Eyeing the huge potential in the burgeoning spiritual and wellness market across the globe, many overseas firms are taking patents on innovations related to Yoga, a four thousand years odd heritage of India. The United State Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) alone has allowed more than 150 patents related to Yoga already and another 170 odd are in the pre-grant opposition stage.
Similar patent applications have also been filed in many other countries such as Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, South Korea, Russia and Taiwan, sources informed Pharmabiz.
While this is happening around the world, the Indian authorities are yet to upload any information on Yoga in the much-hyped Traditional Digital Knowledge Library (TKDL) to protect India's traditional knowledge on therapies. Plans are to upload about 1500 pages on comprehensive Yoga practice and its Asanas, which the authorities have been talking for the last two-three years.
Most of these patents are on innovative equipment and support devises for Yoga meditation techniques and exercises for a healthy living. Some other patents are on breathing exercises to cure and avoid diseases. Interestingly, majority of the claims cleverly avoid legacy on Yoga heritage to circumvent infringement. However, details in the patent clearly indicate the claims are inspired from the various popular 'asanas' and techniques used in Yoga practice.
Global market for Yoga products and services are valued around $30 billion and the Americans spend about $3 billion a year on yoga classes and products including clothes, vacations, DVDs and books, it is estimated. A recent USA Today report quoting the Yoga Journal magazine says that 16.5 million people practice yoga in US, an increase of 43 per cent from 2002.
Abram; Gin Y. of New York patented a 'device for Yoga exercising', way back in 1981, to help the practitioner's body assume the 'candle like position'. The inventor claims that his invention is to "provide a device for Yoga exercising so that yoga exercises may be correctly executed substantially independently from practitioner's age, weight, inclination and ability for exercising, persistence, interruptions in mastering the exercises, and without a trainer."
Another innovation is a 'Lotus seat' to perform the popular Yoga exercise 'padmasana'. A 'Basic lotus posture comfort seat' was patented in 1987 by Alfer; Jaroslaw G. (Los Angeles, CA). In 1996, Greene; James W of New York was granted a patent for 'Lotus Seat'. "A follower of various Yoga disciplines may be required to sit in the Lotus position for extended periods which can cause stiffening of the knee joints and lower back muscle fatigue. It is therefore a problem in the art to find a seating device that offers comfort over time, has therapeutic value, and is readily portable and storable when not in use."- the American offers a solution which never even occurred to the real practitioners of Yoga for more than four thousand years.
Another Yoga inspired invention is a 'Chair for providing a straight sitting position', for which the patent was granted in 1997. The US patent office granted a similar patent for a 'Combined therapeutic exercise apparatus for the back' in 2000. "The natural curvature of the spine and spine flexibility can be achieved in most cases with exercises that use the body's weight and the body's capacity to correct itself through spinal awareness, as in yoga practice", elaborates the inventor Pandozy; Raffaele Martini (Dallas, TX) in the claim.
Another patent was issued in 2000 for a 'Method and apparatus for stimulating the healing of living tissue using aura therapy'. The apparatus performs the therapeutic function by alternately charging and discharging the cells in 15-minute intervals over period's time from 1 to 12 hours. The invention is mainly based on 'Chakra theory', the fundamental of Yoga, which has been elaborated in detail in the patent claim.
The patent 6,368,255 issued to Chan-Rouse in 2002 is for a 'Device for stretching and yoga'. Similarly, a patent for 'Yoga inversion bed with leg attachment' was issued in 2003. Asia Regent LTD patented'Yoga Balance Trainer' exercise equipment in 2004. Another patent issued in 2004 is on a 'yoga support system and method', which includes a pair of 'yoga gloves' and a pair of 'yoga slippers.'
Another firm CAPNIA took patent for 'Methods and apparatus for relieving headaches, rhinitis and other common ailments'. The inventors openly admit the method of therapy is based on Pranayama.
Most recent case of the hijack was a United States Patent 7,069,607, issued on July 2006 on an 'Absorbent towel with projections' to help Yoga practitioners. Another patent was granted in March this year to Alane Dawnn for a 'Yoga/ exercise mat'. Christine Buckley of Santa Monica patented an 'Exercise rug with contours' last year. Another patent is on an 'Exercise mat ensemble and method of use' which talks about an 'exercise mat ensemble for use in exercise disciplines such as yoga that involve floor exercises and positions'. Alane Dawnn (Pacific Palisades, CA) patented the 'Yoga mat' itself as per the patent (6,640,359) granted on November 4, 2003. Inventor Coler Maria (Hoboken, NJ) patented the 'Yoga mat holder' as per the US patent 6,491,196 issued in December 10, 2002. An 'Exercise Alignment Mat System 'for providing reference to an individual performing an exercise such as yoga', was patented by Marquez; Jean Pierre in 2002. An 'Exercise and yoga mat shoulder bag' was invented and patented by Nadel; Nancy Lee (Santa Monica, CA) in 1998. A few more patent applications are pending on mats related to Yoga.