Conspirituality: How the Self-Help Hippies Took Trump to the White House: 'Yoga Has Always Been More Political Than We Thought'
The article explores the intersection of personal development trends and political movements, particularly how the yoga and self-help industries have influenced political figures like Donald Trump.
The article delves into a unique perspective on the connection between personal development ideologies, such as yoga and meditation, and political movements. It narratives an anecdote shared by the author about receiving unsettling information from a friend regarding a conspiracy theory that suggests governments worldwide were implanting control chips in their populations. This friend's background in psychology and her deep interest in wellness practices like yoga highlight the ongoing conversation about how such ideologies can intertwine with political narratives.
The article further discusses the author's observations on the increasing overlap between the wellness industry and political discourse, particularly highlighting how figures in the self-help sphere may have inadvertently contributed to political climates, such as the rise of Donald Trump. It presents a thoughtful examination of how personal beliefs, often promoted through self-care and spiritual practices, might affect broader social and political dynamics.
By contextualizing these themes within a narrative framework, the piece invites readers to reconsider how movements typically regarded as apolitical, like yoga, can have underlying political implications, thereby shaping larger societal movements. The discussion prompts critical reflections on the responsibility of wellness advocates and the potential consequences of their influence on political ideologies.