Women-oriented Yoga: Female Empowerment or Patriarchal Practice in Disguise?
Publication information:
Wittich, Agi. 2023. “Women-Oriented Yoga: Female Empowerment or Patriarchal Practice in Disguise?.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Abstract
Abstract: While women dominate the yogascape worldwide, not all yoga practiced by women is designed specially to suit their perceived needs. The contemporary school of Iyengar Yoga (IY) developed systematized what I coin "Women-Oriented Iyengar Yoga" (WOIY), which is meant to accommodate women's bodily, mental, cultural, and sociological needs. This is created to alleviate common physical discomfort and pain of female practitioners and empower them. However, WOIY enacts gender performativity and defines "womanhood" as "otherhood", which unintentionally creates inherent inequality and bias towards women. It also employs power over females' bodies and sets "correct" ways of behavior and movement.
Presenter bio: Dr. Agi Wittich graduated from the department of Religious Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Her dissertation unfolded the complexities of Women-oriented yoga in the Iyengar tradition. Her research resulted in several prizes and scholarships for her work. She was invited to international conferences, colloquia, and departmental seminars.
Presenter affiliation: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Presenter bio: Dr. Agi Wittich graduated from the department of Religious Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Her dissertation unfolded the complexities of Women-oriented yoga in the Iyengar tradition. Her research resulted in several prizes and scholarships for her work. She was invited to international conferences, colloquia, and departmental seminars.
Presenter affiliation: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem