ABSTRACT
In this chapter, I examine a few of the ways in which the body is used and experienced in Modern Postural Yoga (hereafter MPY).1 Particularly, I argue that taking bodily experience into account is essential to the study of contemporary yoga, especially when attempting to understand the effects of yoga practice and to explain its increasing popularity. Moreover, a requirement for fully understanding bodily experience is a problematization of the relationships between body techniques and the contexts within which these are performed and interpreted. To that end, I highlight the importance of the practice environment in an individual’s experience and understanding of yoga. Finally, in light of this analysis, my suggestion is that MPY very often works to empower the practitioner, even if in a variety of ways and for a diverse range of purposes.
