How Did We Get Here?A History of Yoga in America, 1800-1970

Abstract

Yoga has been gaining acceptance in America. This acceptance rests, in large part, on the increase in medical research on Yoga. Despite the benefits of this research, the biomedical approach is often held accountable for America's de-emphasis on the rich,spiritual dimensions of Yoga. This article reviews the academic literature of the 1800s-1970s to show that America's focus on Yoga's health benefits is not new, but has been a part of the ongoing debate on how Yoga should be regarded.