RELG 049. Yoga in History, Philosophy, and Practice

This course surveys the history, philosophy, and practices of Yoga from its origins in early forms of Indian religiosity to its contemporary, transnational development. In the West today, Yoga usually refers to a system of bodily postures. However, as we will learn in this course, this constitutes only one aspect of much broader practice systems and worldviews that have developed into distinct traditions with sophisticated philosophies, such as the classical Yoga of Patañjali. The physical disciplines and meditation practices of Yoga aim not only at mastery of one's body and mind, but also at achievement of what was regarded as the highest goal of human life: liberation from the cycle of rebirth. While our main focus will be on the Yoga traditions that developed within the Hindu fold, we will also consider Buddhist forms of Yoga.
Humanities.
1 credit.
Eligible for ASIA
Catalog chapter: Religion
Department website: http://swarthmore.edu/religion

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