Call for Papers
Critical Yoga Studies 10.1 (2026) - Special Open Issue: The Status of Critical Yoga Studies
The Critical Yoga Studies editorial board is excited to celebrate its 10th anniversary issue, which will be published on December 31, 2026. As part of this celebration, we are pleased to announce the renaming of the journal from Race and Yoga to Critical Yoga Studies. This change reflects the growth of the field over the last 10 years and the wide range of work we have published over the past 9 issues. In honor of this change, our 10th anniversary issue will focus on the status of the field, and we invite submissions of articles, personal narratives, creative works, review essays, and interviews within the following themes:
What is Critical Yoga Studies?
Possible topics may include: defining the field, tracing its origins in and beyond academia, the role of “critical” in critical yoga studies, and what frameworks of analysis the field offers
Yoga, Anti-Science, and Conspirituality
Possible topics may include: conceptions of “health” and “wellness,” COVID-19 conspiracies, spiritual bypassing, and pathways to radicalization
The Limits of Cultural Appropriation
Possible topics may include: the politics of representation and identity, lateral oppression, community building, and accountability
Yoga, Oppression, and Liberation
Possible topics may include: fascism, structural oppressions and violence, yoga and wellness by state actors, resistance, detention and confinement, and social and transformative justice
Yoga Industries
Possible topics may include: gig economies, labor exploitation, hustle culture, accreditation, wellness retreats, and global travel
In addition to these themes, Critical Yoga Studies invites additional submissions on any topic that aligns with the journal’s Aims and Scope.
Aims and Scope
Critical Yoga Studies (formerly 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 examines issues surrounding the history, racialization, sex(ualization), and inclusivity (or lack thereof) of the yoga community. Critical Yoga Studies is published through The University of California Press’s e-scholarship division. Critical Yoga Studies accepts original, unpublished manuscripts (no simultaneous submissions or previously published works) only.
Peer Review Policy
Critical Yoga Studies 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 8000 words, including endnotes and references. An abstract that does not exceed 250 words should be included. Personal narratives should be 2000-3000 words. Personal narratives share first-person experiences related to the journal’s focus on intersectional politics and social justice possibilities within yoga practices. We also accept review essays that survey recently published literature, films, art exhibits, or popular culture related to the field. Review essays should be limited to 4000 words. Papers should be left justified and use Times New Roman font. For endnote and reference formatting, follow the Chicago Manual of Style, 18th edition (author-date style). Papers that do not adhere to submission guidelines will be returned to the author for revision.
Upload your abstract, manuscript, and 150 word bio (as the supplementary file) to:
http://escholarship.org/uc/criticalyogastudies
Please send all inquiries to raceandyoga@gmail.com
DEADLINE: The Editorial Board will begin reviewing submissions on April 15, 2026.