Keen on Yoga Podcast Ep 272 Amanda Lucia – The Cultural Politics of Yoga

In this insightful interview, Amanda Lucia, Professor of Studies of Religion, discusses her book 'White Utopias' and explores the complex issues surrounding modern yoga, cultural appropriation, exoticism, and racial dynamics within the yoga community. The conversation delves into festival experiences, the impact of capitalism, and the importance of authentic cultural engagement. Main Topics: • Cultural appropriation in yoga • The role of festivals in modern yoga culture • Exoticism and orientalism in spiritual practices Websites: www.amandajeanlucia.com www.religionandsexualabuseproject.org Books: Reflections of Amma: Devotees in a Global Embrace (2014) White Utopias: The Religious Exoticism of Transformational Festivals (2020) A Cultural History of Hinduism: Age of Independence (1947-2017) (2024) SUPPORT KEEN ON YOGA Become a Patron: https://www.keenonyoga.com/patrons/ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/infoRf CONNECT WITH ADAM Website: www.keenonyoga.com Instagram: @keen_on_yoga | @adam_keen_ashtanga In person events: https://www.keenonyoga.com/all-events/ LISTEN Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keen-on-yoga-podcast/id1509303411 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5iM9lcw52JskHUZ2eFvVxN WATCH https://www.youtube.com/@keenonyoga Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Amanda Lucia and her work 00:25 Amanda's journey into studying yoga festivals 02:09 Diversity and demographics of yoga festivals 04:10 Critique of whiteness and exoticism in yoga 09:01 The impact of orientalism and exoticism 12:19 The dialogue between Western and Indian yoga 17:18 Problems of cultural ownership and authenticity 23:36 Race, community, and representation in yoga 30:35 The evolution of yoga's popularity and demographics 39:56 The politics of knowledge, ownership, and power 49:59 The future of yoga and cultural exchange 53:36 Reflections on the impact of recent social movements