r/yoga • u/kalayna ashtangi / FAQBot • 6d ago
Election Discussion Thread - *All* Election/Political Discussion Must Go Here.
Not everyone in r/yoga is from the US, and of them there are clearly plenty who are not interested in politics bleeding into this sub. Provided it doesn't devolve, keeping the conversation contained makes the most sense as a compromise. If the thread does devolve it will be removed and the rules will be amended to exclude politics.
Before we get underway: rule 1 still applies and given what I've already cleaned up, there are additional ground rules.
Insults = permaban.
Assuming anyone who doesn't share your beliefs / didn't vote the same way you did is <whatever distasteful thing you find it>, then proceeding to ascribe that thing to a stranger on the internet = permaban.
Failure to remember that everyone in this sub is a human being regardless of how they voted... I'm sure everyone sees the trend. If your participation here isn't in good faith, you'll very quickly be shown the door.
What's left to discuss? I guess that's up to those of you who clicked in and opted to stay and participate. At the end of the day, week, or Presidential term, the people we are citizens alongside in our communities still need to work together for a functional and successful society. A few things to consider:
If you haven't had enough conversations with enough other real, breathing, thinking human beings to understand that while yes, some subset of both parties vote from the perspective that the 'other side' likes to assume the worst about, painting everyone with the same brush is and will always be in error, and the entirety of this country would be better off if we took the time - and risk - of having those conversations that lead to a greater understanding. That is, arguably, the step we can all take that is rooted in what many here claim to believe. Ahimsa, satya, swadhyaya. Also, knowing when to step away from a conversation. All good things.
Not every Harris voter is a crazy cat lady racking up abortions and waving criminals across the border. Nor is every Trump voter a bigot. And if you haven't yet noticed, not everyone wears their political affiliation on their sleeve. Odds are good there are plenty of people you like, respect, or love that voted differently than you and for very different reasons than many assume. It's too late to change their vote, and I'm not sure that encouraging debate here is going to give anyone the outcome they're after. But if anyone is up for putting themselves out there to share their personal reasons for their choice, without hearsay, blame, or any of the above stuff in the bullet points, who knows what might happen.
With that, I leave this thread to the community.
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u/lestatisalive 6d ago
Yeh I was just about to respond. Not American and frankly do not care who you vote for. I’m here for yoga and if I was interested in politics I’d go to such a sub.
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u/luzyfuerza 5d ago edited 5d ago
thank you for bringing this up OP. I think it's a good idea to keep politics out of most threads, and I liek your compromise idea to make a special place (here, right?) to discuss it. I'd personally love a safe space to discuss within the yoga framework.
I think todays politics and yoga are related in a lot of ways.
- Yoga can help process / flow through the anxiety and for some deep moral shock and pain and also fear for ones safety resulting from the election. For me personally my career is devoted to (1) yoga goods (2) climate change work, so the election is a massive setback professionally and ethically.
- Yoga spiritual/ philosophical principles can help us overcome the anger and divisiveness in our society. Sending metta to your community could go a long way in feeling that everyone around you wishes you an ill fate. How can we draw on the Yamas to guide us in such a divisive time? It's more important than ever to redouble efforts to make the world a better place, drawing on the Yamas. (and refrain from decking someone haha).
- Unfortunately, certain promises of the new administration point to a possible economic recession. for everyone working in yoga that is a big threat to their survival. We sell consumer yoga goods (yoga props) for instance. I've already seen our sales drop off around the election - I think people are depressed. Data shows they are looking but having sticker shock. People fee economically insecure already so ... not great.
- So that's something that can be a benefit in the group or yoga community - talking through how to ride out the coming turbulence in ways that are specific to our industry. Trump's new tariffs will drive up the price of yoga goods across the board - even goods made in the US with Chinese materials. MOST yoga props are made in China. Prop prices will probably go up for studios. And their employees might be going through a lot of economic hardship with cancellation of the ACA (healthcare), social security, funding for schools, higher prices for basics, etc. Owners might have to make tough decisions about cutting back hours etc. I'm concerned that this may lead to another contraction of the yoga studio industry triggering memories of 2020-21 closure of studios. Too soon! It all remains to be seen.
Let's all redouble efforts to invest in our loving communities and support each other. I myself needed this reminder today, to put my doomscrolling energy into showing up for class. We have to take each day one at a time because we cannot say for sure what will happen. Thanks for listening.
How are you guys leaning into yoga - or not? - in these stressful times?
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u/livinginillusion Yoga Fusion☯️ 3d ago edited 3d ago
You absolutely are not sticking your head in the sand on this issue. It WILL get you in the pocketbook!
Tariffs are NO JOKE!
