The Path of Modern Yoga: The History of an Embodied Spiritual Practice

734 Pages·2016·8.73 MB·English

by  Elliott Goldberg

The Path of Modern Yoga
“This is a detailed, comprehensive, and rich examination of the history of
modern yoga, showing clearly—and with new insight—how ‘postural
yoga’ is thoroughly enmeshed in the culture of health, fitness, and
athletics. Goldberg has provided us with an important perspective on how
different aspects of 20th-century ‘body culture’ shaped the practice of
asana during the modern yoga renaissance.”
JOSEPH S. ALTER, PH.D., PROFESSOR OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND ANTHROPOLOGY
AT YALE-NUS COLLEGE IN SINGAPORE AND AUTHOR OF YOGA IN MODERN INDIA
AND MORAL MATERIALISM
“In The Path of Modern Yoga, Elliott Goldberg has laid out a clear road
map—with detours into philosophical musings—of the path of modern
yoga from its origins in the early 20th century to its current state of
practice in the early 21st century, especially noting the profound influence
of my teacher, B. K. S. Iyengar. Although more could’ve been written
about the openness and love with which Iyengar gave of himself, if you
want to know about yoga and how it got to be what it is today, this is the
book to read.”
JOHN SCHUMACHER, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF UNITY WOODS YOGA CENTER,
DESCRIBED BY YOGA JOURNAL AS “ONE OF 25 ORIGINALS SHAPING YOGA IN
AMERICA”
“This is a deep history of the birth of modern yoga. There is dogged
research on and profound insight into the main protagonists. Their
contributions are shown to be both unique and tempered by the spirit of
the times in the West as well as in India. As a result, this story of modern
yoga is equally intimate and expansive. Now we practitioners of yoga can
muse over where we really come from.”
NORMAN SJOMAN, PH.D., STUDENT OF SANSKRIT, ARTIST, AUTHOR OF THE YOGA
TRADITION OF THE MYSORE PALACE, AND COAUTHOR OF YOGA TOUCHSTONE
“Goldberg’s ‘detective work’ is impressive. In his investigation into the
writings of British journalist Louise Morgan, he has uncovered her critical
role in the transformation of the ‘Sun Salutation’ into an ‘Elixir for
Women’—a missing link in the development of modern yoga as a practice
for women as well as men. Although at times irreverent, The Path of
Modern Yoga is filled with wisdom and understanding into the culture and
experience of yoga.”
STUART RAY SARBACKER, PH.D., PROFESSOR IN THE SCHOOL OF HISTORY,
PHILOSOPHY, AND RELIGION AT OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE
COAUTHOR OF THE EIGHT LIMBS OF YOGA
“Combining original historical research with a compelling narrative, The
Path of Modern Yoga profiles some of the most significant—and in some
cases surprising—personalities to shape modern yoga practice. Goldberg’s
reflections and insights will further understanding, both popular and
academic, of yoga and its place in the contemporary world.”
SUZANNE NEWCOMBE, PH.D., ASSOCIATE LECTURER FOR THE OPEN UNIVERSITY,
LONDON, AND RESEARCH OFFICER AT INFORM AT THE LONDON SCHOOL OF
ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
Acknowledgments
The Path of Modern Yoga couldn’t have been written without the generous help
of many people around the world over more than a dozen years. Among these
are a handful of people who played a critical role in the book’s creation. Since
May 2000, Norman Sjoman has unfailingly answered my questions about yoga.
Since April 2004, Ramu Rao, my “uncle,” has translated key texts for me and,
with charm and wisdom, explained Indian culture to me. In April 2006, Mark
Singleton, Elizabeth De Michelis, Suzanne Newcombe, Benjamin Smith, and
Klaus Nevrin, fellow participants in the Modern Yoga Workshop at Cambridge
University, generously welcomed me into the emerging field of modern yoga
scholarship and encouraged my work. Since November 2006, Stuart Ray
Sarbacker has championed my work. From July 2008 to July 2013, Suzanne
Newcombe, my godsend in the early and middle stages, made countless smart,
insightful, and invaluable suggestions for improving the manuscript. From
December 2015 to March 2016, Nancy Ringer, my godsend in the very last
stage, made countless smart, insightful, and invaluable suggestions for
improving the manuscript. In February 2016, Karl Baier graciously wrote the
complimentary foreword.
I’d like to thank the people who provided me with published materials and
