Yoga as a selling feature

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

This is a press release from yesterday.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-20/spa-resorts-push-naked-table-building-yoga-classes-to-lure-executives.html

One of the reasons I joined this forum last year is because I thought about opening some studios and wanted more insight into the industry. Although I have shelved that project for now, I have learned more than I intended to, and for my own betterment.

However, the original motive was to capitalize (intentional word) on the groundswell movement toward yoga as physical/mental fitness routines, and it's compounding effect on my society. Simply put: practicing yoga makes you feel good!

Although I do not practice Bikram, I did purchase a 20 pack for $20 online special at a nearby new Bikram studio for a friend of mine who (I feel) needs this in his life right now. I cannot afford to pay for his membership at my Astanga studio, so I thought this may be OK and affordable. He has attended classes each day this week and tells me that there are 2 studios, each around 1,000 sq feet, each packed to the mirrors with wealthy, BMW driving sub-urbanites. Quick math: this studio is making a killing.

I anticipate many arguments from many sides of this issue. One thing is certain, yoga is here to stay.

#2

Arguments to what?
You seem to have stated basic, undeniable facts, other than calling it “yoga” of course:-)

#3

Of course. We should come up with a pet name for sport yoga.

#4

Or we can leave that to people who come up with pet names and place branding, revenue and their fiscal well being over the well being of their soul, when those two things are not one thing.

#5

I resemble that remark :slight_smile:

#6

[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;40559]Or we can leave that to people who come up with pet names and place branding, revenue and their fiscal well being over the well being of their soul, when those two things are not one thing.[/QUOTE]

For those who see yoga as a complete religion, I can understand this comment.

But many of us have that ground well-covered by our religion, and just want “sport yoga.”

If I were to start a studio, and no offense intended, I would strip it of any and all appearance of religious trappings, spirituality, eastern mysticism, statues of Budah, OMing, etc., etc.

That might seem like that would be to gut yoga, and it really would not be yoga, but that would be fine with me and with many who like the “feel good” and health benefits. There are many opportunities to find the spiritual elements in their own religions, should they choose to embrace one, and they could go deeper into “true yoga” if they choose to do so.

#7

[QUOTE=thomas;40563]

If I were to start a studio, and no offense intended, I would strip it of any and all appearance of religious trappings, spirituality, eastern mysticism, statues of Budah, OMing, etc., etc.
[/QUOTE]

That was my business plan. Not to take the ‘yoga’ from ‘yoga’, but to create ease-of-entry for those who have heard about yoga and it’s benefits, but are intimidated by the ‘religious’ associations. My thought is that if I were able to use the asanas as a springboard to discover the other, fuller aspects of yoga and benefit from that, maybe there are people out there who would as well.

#8

[QUOTE=FlexPenguin;40564]That was my business plan. Not to take the ‘yoga’ from ‘yoga’, but to create ease-of-entry for those who have heard about yoga and it’s benefits, but are intimidated by the ‘religious’ associations. My thought is that if I were able to use the asanas as a springboard to discover the other, fuller aspects of yoga and benefit from that, maybe there are people out there who would as well.[/QUOTE]

I agree in-part, as many have no religious or spiritual life, and mabye the asana practice could be a beginning, but on the other hand, why should it lead to the spirtual any more than jogging, pilates, playing basketball, etc.?

But let’s say you know someone at church who is very spirtual, dedicated to prayer, going to Mass daily, etc., but needs some physical therapy. A stripped down version of “yoga” might be appealing, but a studio like mine, with the statues, the OMs, all the eastern mystical books, might be a stumbling block, and she would see this as a place of religion instead of exercise.

The way I see it, in our religion, and other religions too, we’ve got all the bases covered. We’ve got our ethics, our prayers and meditations, our admonishions do good, avoid evil, serve the poor, etc.

But we’re free to choose whatever physical exercise and diet we want to do, so why not yoga? It’s one of the best exercises. We just don’t need all the “extras.” (I realize that some would see those things as the “essentials,” but again, those are covered elsewhere).

