A Preliminary Survey of Modern Yoga Studies

A Preliminary Survey of Modern Yoga Studies by Elizabeth De Michelis maps the academic landscape of contemporary yoga research. The book establishes key frameworks and terminology for studying yoga's evolution from ancient practice to global phenomenon. De Michelis examines major developments in yoga scholarship from the late 20th century through the early 2000s. Her survey covers historical analyses, sociological perspectives, and interdisciplinary approaches to understanding modern yoga practices and traditions. The text presents detailed reviews of influential publications and research trends, organizing them into distinct categories and time periods. De Michelis includes extensive bibliographic references and highlights gaps in existing scholarship. This work serves as a foundation for yoga studies as an academic field, bridging traditional religious studies with contemporary social science methodologies. The book raises questions about authenticity, cultural adaptation, and the relationship between ancient traditions and modern interpretations.

There appears to be limited reader discussion and reviews available online for "A Preliminary Survey of Modern Yoga Studies" by Elizabeth De Michelis. The book is primarily referenced in academic contexts and yoga research papers rather than having consumer reviews. No reviews exist on Goodreads or Amazon as of 2023. The book is cited in other academic works where researchers note its value as a research overview but mention it can be dense with academic terminology. Several yoga instructors mention using it as a reference text but note it's not designed for casual reading. Mark Singleton, author of "Yoga Body," references it as a useful academic catalogue of modern yoga research but suggests it needs updating to include more recent scholarship. A few library catalog reviews note the comprehensive bibliography and research summaries while indicating the writing style is highly technical and aimed at scholars rather than yoga practitioners.

Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice by Mark Singleton This historical examination traces how modern yoga asana practice developed through a fusion of Indian traditions with Western physical culture movements.

The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice by Georg Feuerstein This comprehensive text presents yoga's development from ancient times through modern interpretations with detailed analysis of classical texts and traditions.

Selling Yoga: From Counterculture to Pop Culture by Andrea R. Jain The text examines yoga's transformation from spiritual practice to consumer product in contemporary global culture.

The Path of Modern Yoga: The History of an Embodied Spiritual Practice by Elliott Goldberg This work chronicles the evolution of physical yoga practice through key figures who shaped its development from the 1890s to the present.

The Subtle Body: The Story of Yoga in America by Stefanie Syman The book traces yoga's journey from its introduction to American society through its various cultural and social transformations over 150 years.

🧘‍♀️ Elizabeth De Michelis coined the term "Modern Postural Yoga" (MPY) to describe the yoga commonly practiced in Western fitness centers and studios today. 📚 Published in 2004, this book was one of the first academic works to seriously examine yoga as practiced in the modern Western world rather than focusing solely on its ancient Indian roots. 🌏 The author traces how Swami Vivekananda's 1896 book "Raja Yoga" became a crucial turning point in transforming yoga from an esoteric Eastern practice into a global phenomenon. ⚡ De Michelis identifies four main types of modern yoga: Modern Postural Yoga, Modern Meditational Yoga, Modern Denominational Yoga, and Modern Psychosomatic Yoga. 🎓 The book emerged from the author's doctoral research at the University of Cambridge, where she studied the relationship between modern yoga and the New Age movement.