Yoga in Nagoya

Yoga in Nagoya

Two weeks ago, I joined a yoga studio. I used to do yoga everyday in the US, and so I’m trying to get back on track even in Japan. Comparing the yoga experience in America and Japan…

Yoga is a foreign import to both America and Japan. It came to both countries only recently. And so, it’s interesting to compare how Japanese and Americans adapt the same postures-the same technique to their own context. The different approaches to the Bikram-practice expose a great deal of country-specific attitudes.

First of all, joining a studio in Japan and America could not be any more different. In America, you bring your towel, mat, and credit card. And voila! You’re a member! You don’t have to sign anything; you don’t have to go through any procedures. As long as you pay, you’re good to go. In Japan, on the other hand, you have to take a test, you need to have a name seal, Japanese bank account, alien resident card…You have to be pre-approved through a set of formalities; paying is just an afterthought. In America, it seems that once you have the critical commodity – dinero – all the world is yours; all doors can be opened. In Japan, out-group-in-group is not a function of resources. There are rules to be followed, no trespassing allowed.

Second, I’ve been struck by the gender imbalance at the Nagoya Yoga studio. Whereas in America the ratio of female to male students is more or less equal. In Japan, Yoga is a female enterprise. There are usually 20 women and 3 guys in the class (out of which 2 are foreign) – and that holds true at any time of the day whether late at night or early during the weekend; men simply don’t do Bikram in Japan. I think that this interesting difference reflects a variation in the attitude toward “things foreign.” Japanese women seem more willing to try out new things, men much less so. Japanese women are progressive, guys traditional.

Third, the teaching style in an American yoga studio is diametrically different from its Japanese counterpart. Whereas in the States the teacher always asks the new students to sit in the front row, in Japan they put the new students in the back rows – not to make them feel embarrassed. Moreover, a US yoga instructor tends to emphasize how “easy” all the postures are (“Come on! Piece of Cake! You can do it!” in Japan the teachers always try to empathize with students (“I know it’s really hard, but please try. Isn’t it terrible to stretch a leg like that? I’m so sorry for you!”). American “faster, faster” becomes “take your time, take your time” in Japan. When it comes to “water break” – all the teachers I’ve had in the US tended to emphasize that the students are just too lazy and that’s why they need to drink : “Come on kids. Really? Water, again? Alright. Alright. Go ahead. I’ll give this one to you.” In Japan, teachers always apologize – “I’m sorry I’ve made you wait until now. Please, drink as much water as you need. Thank you!”

Last, the atmosphere in an American yoga studio differs a lot from the atmosphere in a Japanese studio. In America, people stay after the session to chat for twenty sometimes thirty minutes. In Japan, it’s all business. After the session is done, everybody goes take shower and then peaces out as quickly as possible. People rarely exchange more than a few polite words.

The same holds true for the staff-customer interaction. Whereas in the US, the teachers became just “normal” people after the class. In Japan, they stay in for Q&A. The studio staff in Japan keeps the communication professional. They always smile politely, deal with even the most impossible requests politely, clean the showers politely. When you forget to make a reservation three days in-advance (as the rules require), they tell you that “your membership will be terminated and you will be charged a $50 cancellation fee.” Of course, politely.