Yoga, Suffering, and the Search for Meaning in a Changing World

Harmony and Russell sit down with Paul Bramadat — professor, anthropologist, and longtime yoga practitioner — to explore the spiritual, cultural, and deeply human dimensions of modern yoga. Paul, who began his yoga journey in Harmony’s studio in Victoria, BC, now returns not as a student, but as the author of Yoga Lands, a fascinating book that blends memoir, ethnography, and cultural critique.

Together, they dive into the real reasons people are drawn to yoga: not just for fitness or flexibility, but as a response to suffering. From the spiritual to the sociopolitical, this episode weaves personal stories and academic insights into a rich discussion of cultural appropriation, inclusivity, identity, and the subtle energies that shape how we relate to each other in the yoga room.

This episode is essential listening for yoga practitioners, teachers, and anyone who’s ever felt the transformative pull of the practice — even when the reasons are messy, complicated, and rooted in pain.

🔍 Topics Covered:

• The origins of Paul’s yoga journey—and his unexpected return as a scholar and teacher

• How suffering draws people to yoga across cultural and class lines

• The subtle politics of yoga spaces in North America

• Cultural appropriation vs. respectful integration of Indic traditions

• The rise of yoga among women and what that says about modern spirituality

• Differences between Canadian and American views on wellness and healthcare

• How yoga spaces function as secular sanctuaries

• The “erotics of proximity” in yoga rooms—and why we need new language for it

• What it means to honor yoga’s roots while making space for modern evolution

• Why inclusivity matters—and how to create truly welcoming spaces

🧘 About Our Guest:

Paul Bramadat, PhD is a professor of religious studies at the University of Victoria, specializing in the cultural and political intersections of religion and public life. He is the director of the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society and a long-time yoga practitioner. His new book, Yoga Lands: In Search of Practice on the Mat and in the World, brings academic rigor and personal insight to the complex and beautiful messiness of modern yoga culture.

Learn more about Paul and his work:

🌐 Paul Bramadat Faculty Page at UVic: https://www.uvic.ca/humanities/history/people/faculty/profiles/bramadatpaul.php

 

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