University yoga class canceled because of 'oppression, cultural genocide'
Justin Wm. MoyerWashington Post
In studios across the nation, as many as 20 million Americans practice yoga every day. Few worry that their downward dogs or warrior poses disrespect other cultures.
But yoga comes from India, once a British colony. And now, at one Canadian university, a yoga class designed to include disabled students has been canceled after concerns the practice was taken from a culture that "experienced oppression, cultural genocide and diasporas due to colonialism and western supremacy," according to the group that once sponsored it.
In a telephone interview with The Washington Post, Jennifer Scharf, who taught the class for up to 60 people at the University of Ottawa, said she was unhappy about the decision, but accepted it.
"This particular class was intro to beginners' yoga because I'm very sensitive to this issue," she said. "I would never want anyone to think I was making some sort of spiritual claim other than the pure joy of being human that belongs to everyone free of religion."
