‘Cultural appropriation’: discussion builds over western yoga industry

In 2019, the global yoga industry was worth an estimated $37.46bn. Photograph: Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

Yoga has been a big part of Nadia Gilani’s life since she was introduced to the practice by her mother at the age of 16. A few years ago, after various personal struggles, she became a full-time yoga teacher.

But almost immediately, she realised not only were most yoga teachers and students in the UK white, but the accompanying wellness narrative has divorced yoga from its 5,000-year-old roots.