Cultural Appropriation and Namaste Part I: a business name change
Hello! Bryana here. Co-owner of Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats and owner/founder of my little independent yoga business, local to the Leech Lake Area.
I have big news that you may have already noticed if you follow my social media: I changed the name of my business. Since 2015 the name for my wandering yoga business has been Northern Namaste Yoga. Now I’ve made the big switch to Northern Yoga and Wellness.
This is a pretty huge undertaking. One that I had hoped to never do. So why? What’s with the name change?
Simply put:
Cultural appropriation
Cultural appropriation is defined as: the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.
There is an important discussion going on in the yoga community around cultural appropriation. One big sub-topic in this critical discussion is the use, intention, and respect demonstrated for the Sanskrit word namaste.
Namaste is a respectful greeting that means “hello” and “welcome”, and is occasionally used as a goodbye. In the Western yoga world, namaste has been widely taught as an acknowledgement meaning “the light in me recognizes and sees the light in you” or “the divine in me recognizes and sees the divine in you”. Some experts say that that definition of the word is incorrect and inappropriately “exotifies” the Sanskrit word that is traditionally used as a greeting. In yoga, we are often taught a gesture with our hands and use of the word “namaste” as a respectful closing and acknowledgment at the end of a yoga session.
I do personally continue to think of namaste, and the appropriate use of Sanskrit, as an acknowledgement of deep respect for the lineage, history, and ancient roots of the practice of yoga. There is vital history stored in language. However, the use of namaste in western society has taken an inappropriate turn. Many of us don’t even see it yet. Not too long ago, I also did not see it. Now I see it, and I’m listening, learning, and growing. One of my all-time favorite quotes by Maya Angelou is: “Do the best you can until you know better. When you know better, do better”.
“Do the best you can until you know better. When you know better, do better.”
If you think about it, I bet you have an example.
I’m talking about examples of the misuse and appropriation of the word namaste. Have you seen a shirt, a wine glass, a coffee mug, even a face mask maybe? “Namaslay, namastay in bed, na-mask-e, namastay here and drink my coffee/tea/wine” you name it. This is a very popular and widely accepted use for the word in American pop culture. While it’s viewed as “all in good fun”, unfortunately it’s deeply offensive. Remember, cultural appropriation is the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of customs and practices of one people or society by members of another (dominant) people/society. For us to misuse and poke fun at the word namaste is definitely cultural appropriation.
Cultural appropriation is the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of customs and practices of one people or society by members of another (dominant) people/society.
I do believe that people do the best they can, until they know better.
I too used to own clothing and trinkets with words of this nature on them. I no longer do. We can learn and grow. We can do better in this area. We can be more respectful of the heritage of yoga and the word namaste.
What’s this have to do with the name of my yoga business? While it may not seem like an obvious misuse of the word, Northern Namaste Yoga is still a misuse. I’ve been using the word as an advertisement for a product I’m selling (my business). It also downright doesn’t make any sense whatsoever: Northern “Hello” Yoga? It is not used correctly or appropriately in this sense. I no longer believe it is something I reasonably or respectfully want to justify doing. I know better now, so I will do better now.
The new name, Northern Yoga and Wellness encompasses the feel of what I love and what I enjoy being able to offer: accessible yoga in Northern Minnesota, that honors the practice respectfully, with a strengths-based focus on feeling holistically well. Whether it be outdoor yoga classes, private sessions in the comfort of your home, virtual yoga therapy, or online zoom classes - I hope to continue to offer you an empowering approach to yoga. Northern Yoga and Wellness feels true and authentic to me, and it feels true and authentic to my continued efforts in honoring and learning about the roots, tradition, and history of yoga.
I appreciate you reading about my journey in changing the name of my little business.
I wanted to share why it is so important. If you have any feedback, questions, or concerns - please let me know! My new contact information for Northern Yoga and Wellness is:
Email: info@northernyogandwellness.com
Website: northernyogaandwellness.com
Social media: @northernyogaandwellness
This was only Part !. Please read on for the next blog titled: Cultural Appropriation and Namaste Part II: to use Namaste or not.
Thank you for learning and growing with us.
-Bryana
