Date of Award
Spring 2014
Thesis Type
Open Access
Degree Name
Master of Liberal Studies
Advisor(s)
Rachel Newcomb
Second Advisor
Kathryn Norsworthy
Abstract
Originally a spiritual technology, yoga has been practiced in India and surrounding areas for thousands of years. In the late nineteenth century the practice of yoga gained popularity as a physical, mental and spiritual commodity among the masses in America and the world. Yoga is now a globally recognized fitness routine, part of the everyday lives of men and women seeking relaxation, stretching and mental sanity. In today’s fast paced world it is easy to understand yoga is appealing to the masses, however, as a yoga practitioner myself I often wondered if Americans are gaining all the benefits of the practice – are we sacrificing its spiritual benefits for the sake of fitness? Combining yogic research studies, yogi literature and a review of yoga activities, I explore the metamorphosis of yoga from the East to the West. Interviewing teachers in of various yoga branches I explore the concepts of authenticity and superficiality in the midst of American yoga consumption. This thesis examines the popularity of yoga as a fitness model, the deviation from its original roots, and yoga’s impact in America today.
Recommended Citation
Castaneda, Carolina, "America the Yogiful: Insights Into American Yoga Culture Today" (2014). Master of Liberal Studies Theses. 55.
https://scholarship.rollins.edu/mls/55
Rights Holder
Carolina Castaneda
Included in
History of Religions of Eastern Origins Commons, Other Arts and Humanities Commons, Other Languages, Societies, and Cultures Commons, Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons