What is the future of yoga in the West?

That’s the sincere question I posted, in various forms, to some of the prominent yogis of the West, at the Wanderlust Festival in Whistler.

The question is fraught with peril; after all, what is the ‘West’ anymore in a globalized society?

And, who can draw the distinction between what is truly “yoga” and what is a grandiose exercise class draped in pseudo spirituality?

Seane Corn, Janet Stone, Chris Chavez, MC Yogi, Eoin Finn, Sjanie Mcinnis and Wanderlust co-founder Schulyer Grant all weigh in with their thoughts, which I crafted into a synthesis that captures the broad snapshot of Western “yoga” at this moment.

I’ll admit I’m not a yoga scholar; I’ve practiced for 4 years, with a goal of 2-3 times per week (when I can) and I’ve read the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and watched films like Planet Yoga.

I’ve had moments of skepticism that the mainstream yoga I see will result in any significant shift away from our current destructive paradigm. And yet…on the Friday night of Wanderlust, I shot inches from Seane Corn and Michael Franti as they guided the crowd of hundreds through an ecstatic group experience. I marvelled as Seane expertly wove a spell of spiritual empowerment and global potential, while Michael accompanied with his guitar and delicate lyrics.

As the tempo reached its frenzied peak, I felt something—call it the arising of collective intelligence—call it a moment of mysterious bliss; all I know is that it hinted at something more powerful than any of us understand—and its emergence in multiple forms, through multiple voices.

 

Ian MacKenzie is a filmmaker and media activist from Vancouver, BC.  He is co-producer of the upcoming feature documentary Occupy Love, directed by Velcrow Ripper.

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Editor: Bryonie Wise

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