Yoga Beyond Asana: Respecting the Hindu Roots

BY NICOLE LAU

You go to yoga class. You do downward dog, warrior pose, savasana. You feel great—stretched, relaxed, centered. But do you know that what you're doing is just one small part of a vast spiritual system? That yoga is a Hindu practice with thousands of years of philosophy, ethics, and spiritual depth? That reducing it to physical exercise erases its sacred roots and marginalizes South Asian teachers?

Yoga has been commodified, whitewashed, and stripped of its Hindu origins in the West. This isn't just cultural appropriation—it's spiritual erasure. This article explores yoga's true depth, its Hindu roots, what's been lost in Western adaptation, and how to practice yoga respectfully while honoring where it comes from. Because yoga is so much more than asana, and pretending otherwise disrespects the tradition and the people who hold it sacred.

What Yoga Actually Is

The Complete System

Yoga is:

• A Hindu spiritual practice and philosophy
• Aimed at union with the divine (yoga = union)
• Encompassing ethics, breath, meditation, and yes, physical postures
• Part of Hindu religious and philosophical traditions
• Thousands of years old with deep spiritual significance

The Eight Limbs of Yoga (Ashtanga)

According to Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, yoga has eight limbs:

1. Yamas (ethical restraints):

• Ahimsa (non-violence)
• Satya (truthfulness)
• Asteya (non-stealing)
• Brahmacharya (moderation)
• Aparigraha (non-possessiveness)

2. Niyamas (observances):

• Saucha (purity)
• Santosha (contentment)
• Tapas (discipline)
• Svadhyaya (self-study)
• Ishvara pranidhana (surrender to divine)

3. Asana (physical postures)

• What most Western yoga focuses on
• Originally meant to prepare body for meditation
• Just ONE of eight limbs

4. Pranayama (breath control)

• Regulating life force through breath
• Spiritual practice, not just breathing exercises

5. Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses)

• Turning inward
• Detaching from external stimuli

6. Dharana (concentration)

• Focused attention
• Single-pointed awareness

7. Dhyana (meditation)

• Sustained meditation
• Uninterrupted flow of consciousness

8. Samadhi (union/enlightenment)

• Ultimate goal of yoga
• Union with divine consciousness
• Spiritual liberation

Western yoga typically teaches only #3 (asana), ignoring the other seven limbs.

The Hindu Roots

Why This Matters

Yoga comes from Hinduism:

• Developed within Hindu philosophical traditions
• Rooted in Vedic and Upanishadic texts
• Connected to Hindu concepts (dharma, karma, moksha)
• Uses Sanskrit (sacred Hindu language)
• References Hindu deities and concepts

It's not secular:

• Yoga is inherently spiritual/religious
• Attempting to secularize it erases its essence
• "Spiritual but not religious" yoga still appropriates Hindu practice
• You can't separate yoga from Hinduism without distorting it

What's Been Lost in Western Yoga

The Appropriation and Erasure

1. Reduction to fitness

• Yoga treated as exercise, not spiritual practice
• Focus on physical benefits only
• Spiritual depth stripped away
• Becomes "yoga pants" and Instagram poses

2. Whitewashing

• South Asian teachers marginalized
• White teachers dominate and profit
• Hindu origins erased or minimized
• Presented as universal or secular

3. Commodification

• Expensive classes and retreats
• Yoga as luxury product
• Inaccessible to many, including South Asians
• Profit over practice

4. Cultural erasure

• Sanskrit terms used without understanding
• Hindu concepts stripped of meaning
• "Namaste" becomes greeting, not sacred acknowledgment
• Om reduced to sound, not sacred symbol

5. Spiritual bypassing

• Using yoga to avoid real spiritual work
• Superficial engagement with deep practice
• Cherry-picking what's comfortable
• Ignoring the ethical and philosophical foundations

The Harm of Yoga Appropriation

Real Consequences

1. Economic harm to South Asian teachers

• White teachers profit from Hindu practice
• South Asian teachers face discrimination
• Studios prefer white teachers for "marketability"
• Original culture bearers can't make living from their own tradition

2. Spiritual erasure

• Hinduism erased from its own practice
• Depth and meaning lost
• Reduced to physical exercise
• Sacred becomes secular

3. Perpetuates stereotypes

• "Exotic" Eastern practices for Western consumption
• South Asians seen as mystical others
• Orientalism and fetishization

