The Story of Modern Yoga

How did a tradition with ancient roots in the Indian subcontinent end up as a weekly yoga class for millions around the world?

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Not one yoga, but many yogas

From ancient tradition to modern gym class, yoga means many things to many people.

The yogi as hermit, warrior, criminal and showman

How the modern world changed the life and reputation of the yogi.

Vivekananda’s journey

How a young Indian monk’s travels around the world inspired modern yoga.

Yoga gets physical

Modern yoga owes a debt to the physical culture movement that created a world obsessed with health and fitness.

Sun salutations and yoga synthesis in India

Surya namaskars, or sun salutations, have a long history in South Asia, but their place at the heart of modern yoga is more recent.

Yoga adapts to time and place

A yoga teacher in 1930s India inspired today’s transnational practice with his spectacular fusion of tradition and innovation.