Archive for October, 2009
taqwacore: punk meets islam
We yogis think we have it rough, straddling East and West, navigating our spiritual and material lives, wondering where we fit in the greater scheme of things. However, it’s not as difficult as being young, Muslim and punk rock in post-911 America.
A new film, Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam, documents the evolution of the Muslim punk scene. Who knew there even was one? Well, there is, and it’s as riotous, rebellious and controversial as you’d imagine. The term “taqwacore” (which is composed of ‘taqwa,’ the Arabic word for divine consciousness, and ‘core,’ as in hardcore) was conceived by author Michael Muhammad Knight in his 2003 novel, The Taqwacores. The book, a work of fiction, gained cult status and inspired a loosely connected network of young Muslim punks from across North America, who started identifying as taqwacore and expressing the complexities of their lives through music.
Life imitates art and then becomes art again when Montréal-based filmmaker (and yoga student of yours truly!), Omar Majeed, started working on a documentary about the scene a few years ago. He went on a US tour with The Kominas, one of the most vocal taqwacore bands, and Michael Muhammad Knight, and then followed the whole crew to Pakistan. The Montréal Mirror says of the film:
The challenges and contradictions that the taqwacores face in each culture are woven in with some deeply affecting personal journeys, resulting in a film that opens your mind and stays with you long after viewing. “The documentary offers a chance to really ‘get’ taqwacore, what it is and what it is not,” says Knight. “Some say that we’re not Muslim enough, and some say that we’re not punk enough. But labels aren’t cool; people are cool. People make a lot of assumptions about us based on the ‘Muslim punk’ label, and the film smashes them down.”
Taqwacore opens in Toronto on October 16 (at the Royal Cinema, 608 College), and plays in Montréal from October 19 (at Cinema du Parc, 3575 ave du Parc). At the moment, there are no US screenings scheduled.
Words can’t do this film justice, so be sure to watch the trailer on the film’s website. And check out this interview with the author and filmmaker on CBC radio’s Q.
An article in yesterday’s The Globe and Mail pointed out some “trouble on the om front.” It’s somewhat along the same lines as the seminal groundbreaking revealing Time Magazine article a couple of years ago, which provided alarming stats on the number of yoga-related injuries in the US (but you know how we Canadians are, always a little slow on the uptake). Only with some particularly Canadian – well, really, Torontonian – stats.
The article starts off with a practitioner’s experience dislocating her shoulder in yoga class.
The experience, which took place in 2000, hasn’t soured Ms. Buan-Basit on yoga; she now teaches it. And she’s sold on the strength and flexibility it can build. But it has made her aware of just how dangerous an overzealous student, a person with an undisclosed injury and an inexperienced instructor can be. Yet it’s bad karma to talk about it.
The yoga industry, understandably, wants such events to remain on the down-low. It’s fiercely protective of what has become an estimated $6-billion (U.S.) business built on selling enlightenment. [via The Globe and Mail]
I had been following news about the NY state yoga regulation controversy, and wondering if would have any kind of ripple affect on the Canadian yoga community. This is the first Canadian press that I’ve seen covering the subject. Canada actually does have its own yoga alliance, known conveniently as the Canadian Yoga Alliance – though, according to the article, many Canadian teachers are registered with the American YA.
So Canadian yogis (and I know you’re out there!)… what do you think? Is this article a fair representation of what happens in Canadian yoga classes? Are yoga-related injuries the result of overzealous students or underqualified teachers?
You might remember that there was a secret post from Rainbeau Mars last week, which was live for a few hours then removed on Rainbeau’s request. Well, here it is, slightly edited but in all its full glory! I thought that we were pretty much done with this Rainbeau/Adidas Yoga thing, but the comments continue to trickle in and I think this conversation can continue in more directions. So check out what Rainbeau has to say… and I’d love to hear your thoughts. What role do brands play in your life? In your yoga practice? How do you choose and take responsibility for what you consume? Let’s hand it over to Rainbeau (and y’all be nice to her this time).
Hmmm – Well many of you said you need no brand to do yoga…and I agree whole heartedly – but at the same time I question the reality of life without brands as some of the yogis here seem to be requiring. Yoga to me is the depth of going inside so far, that we come back out again and realize that it’s all one big reflection. We get feedback about ourselves from this holographic experience and vice versa.