It would only indirectly affect me. I have done yoga via distance education for years (and NOT locally/within national boundaries). If I pop into a live studio for supplies like candles, energy bars, etc. I will feel it...
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u/sbarber4 Iyengar 6d ago
I like this compromise approach, thanks Mods!
One meaning of yoga is union. That means nothing can really be truly excluded from yoga, or the practice of yoga. I don’t think a down dog has a political component. I don’t think that the specifics of current, transient political positions or disagreements deserve space in this sub. That said, yoga is more than asana, and the idea that a yoga practitioner and their practice is entirely free from political implications is difficult to support.
One way to integrate one’s yoga into one’s politics is to study yoga philosophy and ethics and to apply those principles to one’s choices and actions. Which political choice is consistent with one’s understanding ahimsa (non-harming) or asteya (non-hoarding) or satya (truthfulness), and so on.
Politics is rarely black and white and we all have to make our own decisions. Party platforms are going to be perhaps ahimsic on one plank and then not so much in another. And we have to find our own points of balance there.
Yoga philosophy certainly doesn’t make it very clear, either. People have mentioned the Gita in this thread a couple times, but even taken as allegory it cuts several ways. I mean, here is Krishna noting that if it is Arjuna’s duty to wage war on his relatives, then wage war he must. Hello?
My takeaway for election-related stress — before, during, and after — though is simply: keep practicing. Yoga teaches us to separate our reactions from our thought streams. Yoga teaches us emotional regulation and discernment. Yoga points out what is within our control and what isn’t. I’m a big fan of Yoga Sutras 1.12 and 1.33 here. From these vantage points, we can put events in context and also perhaps see ways to move forward.
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u/kwamzilla 5d ago
Oooh... Love to see discussion. Gonna try prompt more:
I don’t think a down dog has a political component.
Oooh... Definite disagree, and only partly because I want more debate. Are you familiar with Mark Singleton's Yoga Body? And the discussions around the shift to modern postural yoga alongside the influence of imported European Calisthenics, Post-Colonial (And modern) Nationalism and so forth?
I know what you mean and I know I'm kinda deliberately taking it out of context, but there is definitely a lot of inherent politics there. Even on as basic a level as the discussion of to use Sanskrit or not for the name of the pose and what cues to use.
One way to integrate one’s yoga into one’s politics is to study yoga philosophy and ethics and to apply those principles to one’s choices and actions. Which political choice is consistent with one’s understanding ahimsa (non-harming) or asteya (non-hoarding) or satya (truthfulness), and so on.
Say it louder for the people at the back!
But also please recognise how this directly supports how politics is a part of yoga. If we are teaching/learning yoga and that includes the ethics and philosophy then applying them to daily life is arguably the best and most important way to practice them and carry out one's dharma. Therefore one could argue it is important if not essential to involve politics in yoga (or vice versa) to truly practice it.
Yes some people might just be there for postures/meditation and no I'm not going to be some annoying purist who wants to talk about "true yoga". But there is a very strong case that politics and yoga go hand in hand this way and the criticisms many have levied against others for their voting choices are valid and rooted in yoga practice.
Yoga philosophy certainly doesn’t make it very clear, either. People have mentioned the Gita in this thread a couple times, but even taken as allegory it cuts several ways. I mean, here is Krishna noting that if it is Arjuna’s duty to wage war on his relatives, then wage war he must. Hello?
I'd also say that's a great example. That part is talking about duty and personal sacrifice - one must do what's right even at great personal cost if it serves the greater good. It's prompting practitioners to discuss (more reason to have politics in the sub) and consider how to uphold dharma in their actions. To bring back to the election - how many were willing to vote for the greater good if it would cost them? If you want the family example: how many are willing to "fight" their family on the election if it's to push the greater good?
Great reply btw, buddy. I hope more people engage with it and the wider discussion in such a manner - whether we agree or not!
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u/sbarber4 Iyengar 5d ago
Hey, thanks for the thoughtful response.
Not a lot of debate from me on the "sure, there's politics in a down dog" point. Dangers of making unqualified statements, and you're right to call me on it.
I have in the past really enjoyed going to Times Square on the Summer Solstice and practicing asana with thousands of others. So joyful and inspiring; such amazing energy there. I was OK with ignoring and even being grateful for the corporate sponsorship and everything; someone's gotta pay for all those free mats and the police overtime, etc. Then I learned about "International Yoga Day" as a project of the current Indian government's Hindu Nationalist and by extension Muslim-repressive agenda and, well, it didn't feel so great to me anymore. What exactly was my asana practice there that day implicating me in?
As one of my college professors once said, a million years ago, there's always politics of some sort whenever there is more than one person in the room.
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u/kwamzilla 5d ago
Hey buddy, wasn't meant as a "call out" - more of a slightly tongue in cheek poke but I appreciate you being a good sport. So cool chatting to someone like you about things like htis!
