Decolonizing Yoga-History, Politics & Healing Justice
Yoga is often marketed in the West as a timeless, ancient practice — yet the reality is far more complex. Modern yoga has been shaped by centuries of cross-cultural exchange, political struggle, colonial influence, and caste oppression. Today, yoga is both a global industry and a site of possibility: it can reinforce systems of power, or it can serve as a tool for justice and collective healing. Through a blend of critical inquiry, somatic and restorative practices, dialogue, and group reflection, this 7-session series invites practitioners and teachers to unlearn, question, and reimagine yoga.
Across four sessions, Indu Vashist (yoga teacher, somatics practitioner, historian, and Executive Director of the South Asian Visual Arts Centre) will guide participants through the modern history of asana: demystifying myths of “ancient” postural yoga, exploring global influences on its development, and unpacking how caste, class, gender, and colonialism have shaped yoga’s trajectory. Indu’s sessions weave together lecture, movement, and reflective practice to provide a solid historical grounding for understanding yoga’s place within contemporary global contexts.
Building on this foundation, Sheena Sood, PhD (scholar, activist, yoga practitioner, and co-founder of Yogis for Palestine) will lead three sessions on decolonization and anti-oppression. Sheena will introduce frameworks for understanding caste oppression, unpack yoga’s weaponization by military and nationalist projects, and guide participants in envisioning liberatory practices rooted in social justice and collective healing.
DATES:
Session 1: Friday Nov 14, 7-9pm - Indu
Session 2: Friday Dec 12, 7-9pm - Indu
Session 3: Thursday Jan 29, 7-9pm - Sheena
Session 4: Thursday Feb 12, 7-9pm - Sheena
Session 5: Thursday Feb 26, 7-9pm - Sheena
Session 6: April 25, 1-3pm - Indu
Session 7: Saturday April 26, 3:30-5:30pm - Indu
Guest Faculty: Kathryn Bruni Young’s Teacher’s Immersion
In this workshop, I delve deep into the history of the physical practice yoga. We will look at how yogis have always experimented and how to keep innovating ethically. We will trace how modern postural practice made its way around the globe. Asana may not be as old as you think, but its short history is full of cosmopolitan intrigue. To register, click here
Upcoming Trainings
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Offering: History of Asana
Let's start with the history of pizza. Does pizza have an origin? Is Neapolitan pizza more authentic than New York pizza or deep dish pizza? Is gluten free pizza even pizza?
The history of yoga can be thought of in a similar way. In this module, I delve deep into the history of the physical practice yoga. We will look at how yogis have always experimented and how to keep innovating ethically. We will trace how modern postural practice made its way around the globe. Asana may not be as old as you think, but its short history is full of cosmopolitan intrigue. Practices that span centuries adapt to new findings, environmental conditions, preferences, etc. We will look at how these movements have changed over time, moved over continents and continue to live a life of their own. Let’s delve deeper into contemporary yoga debates about cultural appropriation in the west and the right wing appropriation in India.Contact me for 1-to-1 learning or incorporating this offering into your program