Liberating Yoga Yoga vs. Commercialization: Can We Reclaim It? | Susanna Barkataki
May 5, 2025
Susanna Barkataki, a Yoga Teacher and Social Justice Advocate, dives deep into the commercialization of yoga and its implications. She discusses the journey of reclaiming yoga’s roots, emphasizing the importance of decolonization and inclusivity. The conversation navigates through issues of cultural appropriation, the harmful norms dominating modern practice, and the responsibility of teachers to respect yoga’s heritage. Susanna advocates for community solidarity over competition, urging practitioners to engage with yoga's authentic history for a more meaningful experience.
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Yoga as Liberation Practice
- Yoga is fundamentally a practice of personal and collective liberation.
- It aims to free us from separation and suffering, fostering interconnection and community.
Yoga Reconnects Body and Community
- Susanna uses yoga to reconnect with her body and community, especially through mindful asana practice.
- She applies yoga philosophy to daily life to respond with compassion and reduce harm.
Harmful Norms in Modern Yoga
- Modern Western yoga culture normalizes oppressive systems like patriarchy, ableism, and white supremacy.
- It commodifies yoga into consumable products, detaching it from its liberatory roots.