ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the various manifestations of agency among females who practice Menstruation-Oriented Yoga (IY). The chapter discusses the power dynamics and restrictions placed on female yoga practitioners during menstruation, including the ban on inverted postures. The author analyzes the intricate interplay between individual choices, cultural norms, and religious ethos within this unique yoga practice, drawing on Saba Mahmood’s concepts of agency. The study identifies and classifies three distinct forms of agency: “resistant,” which is characterized by challenges to normative practices; “instrumental,” which demonstrates empowerment and well-being through specialized postures; and “compliant,” which involves the negotiation of tradition and spirituality. The author explores how these agencies are enacted and understood within the context of Menstruation-Oriented IY through in-depth interviews with IY practitioners. The findings reveal a complex tapestry of agency that reflects the negotiation between individual aspirations, societal expectations, and religious values. This study illuminates how female practitioners navigate a multicultural and dynamic society by using the framework of yoga to assert their autonomy, challenge social norms, and embrace empowerment while adhering to tradition. This chapter provides new insights into the dynamic intersections of yoga practice, bodily experiences, and cultural identities, contributing to the expanding discourse on agency, gender, and spirituality.
