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Book: Yoga Studies in Five Minutes

Chapter: 22. Why do Yogis Contort their Bodies?

DOI: 10.1558/equinox.46364

Blurb:

Yogis contort their bodies as part of a sādhanā or a performance, for spiritual and pragmatic reasons. Pragmatically, contortions can attract special powers, health benefits and devotees and supporters. Contortions are also a transformative process that prepare the individual to overcome the limits of the body and purify the mind and thought for higher achievements.

Chapter Contributors

  • Daniela Bevilacqua ([email protected] - bevilacqua) 'Centre for Research in Anthropology (CRIA, ISCTE-IUL), Lisbon'