33. Why do Yogis Meditate?
Yoga Studies in Five Minutes - Theodora Wildcroft
Matylda Ciołkosz [+]
Jagiellonian University, Kraków
Matylda Ciołkosz is an assistant professor at the Institute of Religious Studies, Jagiellonian University in Kraków. She earned her PhD in culture and religion studies in 2019 for her research on the meaning- making role of kinesthetic experience in the practice of modern postural yoga. In her research, she draws from cognitive approaches to the study of religions to explore the influence of sensory, motor, and social contexts on the formation and application of religious concepts.
Description
Premodern meditating yogis might have had ultimate aims, such as experiencing the true character of reality, and unifying with or embodying gods, although their goals could be more temporary and pragmatic. Interestingly, while modern, transnational yoga may be associated primarily with āsana practice, in fact the first modern forms of yoga practice introduced to non-Indian audiences were of a contemplative nature.