As a yoga instructor, inclusion has always been something that's important to me but not always present in the yoga space. Dr. Graham addresses these ongoing issues that so many influencers tend to ignore, which I think is important and necessary if we are going to prioritize a safe space for everyone rather than mainly focusing on the stereotypical Western practitioner of yoga.

Yoga as Resistance outlines a dynamic
programme of social justice reform within the yoga industry. The majority of teachers in North America and Europe are white, able-bodied, so how can they create inclusive environments?

‘Yoga does not ask of us to overlook and deny the realities of the
nature of the world. Rather, it offers us the tools to face those realities with
authenticity, courage, tenacity and compassion’

This book is meant more for instructors and yoga studio owners, but if you are interested in yoga you could also learn to see the studio experiences through a different lens.
Some parts of these practices can be repetitive if you're reading the whole book straight through, I recommend reading
it all in small parts.

For starters, Dr. Graham is not here to make you comfortable... and she tells you that up front! One thing I noticed right away is that she uses a lot of Sanskrit terms for things. I try to avoid these myself, because I don't know if they're always known/accessible to others, so that struck me. But, of course, this book is aimed toward professionals - teachers, studio owners, etc. - not the average person who might stroll into a class at the Y. So, why not make us work a little? She sets the bar high, right from the jump.
The book is in four sections. The first sets up all the rest, by discussing language and making sure the reader understands Graham's aims and terminology. The second section is for teachers and those in training. The third is for businesses, including studio owners, teacher trainings, and brand managers. The fourth is how people in all of these roles can work together to pursue equity.
Most chapters within those sections have journal prompts, real world examples, and a practice. (I mean a practice of the yoga or meditation sort, and many of those are from the Kundalini line of yoga.) Some parts of these practices can be repetitive if you're reading the whole book straight through... but, if you're only reading the section that applies to your role in the yoga world, or if you're reading it all in small doses, you should be fine.
Overall, I'd say this book does a decent job of presenting some foundational ideas of what equality, equity, inclusion, and similar ideas could look like in the yoga business world of today. It really is meant more for instructors and influencers, I think, but an interested practitioner of yoga could also learn to see their studio experiences through a different lens.

“The Yamas and niyamas are the moral foundation upon which all Yogic training should rest if it is meant to be genuine and collectively beneficial. Practicing breathing techniques and postures alone bears no spiritual fruit.”

As an individual who is looking into becoming a yoga teacher, I found this to be an enlightening look at what the yoga industry has become and how individuals going into this practice can do better. This book is not afraid to call people out on the violent acts that are taken against the culture through western society’s capitalism & patriarchy. The author is well-informed and progressive, taking in account marginalized groups and how they are impacted by the non-inclusivity of most popular yoga formats.

“I began to understand that my rich culture and heritage had been stripped and stolen and that its value lay only in what it was worth to white people…”

This was totally eye-opening, and I learned that I have been participating in what would be considered “violent acts” against the yogic practice in regards to the spaces I was showing up in. It was really a breath of fresh air to learn not only the history, but how we can continue to show up in an authentic way that honors the traditions. There was also a stance taken against the capitalistic takeover of “self-care” which I thought was profound.

“I define self-care as intentional acts of care that can be integrated into daily life. Such acts have three ingredients: presence, intention, and love…. Without a well-integrated self-care practice, it is challenging to maintain a genuinely nurturing collective care practice.”


I believe this is the type of literature that I can keep coming back to - there are plenty of journal prompts throughout that really make you take the time and be intentional about this yogic practice. I do feel as though this book is quite short and there could have been more information in the form of anecdotes/story sharing that would have developed this book a bit further, but it’s a great foundation to point in the direction of more resources and steps to take.

“Let us repeat that again: if the needs of the most overlooked members of society are met, then everyone’s needs are met.”

I would recommend this book to any person who has practiced yoga, teaches yoga or has any interest in yoga at all, because it’s really relevant and informative. We all have much work to do in decolonizing ouyr thinking and unlearning harmful patterns. Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! I have always heard/known/lightly practiced Yoga, but I have never really been comfortable with the practice as I always understood a lot of the practice seen today in the Western world to be appropriation rather than a continuation of the actual practice. This book helped me learn more about Yoga and how to actually practice while keeping in mind the history and impact I have in this space as a white woman. This book was written as a resistance to the white supremacist/colonizer practice of Yoga as it stands today in the Western World and I really appreciate that I have gotten to learn and grow with this book and its teachings.