Western yoga instructors
"Trademarked Vinyasa Flows"
Western yoga instructors
- Item
- "Trademarked Vinyasa Flows"
- Retail
- License fees
- Spin
- "Proprietary sequences"
Western yoga instructors have copyrighted specific sequences of asanas, including variations of the traditional Surya Namaskar, as 'Trademarked Vinyasa Flows.' These proprietary sequences are then licensed for a fee, effectively privatizing and commodifying practices developed over generations by Indian yogis. This approach contrasts sharply with the open, spiritual tradition of yoga, where knowledge is shared freely for universal benefit.
सूर्य नमस्कार
Surya Namaskar
- Region
- Pan-India
- True Value
- Sacred
- Category
- 20 · Yoga & Spiritual Hijack
Surya Namaskar (सूर्य नमस्कार), or Sun Salutation, is a sequence of 12 powerful yoga asanas (postures) that originated in India. Practiced for centuries, it is a complete meditative exercise for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. This sacred practice is traditionally performed facing the rising sun, honoring its life-giving energy and connecting practitioners to ancient Vedic traditions.
FX reference: 1 USD ≈ ₹83 — for comparison only
The Story
Western yoga instructors began trademarking specific sequences of yoga poses, marketing them as "proprietary Vinyasa Flows" and charging license fees for their use. These trademarked flows were presented as unique intellectual property, despite their clear derivation from traditional practices. This commercialization sparked a debate about ownership and cultural heritage within the global yoga community.
The appropriated practice, Surya Namaskar (सूर्य नमस्कार), or Sun Salutation, is a fundamental sequence of yoga asanas with deep roots across India. Developed over generations by Indian yogis, it is not merely a physical exercise but a sacred practice, often performed at sunrise to honor the sun deity. Its movements are designed to synchronize breath with movement, cultivating physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, and it is traditionally taught as a communal, accessible practice, not as a proprietary product.
The appropriation was called out by various voices within the yoga community, including Indian practitioners, scholars, and cultural commentators. Objections centered on the ethical implications of copyrighting ancient, sacred knowledge that has been freely shared for millennia. Critics argued that trademarking these sequences amounted to biopiracy and cultural theft, stripping away the spiritual essence and communal ownership of a practice for commercial gain, without acknowledging its origins or compensating its originators.
Specific sequences of asanas — developed by generations of Indian yogis — successfully copyrighted by Western teachers.
Reporting forthcoming