Yoga and consumption
In our Western world, yoga is hardly conceivable without consumption. It's not about excesses, but about fundamentals:
A yoga or
exercise mat is the minimum equipment that can be found in every household where yoga is practiced.
Those who attend a course pay a fee and need their own
yoga bag for some additional items.
Some people might want to pack a special
yoga towel or their
favorite soap in here.
Meditators love the glow of a
tea light , relax with a
cymbal or let
mala beads glide through their fingers.
All of these things, of course, fall under consumption, since they are purchased and paid for – if you receive them as gifts, others have paid for them.
Consumption then and now
Consumption in itself is not a bad thing. We all buy food, clothing, travel tickets, or gasoline. Some drive cars, and we also travel or go to the cinema. Fortunately, our leisure activities are diverse and offer something for everyone. Nevertheless, consumption has a negative connotation for some, even though the idea of transforming from self-provider to consumer is ancient: The moment the first humans began to exchange things to acquire new things, consumption, as we understand it today, was born. We want certain things and are willing to give up other things—whether goods or money—in exchange.
Interestingly, the idea of having/buying is strongly involved in the concept of consumption; however, the Latin verb consumere only means to consume in the sense of exhaustive or consuming use: Thus, the farmer also consumes his food by cooking and eating it, but produces it through his own cultivation without further purchases (we omit fertilizers and the like here to make the basic statement clearer).
Yoga and consumption
In this sense, the fundamental concept of consumption in yoga has less to do with this: we consume things as slowly as possible and replace them only when necessary and worn out; instead, we use them extensively, so that the purchase is worthwhile. The idea of bargain hunting and spontaneous, expensive purchases may not seem entirely appropriate for yoga, let alone the Eastern tradition. Here, more emphasis is placed on clarity of mind and physical balance than on fashion or other short-term values.
Yoga is a long-term lifestyle. It's not about outdoing others because you have the nicer
meditation cushion or the trendiest
clothes . A raffia mat or
blanket is sufficient as a simple base, and some accessories are essential for intensive yoga practice. But consumption, just to buy something new or because an object looks nice, is rarely the point of your yoga purchase. Purchases as gifts for yoga fans or in the form of practical
gift certificates are, of course, something else entirely.
Consume sensibly
So, sensible consumption is always possible, necessary, and certainly welcome—this applies to every purchase, really. Buying two mats, several bags, and a bunch of extras you'll never use is great for your consumption index, but whether it's good for you is up to you to decide.
Yoga is more about reducing the external in order to gain more of the internal: being more yourself, being more focused and fit, more serenity and wisdom, better breathing, and a new outlook on life. A vegetarian or, alternatively, a simpler diet has a similar effect: By deliberately cutting back, you have more time for other things, gaining greater clarity of mind and the opportunity to devote yourself to more important, more meaningful things than food. True to the motto: Man does not live to eat, but eats to live.
With this in mind, we wish you the right choice when shopping at yogabox – and then a wonderful time with new yoga experiences!
Image © ennona / 123rf.com
