Asana™

Bikram Choudhury, founder of the popular Bikram's Yoga College of India, has copyrighted his sequence of poses and threatened to sue any teacher who doesn't abide by his terms. But yoga is thousands of years old. Can he really do that?

By James Greenberg

That same spirit of consideration seems to infuse the Kundalini Yoga taught through the 3HO organization. The Kundalini Research Institute, which preserves the teachings of Yogi Bhajan, has copyrighted all of his books, lectures, and videos. "We definitely feel that we want to have a lot of say in how the teachings are put forth and taught, so people can get the most benefit," says Nam Kaur Khalsa, executive director of the 3HO International Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association in New Mexico. She doesn't find franchising objectionable in theory. "I don't see it as a bad thing if it's done in the right spirit," she comments. "But the consciousness behind the organization doing the regulating needs to be such that people don't feel stifled or like they're not making any money for their efforts. It has to work for everyone."

Evolution, American-Style

As the business of yoga expands, the practice of yoga continues to move farther from its roots and traditions. And if you ask Bikram, he is the savior. "I brought hatha yoga to the Western world," he says. "Now hatha yoga is being crucified in America; people are messing with our Indian tradition and culture. So I think this franchising and copyrighting will help another 10 kinds of yoga to build up their business and help more people."

Others think the increased control will negatively affect the evolution of yoga. "What's good about yoga in the United States is that people really have a vision and are motivated," says David Gordon White, professor of religious studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. "But this could have a similar effect to creating a monopoly in the corporate world. It's going to drive out the small entrepreneur and make everything mediocre as a result. The lawyers will take over once again."

But given the chance, not every school of yoga will want to focus on business, copyrights, and franchising. "I think what will actually happen is that some people will say, 'That's really cool. I'm going to do that too,'" Chuck Miller says. "And some will be against it and say, 'That really stinks. I’m not going to do that.' And there will be some people in the middle. That's kind of how human beings are. All of the above will happen, and something will survive out of that."

James Greenberg is former deputy editor at Los Angeles magazine and has written extensively for the New York Times. He lives in Santa Monica, California.

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