Yoga Doesn’t Need the Permission of (Western) Science

A few months ago, I took a one hour workshop* on mudras and mantras. In case you’re not familiar, mudras are hand positions which are used to direct energy within the body in a certain way. Mantras are sounds that can be chanted for the benefits of the vibrations they cause. An hour isn’t nearly enough to truly learn about something so steeped in tradition, but my main takeaway from this hour was much more important than any practical technique, and it has stuck with me since then.

Manju reminded us that mantras and mudras, like other tools and techniques of yoga, are actually an ancient technology. “Yogis do not need the permission of science to use these things,” Manju explained.

While modern science is, of course, extremely relevant and important in many ways, it’s not a prerequisite for practical application of ancient tools and practices. The people of India and the surrounding regions have been using the tools of yoga and Ayurveda very effectively for thousands of years. Both are considered to be complete systems of science and philosophy. Their validity is not measured or determined by modern (Western) scientific methods.

The viewpoint that we, as a species, are currently at our most evolved point in history comes from a colonizer mindset. In order to justify the violent actions of colonization, the colonizing group needs to believe that they are superior to others. This belief allows them to justify taking resources from the other group under the guise of “helping” them.

White explorers have done this in many places, but the Amazon is one example that I’ve recently read about (see The Lost City of Z by David Grann). Explorers from Europe and America make contact with previously isolated tribes in the Amazon jungle and completely change the course of their civilization by introducing disease, technology, and other Western concepts and objects. The explorers believe that they are doing a service to these tribes by helping to bring them into the modern era from their “primitive” and “backward” ways. Many of these tribes, once well-organized and thriving civilizations with advanced infrastructures and rich cultures, have been completely wiped out by the “help” of the explorers.

This pattern repeats throughout history and continues in the present. In the yoga world, there is a trend towards “improving” yoga with applications of modern exercise science. This approach does a disservice to the rich traditions of the practice. In addition, many (white) yoga teachers who are “making yoga smarter” are trademarking their systems and profiting off of the reduction of this complete system of well-being to a commodity focused only on the Western understanding of the body.

As I mentioned, Western science is absolutely valuable and relevant in the modern world. I believe there is a place for a Western understanding of anatomy in a modern yoga practice. The physical yoga introduced to the Western world (which is itself a product of colonization) is not very considerate of the many different body types who may want to practice today. Understanding our own anatomy in an experiential way can help us practice asana in a more comfortable and effective way and can allow broader participation. In addition, a few of of the practices and techniques given as part of the system of yoga are actually dangerous and shouldn’t be practiced by the general public (check out some of the purification practices mentioned in the Hatha Pradipika). However, imposing Western systems on this Eastern practice as a necessary “improvement” devalues the practice of yoga and perpetuates its colonization.

Respecting the knowledge, tools and rituals of other cultures is so important to healing our collective global wounds. If you’re using tools and practices from another culture, including yoga, please take some time to learn about the correct way to use those tools and how to practice respectfully. In order to do this, we have to recognize these ancient systems as complete and valid in their own right, rather than picking and choosing the only the parts that align with our own understanding of science and technology.

*This workshop was facilitated by Prashant and Manju Joshi of Gurukul Yoga, who are not on social media, so check out their website for more info.