Recently there was a news which created outrage and anger in the hearts of millions of Indians. A Kolkata born, US based yoga master Bikram Choudhary who runs his yoga institution in US had claimed for the patent of 26 yoga postures. He claimed that these 26 postures were strung together by him in a sequence and cannot be practiced or taught by a teacher who has not graduated from his personal training program for which he charges $1500 per person. It can be seen as the greed of a person who wants to earn dollars on the verge of Indian traditions and heritage, sold in the hands of the rich and powerful countries of the west.
On this raging issue a suit was filed by Open Source Yoga Unity, a San Francisco based non-profit group of yoga enthusiasts claiming that yoga is a 5000 year old tradition and cannot be copyrighted by anyone. The fact is that what yoga teacher Bikram Choudhary claims patent for his 26 yoga postures is in fact taken from the 84 poses which make the classic yoga. The question arises is whether Choudhary is in fact entitled to copyright these 26 postures which he claims to be his own invention only on the basis that he searched out that these particular asanas could be performed at a particular atmospheric temperature (room heated to 105 degrees) and is his intellectual property. It is quiet unbelievable that the traditional yoga asanas which is being practiced in India for more than 5000 years can be claimed by a person as his own invention. It would be better known that Patanjali Yoga Shastra, a book on yoga was already written before 5000 years in India, the time when the whole world was unaware of this magical medical therapy by means of various body postures.
Today which all yoga asanas which are performed and are to be claimed for patents has already been mentioned in Patanjali Yoga Shastra.
Foul Play of the US and West
It is to be noted that the popularity of yoga in US is increasing day by day. At present in US there are 20 million estimated yoga practitioners through which US is getting an annual revenue of $3 billion. It can be easily understood that with such a large community of increasing yoga practitioners and rise in revenue which eventually is also profitable in terms of revenue, US and other western countries are eyeing to have the grab on traditional Yoga poses by means of patent so that they could use it as a weapon against India age old tradition and a means of unstoppable flow of income for themselves. It is to be noted that United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued till date 150 yoga related copyrights, 134 patents on yoga accessories and 2,315 yoga trademarks. It means that these patented yoga related items could not be used without the permission of the institutions or companies which have patented these yoga related items or exercises. Even though the permission is given then also a heavy sum of money will have to be paid for practicing those patented yoga asanas even in the country from were it was originated. These all can be seen as a greedy fist of the US and other western countries on our rich legacy, stealing a fortune which has benefited millions over centuries without charging any cost claiming the world to be its own only for their own profit.
The major cause of this foul play is that the US and western countries are seeing that they would get a huge earning if they would patent the already existing yoga poses on the basis of inventing new techniques because in these countries and other countries of the world large number of people are inclining towards the benefit of yoga for curing their illness. These countries believe that by patenting they would be able to have the monopoly over various products of yoga through which they would be able to generate large amount of revenue for themselves.
Patenting Devices for Yoga
A series of patents granted in the US and other western countries between 2000 and 2003 throw some interesting light on yoga. Now people would have to perform various yoga exercises using these special patented yoga devices. It is said that these devices are scientifically designed and with their help yoga exercises could be performed more easily. Now these new patented yoga devices and accessories will replace the traditional yoga devices which where being used till now. In US alone 27 patents dealing with various applications of yoga were given. A few examples are patent for yoga mat which can be rolled up tightly and can be closed by two straps which will replace the simple cloth sheet which was used before, yoga socks which has a layer of PVC vinyl material to enable the sock grip on the floor or mat and yoga chair which is said to be designed for doing various sitting body posture yoga exercises. Other than these devices claims also include apparatus, software systems etc. Similar patents have been given in various countries including Australia, China, Canada, France, Germany, UK, Japan, South Korea, Russia and Taiwan in recent years. These all things can be seen as an attack on the yoga traditions of India which has been in existence for thousands of years.
Yoga Our Cultural Heritage
Every one knows yoga is a part of Indian tradition, it took birth in India. Whether we get the patent for yoga or not the whole world knows that is associated with India. The move by USA Patent Office to patent yoga postures and products is really not fair. Yoga is in fact related to the life of millions of Indians. Yoga is the only proven non-medical mode of therapy for high blood pressure. According to famous yoga guru of India, Swami Ramdev: yoga can cure illness ranging from cancer to AIDS through breathing exercises and traditional medicines. There are numerous examples of people who were inclined to yoga after being disappointed by different treatment methods for there illness and surprisingly they where cured of there diseases. We should not be surprised if more and more health benefits are attributed to Yoga. It should also be noted that WTO agreement clearly mentions and provides that the cultural heritage and the medicinal plants of a country are out of the purview of patenting. So the same implies for Yoga too.
It is to be also mentioned that the teachings of yoga have been transferred between generations over years at no cost.
Creating Database for Yoga
Bitten by patent rows over basmati and turmeric the time has come when it is needed to protect our traditional heritage and ancient healing systems of yoga. There is a need to create a database of yoga techniques without wasting any time in order to stop others from patenting the centuries old knowledge. This should be made in as many languages so that patent offices around the world can access it and know that it originated in India and not in a San Francisco commune. The work of documentation for protecting the traditional knowledge of various yoga postures should be completed as fast as possible. So that foreign practitioners and individuals, including Indian expatriates should not dare to claim for patent rights. It should also mention all the traditional ancient books, researches on yoga etc. This database must include body cleansing practices, breathing exercises, yoga symbols called mudras, postures and special practices. The documentation of the database should be stored digitally and be made including texts, voice and visuals so as to prevent future misuse and bio-piracy.

Time of renaissance
The time has come when we should come forward to protect our traditions and heritage and stop the unauthorized use of our ancient traditions of yoga. On knowing a few benefits of yoga nobody should be allowed to patent a particular yoga posture on these terms. It is to be mentioned that it is the WTO regime of intellectual property rights, trademarks, patents and copyrights that threatens to infringe on an area that India considers its own fief. We can lose our traditional rights over yoga and possible revenue streams which can come with the help of yoga if we does not act fast. Yoga is one area which should be examined with considerable zeal. As we have won the fight over patent rights on turmeric it is expected that India will be able to protect its 5000 years old tradition which the countries of west are trying to grab in their mouth even though some disputes could be seen in the near future.