#9

A religious association with Yoga is merely a lack of understanding - and that is a concept well spread amongst all religions.

The proof in the pudding is in the eating and there are numerous practitioners who will give testament that their yoga practice - a practice of knowing the self through quite pragmatic tools dating back several thousand years, has enhanced their own belief system. And of course religion is a belief system no matter which particular religion one is adhering to.

While this isn’t a religion thread - since there’s now a board for that, it is always worthwhile to mention that it is only when we are radically insecure with ourselves and our own beliefs that we turn out attention to others and their behaviors. When we are secure we don’t really concern ourselves with who believes us, who listens to us, who is like us, who is not like us, and who is worshipping trees. It simply is of no matter whatsoever.

BTW, Jim Baker was “very spiritual and committed to prayer”.

#10

[QUOTE=thomas;40567]I agree in-part, as many have no religious or spiritual life, and mabye the asana practice could be a beginning, but on the other hand, why should it lead to the spirtual any more than jogging, pilates, playing basketball, etc.?[/QUOTE]

Because it is different! I have worked out as a gym rat for decades and never had the same experience as my first yoga practice. Although I cannot explain the difference, I know there is a difference. And, I have met and spoken to many people who have had a similar experience. Not religious, just…spiritual.

As for the perception of religion in yoga, it is just that - a perception. To just say ‘hey, yoga isn’t a religion!’ isn’t going to convince those who associate it with Hinduism or its own yogaism in their minds, especially when they show up at a studio and ‘krishna’ is playing on the intercom, incense is burning, and India rugs are hanging on the walls (don’t get me wrong, I like this!).

Here’s a story that happened to me: I’ve been going to my gym at that location for 16 years and many of the regulars in there know me. One of the regulars, a man in his fifties, came up to me and asked; "hey, I hear you are doing yoga? I’ve been thinking of doing that, but I don’t know anything about it? You like it, eh?"
I said, “Love it! I do ashtanga yoga and it’s pretty physical, like a workout”. A couple of days later he approached me and asked, "what kind of yoga was it you said you did again?"
He couldn’t wrap his mind around the name ‘ashtanga’ and I had to spell it for him. Now, to many of you this may sound ridiculous, but to him it was very foreign stuff. He wanted to try yoga, but was so intimidated by even the name of the style that he was a bit reluctant to take that first step. Eventually he tried a couple of the classes at the gym, which is the worst place for anyone to be introduced (I think).

Like it or not, the perception of religious association with yoga is still out there and persistant, and a part of the brand. It is a misunderstanding, but an understanding nonetheless.

#11

[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;40569]The proof in the pudding is in the eating and there are numerous practitioners who will give testament that their yoga practice - a practice of knowing the self through quite pragmatic tools dating back several thousand years, has enhanced their own belief system. [/QUOTE]

This was my discovery by mistake. As in another thread, sometimes we go down a road that lead us to surprisingly nice places.

#12

While this isn’t a religion thread - since there’s now a board for that, it is always worthwhile to mention that it is only when we are radically insecure with ourselves and our own beliefs that we turn out attention to others and their behaviors. When we are secure we don’t really concern ourselves with who believes us, who listens to us, who is like us, who is not like us, and who is worshipping trees. It simply is of no matter whatsoever.

It’s not an “insecurity,” but a legitimate concern if another religion is being imposed on them, whether it’s real or only appears to be so.

If someone THINKS if that they worship Buddha at my yoga studio, and therefore declines to go for that reason, that is not “insecurity,” but merely a choice to not worship Buddha.

BTW, Jim Baker was “very spiritual and committed to prayer”.

Are you referring to before or after he was imprisoned, saw the error of his ways, wrote a book “I Was Wrong,” and donated the proceeds to charity?

Yes, there are sinners in Christianity. Some very big ones. I should number myself among them. We all fail, and all need God’s forgiveness.

