Diversity Win: American Yoga Association Inducts First Indian Yoga Instructor

#RepresentationMatters #DiversityWins #AffirmativeAction

By: Sofia Javed

Social justice warriors are praising the American Yoga Association for diversifying its ranks by inducting an Indian instructor for the first time in its 34-year history.

“We’re so thrilled to have Annie,” remarked AYA President Melody Fairchild about their newest member, Anushka Ranganathan. “We’re hoping she’ll help us learn the more… um… traditional yoga poses, or at least how to pronounce their Sanskrit names. ‘Revolved side angle pose’ just sounds so whitewashed.”

Ranganathan has trained at Core Power Yoga in Austin, Texas and has years of experience in being the only non-white yoga instructor in Middle America. 

“I’ve never been to India, and I don’t speak a lick of Sanskrit,” Ranganathan quipped, admitting that white people often pay her extra for a more authentic yoga class. “These people will believe anything I say.” 

In a recent class, Ranganathan guided students in what she told them was an ancient Indian serenity chant — “quanchoHpa’ qoH, HeghqoH.” The phrase comes from the constructed language Klingon spoken by Klingons in the fictional Star Trek universe. It translates to “fools die young.” 

“My parents were huge trekkies,” Ranganathan grinned.

Not everyone is applauding the AYA’s move toward greater inclusion. A group of conservative yogis held a small protest outside the induction ceremony, waving signs that read “Make Asanas Great Again” and “Namastay among my own people.”

“I love opening my chakras, but I don’t love immigrants taking American jobs,” huffed one protester, who stopped by on her way to the PTA meeting.

Ranganathan, who was born and raised in New Jersey, said she’s heard these criticisms before and knows exactly how to deal with them. She befriends any women who seem angry or uncomfortable, buys them venti “chai tea” lattes and offers to decorate their pregnancy bellies with henna tattoos.

“I’m just trying to make my ancestors proud,” assured Ranganathan.