Conceptualizing Motherhood in Yoga

Pregnancy-Oriented Iyengar Yoga

Bibliographic Data

ID12908199
AuthorsAgi Wittich (0000-0003-3488-2649, Lancaster University, corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume18
Issue1-2
Pages124-144
Publication date2018-05-12
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligions of South Asia (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1751-2689 • E-ISSN: 1751-2697
PublisherEquinox Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1558/rosa.28984
OpenAlexW2800319944
LanguageEN
References cited15

Prenatal yoga classes have become widespread worldwide. Still, while scientific studies examined the benefits of such practices, the conceptual and sociocultural meanings still need to be studied. This paper focuses on pregnancy-oriented Iyengar yoga, which includes pre-conception, prenatal and postnatal yoga practices developed in the Iyengar Yoga school. Interestingly, while these practices are seen as ideal for pregnant and postpartum women, they contrast with what is perceived as an ideal yoga practice. Thus, pregnancy-oriented Iyengar Yoga reveals a shift in purpose from achieving an excellent and advanced yoga practice to the health of female yoga practitioners and their children in a modern lifestyle setting. The findings of this paper are based on my doctoral research, and draw on textual analysis of over fifty relevant Iyengar yoga publications, and qualitative interviews with thirty-seven Iyengar Yoga teachers and four members of the Iyengar family between 2015 and 2019

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