Yoga Conference Krakow 2022

Last week, Scott and Ida had the pleasure of attending the YDYS 2022 Conference in Krakow, Poland. The conference was co-hosted by Jagiellonian University Institute for the Study of Religions (Krakow) and the SOAS Centre of Yoga Studies (London). The aim of this academic conference is reviewing and discussing recent developments in the field of Yoga Studies. 

Over the course of 4 days, there were over 50 papers presented by scholars from all around the world. The topics varied widely, from discussions of gender and abuse, to yoga in Poland, yoga in central and South America, to new translations of unknown texts.

The team of scholars that is working on a critical edition of the Hathapradipika​ presented their progress. It seems that this text, as vital and influential as it has been for centuries, has been in a corrupted state for centuries. 

Scott presented his paper on Two Samadhis, focusing on the nebulous meaning of meditative states before the Yoga Sutra. 

Ida presented on Yoga In Bengal and the Emergence of Women In Yoga, showing how women's involvement in yoga in India in the mid-twentieth century is closely tied to social movements and growing nationalism.

​It was our first time visiting Krakow, Poland. The city is beautiful, with brick streets and weaving alleys lined with tall stone walls and buildings. The city square is massive, filled with a bustling market of produce, food and goods. All around the square are beautiful buildings, a cross between palaces and cathedrals. 

​It is impossible to describe how much we learned over the course of the week. Our brains have still not processed all we heard.

It is humbling to hear such intelligent people explain their work, only to be followed by another equally clever explanation of groundbreaking scholarship. At the end of the day, the head spins with new information, fresh perspectives and challenging ideas. 

Learn more:
SOAS Centre of Yoga Studies
Jagiellonian Institute for the Study of Religions