But as a practitioner, I'm like, “Be conscious of what you are doing, and how it could be harmful to other people.” And the reality is that I don't think there's a way to not potentially offend somebody. I've always wondered if the reason that I think about any of this is because I'm Black, and I’ve watched people appropriate my culture for so long. So it's really important for me to be critical of everything that I'm doing-not so that I can judge myself, but to see the full picture. It's so deeply wrapped up in South Asian heritage and culture.Īnd for me, I'm using it because I’m trying to be respectful of this practice, but at the same time, I want to be respectful of the real people who are carrying that lineage in their blood. I also think a lot about how Sanskrit has been used in South Asia to control people and that it has become this whole issue of class and caste. Everybody has different opinions about whether or not it's okay to use Sanskrit, whether or not it's important, and whether it's disrespectful not to use Sanskrit because it's showing a lack of reverence. But being conscious of when I’m using Sanskrit is a big one for me. I think that so much of American yoga ends up being an appropriation of yoga practiced in South Asia. How do you navigate that line in your own life? You write about cultural appropriation versus appreciation. Those experiences become doorways for the reader to cultivate what Stanley calls “the yoga of every day,” or the way we can apply poses and postures to our daily experience. She shares her triumphs, her failures, and the ways she’s still unfolding. Stanley examines herself as searingly as she explores capitalism, cultural appropriation, white guilt, and cannabis consumption. We also witness a human being (a “Virgo rising”) who is learning to accept herself just like the rest of us. In Yoke ($14, Amazon), we encounter Jessamyn Stanley, the widely read author, committed yogi, and respected teacher. This opening anecdote sets the tone for the entire book. “I needed a close encounter with my imposter syndrome,” Stanley tells SELF, adding that examination is an ongoing process. Then she got on her yoga mat and let herself feel everything that cropped up. Stanley freaked out, contemplated calling her publisher, and considered writing to the reader. What happened next? Exactly what you might expect.

Yoke by Jessamyn Stanley