The Development of Yoga in Communist USSR and in the 20 Years Following the Reforms of Gorbachev

Type:       ● [D] "Off The Mat" / "Giving Back" ●

INSTRUCTOR:   Andrey Lappa

Class Description:  It is not just fortunate, but truly fascinating that the practice of yoga not only survived, but flourished during the Communist period in Eastern Europe. Andrey Lappa will offer a personal perspective on this question. He will compare and contrast Eastern and Western visions of yoga and yoga philosophy, and in particular consider the attitudes and philosophies prevalent in Russia. He will describe the various schools of yoga that have arisen in post-Soviet countries, consider the reasons for their diversity, and reflect on their likely survival and direction in modern Eastern Europe. He will also consider the differences and similarities in goals and attitudes between present-day yogis in post-Soviet countries, whilst also placing them in the context of the overall future of yoga worldwide and assessing whether or not "post-Soviet yoga" has any distinctive contribution to make to the global yoga movement. Andrey will also address any issues raised by this presentation.