Yoga, Injuries, and William J. Broad’s Trainwreck

By Karen Macklin on January 15th, 2012 — 2 Comments

Ten days ago, the New York Times published an opinion piece by senior science writer William J. Broad entitled “How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body”.  The responses to this article have numbered in the tens, possibly in the hundreds. Yoga practitioners are miffed—and for good reason. Read More »»

Do Yogis Have to Be Vegetarian?

By Karen Macklin on January 3rd, 2012 — 3 Comments

It’s one of the most controversial topics in the yoga world: vegetarianism. Some say you’re not truly practicing yoga if you eat meat; others say that not all body types can thrive on purely vegetarian diets. Is there a definitive answer? Read More »»

Should Yoga Traditions be Copyrighted?

By Karen Macklin on December 19th, 2011 — 5 Comments

Yoga’s back in court again! In 2003, Bikram Choudhury obtained a copyright for the sequence of poses he developed for his namesake practice, Bikram Yoga. Since then, he hasn’t hesitated to sue those who violate that copyright. Now, in a new turn of events, his copyright is being deemed illegal.  Read More »»

Does Yoga Mix with Non-Hindu Religions?

By Karen Macklin on December 5th, 2011 — 12 Comments

As the world gets smaller each day through the mixing and mingling that happens online, via air travel, and through immigration, our cultures and traditions keep getting more and more mushed together. I’m typically in favor of cultural mushing, but it can get a bit complicated, especially when it comes to religion. For those who want to stay within lines of tradition, how does yoga fit in? Read More »»

Should Men Have Their Own Yoga Classes?

By Karen Macklin on November 18th, 2011 — 10 Comments

Even after the yoga revolution of recent years, women still dominate the yoga scene. We’re the majority in the classrooms, we’re on the covers of the yoga magazines, and we make up the bulk of the teacher trainings. Yoga has become known as a woman’s activity. And some people have been trying to change that. Read More »»