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A Yogi in the Classroom

Lori Hunter

Inquiry: Lori HunterÌý

In spring 2016 CU Boulder sociologist LoriÌýHunter introduced a course on the sociologyÌýof yoga. Here she discusses the commercializationÌýof yoga in the U.S., its culturalÌýimpact and mastering the art of mindfulness.

What motivated you to create aÌýclass on yoga and society?Ìý

I’ve long been a committed yoga practitionerÌýand, about two years ago, becameÌýcertified to be a yoga teacher. It was duringÌýthis training that I began thinking aboutÌýa sociology course on yoga as practicedÌýin our modern culture. As a sociologist, IÌýalways look at the world around us with aÌýcritical lens and I’d thought about the obviousÌýincrease in the commercialization ofÌýyoga in our culture — with the proliferationÌýof chain studios, increasingly high-pricedÌýyoga ‘gear’ and more athletic companiesÌýgetting into the yoga game. During teacherÌýtraining I realized my teaching ÌýexpertiseÌýisn’t actually in the yoga classroom, it’s inÌýthe sociology classroom. I’ve been teachingÌýsociology for more than 20 years.Ìý

Much of your class focused on howÌýyoga has manifested in the West.ÌýWhat should we know about yoga inÌýthe U.S. today?Ìý

There is so much about yoga in the U.S.Ìýtoday that is fascinating! For example, it’sÌýwidely practiced, female-dominated, privilegedÌýand crosses age boundaries. Yoga isÌýnow over a $10 billion industry. All of theseÌýfacts raise questions related to its appealÌý— Why so popular? Is it a respite from ourÌýbusy lives? — its gendered nature — DoÌýmodern male gender roles make yoga lessÌýappealing for men? — and its privilege — InÌýwhat ways is this privilege perpetuated byÌýcommercialization?ÌýOne discussion point we visited a lotÌýin class relates to authenticity. SinceÌýyoga in modern Western cultureÌýemerged primarily as a physical fitnessÌýpursuit, is this version of yoga ‘authentic’?ÌýDoes it matter? It’s also interestingÌýto me that the physical practice is whatÌýcomes to mind when people hear/useÌýthe word ‘yoga’ — although yoga actuallyÌýencompasses much more.Ìý

Your students kept a yoga journalÌýthroughout the course. What sortÌýof things did they start to notice inÌýtheir yoga practices? Ìý

All of the students kept journals, althoughÌýthey didn’t necessarily engage in a physicalÌýpractice like we think of as ‘yoga.’ Yoga isÌýhistorically an ‘eight-limbed’ practice whichÌýincludes ‘asana’ — the physical practice ourÌýculture mostly considers ‘yoga’— but yogaÌýis broader and includes compassion, truthfulness,Ìýcontentment — in general, mindfulness.ÌýI asked students to spend at least fiveÌýminutes daily, six days a week, engaged inÌýa mindfulness activity.ÌýFor many students, this simply meantÌýtaking off their headphones while walking toÌýclass to be more attentive to their surroundings.ÌýFor some students who practice yogaÌýin studios, they took notice of the demographicsÌýof their fellow students, what theyÌýwere wearing, and they began reflecting onÌýthe privilege associated with studio practiceÌý— for instance, the price of memberships.ÌýAll of these insights reflect students’ use ofÌýcritical thinking skills to reflect on the worldÌýaround them. To be honest, the studentsÌýwere the most engaged of any class I’veÌýtaught during my time at CU Boulder!Ìý

Will you teach the course again?Ìý

PossiblyÌýin spring 2017.

How often do you practice yoga?Ìý

My practice has been up and down over the past decade due to personal circumstancesÌý— but at the most, I practiced fiveÌýdays a week, although I’ve also had monthsÌýwhere I’ve not practiced at all. Typically, IÌýtry to practice two to three times weekly inÌýa studio and at least another day at home.Ìý

What role does yoga play in yourÌýpersonal life?Ìý

I’m fortunate to travel a lot for work, asÌýmy research on climate change, migrationÌýand natural resource-based livelihoods isÌýof interest and importance to a variety ofÌýorganizations across the globe. During myÌýtravels, I often try to practice yoga at localÌýstudios to get a flavor for local culture andÌýdifferences (and similarities) in yoga practicesÌýacross contexts.Ìý

What other things are youÌýinterested in?

I’m also a gardener, and I find tremendousÌýjoy in crafting lovely combinations of colorsÌýand textures in my flower beds, and growingÌýyummy produce in my fruit and vegetableÌýbeds. I have a great raspberry patch!Ìý

Condensed and edited byÌýChristie Sounart (Jour’12).Ìý

Photo by Glenn Asakawa