The point I made was that we do have the tools in Christianity to do everything (and then some) that yoga offers, so we don’t need it all.

If the job of the yoga teacher is to be concerned with the student’s soul, then if I were a yoga teacher, I would have no choice but to give the student rosary beads, teach them to pray the rosary, give them a Catechism of the Catholic Church and tell them to study it, have them go to Mass every week, go to the adult classes, and after a year of study and discernment, join the Catholic Church on Easter Vigil.

If they don’t want to be a Catholic, then what? I can’t teach them something else in good conscience.

That’s why I would keep yoga “religion neutral,” and I don’t think that it is entirely so as it is, and leave the concerns of their immortal soul to them to work out in their own ways.

#13

As for the perception of religion in yoga, it is just that - a perception. To just say ‘hey, yoga isn’t a religion!’ isn’t going to convince those who associate it with Hinduism or its own yogaism in their minds, especially when they show up at a studio and ‘krishna’ is playing on the intercom, incense is burning, and India rugs are hanging on the walls

If it is not a religion, it seems to me that teachers add their own religious elements to it.

If care of “the soul” is in yoga, then that’s a religious element.

If chanting “OM” is a referral to the beggining and end of all, then that is a religious element.

If anything it taught that cannot be proven but must be accepted by faith, then that is a religious element.

I don’t believe in kundalini, chakras, auras, reincarnation, yet those concepts are taken for granted here as if they are facts, and in the yoga studios too, and even if they are not “religious,” could certainly in some cases be considered contrary to a religion.

#14

Religious perception aside, it’s interesting how yoga is being used as a value-added feature for many industries. As the news item indicates, high end hotels are featuring it as a draw for customers. Gyms started a while back. My cousin is CEO of a large corporation here and he proudly uses the yoga classes held in their meeting room as a draw for high-level recruits. The company that administers my employee benefits program has now added yoga to it’s list of redeemable health benefit expenses.

#15

Is this a bad place to announce the yogaforums.com bumper stickers, yoga pants, mugs, mats, hats, and my translation of the sutras?

#16

Not at all. Do you have a price list? Do forum members get an extra discount rate?

#17

[QUOTE=David;40589]Is this a bad place to announce the yogaforums.com bumper stickers, yoga pants, mugs, mats, hats, and my translation of the sutras?[/QUOTE]

I’d like to place an order for a mug and a copy of the Dave Sutra-s please!

#18

[QUOTE]The point I made was that we do have the tools in Christianity to do everything (and then some) that yoga offers, so we don’t need it all.

Thomas if your faith provides you with everything that yoga provides and then even more why do you need to even go to yoga and if yoga offers less
why do you feel the need to strip it of the tools that it does offer ?
For your information Buddhists do not worship Buddha Im pretty certain
that this is the last thing the buddha would have wanted. In fact the term budddhism was a later invention as were statues of the Buddah , the statues come from greek traditions ,and what we now term buddhism was about following the way of the Dharma. We can say the Buddha was a man like us, what he overcame we can overcome , He is a role model not a god.

#19

“The point I made was that we do have the tools in Christianity to do everything (and then some) that yoga offers, so we don’t need it all.” Thomas

Thomas if your faith provides you with everything that yoga provides and then even more why do you need to even go to yoga and if yoga offers less
why do you feel the need to strip it of the tools that it does offer ?
For your information Buddhists do not worship Buddha Im pretty certain
that this is the last thing the buddha would have wanted. In fact the term budddhism was a later invention as were statues of the Buddha , the statues come from greek traditions ,and what we now term buddhism was about following the way of the Dharma. We can say the Buddha was a man like us, what he overcame we can overcome , He is a role model not a god

#20

Thomas,

how about if we find some ways to keep the religious thread in the appropriate section of the forum? I wonder if it’s respectful to the OP to shift their post, either mindfully or mindlessly, in the direction of religion.

Living from integrity, truth, honesty, love…this does not require religion.