RLG 341BVT: Yoga & Meditation

Catalog

Prerequisite(s): ENG 1020 or ENG 1021 with a C or better Long before yoga mats and meditation apps, Asian traditions envisioned the mind and body as tools for spiritual liberation. In this course, students examine the historical, philosophical, and religious roots of yoga and meditation "beyond the mat." Today, yoga and meditation have become ubiquitous in American culture - their effects are studied scientifically, and their practices are marketed globally. How did these transformations occur? Are these modern practices truly rooted in age-old traditions? Students explore yoga and meditation as dynamic and diverse traditions that span more than two millennia, transcending boundaries of religion, geography, and discipline. This is not a physical activity class. Rather, students engage reflectively "off the mat" to consider what these traditions teach about the mind, body, and the pursuit of liberation.