Feb 16- Short Shorts, Part 2: Friction, Feminism, or Respect?

I have to thank my friend in Barcelona who wrote to me regarding the "short shorts are a statement" post.  She remembers Sharath, about 5 years ago, asking students to “cover up in the shala. Respect please.”

Now, I don’t remember that, but I always assumed it.  This is India.  More and more these days, students are coming straight to Gokulam, the hamlet outside of Mysore where the school is now.  Taxi from the airport to your guest house, and bam you are at the shala registering for class.  There isn’t much of India happening yet.

You get a little etiquette card when you register that states students should cover up outside the shala, and not go about in their yoga clothes.  It seemed to me reading this, the yoga room itself has become pretty lax on the covering up.  Sort of a free-for-all western zone.  And in truth, we are all westerners in there.  I have never gotten the impression that Sharath is giving a care at all about the clothes. 

I always remember my mom asking me why we don’t all practice in Salwar Kameez in India like the Indian ladies do.  She was adamant.  I’ve seen it, it’s happening.  Lots of fabric there.  I do not have the patience. 

I came to India on 2, 6-month trips before I ever came to Mysore.  I was wearing sarees and Salwars (tunic and poofy pants with scarf).  I was uncomfortable with any show of my skin, and with good reason after much harrassment in my travels as a young lady. So I was, and am, a bit shocked by some of the skin showing around the town.  The first time I came into the shala, I was a little surprised by the number of shirtless ladies.  Whoa!  And yes, short shorts.  It actually wasn’t until the last trip that I rocked the shorts here.  I kind of look around, here in Gokulam, at how the local teens are dressing: skinny jeans and shorter kirtas.  No shorts, very rarely a strappy tank.  The yoga students look like a bunch of Bohemian thrift-store shoppers for the most part, as they try to figure out the covering up in the heat with Thai fisherman pants, flowing skirts, and scarves.  But yes, you see ladies without scarves, exposing strappy tanks and exciting bosoms.  Ladies in tights without long tops to cover the bum.  It’s not correct.  I always think of being a mom here with a pubescent son, the village overrun with westerners enacting their personal dramas without an awareness of the effect on the local environment.

Inside the shala, I have to say I’m still not sure, but Im leaning towards the free-zone.  I heard a rumor Sharath told a lady to go put a T-shirt on this year. Others routinely wear bra tops with no comment.    ?

Anyhow, I’d like to close with my friend’s words:  So I guess in Mysore it has nothing to do with friction feminism etc, is just awareness, sort of ahimsa in respect to Indian culture, no? 

I would say that’s a very good point.