Political Yoga

Numerous yoga schools are offered in Berlin, from Urban Yoga to Beer Yoga. But yoga does not only stand for meditative self-awareness and personal relaxation, but also has problematic, geo-political and power-political aspects. However, a critical view of the form of meditation so far exists only marginally. The social and societal impact is increasingly significant. Especially against the background that Indian nationalists are increasingly expanding their power, using yoga as a geopolitical tool, as a so-called soft power strategy. The cultural influence serves to hide the violent repression of Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims and other minorities in Indian and Indian-descended societies.

Political Yoga is exploring how social, cultural and geopolitical power dispositions are reproduced in one's own meditation and body practices. Together we try to develop a decolonizing and inclusive school of yoga. Movements and gestures are analyzed and new forms of body language are developed.

Political Yoga is an artistic research project by Sajan Mani which is funded by 'Berliner Projekfonds' Kulturelle Bildung'

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