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Rating: 
Summary: Read this for a critical view of yoga
Review: Varenne's "Yoga and the Hindu Tradition" will appeal to you if, like me, you tire of the two dominant Western approaches to yoga: Uncritical, banal spiritualism and rah-rah therapeutic yoga -- yoga as a school of physical fitness. Varenne's book will NOT TEACH YOGA, rather it TEACHES ABOUT YOGA.It's a fascinating review and clearly presented, if a bit academic. The reader learns how yoga relates to Hindu society and religious belief, and how yoga's teachings are essentially theological in nature. Putting yoga in a social context will give it character and deepen one's appreciation for this practice. It will, however, be a bit disturbing for some Americans, and will threaten some of their deeply-held new age assumptions. If you're serious about yoga, read this, then read the Bhagvad-gita.
Rating:
Summary: Read this for a critical view of yoga
Review: Varenne's "Yoga and the Hindu Tradition" will appeal to you if, like me, you tire of the two dominant Western approaches to yoga: Uncritical, banal spiritualism and rah-rah therapeutic yoga -- yoga as a school of physical fitness. Varenne's book will NOT TEACH YOGA, rather it TEACHES ABOUT YOGA. It's a fascinating review and clearly presented, if a bit academic. The reader learns how yoga relates to Hindu society and religious belief, and how yoga's teachings are essentially theological in nature. Putting yoga in a social context will give it character and deepen one's appreciation for this practice. It will, however, be a bit disturbing for some Americans, and will threaten some of their deeply-held new age assumptions. If you're serious about yoga, read this, then read the Bhagvad-gita.
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