The yoga world is always full of new things: mats and equipment, language for cueing, styles of practice, even postures themselves. Often we can feel guilty if we do not buy into what is new. As teachers, we may feel inadequate if we do not use the new language of the moment, or teach the hot new style of practice. Especially with social media, it is easy for postures, methods or certain language in yoga to spread quickly. Things can get popular, and we can find ourselves on the outside looking in.
What is important to ask ourselves is whether what we are seeing is an innovation or a trend.
Trends are popular. They catch on in areas of culture and become a style or direction that many are persuaded by for a short period of time. Inevitably, trends get taken over by new trends. Sure, certain elements of a trend might stick around, or something might be permanently incorporated into practice by a small amount of people, but the big cultural inertia of a trend is quickly overpowered by the next big thing.
This happens in fitness and health related fields all of the time. It certainly happens in yoga. There was a time when nearly every studio was incorporating Aerial Yoga and hanging slings from the ceiling. Or essential oils were put on cold towels and given out at the end of class. Or every vinyasa teacher was a Baptiste Power Flow teacher. Are these ideas and methods completely wiped out? No, of course not, but they are not in the popular zeitgeist as they once were.
Separately though, there is innovation. Innovation means the incorporation of an idea or practice that actually solves a problem. Innovations last because they respond to something that doesn’t go away. Because of this, there are many innovations in the yoga world too. These are likely more broad than a brand, product or identity: the ability to teach and practice relaxation in a stressful world, the knowledge of how to practice balance in the body.
What are trends you notice today? Maybe it’s sound baths, cold plunges or “trauma-informed” classes. Are there elements of these or other trends that are innovations? Are there real problems that the trends of today are solving? If so, it’s good to be informed about these and incorporate them whenever appropriate.
However, it’s also good to wait out any trends we don’t think are particularly useful and stay true to what we know works. Whatever we are teaching or practicing was at one time an innovation. As long as the problem that we’re solving for still exists, it’s worth carrying on with what we’re doing.
