THIS IS REVOLUTION＞podcast Ep. 184: The Politics of Yoga w/ Dr. Patricia Suthoff and the Foreign Policy Crüe

To many in the West, the practice of Yoga is largely a secular act seen as part of maintaining a healthy life-style and good posture. Certainly, some are keenly aware of its origins as a spiritual practice from the Indian subcontinent. Indeed, elements on the Christian right have condemned Yoga as a form of worship of the Hindu pantheon. However, it is not only amongst conservative Christians that Yoga is seen as controversial. In Yoga’s homeland, India, the history and meaning of the practice is a topic of heated debate. In this episode, what is Yoga? What is its political meaning? And why has it become a lighting rod for controversy in Indian politics?   About Patricia: Patricia Sauthoff is an Indologist who specializes in medieval Śaiva Tantra from socio-historical perspective. Her PhD focused on protective rites in the Netra Tantra, and explored the nature of mantra, maṇḍala, and deity visualization in rites to alleviate disease and bestow immortality.   Thank you, guys, again for taking the time to check this out. We appreciate each and every one of you. If you have the means, and you feel so inclined, BECOME A PATRON! We're creating patron only programing, you'll get bonus content from many of the episodes, and you get MERCH!   Become a patron now https://www.patreon.com/join/BitterLakePresents?   Please also like, subscribe, and follow us on these platforms as well, (specially YouTube!)   THANKS Y'ALL   YouTube: www.youtube.com/thisisrevolutionpodcast   Twitch: www.twitch.tv/thisisrevolutionpodcast www.twitch.tv/leftflankvets   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thisisrevolutionpodcast/   Twitter: @TIRShowOakland Instagram: @thisisrevolutionoakland   The Dispatch on Zero Books (video essay series): https://youtu.be/nSTpCvIoRgw   Medium: https://jasonmyles.medium.com/i-was-a-teenage-anarchist-e918b00bb13   Pascal Robert's Black Agenda Report: https://www.blackagendareport.com/author/PascalRobert   Get TIR Merch here: www.thisisrevolutionpodcast.com   Get the music from the show here: https://bitterlakeoakland.bandcamp.com/album/coronavirus-sessions