background information on the people that I write about (presented here in the
order in which they are featured in this book): On Shri Yogendra—Armaiti N.
Desai and Jack McKenzie (both at the Yoga Institute) On Swami Vivekananda
—Eric Shaw and John Schlenck (the latter at the Vedanta Society of New York)
On Swami Kuvalayananda—Manmath M. Gharote, Subodh Tiwari, Malti
Shanbag, and Nigol Koulajian (all at the Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute) On K.
V. Iyer—Vasantha and K. V. Karna, K. Rauhineya Iyer, Kartheek Karna, Jan
and Terry Todd (at the H. J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and
Sports), Anantha Rao, Madhava Rao, David L. Chapman, Mark Singleton,
Michael Murphy, Ramu Rao, Daniel Freund, and Shashidhar Rao
On S. Sundaram—V. Balaji (at the Girinath Yoga Centre), Vishwanath
Iyer, and Hari Shankar R.
On Bhavanarao Pant Pratinidhi—Roxanne Gupta
On Eugen Sandow—David L. Chapman
On T. Krishnamacharya—Mark Singleton and Elizabeth Kadetsky On
Louise Morgan—Mark Singleton
On Apa Pant—Roxanne Gupta
On André Van Lysebeth—Atmatattwa (at Yoga Magazine) On Swami
Sivananda—Swami Sadasivananda (at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta
Center, New York)
On Indra Devi—Phillip Oliver and Audrey Youngman
On B. K. S. Iyengar—B. K. S. Iyengar (at the Ramamani Iyengar
Memorial Yoga Institute), Suzanne Newcombe, Norman E. Sjoman, Eric
Shaw, Hector Guthrie, Marian Garfinkel, Bobby Clennell, and Joan White
I’d like to thank the people who provided me with images of the people that I
write about: Of Shri Yogendra—Armaiti N. Desai, Ms. A. N. Desai, Arvind
Maherchandani, and Jack McKenzie (all at the Yoga Institute) Of Swami
Vivekananda—Swami Nishpapananda (at the Vedanta Society of St. Louis) Of
Swami Kuvalayananda—Malti Shanbag (at the Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute)
Of Bernarr Macfadden—David L. Chapman
Of K. V. Iyer—Michael Murphy, Ronne Iyer, and Shashidhar Tokanahalli
Nagabhushan Rao
Of Maxick—David L. Chapman
Of Eugen Sandow—David L. Chapman
Of S. Sundaram—Vishwanath Iyer and Hari Shankar R.
Of Louise Morgan—Moira Fitzgerald (at the Beinecke Rare Book and
Manuscript Library)
Of Matthias Alexander—Luke Chatterton (at the Society of Teachers of
the Alexander Technique)
Of Apa Pant—Benegal Pereira
Of Swami Sivananda—Nazly Botas (at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta
Center, New York)
Of Indra Devi—Larry Payne (at Samata International)
Of B. K. S. Iyengar—Stephanie Quirk and B. K. S. Iyengar (both at the
Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute) and Emory Elizabeth
Johnson (at Penguin Random House)
Of B. K. S. Iyengar and T. Krishnamacharya—Paul Harvey (at the Centre
for Yoga Studies) and Stephanie Quirk and B. K. S. Iyengar (both at the
Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute)
I’d like to thank the people who provided me with images from newspapers and
magazines that illustrate the achievements of the people that I write about: From
Physical Culture—David L. Chapman
From Strength—David Rosado (at the Photographic Services &
Permissions office, New York Public Library) From the News Chronicle—
Gary Johnson (at the Newspaper & Current Periodical Reading Room,
Library of Congress) From Das Kunstblatt—Randy Kaufman (at the Photo
Service office, Bauhaus-Archiv/Museum für Gestaltung)
The physical signs of perfection in hatha yoga are a slim, lithe body; a
luminous face (a manifestation of self understanding and acceptance);
sparkling eyes; a sonorous voice; increased gastric fire (good digestion);
vitality (not just absence of disease); mastery over sexual urges;
awareness of anahata, the inner sound (a sign of great calm); and purity
of the nadis, the channels through which prana, the life force energy,
flows.
—SVATMARAMA, HATHA YOGA PRADIPIKA, CHAPTER 2, VERSE 78
Contents
Cover Image
Title Page
Epigraph
Acknowledgments
Foreword by Karl Baier, Ph.D.
Part 1 • Divesting Yoga of the Sacred: Yogic Physical Culture and
Health Cure
Chapter 1 • Shri Yogendra: Rejecting the Role of Yoga Guru
The Disciple Meets His Guru
Courted by the Guru: The Letters
Living with the Guru: The Apprenticeship
The First Hatha Yoga Teacher
Chapter 2 • Shri Yogendra: Creating the Profession of Yoga Teacher:
The Yoga Class
The First Yoga Class
Goals of the Yoga Class
Form of the Yoga Class
Forerunners
Chapter 3 • Shri Yogendra: Making Yoga into Calisthenics
Gymnastics and Calisthenics