather than spiritual aspects. This westernized form of yoga ignores its religious roots in Hinduism. The document concludes that westernized yoga is too far removed and profit-focused to truly be considered yoga anymore.

1. The Westernization of Yoga
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By: Emerald ‘Chef’ Kjerstad
Dane ‘Douche’ Schmid

2. +
Brief History:
 Spiritual liberation cannot be gained exclusively through
knowledge.
 Some past history of ascetic technique.

3. +
Purpose of Yoga:
 Normal states of consciousness are products of ignorance
(avidva)
 Empirical consciousness must be extinguished
 Replace with extra-sensory/extra-rational experience

4. +
“Modifications of the mind”
 Vasanas – latent tendencies
 Requires double focus

5. +
Yoga Today

6. +
Word Association-Yoga
 Focus on non-
religious
practice and
aesthetics.
 Youth did not
even realize
Yoga is
associated with
Hindu
practices.
http://www.youtube.com/watch? If video does not work go to link
v=vaU5wydH5cA 

7. +
Popularization
 American Yoga Association
 Hindu American Foundation

8. +
Comparisons
“There is no physical yoga and spiritual yoga. If it
is exclusively physical, it won’t be yoga. Yoga is
dealing with the entirety; it is a union.”
– Prashant Iyengar, son of B.K.S Iyengar

9. +
Final Analysis
 Asana (poses) makes up 25% of Yoga
 “Growing consumer concern over
health has heralded the rise of self-
tanning product makers and yoga and
Pilates studios.” –LA Times

10. +
Conclusion
 “Yoga” is not yoga at all
 Profit based/too far westernized