Indian Matchmaking: Yoga of Relationships

Online Workshop: Sacred Contracts & Yoga of Relationships
Wednesday, September 9, 2020 - 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

The new Netflix Reality TV show, Indian Matchmaking, has sparked a debate worldwide on India’s big fat wedding culture. This show has clearly struck a nerve, as in the last couple of months, pretty much every major news outlet, from New York Times to Cosmopolitan, has had something to say. Most of the articles are critical and disapproving of how unabashedly everyone discusses the criteria for the selection process; tall, slim, good looking, easy to get along with, educated, economically successful and preferably from a similar background within the Indian community. The list of what the participants are looking for is presented with a bit of sarcasm; traditional but modern, family-oriented but ambitious. Everyone wants everything as Auntie Sima says, “as if ordering from a menu”.

Surprisingly, Auntie Sima’s repeated mantra of “adjust, be flexible and compromise” has also elicited a lot of media backlash and trolling. Take it from someone married 38 years (no, it was not matched or arranged), I am guessing that the authors of the articles were either not married, or still newly married.

The show casually exposes some of the prejudices and double standards of the eons old Indian arranged marriage culture. And, slips in many cringeworthy moments, like the interfering mother who continuously guilt trips her son for not committing to get married. After all, that’s what makes or breaks a reality TV show. But overall this part reality show, part documentary, depicts modern Indian matchmaking as not all that different from of a Tinder date. People use similar superficial criteria to swipe right and unreasonable expectations are found in all cultures, not just India.

The differences that stood out were that the matchmaker only presented the “biodata” of people seriously looking to settle down and get married. Also, something quite exclusive to Indian culture, the first meeting always involved parents and family members. As Auntie Sima said, “marriage is a union between two families, not just the bride and groom. Families are heavily involved in the process”.

And of course, what blows the minds of most non-Indian viewers is Auntie Sima’s consultations with Vedic Astrologers to see if the timing is good and match the horoscopes for compatibility, which she calls an “insurance policy” most Indian families want. The upside of the horoscope matching is that everyone has a “right” match out there, regardless of how challenging their personality, like Aparna, the villainess of the show.

Truth is we could all use a little bit of Auntie Sima’s help. As natural and necessary as it is for humans to be in relationships, few of the fundamental rules of maintaining a long term relationship seem to be inborn. Add to this the freedom and perils of modern day online dating, with its illusion of infinite partnership potentials, people today have little knowledge, guidance, or role models for finding a compatible mate, as well as sustaining lasting relationships.

Like Asana, Yoga of Relationships requires strength, flexibility, endurance, knowledge, dedicated practice and above all experienced teachers, role models and mentors. Ancient Vedic texts offer a great deal of mentoring and guidance to navigate the path of successful relationships. While our values and beliefs about relationships have changed radically, human nature and the process of our spiritual evolution through relating with our partner has not changed. As such, much of this knowledge is as relevant today, as it was thousands of years ago.

So, join me in this online workshop hosted by the Wanderlust Studio in Austin:
Sacred Contracts, Yoga of Relationships,
Wednesday, September 9, 2020 - 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

I will introduce you to Ayurveda Psychology of relationships and Vedic Astrology relationship compatibility techniques used for thousands of years in India to create successful unions; including timing, mutual respect, doshic compatibility, life purpose and temperament compatibility.

This class is designed to uplift everyone’s relationship Karma, whether you are already in a long term relationship, or looking for one.

And as Auntie Sima says, “my efforts are meaningless if the stars are not aligned”.