Speaking Yoga, Framing the Body: Sociolinguistic Constructions and Symbolic Boundaries

Abstrakt

This paper examines how young adults understand yoga and their own bodies, focusing on how practicing yoga can serve as a resource for constructing symbolic boundaries. While yoga is a form of physical activity, it also carries an inherent spiritual dimension. Drawing on Bourdieusian theories of sport, we argue that the practice and perception of yoga in relation to the body can shape one’s position within the social space. By exploring diverse interpretations of yoga – such as “physical activity”, “physical relaxation”, “a path to self-knowledge” or “mental cleansing” – and varying conceptions of the body – such as “an instrument”, “a temple”, or “an expression of identity” – among both practitioners and non-practitioners, this study reveals yoga’s potential to foster symbolic boundary-making. Crucially, this process appears to be shaped not only by participation in yoga but also by the class-based dispositions and cultural competencies that inform individuals interpret and engage with the practice. As the findings suggest, the distinction between instrumental and symbolic understandings of the body may reflect broader patterns of social differentiation rather than being solely attributable to the effects of yoga practice itself.