Like #15: Yoga

"Participation in [yoga] requires large amounts of money and time, both of which white people have a lot of. Lastly like other stuff that white people like, yoga feels exotic and foreign."

This video clip comes from an episode of the Showtime series, Weeds. It does not seem inappropriate to see this character performing yoga in an affluent domestic setting. Neither does it seem inappropriate to see Zooey practicing yoga.

Although Deschanel does not practice yoga in her private life, it is curious that the characters she plays are usually associated with yoga. Perhaps the writers hope to play off her indie identity (or her "exoticness") by having her characters take part in this stereotypically liberal, upper-middle class pursuit.

For instance, in Yes Man, Zooey’s character is an aspiring singer/photographer/yoga instructor. Not only does this mixed career identity mirror Deschanel’s positioning between film and musical stardom, but it also ties in to the image of upper-middle class “whiteness.” As Lander states, the pursuit of yoga requires a great deal of time and money. Similarly, the ability to pursue the arts is often only open to those from affluent families. Coming from a comfortable Hollywood family, Deschanel was able to pursue a career in the arts because money was not an important object.

Thus, Zooey's affluent background plays an important role in developing her persona both on and off screen. Yoga becomes a part of her image (even though she does not practice yoga herself) simply because it is in accord with that image of liberal, upper-middle class "whiteness" with which she is associated.