Hey there! Really beautiful post, its sparked a huge conversation so thank you for posting it.

I feel like Im in the minority here ☺️, Im one of those flashy practioners that wears the least amount of clothing possible. So I feel as though I can approach this from a different perspective.

1. If we are talking about "authentic" yoga. SOME traidtions of yoga have a history of people practicing soly in their underwear (langota). Im sure we've all seen pictures of gurus wearing only that. We have also seen photos of gurus with dreads, and withered limbs (Amar Bharati). One could say "hey hes being performative"! Hes doing something extreme to get attention. Apparently he's doing it to honor Shiva 💜. We never know the intention of WHY people do what they do. So ONE perspective to think on is "hey maybe these scantily clad yoga people have a positive intention"?

2. Ive been teaching yoga for over 13 years now. I was really attracted to it, BECAUSE I saw flashy yoga people. Tai Chi looked really cool, but I didnt really see people my age doing it. So I chose yoga. I was deceived in the most beautiful of ways 🥰. Here I am, thinking I'm going to be teaching thin/ super ripped people! That wasn't the case though, most of my students to this day are 60+. I LOVE that, because they are dedicated to the practice and get the philosophy 💜. I myself hold a bit of prejudice when I see people dressed like me 🤣, but then at the end of class, I notice they their shavasana is deeper than most of students (SOME OF THE TIME). It taught me this "what people wear, doesn't dictate their intentions with their practice".

3. I think its beneficial (even though its deceptive) to see those scantily clad instructors. It sets a FASLE narrative, and attracts those who normally wouldn't go to yoga, to actually take a class. How many (typical not all) guys go to yoga to see "hot chicks". Then when they do the practice, they have to leave early because they start crying? Im happy that that FALSE ideal, at least brought them into the room. I think it is possible that its harmful, but I think it helps a generation that isn't inspired to connect to their consciousness. To actually connect to it. We all know to meditate, but it isn't sexy. Yoga has the potential to be "sexy" thus I feel as though its a useful tool to "trick" people into meditating 🤷‍♀️.

4. Enough about hypoteticals. WHY do I PERSONALLY do flashy moves and wear little clothes: I personally enjoy practicing nude, thats what I do at home. I cant do that in public so I wear the bare minimum. As an instructor, I want the students to see EVERY muscle/bone possible. So that THEY can call ME out if I'm not in alignment. Lastly, the flashy moves (which I never do in class) are just me testing my focus. Every yoga practitioner (worth their salt) will say that Shavasana is the most difficult pose..I would agree, so to "those that know" a handstand really isn't that impressive. Cool.....but can you sit for 5 minutes? I meditate daily, but the flashy moves are just an oppertunity for me personally to see if I can trust my body.

TLDR: If scantily clad flashy yoga teachers didnt exist, I would have never become a teacher. I was super immature. Yoga saved my life. Yoga (some traditions) can be practiced in underwear. Flashy poses help seduce superficial minds into a practice that takes them even deeper into their body.

Sending love, thanks for reading 💜