Challenging Exclusivity
and Creating Space
Just as there isn’t one style, form, or way to practice yoga, bodies that practice yoga are diverse and varied. On the surface, though, it may seem that yoga practice consists merely of asana, or physical postures (often, ones that seem to be available only to those with a genetic propensity to contortionism and/or serious upper body strength). To boot, the often but not always, lithe and bendy bodies practicing those postures have been dubbed “yoga bodies,” to the exclusion of most.
Fortunately, thanks to the committed and passionate bands of advocates on the ground and on social media, shifts have been occurring. The stories in this section challenge existing norms and offer alternative perspectives. They also remind us why it is our duty to make yoga more accessible in whatever way we can, emphasizing the importance of pushing back against the larger culture that has created, and continues to re-create, unrealistic expectations in which only the few are represented to the exclusion of the masses.
Suzannah Neufeld not only rejects the “yoga body” but also the pressure many women feel to return to their “pre-baby body.” She offers a call to action, one that encourages us to learn how to listen and learn to trust our bodies. Most importantly, though, she provides a renewed definition of the “love your body” mantra with the hope that yoga moves us into service.
Dana A. Smith reveals the damage that may be unintentionally caused when we are viewed as our body alone and learn our worth is measured by how well this body fits the given cultural ideal. Yoga not only offered Smith a new way to relate to and inhabit her body but also inspired her mission to share the nondiscriminatory practice of yoga and provide a platform for the various bodies that breathe and move on the mat.
To explore the concept of “the yoga body,” well-known yoga blogger, Roseanne Harvey, accepted Sadie Nardini’s challenge to get the much coveted and desired “yoga body” in twenty-one days. A social experiment of sorts, Harvey shares some of the surprising and thought-provoking insights gained along the way.
Lauren Eckstrom not only describes the powerful transformation yoga forged in her life and in relationship to her body but also the perilous ground one often treads as a public figure, even in “conscious” spaces such as the yoga community. Eckstrom encourages us to expose the ways in which privilege operates as the impetus to increase solidarity and create meaningful cultural change in which we are all seen and heard.
Solidarity and connection in community is exactly what Elizabeth Wojtowicz craved most. Attributing her lack of self-confidence and extreme shyness to her disability, Wojtowicz desired a place outside of her family in which to feel accepted and whole. Yoga not only offered a newfound relationship with her whole self but a mindful community of activists.