Week 8

    This week I practiced an hour class of Sivananda Yoga. It was taught by Jen, also known as The Yoga Hive. Sivananda Yoga is different from many other yoga practices because you perform the same practice every time. This means that the asanas are all similar, with the class length or range of motion being the only thing to vary. Sivananda Yoga has five different ways of living: proper breathing, meditation, proper exercise, diet, and relaxation. Just like with Bikram yoga, she guided us through the class by verbally cueing us. She only performed certain asanas when needed. She taught us the benefits and contraindications of each posture. We started and ended the class with savasana and at the end of savasana, we chanted and said om. 

    As yoga has become more popularized in Western culture, it has been established as "pop culture". Pop culture is anything that is conveyed through social media with the intent of reaching the younger generations. Nowadays, celebrities and trends greatly influence what is considered "pop culture". A greater amount of celebrities are performing yoga as a lifestyle and post it on their social media. This helps facilitate the idea to younger generations that yoga as a form of exercise is modern and trendy. 

    People tend to associate yoga with a toned body and a healthier mindset. This set of ideas helps further the establishment that yoga is "pop culture". Becoming physically and mentally fit is what is trending and modern in today's society. With more people performing yoga and posting about it on social media, it has become intertwined with Western culture. There are also so many different forms of yoga that one can take, allowing it to cater to everyone's needs.