SKU: 20308976081

The Subtle Body: The Story of Yoga in America

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The Subtle Body: The Story of Yoga in AmericaIn The Subtle Body, Stefanie Syman tells the surprising story of yoga's transformation from a centuries old spiritual discipline to a multibillion dollar American industry. Yoga's history in America is longer and richer than even its most devoted practitioners realize. It was present in Emerson's New England, and by the turn of the twentieth century it was fashionable among the leisure class. And yet when Americans first learned about yoga, what they

In The Subtle Body, Stefanie Syman tells the surprising story of yoga's transformation from a centuries-old spiritual discipline to a multibillion-dollar American industry.

Yoga's history in America is longer and richer than even its most devoted practitioners realize. It was present in Emerson's New England, and by the turn of the twentieth century it was fashionable among the leisure class. And yet when Americans first learned about yoga, what they learned was that it was a dangerous, alien practice that would corrupt body and soul.

A century later, you can find yoga in gyms, malls, and even hospitals, and the arrival of a yoga studio in a neighborhood is a signal of cosmopolitanism. How did it happen? It did so, Stefanie Syman explains, through a succession of charismatic yoga teachers, who risked charges of charlatanism as they promoted yoga in America, and through generations of yoga students, who were deemed unbalanced or even insane for their efforts. The Subtle Body tells the stories of these people, including Henry David Thoreau, Pierre A. Bernard, Margaret Woodrow Wilson, Christopher Isherwood, Sally Kempton, and Indra Devi.

From New England, the book moves to New York City and its new suburbs between the wars, to colonial India, to postwar Los Angeles, to Haight-Ashbury in its heyday, and back to New York City post-9/11. In vivid chapters, it takes in celebrities from Gloria Swanson and George Harrison to Christy Turlington and Madonna. And it offers a fresh view of American society, showing how a seemingly arcane and foreign practice is as deeply rooted here as baseball or ballet.

This epic account of yoga's rise is absorbing and often inspiring--a major contribution to our understanding of our society.



Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Farrar Strauss & Giroux-3pl
Published: 05/24/2011
ISBN: 9780374532840
Pages: 390
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 8.90h x 6.00w x 1.10d

Review Citations: New York Times Book Review 06/05/2011 pg. 52
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SKU: 20308976081

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Jeffrey Bordner
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
Great Option for older, beginner workouts
Color: Gray, Style: Yoga Mat
I am a 54-year-old woman with multiple issues dealing with my weight, knees, and hips. The support of this particular mat is thick enough that there is no pain when being on my knees or lying down. It does not pinch your pressure points, causing pain as a thinner mat would. I am very pleased with the quality of this mat; it feels durable and I do not worry about my flopping around and destroying it while I learn the proper positions I need for my exercises. The length and width is sufficient for my 5 foot 11 inch height and extra girth. I was not looking for anything in particular in terms of design or color, as I prefer functionality, and this is to be used at home as a beginner mat while I start my exercise program.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2026
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Brenda V.
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
Nice and thick great quality, easy to carry and store
Color: Wine, Style: Yoga Mat, Color: Wine, Style: Yoga Mat
Loved it its super thick compare to others its teally comfortable and has great grip and doesnt slide. The color is super cute and bright and itcomes with a strap which makes it easy to carry and store.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2026
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Md Romim Somadder
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Great Quality Mat for the Price
Color: Gray, Style: Yoga Mat, Color: Gray, Style: Yoga Mat
After burning through several cheap mats that curled, bunched, or wore out within weeks, this one finally got it right. The 1/2-inch high-density foam provides real cushioning, my knees and wrists feel the difference immediately, and it holds its shape without feeling unstable during balance poses. Grip is solid on hardwood and carpet alike, and the included carry strap is a small but genuinely useful touch that makes hauling it to the gym effortless. It's a bit bulky for travel, but for home or gym use it's hard to beat at this price. The quality speaks for itself, this feels like a mat built to last. Highly recommend.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2026
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Eli
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
11/10!!
Color: Green, Style: Yoga Mat
Amazing yoga mat! Very soft and very thick, feels like memory foam. Good quality very durable, one dirt smear wiped right off with ease. The color is better in person I love it!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2026
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Verónica
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 4
This is very good
Color: Purple, Style: Yoga Mat, Color: Purple, Style: Yoga Mat
It’s a really good size and quite soft; the only downside is that I think it’s a bit pricey. It’s a good option if you don’t have other choices, but if you can find something better, do so.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2026

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