University Of Ottawa Yoga Class Controversy: Romeo Ahimakin Said To ‘Open Door’ To ‘Reprise’ Of Jennifer Scharf Class

Jennifer Scharf, a yoga instructor in Ottawa, Ontario, the capital of Canada, had taught a yoga class for seven years until it was abruptly put on hold in September 2015 after she was told that the university had received a complaint with regard to yoga and “cultural appropriation,” according to the Ottawa Citizen.

The acting president of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa, Romeo Ahimakin, was quoted that the federation has “opened the door” to an even better yoga class next year. Ahimakin explained that Jennifer Scharf’s yoga class had not been cancelled, but that it had merely been “suspended” to allow for consideration of the program and allow for the “diverse and ever-changing needs of the student body.”

The program was described as being held on a weekly basis for about 60 participants at the University of Ottawa’s Centre for Students with Disabilities since 2008.

The decision to cancel a yoga class at #uOttawa was made by the Student Federation @SFUO_FEUO.

— uOttawa (@uOttawa) November 23, 2015

Free yoga classes are still offered on campus by #uOttawa https://t.co/eQi8sjBDqT

— uOttawa (@uOttawa) November 23, 2015

Pathetic, U of Ott. @strombo alerted me to this. It deserves an Iverson-like rant. Yoga? We're talkin bout YOGA? https://t.co/EZa3DqAoQi

— Eric Smith (@Eric__Smith) November 21, 2015

Jennifer Scharf told the CBC that she imagined that the issue about “cultural appropriation” was raised because yoga comes from India. The University of Ottawa yoga instructor described offering to change the name of the class to “mindful stretching” to show a respect for the religious aspect of yoga that some Hindus might take offense with. After what Scharf described as a “back-and-forth,” with the student union reportedly hoping for a French name, it was decided that the program would be “scrapped” for the time being.

The CBC described “cultural appropriation” as when an oppressing culture take aspects of a culture that is being oppressed to suit its own needs, with little regard for their origins. Scharf stated that there has been some backlash against North American yoga instructors who may not be qualified to provide guidance in the spiritual aspects of yoga, yet do anyways. Scharf insists that she makes no claims with regard to her qualifications to guide individuals in these parts of the practice of yoga.

Romeo Ahimakin reportedly stated that the University of Ottawa student federation had received no direct complaints with regard to Scharf’s yoga class, just general questions and discussion about it. He also described the federation’s stance with regard to ableism being an issue that affects a range of people in the community and that the University of Ottawa’s Centre for Students with Disabilities “challenge all forms of oppression.”

One group, the Hindu American Foundation, runs a campaign called “Take Back Yoga” that speaks out against the commercialization of the practice.

“Regardless of which path one embarks upon, yoga is an individual journey that requires lifelong dedication, consistent practice, and devotion to God,” the foundation’s website reads.

“In Hindi ‘yog’ means to unite. To unite with who? With your true self… Here we tend to relate it with the postures but it’s not just postures… and it has nothing to do with religion,” Girija Waghray, a Hindu who has been teaching yoga in the Ottawa area for over 10 years was quoted.

Waghray’s husband Dilip stated that he is “uncomfortable” with the commercialization of yoga in North America, but that overall, the good that it brings to communities outweighs his concerns. He spoke about the free yoga classes that have been held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, which have attracted huge crowds, and feeling “thrilled.” Waghray’s also stated that he sent photos of Canadians practicing yoga at the nation’s capital to his friends back home in India.

“If you look at what the Western world has adapted it is just phenomenal. Imagine how much good they’re doing for themselves. They’ll live a long and very happy life.”

[Feature Photo by Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images for Lululemon Athletica]