Cultural Appropriation vs. Cultural Appreciation: Finding Balance

Where's the line between cultural appropriation vs. cultural appreciation? That's what we explore with this week's guest, Susanna Barkataki, author and a trailblazing yoga leader, where she shares her insights on living the yogic ethics in real life, addressing the complexities of cultural appropriation within yoga and promoting inclusive and welcoming yoga communities. She discussed her journey with yoga against the backdrop of her immigrant heritage and her initiatives to combat the lack of representation of people of color in the yoga world, including starting her own magazine and launching a yoga social media platform. Discover how honoring the roots of yoga and acknowledging its complex history can contribute to healing, connection, and the creation of welcoming spaces. Learn from our guests' personal journeys and experiences how to navigate the fine line between appropriation and appreciation, and the significance of representation and inclusivity within the wellness community. Tune in to empower your practice and enrich your understanding of yoga beyond the mat.

Susanna Barkataki, (she/her) has been called “a trailblazing yoga leader and visionary for our times.” An Indian teacher building bridges in the West, she is known for her work in decolonizing and embracing the roots of yoga. She is a tech founder of Yoke Yoga, a SAAS company to bring yoga socially to all people to help solve everyday problems. She also founded Ignite Institute for Yogic Leadership and Social Change to train students in using authentic spiritual tools to create positive social change. She’s author of #1 International Bestseller Embrace Yoga’s Roots: Courageous Ways to Deepen Your Yoga Practice. 

Susanna’s trainings merge authentic yoga and social justice. She runs award winning 200/300 Embody Yoga’s Roots Yoga Teacher Training programs and Yoga Class Curator, a year long training to deepen beyond YTT that are changing the face of yoga today. She consults with organizations like the UN, Yoga Alliance, TEDx. 

Learn more at SusannaBarkataki.com and join her on social @SusannaBarkataki

 

~~~~~~~~~~

These episodes are now available on the "Black on the Mat” Podcast (on Spotify, Apple, etc). Help grow our podcast community by subscribing here, following us on Spotify and Apple, rating us 5 stars, and sharing your favorite episodes on your stories! 

Black on the Mat Podcast: https://linktr.ee/blackonthemat 

Instagram:   blackonthemat_ / hellawellwithdanielle / thickthighyoga

Tiktok: blackonthemat / hellawellwithdanielle / thickthighyoga

Twitter: hellawelldani /  thickthighyoga

Youtube: @BlackOnTheMat / @HellaWellWithDanielle / @ThickThighYoga 

For business and sponsorship opportunities, please contact [e-mail]