This week I was gave an presentation/oral review of an article I read on the topic of the changing role of the private sector in the global health arena. The article was called, "Yogi Wears Prada," from the WSJ in September 2006 and it discusses how the growth of high end yoga vacations is forcing traditional retreats to change some of their granola ways. The reason I talked about this article is because yoga (deeply intertwined with Hindu religion) as a private sector has now gone global (a $3 billion dollar industry in the U.S.). It is becoming prevenlent in the public health arena becuase it is used to help improve health by treating stress or even as a form of exercise. I thought it was important to discuss one case example of a private sector which has gone public and even become a watered-down version of what it was originally intended to to - as it does in this article. I wanted to explore the ramifications when one particular industry goes public and in all I thought it was great to consider ...
- Is Yoga in the Western world a positive acculturation (do you view Yoga as a celebration of multiculturalism, promoting more open and tolerant cultural dispositions)?
- Or, has this the processes of commercialization debased the sacred practice?
Graphical Reference: Privatization is thought to be evil, and public health is thought to be humanitarian - but when they work together are they like Jekyll and Hyde?
Unique Quote: "Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape." - Unknown Author
3 comments:
hi alexis, i enjoyed your presentation last week. you brought up some really interesting points as you mention here about acculturation. i don't know what the answer is but i think it's often overlooked when discussing the social impact of public-private collaboration.
farah
Alexis, you gave an interesting presentation last week. It's fascinating to observe how different cultures adapt similar practices.
Alexis, I really liked your peresentation (sorry I wasnt' there, but I looked over the powerpoint)... Great title by the way. I think the points you brought up were very interesting, and although I had never thought about it too much, it seems that this privatization may be positively influencing some people. It is very likely that yoga and its health benefits would have never reached such a broad range of people otherwise... and although the traditional practices have been altered in a way, I think the acculturation perspective you bring up is very important and relevant. Thanks for your perspective on this.
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