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Capitalism can be defined as an economic structure with a motive for profit, while yoga is a spiritual practice that is aimed at developing a greater awareness and connection with oneself. So why is capitalism and yoga in the statement? Well, because things are changing and yoga is increasingly becoming a practice whose motive is profit making. Many will argue that you should not pay to get involved in a practice that allows you to develop your spiritualism, and the fact that yoga is now often linked to corporate branding doesn't help the capitalism debate much. It's not rare to see yoga DVDs in the market with titles such as yoga for weight loss, yoga booty workout or yoga workshops which charge a fee so as to learn how to practice various forms of yoga better. The practice of yoga is on a slippery slope and gearing more into a commercial practice. Yoga for Profit Gone are the days when yoga was simply a free form of meditation. Many people are now pursuing yoga training as a career, and it is well paying given the number of people interested in practicing yoga. In this day and age, unless you have $15, you cannot attend the spiritual session, and the only free way to get your mediation would be practicing yoga from the confines of your home. While there are various free yoga DVDs online, these often come with a 'donate' option which asks people to donate cash to the noble provision. Yoga is a booming business and there are DVDs on anything form workout, to yoga for better sex and others. Yoga retreats and events require a fee to attend and those that are free tend to come with corporate branding with branded yoga mats and yoga ambassadors for clothing companies. This practice of yoga that mainly favors those who can afford does not stay true to yoga principals. Like everything else, yoga seems to have fallen into the bottomless capitalism pit. Is Capitalism Bad for Yoga? While we can blame capitalism for destroying the spiritual practice, it's also important that we recognize that it may have also helped boost yoga a great deal. For instance, chances are high that many of us would not practice or even know a thing about yoga had it not been for its commercial success. The commercial aspect of yoga has increased social awareness and every day the yoga community is growing thanks to the mass production of yoga DVDs, magazines and books. Running a yoga class also requires money for rent and the yoga instructor also needs to earn a living, so can we really put blame on the fact that classes are charged? This is a question that will undoubtedly raise the mother of all debates. Balancing Yoga and Capitalism Some will say that yoga and capitalism cannot go hand in hand while others will argue that capitalism has helped yoga. What matters most is why you practice yoga and the impact of the practice in your life. The rest is an endless debate. For more information about Hot yoga, please visit http://www.yogafy.com.
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