Letters
Do you have a strong opinion, or disagree with somebody else’s point of view on topics related to the spa industry? If so, Spa Business would love to hear from you. Email your letters, thoughts and suggestions to
theteam@spabusiness.com
India’s attempt to patent yoga moves is a step in the right direction
Colonel Minhas, principal, Ananda Spa Institute, India
I support the recent announcement that an Indian government organisation is to patent yoga moves. News stories have reported that the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), a Delhi-based body, has fi lmed hundreds of asana yoga poses so that people cannot claim to have invented – and charge money for – fusion yoga styles. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to bring
about a government seal of approval and preservation of traditional yoga, from the country of its origin. Indeed, at the Ananda Spa Institute in Hyderabad we support the study and teaching of yoga according to Indian traditions (see SB08/3 p36). You only have to look at ayurveda to see
how diluted it has become from a global perspective and how it’s lost its authen- ticity. Yoga could go the same way. It’s an
“You only have to look at ayurveda to see how diluted it has become on a global perspective and how it’s lost its authenticity and value”
the leisure media company publishes
India’s government has fi lmed hundreds of asana poses in an attempt to patent them
ancient art that does not belong to any particular person, which means that it can be used by all, but no individual should be able to introduce a minor variation of it, package it attractively and then charge lots of money for classes or franchises. Although this moves comes late – breaches have already taken place without being questioned – the effort by the TKDL is still a step in the right direction
to stop this commercial exploitation. And it may set the record straight for future gen- erations as well as provide correct facts in industrial disputes. However, I don’t think the spa or well-
ness industries have anything to worry about: I am sure that yoga will remain open to all practitioners who want to make use of it and to benefi t from this old wisdom of mankind. ●
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