Puppies, many claimed, were being treated “as if they were gymnastics tools.” This follows the recent Western trend where the ancient Hindu practice of yoga, gets diversified and modernised to such an extent, that it becomes totally indistinguishable from its initial iteration
Yoga can enhance the sleep quality in people which is one of the major factors in managing the epilespy condition (Image: Freepik)
New Delhi: Italy’s Ministry of Health has banned “puppy yoga”, a popular wellness trend in the country where puppies would roam around yoga classes and would sometimes also be incorporated and used in some yoga poses as props or help.
Calls for the ban came up when concerns surrounding mistreatment and exploitation of the puppies were raised. Puppies, many claimed, were being treated “as if they were gymnastics tools.”
Head of the One Health department of Italy’s health ministry, ruled Tuesday that the use of dogs during exercise sessions falls under Italy’s Animal Assisted Interventions act. This would mean that only adult dogs can now be used in yoga sessions to “protect the health and well-being of the animals, as well as the safety of users.”
This follows the recent Western trend where the ancient Hindu practice of yoga, gets diversified and modernised to such an extent, that it becomes totally indistinguishable from its initial iteration.
From peace to chaos
One of India’s biggest soft power exports in recent decades has been yoga. It has been exported across countries and each one seems to have incorporated it with ease. The incorporation though has not been all smooth.
Assimilation has added modifications to an age-old practice, all of which have not been constructive. While they have made the practice globally famous, they have also commercialised to an extent that the practice is slowly getting a bad name.
Yoga in many ways personifies Hindu philosophy. It is Hindu thought in action. It was originally a practice aimed at self-awareness and self-transformation. While physical exercises were also a part of the practice, the aim was always to make changes in the internal life of a person. The aims were always to make a complete change in the whole unity of a person’s existence.
Yoga-like practices were first mentioned in the ancient Hindu text Rig Veda, whose main aim was to achieve ‘samadhi’ and remain in that state as pure awareness. The physical aspects of the practice were also in aid to reach higher levels of consciousness.
Today though the way the West has assimilated these practices, not much of the original emphasis of the practice on the mind and inner self are left. It has become more of a practice to hone one’s outer appearance, which was never an aim of the practice.
The West though has changed all this and a major part of this is also commercialisation. Capitalistic society has made a product of everything and even yoga, a practice aimed to better one’s inner life, has also been made a product.
This has resulted in a variety of different types of yoga practices. From the currently banned puppy yoga to variations like goat yoga and doing yoga on a tightrope, variations today seem to be endless.
While the need for yoga is at an all-time high in today’s society of extreme materialism it is unfortunate that the original intent of the practice has been stripped. It is about time that we reclaim it and yoga practices which are detrimental to any aspects of one’s life should also be stopped.