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Yoga, Inc.     Video: DivX 5 608 x 336 29.970 fps 1 218 KbpsAudio: MPEG Audio Layer 3 48000Hz stereo 64 KbpsDuration: 58mnA movie about franchise yoga chains, scandals and unethical yoga practices, the commercialization of yoga, and competition of studios and individualsThe film has a somewhat chaotic order of presentation of the material it covers, jumping back and forth between the topics of competitive yoga, copyright issues and legal disputes, scandals, commercialization, yoga chains, and the actual spiritual practice yoga fundamentally offers.The Beatles are briefly mentioned as a major influence in giving the Western masses exposure to yoga. According to Philps, the Beatles helped to make yoga a “raging new fad.”Westernization and Commercialization of YogaWhile yoga has become a worldwide phenomenon, the major theme running through the documentary, Yoga, Inc., is one of commercialization by Westerners of the age-old spiritual discipline.According to Philps, as of 2006, yoga had 18 million practitioners in the U.S. alone, accounting for an $18 billion industry. Philps starkly juxtaposes yoga as a spiritual path vs. yoga as a livelihood.Competition for the World Yoga ChampionshipYoga is normally a non-competitive sport, and in Yoga, Inc., some argue that it is not really a sport, but more of a physical spiritual discipline.Competitive yoga is controversial, as many feel that the purpose of yoga is to develop self-awareness and is a highly personal experience.In Yoga, Inc., Philps interviews participating yoga competitors who argue that the competition is within the self, not against other yogis. Extensive footage and interviews are given to Esak Garcia, one well-known competitive yogi.Franchise Yoga ChainsYoga chains are prevalent in the United States, according to filmmaker John Philps. Philps interviews numerous owners of yoga studios throughout the documentary: George Lichter and partner Rob Wrubel, co-owners of Yoga Works; Jimmy Barkan, owner of Hot Yoga; as well as the owners of Ahusara Yoga, Piedmont Yoga, and Jivamurkti Yoga.Philps’ interviews of Bikram Choudhoury, founder and owner of a chain of over 750 Bikram yoga studios worldwide, were not included in the documentary, as Choudhoury withdrew his permission. He did not agree with Philps’ approach to the film, treatment of the subject matter, nor the coverage of the legal disputes he is engaged in.Scandals and Unethical Yoga PracticesPhilps points out the irony in the fact that yoga is founded on the principles of moral standards and self-restraint, yet the industry is rife with business scandals and unethical practices.The ongoing, unresolved copyright issues between Bikram Yoga Studios and the franchisees that are fighting lawsuits is covered in the film, Yoga, Inc. Philps interviews several franchise owners who have received cease and desist letters threatening to sue for tens of thousands of dollars for each copyright infraction of the use of the name Bikram Yoga.Can a series of yoga moves really be copyrighted? This question is asked throughout the film. Philps presentation of the information is sympathetically geared toward the franchisee fighting for freedom of teaching an evolving spiritual practice.Many have called Bikram Choudhoury an aggressive capitalist, as he has standardized his brand of yoga. Bikram Yoga is a series of postures in a heated room. This he successfully and legally copyrighted.The final note of the documentary, Yoga, Inc., leaves the audience with the message that yoga will survive the commercialization. True yoga when practiced for personal motivations of fitness, desire for greater self-awareness, and spiritual growth is an effective discipline that has a history dating back a millennia.To see my other uploads, search adishonerv69