Branding Yoga
Some thoughts about brands when it comes to our exercise routines: Les Milles, Pilates, Bikram, Power, Gaiam, Ashtanga (Mr Jois himself) or Iyengar (after his own name), right? This was along the same line that Adidas felt there was room for a sporty variation for those die hard Adidas fans that otherwise, may have never made it into a yoga room. Their mission is to walk side by side with their athletes and give them the tools they need to do whatever they do. How cool is it that Yoga has grown enough for even these major soccer moguls, to say “You know what? Everyone seems to be hopping on the ‘fastest growing sport is yoga’ bandwagon and we recognize it as one as well and will bring it to more people, including our very own athletes.”
Do you buy no name/brand foods or do you occasionally trust what High Country Kombucha, or Guayaki Yerba Mate, H20m, Zico, Fila has to offer? Hass Avocados, Evolution juices, Celestial, Yogi teas? Do you trust Whole Foods or choose your local Coop or grow your own? Do you drive an American car or do you trust the safety of Mercedes? If you choose to bike it (props!), is there a brand you trust more? When you wear clothes which do you choose, Prana, Lululemon, Lucy, or do you make your own? Do you go to U2 Concert and buy a T-shirt?
I totally understand and respect your right to not choose Adidas Yoga, which just happened in the last few years (it’s actually ra’yoKa which is still the name I created out of my right for free expression). I also respect your choice to do whatever you are so drawn to do or not. I feel we have to ask ourselves what’s really important about any of it, and in that, we may find many of our “need to be right” thoughts that were so justified, simply may fall away… In the fact that we are all headed in the same direction, but at different times and paces – can we try to look for and find the similarities within each other and our selected choices? I hope you can respect the people that actually feel safer about trusting a certain person or even company with what they choose to spend their time or money on. Continue Reading
So a couple of days ago, Terra at Schmetterling Yoga tagged me in another one of those award memes that float around the blogosphere. At first I was like, oh man, 7 more things about myself, 7 more blogs… I already did this exercise a couple of months ago. But when I looked back at what I’d written, I saw that a lot of things have changed. And I realized that this could be an opportunity to sort out some of my core thoughts and beliefs about this yoga stuff. Just so you (and I) know where I’m operating from. At least today. So here goes… some beliefs, some thoughts. Subject to change, of course.
1) The practice – I believe yoga is a powerful, transformative practice. Nuff said.
2) Where is yoga going? – For some reason, I’m obsessed with this question, and I’m obsessed with watching how it evolves and adapts to our culture. Obviously, I have pretty strong feelings against the commercialization and corporatization of yoga (this said, I’m not anti-business and I do believe that there can be acceptable commercial partnerships), and I’m not interested in self-serving yoga teachers who are promoting their own versions of the practice. But I also have to admit that I’m not a traditionalist, and I don’t believe in the concept of a “pure yoga.” I also think that there have been many positive forms of evolution in the past couple of decades: yoga programs in prisons, schools, hospitals; service-oriented organizations such as yogaHope and Street Yoga; acceptance and validation from the medical community. This is yoga responding to and reflecting modern life, and this is a kind of mainstream acceptance which is positive and powerful.
3) Accessibility – This is a word that I think gets thrown around a lot, and it’s almost becoming synonymous with “availability.” There’s this idea that the more yoga we see in our culture, the more people will become convinced to try it. I’m also seeing a prevalent belief that if there are more styles and varieties to appeal to every taste and every person, than yoga is more accessible. But my personal vision of accessibility is a little different: I’d like to break down the barriers of class, race and body type which prevent many people from benefiting from the practice. Continue Reading
Image from John Philps' doc 'Yoga Inc.'
So, astute readers out there may have noticed that earlier today I had posted (another) response from Rainbeau Mars. But I removed it, on Rainbeau’s request, because she was concerned about the typos and coming across as “unintelligent.” It really was just a super long comment that, at the time, I felt was worthy of being a post unto itself.
But I’ve realized that I still have a lot to say about this, and the multitude of insightful and challenging comments from readers have helped inform my thoughts. It’s unfortunate that Rainbeau and her followers felt like they had to defend themselves ~ but it’s also good to have an open venue for criticism and questioning. These kinds of discussions make teachers and high-profile yogis accountable for their actions and choices. All of us regular old yogis need to stand up and ask: What are you endorsing? And who’s endorsing you?
But really, this isn’t about Rainbeau Mars and her colour-coded yoga for pretty girls. This is about the corporatization and branding of a practice that matters a lot to me. This whole conversation has reinforced my already strong anti-corporate stance. I’ve learned that I operate from a fundamental belief that multinational corporations exist to sell things, and they are really only concerned with their products and image. If yoga can help them do this, then they will get behind the practice (and design some sexy products). Continue Reading
