09/12/2025
Yoga and Politics...
I was at a protest march a couple of days ago, and happened to run into a few of my students. One of them remarked that they were surprised to see me there, as they thought Yoga and politics were usually kept separate. That got me thinking...
Merriam-Webster's dictionary has a few definitions of politics, ranging from influencing government policy, to winning/holding control of government, competition for power and leadership, to activities characterised by artfully dishonest practices. These are the ways we often think of politics. In that context, I think it's probably correct for Yoga to remain apart from deceptive, self-serving struggles for power.
The broadest definition, however, is "the total complex of relations between people living in society". It's this definition which most clearly articulates politics in its purest form, and to which I think Yoga is deeply connected.
Regardless of specific traditions, Yoga is fundamentally about how we understand and interact with the world (both human and non-human) around us. It calls us to live in harmony, and to discard the misconception that there is a "me/us" and a "them". It teaches us that whenever there is suffering, the whole world suffers.
So if you practice Yoga, I urge you to call out the first form of politics by engaging in the second. Stand up for those who are suffering, and stand up to those whose greed, fear, and lust for power cause or contribute to it. Make the politics of increasing harmony and combating suffering your Yoga- because Yoga is fundamentally Political.
Cheers, love and smiles, Steve 🙂🙏🏼💖
