As the ancient Indian discipline of yoga becomes increasingly popular worldwide it is important to query its early development, transformation over the centuries, and the possibilities that it holds forth to its practitioners. Graphing milestones in the history of yoga, this course is also an introduction to the visual, literary, and religious cultures of South Asia. On occasion, we will attempt to perform basic yoga postures in the classroom.

Estimated cost of materials: less than $50.

HISTART Concentration Distributions: C. Asia, D. Europe and the United States, 1. Ancient, 4. Modern and Contemporary.

This course includes field trips to art museums and yoga studios in the Ann Arbor area and satisfies the LSA Interdisciplinary (ID) unit requirement.

Course Format: Highly interactive lectures and class discussions led by the Professor.

Textbook: B.K.S Iyengar, Light on Yoga (New York: Schoken, 1965 and reprinted frequently since then by various publishers). All other readings will be posted on the Canvas website for the course.