A Response to Hilary Clinton Practices Yoga Article, Re: Intolerance

Response I wrote in comments over at Washington Post, on story that Hilary Clinton “does yoga.”  There were of course the political responses plus one deriding yoga in the West.  My comment below was aimed at the latter.  (I also added the cheeky photo that accompanies this post.)

I’d love to be Hilary’s private yoga teacher, I’m in NYC Hil, I”m discreet, experienced and make it fun. Unlike some on this thread- the deeper teachings of yoga are about acceptance, equanimity and love. The practice which has many levels can/is helpful in so many ways from physical, to mental and emotional and ultimately spiritual. It’s not just for any 1 kind of person. There are a lot of silly yoga stereotypes out there. As a black woman from working class bkgrnd, I was initially years ago –often the only person of color, when I took classes. I started with books from library. Yoga is a self-care gift for all and is not a religion, certainly not as practiced in the West. You can be any religion and practice yoga, any elements that 1 feels are too “Hindu,” (as that is the cultural origin) can be removed if they make someone uncomfortable. It’s like eating at a Japanese restaurant doesn’t make you Japanese or whatever. In fact intolerance is the antithesis of Yoga. Namaste all.

I was responding to a comment that yoga should be more exclusive in that  it’s “Hindu” so I’m giving my two cents.  Yoga originated in a primarily Hindu culture, but to accept what commenter says would lead to a world where we are each limited to the box or beliefs, culture and norms that we are born into.  Obviously that is not the hyper-connected world  we now live in.

Even more important yoga is a spiritual tradition and practice that truly transcends race, gender, culture, even time period (I’m talking in it’s full depth here Yoga as opposed to yoga.  The practices are ultimately about transcendence and reaching our highest potential as Divine beings in a Divine universe.