I attended the Yoga Show with my Mum in Manchester today. There were several reasons for wanting to attend but I had a few reservations about going as I thought maybe I would see some things as 'not really yoga' I worry a bit about how commercial yoga has become - about how it is portrayed that you need these clothes and that accessory to practice yoga, when really all you need is your body and an open mind, some would argue that you 'need' a mat but I have practiced many times without one.
I found myself being drawn in by some of the stuff "oh wow I really need another Ganesh statue" that kind of thing.....which was a bit disconcerting as I am always trying to de-clutter and simplify my life, but that's marketing for you, I should know I studied it and worked in a sales and marketing role for over 12 years. In fact that was one of the other reasons I wanted to attend, because I spent a considerable amount of time in my 'old job' working on exhibition stands both in the UK and also abroad and I can remember all the hard work I had to do to get a sale!! I wanted to experience what it was like to be a visitor to an exhibition. I know it's not quite the same thing because the industry is very different, but it sort of feels like a conflict, yoga and sales/marketing - but I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that yoga is big business and I suppose I am part of it.
Another reason for going was to see my Mum's reaction to everything there, she has taught yoga for over 30 years and I am fascinated by what she thinks of the yoga world in 2014. But she took everything in and liked some stuff and wasn't keen on other stuff - but just let it all go. She didn't get annoyed by anything she saw. We both loved the Iyengar demo as it was very professional and to the point and we both stocked up on teas and coconut water - because we like it - not because it will make us better yogis!!
So - it is what it is - my old world of sales and marketing colliding with my yoga world and I have to accept that some of it is not for me and some of it is wonderful and exciting. So all in all we had a lovely morning of mooching round the show, people watching while we had our lunch, and maybe even thinking about attending next year.
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