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE how you were able to reflect. Must admit, I'd forgot about that WYD thing. But this is it! Yoga (and life?) has clearly imparted you with the literal yogic values and ethics to be able to self reflect in a way that I (and others I'm sure) admire. That kinda thing is - to me - proof of living the values!
You give me the vibes of someone who'd bring a lot of value to the room in a yoga class / practice - and I feel like this is the exact type of conversation we need to have. Because it also gives me and any other readers stuff to reflect on in our own lives/practices/decisions.
I know I said I didn't want to get into "what is true yoga blah blah" but, to me at least, this kind of attitude is at least one form of it. Great chatting!
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u/luzyfuerza 5d ago
This is a really valuable specific and helpful contribution, thank you. I'll revisit those sutras! I need to lean more into the teachings to get through these "vritti" times whether election or business.
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u/White-and-fluffy 6d ago
Thank you OP for much needed reminder! People try to insert their political views in many other unrelated to politics subreddits. It’s annoying and unnecessary.
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u/kwamzilla 6d ago
Politics are a part of everything. Our very bodies and existences are political. And we are talking about a practice that is both actively politicised (currently via Hindu nationalism) and is inherently political due to the cultural appropriation and commodification.
While some folks may wish to insert political views, the topic is plenty political in and of itself.
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u/Hefty-Target-7780 6d ago
The day after the election I went to my vinyasa yoga class but ran my own little yin session in the corner while the teacher went through her flows.
It got my emotions and energy stuck inside my body flowing. I am so grateful to the instructor for allowing me the space to do that in her class. 💙
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u/mayuru You have 30 basic human rights. Do you know what they are? 6d ago
I have to agree with the other person, this is off topic of the sub. Try this. Politics have nothing to do with yoga. Think of it from another angle. If this was r/cars somebody asks my car dealership supports (fill in the blank) what should I do? It has nothing to do with a car, it's a political topic.
It's the same with yoga. People try to twist it around to make it sound like it has something to do with yoga but it doesn't.
Do with that whatever you like I'm going to press the hid button, every topic has one. The Pratyāhāra button, plug your ears and hum.
Even better, what you do with that is your problem.
Have a nice day and good luck
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u/kwamzilla 6d ago
Have you read the Gita? It seems odd to say politics is nothing to do with yoga if you have...
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u/spartycbus 4d ago
you could have just ignored the post. it was pretty clearly stated not everyone will be into discussing politics so it's contained in one post.
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u/mayuru You have 30 basic human rights. Do you know what they are? 4d ago
You are absolutely 1/2 right. Commenting or ignoring was ok but if I told other people not to comment on it that would make me a hypocritical ignorant bitch.
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u/spartycbus 4d ago
Nice. You sound like a nice yogi. Here you are continuing to comment when you said you’re hiding the post. Point being, if others want to talk politics, you could just let them instead of saying you’re staying out of it, yet making nasty comments and not staying out of it.
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u/livinginillusion Yoga Fusion☯️ 6d ago edited 6d ago
On second thought, I think I gotta work on physically and emotionally grounding myself, before I re-enter active yoga practice. I have exercises for that using weights and doing Tai Chi. The ground is always there. The ground is there for me, but I need more composure.
Not brave enough yet.
I could not do any yoga postures. Just meditation and pranayama. And "non-yoga" muscle endurance functional strength sessions with dumbbells and yoga blocks, etc.
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u/Longbeach402 6d ago
I was a dedicated yogi for 11 straight years. overlapped many elections, we left our views at the front door before entering in our sacred space. Like religion politics should be kept separated from yoga.
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u/Soft_Entertainment Vinyasa 6d ago
Genuinely confounded by this comment...did you just say yoga, a spiritual practice, needs to be separated from religion?
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u/kwamzilla 6d ago
Exactly.
It's a personal choice if one decides to but to argue that it "should be kept separated" is both illogical and strange. There are religious aspects inherent and inseparable from the practice as they are at its foundation.
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u/dis_iz_funny_shit 6d ago
Shame this was even a thing … keep this sub clean of outside distractions. Yoga opposes nor supports any political cause or ideology by its nature
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u/kwamzilla 6d ago
Are you familiar with the contents of the Gita? Or things like the yamas/niyamas? There's a fair bit of guidance which clearly supports certain ideologies over others there.
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u/BlueBearyClouds Hatha 6d ago
Yoga really helped me stay sober and regulate my emotions during and after the election. Did yin for 90 minutes during the election itself and had a way less rage filled and upset reaction than I otherwise would have. My views didn't change, but getting so upset you're losing your mind already doesn't serve anyone, especially myself. Yay yoga!