Is Yoga Allowed To Change?
In the yoga community, there's an ongoing conversation about the balance between honouring yoga’s roots and adapting it for today’s world. This conversation can feel like walking on egg shells, but it’s the risk I’m willing to take, because I believe contemplating this can allow for groundbreaking findings and innovation. For some people, adjusting traditional practices feels like a betrayal, as if modernizing yoga risks losing the ancient wisdom that forms its foundation. For others, evolving yoga is essential—just as the world grows and changes, so could the practices that help us thrive in it.
There’s absolutely value in both perspectives. The core teachings of yoga, derived from ancient texts, are powerful, universal tools for self-awareness, presence, and compassion. Students of yoga who maybe have learned these sacred teachings passed down from admired guru’s know this all too well. However, today’s understanding of movement, the body, and well-being has evolved considerably. For instance, advancements in anatomy show us how the body benefits from certain adaptations to each individual, information that simply wasn’t accessible or discovered yet in ancient times. As yoga teachers incorporate these insights, they help students avoid injury, move more safely, and create a practice that genuinely nurtures them and even contributes to gaining real strength and mobility.
Moreover, adapting yoga can make it more accessible and relatable to students in what they are experiencing today. Many students seek physical and mental wellness in yoga, and a class that resonates with modern needs—whether through mindful movement, strength building, or functional mobility—can help them feel comfortable and supported in their practice. If Yoga is about union then maybe we need to recognize what state the mind & body are currently in and consider the gap between that state and the intended union. The gap that modern students may be facing today could look quite different than students from hundreds of years ago. Patanjali said it himself in the Yoga Sutras to take what you need, and leave behind what you don’t need. I believe that you’re allowed to have different goals and intentions when practicing yoga, which would also allow for adaptation in the practice.
A question that comes to mind often for me is, why was yoga allowed to evolve back then, but not anymore? Have you ever looked into how yoga has already evolved? From meditation only, to a specific physical asana practice, to Hatha Yoga, to adding props, to stylizing classes, we can see that yoga has already evolved in many ways. If we learn something new, are we not allowed to apply it? Are we not allowed to follow our hearts in what feels good to us? I think we can do this and still honour the roots of yoga. We can still acknowledge the teachers that brought these practices forward. This is just how I feel and it’s okay if you feel different.
I think we also live in a world that has become more about embracing individuality and who we are. Students of yoga know that who we are is that same light inside each of us, our true Self, although the modern lifestyle is still attractive to a lot of us. Maybe hundreds of years ago in a village with few distractions it might have been more enticing to surrender to the mountains and spend our days meditating, breathing and practicing yoga asana. Today, I do think it’s true to say that students of yoga might also enjoying dipping their toes in the modern lifestyle. If that’s what they want, then I say go for it! Again, I remind you that Patanjali said to take what you need, and leave behind what you don’t. The choice is yours and either choice is okay!
Change in yoga doesn’t mean forgetting its roots or disrespecting its philosophy. Rather, it’s about respecting its intent to enhance well-being by keeping it relevant, inclusive, and safe. By embracing change thoughtfully, yoga teachers and practitioners honour the tradition by continuing its evolution, making it a tool for all generations to connect, heal, and grow. As a student of yoga for 10 years now, I believe yoga is allowed to change.
If you are intrigued by this topic, we learn a lot more about this in our course Yoga: Past, Present & Future and of course our whole 200-Hour Functional Yoga Teacher Program. Our 200-Hour Program is focused on Functional Yoga, meaning we teach you a lot of advanced anatomy and apply the modern needs & interests of students. We promise it doesn’t lack the roots of yoga & we also promise to never put you in a box. Our courses are designed to empower you to be you.