4. Discrimination against Hindus

• Hindu students face discrimination for practicing their own tradition
• Yoga in schools is "secular" but Hindu prayer is banned
• Double standard: yoga is universal, Hinduism is foreign

How to Practice Yoga Respectfully

Ethical Engagement

1. Acknowledge Hindu roots

• Recognize yoga comes from Hinduism
• Don't claim it's secular or universal
• Educate yourself about Hindu philosophy
• Give credit where it's due

2. Learn beyond asana

• Study the eight limbs
• Learn the philosophy and ethics
• Practice pranayama and meditation
• Engage with the spiritual depth

3. Support South Asian teachers

• Take classes from South Asian instructors when possible
• Amplify their voices
• Pay them fairly
• Recognize their expertise and authority

4. Don't whitewash

• Use Sanskrit terms correctly and respectfully
• Understand what you're saying (Namaste, Om, etc.)
• Don't strip Hindu elements to make it "more accessible"
• Honor the tradition as it is

5. Practice with humility

• Don't claim to be "yoga expert" after 200-hour training
• Recognize you're learning from another culture
• Stay humble and keep learning
• Don't speak over South Asian voices

6. Make it accessible

• If you teach, make classes affordable
• Don't gatekeep with expensive pricing
• Remember yoga's roots in accessibility and service
• Don't commodify what should be shared

For Yoga Teachers

Additional Responsibilities

1. Educate yourself deeply

• 200-hour training is just the beginning
• Study Hindu philosophy and texts
• Learn from South Asian teachers
• Ongoing education is essential

2. Teach the whole practice

• Include philosophy, not just asana
• Teach yamas and niyamas
• Incorporate pranayama and meditation
• Don't reduce to fitness

3. Give proper attribution

• Acknowledge Hindu origins in every class
• Explain Sanskrit terms and their meanings
• Credit the tradition and lineage
• Don't present as your own creation

4. Amplify South Asian voices

• Invite South Asian guest teachers
• Share resources from South Asian yogis
• Defer to their expertise
• Use your platform to elevate them

5. Address appropriation

• Educate students about yoga's roots
• Call out appropriation when you see it
• Create space for difficult conversations
• Do better and help others do better

What's Open vs. What Requires Caution

Navigating the Practice

Generally accessible:

• Asana practice (with proper attribution)
• Basic pranayama
• Meditation techniques
• Studying yoga philosophy

Requires extra care and respect:

• Using Om and other sacred symbols
• Chanting mantras (understand what you're saying)
• Teaching yoga (requires deep study and humility)
• Claiming expertise or lineage

Consider avoiding:

• Yoga teacher training if you're not committed to deep study
• Opening a yoga studio without South Asian involvement
• Trademarking Sanskrit terms or yoga styles
• Presenting yoga as secular fitness

Crystals for Mindful Yoga Practice

Spiritual Depth and Respect

For practice:

• Amethyst: Spiritual connection, honoring sacred roots
• Clear quartz: Clarity, amplifying intention
• Selenite: High vibration, spiritual practice
• Lapis lazuli: Wisdom, respecting tradition

Grounding and Humility

• Hematite: Grounding, staying humble
• Smoky quartz: Grounding spiritual practice in respect
• Black tourmaline: Protection from appropriation

How to Use

• Place on yoga mat during practice
• Hold during meditation
• Keep on altar as reminder of yoga's depth
• Use to stay grounded in respect and humility

Common Defenses (That Don't Work)

Addressing Pushback

"But yoga is for everyone!"

• Yes, yoga can be practiced by all
• But: Must be done with respect for Hindu roots
• Universal access ≠ erasing origins
• Everyone can practice; not everyone can claim it as theirs

"But my teacher said it's secular..."

• Your teacher might be wrong or appropriating
• Yoga's Hindu roots are historical fact
• Claiming it's secular is erasure

"But I'm spiritual, not religious..."

• Yoga is still from Hinduism
• Your spirituality doesn't erase its origins
• Respect the tradition regardless of your beliefs

Integration: Honor the Whole Practice

Yoga is a complete spiritual system from Hinduism, not just physical exercise. Practicing asana is fine—but do it with acknowledgment of Hindu roots, respect for South Asian teachers, and understanding that you're engaging with one small part of a vast tradition.

Learn the philosophy. Study the eight limbs. Support South Asian yogis. Don't whitewash or commodify. Practice with humility and respect.

Yoga is more than stretching. It's a path to spiritual liberation. Honor it as such.

Next in this series: Native American Spirituality: What's Off-Limits for Non-Natives