Teaching Contemporary Yoga: Physical Philosophy and Critical Issues

Teaching Contemporary Yoga provides a novel look at how modern yoga is  understood, practiced, and taught globally. Utilising perspectives from  several academic disciplines, the authors offer an analysis of the  current state of modern yoga and the possibilities for future  experimentation and innovation. The authors draw on anthropological,  performance, and embodiment theories to understand yoga practice as a  potentially powerful ritual of transformation as well as a cultural  product steeped in the process of meaning making. They craft a unique  analysis that contrasts asana with the largely unexamined philosophy  underlying the practice of vinyasa, while imagining a vibrant future for  the evolution of yoga through excellence in teaching.

Unlike  other writings about yoga, the authors offer a critique of the current  practice of yoga as both diminished and utilitarian, while providing a  path to reinvigorating the discipline based on current scientific  knowledge and methods for teaching and practice. Along with these  theoretical perspectives and the analysis of contemporary yoga in the  West, the authors offer practical applications to address the challenges  of teaching yoga in a society where individualism and materialism are  core values. Open-ended exercises in reflection and experimentation  offer opportunities for readers to apply what they have learned to their  teaching and personal practice. This is a vital guide for any  yoga-oriented scholar, teacher, or practitioner and is an essential  companion for contemporary teacher training.