Race and Yoga 9.1 (2025) - THEMED ISSUE

Yoga in Global Muslim Contexts: Cultural Representations and Spiritual Practices

Guest Editors: Farha Ternikar and Narin Hassan

Building upon yoga discourses that have focused upon cultural histories, issues of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, authenticity, appropriation, and the global popularity of yoga practices, this call for papers expands the boundaries of scholarship in Race and Yoga by addressing the intersections of yoga with Islamic cultures, religiosity, histories, and representations. To develop our understanding of race and yoga within global contexts, this issue seeks to explore the historical and cultural alliances and tensions between yoga and Islamic cultures/Muslim identities (widely construed) and the wide ranging and varying yoga practices across South Asia, the Middle East, and in the diaspora.

What has the complex interrelationship been between practices of yoga and Muslim cultures? How have diverse esoteric, contemplative, and spiritual practices related to yoga co-existed within the historical contexts of South Asian cultures? What are the intellectual and practical connections between traditions such as Sufism and yoga? How have political tensions between Muslim and Hindu identities impacted notions of yoga and Muslim identity or encouraged political gestures such as fatwas and resistances against yoga in certain national contexts? What co-existing practices of yoga, meditation, and healing have existed within the Muslim world? How do gender, class, and racial identities intersect with notions of yoga and Muslim culture? How might yoga expand or deepen notions of spirituality within Muslim identity? How do these issues appear within media representations of yoga and yoga communities in Muslim regions?

This special issue is interested in exploring the complex forms and practices related to yoga and expanding understandings of yoga’s global and cultural reach by tracing its popularity in the Muslim world. It also considers how discussions around decolonizing yoga and tracing its intersections with social justice can be expanded through a reading of yoga’s complex cultural, social, and historical intersections with Muslim cultural identities broadly defined.

We welcome intersectional and transnational feminist perspectives on yoga. Submissions may include critical essays as well as creative/self-reflection pieces. We seek essays from scholars in a wide range of fields including sociology, anthropology, women’s and gender studies, literary studies, cultural studies, postcolonial/decolonial studies, Asian and Indigenous studies, global and ethnic studies, dance and yoga studies, and beyond. We invite contributions from those whose identities align with the theme of the CFP as well as scholars who are not Muslim or BIPOC but are accountable to Muslim and/or BIPOC communities.

Possible topics may include: 

·      *Gendered Muslim Identities and Yoga

·     *Muslim healing traditions and yoga

·     *Sufism and Yoga Philosophies/Contemplative practices and yoga

·     *Orientalizing Yoga/ Representation and Yoga

·     *South Asian colonial histories and yoga

·     *Secular yoga movements in Muslim cultures

·     *Muslim yoga influencers in social media/media

·     *Muslim Yoga teachers/students and yoga pedagogy

·     *Decolonizing Yoga 

·     *Yoga and social justice from Black Lives Matter to Palestine 

·     *Representations/Lack of representations of Muslim Yoga Practitioners

·     *Modest fashion/athleisure and yoga 

·     *Yoga in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and beyond

·     *Yoga and Black Muslim Communities

·     *Expanding Muslim Identities and Yoga Practices

·     *Yoga and Global Food Cultures, Health Practices, Lifestyles

·     *Popular culture, Islam, and Yoga

·     *Marketing yoga in Muslim contexts/Corporate cultures of yoga

·     *Yoga in private spaces/studio spaces in Muslim cultures

·     *Movement/Meditation Practices and Yoga

·     *Dance and yoga 

·     *Oral spiritual traditions/movements and yoga/Sound and music forms

·     *Yoga histories in global contexts 

We welcome submissions in a range of forms including: scholarly work/critical essays, ethnographic-based studies, creative works, co-authored and collaborative projects, and personal narratives. 

Aims and Scope

Race and Yoga is the first peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, and international academic journal committed to examinations of the history and practice of yoga; the journal brings together critical yoga studies and critical race theory to examine issues surrounding the history, racialization, sex(ualization), and inclusivity (or lack thereof) of the yoga community. Race and Yoga is published through The University of California Press’s e-scholarship division. Race and Yoga accepts original, unpublished manuscripts (no simultaneous submissions or previously published works) only.

Peer Review Policy

Race and Yoga editors vet each submission to ensure alignment with the journal’s scholarly goals. If selected, the submission is sent to two anonymous referees.

Submission Instructions

Article manuscripts should be limited to 8,000 words, including endnotes and references. Review essays should be limited to 4,000 words. Review essays may survey recently published literature, films, art exhibits, or popular culture related to the field. Papers should be left-justified and use a non-decorative font (e.g. Times New Roman). An abstract that does not exceed 250 words should be included. For endnote and reference formatting, follow the Chicago Manual of Style, 18th edition (author-date style). The Chicago Style quick guide can be found here: https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-2.html

Papers that do not adhere to submission guidelines will be returned to the author for revision.

Personal narratives should be 2,000-3,000 words.

Upload your abstract, manuscript, and 150 word bio (as the supplementary file) to: http://escholarship.org/uc/crg_raceandyoga

 Please send all inquiries to raceandyoga@gmail.com

CFP download here

DEADLINE: The Editorial Board will begin reviewing submissions beginning April 15, 2025. Extensions will be considered on a case-by-case basis until May 15, 2025.