Modern Yoga & The Legacy of Colonization

Modern yoga, as practiced today, has been profoundly shaped by British colonization of India. Many of the most influential lineages trace their origins to Krishnamacharya, who lived and taught under colonial rule. This workshop critically examines how colonization fractured indigenous traditions and reshaped yoga through systemic disruption.

Using a structured framework, we will explore how colonization:

• Divided and disrupted communities
• Imposed new languages, silencing native voices
• Introduced Christian ideals, specifically around morality, which influenced yoga’s evolution
• Exploited an existing hierarchical system of power and control
• Manipulated and restricted access to resources

We will also discuss the transformation of yoga from a predominantly spiritual practice to a focus on physical postures (asana), and how this shift was impacted by colonial forces.

This session will be lecture-based with open discussion and Q&A, and will be held online via Zoom. No asana practice will be included.