Stefanie Syman discusses The Subtle Body: The Story of Yoga in America with Mark Singleton

FRIDAY, JULY 30, 7PM
at Bhava, Albuquerque

Author Stefanie Syman will be visiting New Mexico promoting her new book The Subtle Body: The Story of Yoga in America. A gripping read, Publisher's Weekly describes it thusly—

Yoga conquers America—and is conquered in its turn—in this labyrinthine cultural history. Journalist Syman traces American enthusiasm for yoga back to Thoreau and follows it through cycles of waxing and waning popularity: it was decried by Victorians for its association with madness and tantric sex rituals, celebrated in the 1960s for its association with altered states of consciousness (and tantric sex rituals), and ubiquitously embraced in the 21st century as a wholesome, anodyne exercise program... When she pulls back to view the culture mashup yoga has become—a cure for back pain, a beauty regime, and a route to God—she gives a cogent, engrossing analysis of this Asian-born spiritual practice turned all-American panacea.

She will throw down with Mark Singleton, author of Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice. His book focuses specifically on the historical roots of asana. I will try to put together some video clips of early yoga television, Elvis, the Beatles, Woodstock yoga footage, and more. It promises to be a thought provoking evening. Please join us and support this calibre of event in New Mexico.

Listen to Stefanie Syman on NPR--

To the Best of Our Knowledge: Psychedelics