Last updated: June 02 2007
European Yoga Network™ Campaign | Press / News home
Can the real Yoga
please stand up ?
The mass market, commercial appeal of Yoga in TV and video production, publishing and consumer marketing campaigns, often hides a real lack of practical measures to harmonise the businesses funding them with Yoga itself.
The most pressing concern is to exert influence and control over consumers buying patterns, and is supported by unsustainable volumes of advertising and exhibition space.
Irresponsible and misleading marketing activities relating to, or directly featuring Yoga persistently obfuscate some of the most basic principles of Yoga and serve only the needs of commercial enterprises already out of touch with the underlying spiritual message and wisdom of Yoga.
So, we are stuck in the familiar situation of larger, profit-seeking interests looming most prominently within glossy magazines, internet directories, trade shows, and Yoga exhibitions and the like - all of which are generally organised so that the most desirable positions are afforded to advertisers and exhibitors expecting to spend the most money - and before anyone else !
But That's Life
- isn't it ?
Any commercial effort to promote Yoga is all very good - but our campaign is about much more than that - it's about preserving the diversity, authenticity, originality and awareness of Yoga itself.
To emphasise the general appeal of Yoga as a relaxing and enjoyable pursuit is really fine - but we really all deserve better than being targeted simply as a Yoga demograph.
Campaigns are usually created to turn hearts and minds towards widespread social acceptance of seductive, yet incongruous lifestyle choices - often seeking to divert consumers away from the real issues (ie. the potential for increased collateral misery of human beings, animals and our environment).
Companies seeking to align themselves with Yoga is good for everyone - but to do this properly will often mean a level of corporate social responsibility beyond the basic commercial desire to satisfy consumer demand.
The take up of Yoga itself tends to propagate an all-inclusive understanding - rather than a discouraging, critical approach but, we are now all being challenged to respond to a blinding mist
of commercialism in Yoga - which can make the take up of a healthier and more balanced lifestyle much more difficult for the general public as many worthwhile Yoga educational or charitable concerns are pushed out of the mix.
We think it's now about time for everyone involved with Yoga to make a bit of a stand and safeguard all its forms and traditions.
If we don't, we believe that many of the universal spiritual values of Yoga, (e.g. Ahimsa) will come under increased pressure from:-
- Human rights abuses, (e.g. harsh employment practices in unregulated Yoga equipment manufacturing plants)
- Use of hazardous chemicals in producing Yoga clothing and equipment, (e.g. pesticides in Cotton)
- Raw material crops used for Yoga products that threaten
- Production of high volumes of difficult to manage waste, (e.g. plastics made from petrochemicals)
- Lack of awareness in animal welfare issues (e.g. Silk used in apparel and Yoga accessories)
Please sign up now if you share our view and would like to join us in support.
For organisations
We, the undersigned will continue to work to improve within our own areas of influence and control by working closely with the Yoga community.
For individuals
We, the undersigned will actively seek out information from businesses about their efforts to harmonise with the planet and it's people.
- Read our Ethical policy
- Read Yoga product terms and their meanings
Get the code
You can alter this as much as you like ! - even design a better graphic if you like !
The code for this is here:-
<a title="The real Yoga campaign" href="http://www.yoga-eu.net/campaigns/yogashow.php"><img height="120" width="207" alt="Real Yoga campaign" src="http://www.yoga-eu.net/images/real_yoga.jpg" /></a>
(The results of this petition may be used as a basis for debate in many general, commercial Yoga and media companies. We will post any written responses / follow-up comments as an update to this article so visitors will be able to decide for themselves what it all might mean for the future of Yoga.)
Petition results
At the moment, there are 23 confirmed records.
Simply Yoga
www.simply-yoga.co.uk
Ian Floyd
www.agoy.com
Veronica Mitchell
www.far-site.co.uk
Ali Glenny
www.movingprayer.co.uk
Laura Denham-Jones
www.yoga.dj.com
Nadja Severa
www.nadjasworld.com
Swami Chelananda
www.dovelands.gq.nu
filarepa
yoga-sucks.blogspot.com
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