Metaphors in yoga education research

Metaphors in yoga education research

This chapter draws together three seemingly distinct and disparate traditions namely metaphor, educational research and Yoga philosophy and examples how such a synthesis can provide new understanding or appreciation of these fields. As this chapter will demonstrate, however, these traditions have been and remain closely linked. This chapter refers to
a qualitative study on how Yoga teachers incorporate the notions of spirituality within their Yoga teacher trainings. Yoga philosophy and its education have utilised metaphor to explain its spiritual underpinnings for a long time. This chapter initially discusses the concept of metaphor and then provides examples of its use within the literature of Yoga. Then, the research project is described. Finally an ancient Hindu model which views the individual as a series of interconnected and interdependent characteristics will be utilised as a metaphor to help provide both a pathway to educate novice Yoga teachers as well as a way to inform the analysis interview data.

© 2013 by Warren Midgley, Karen Trimmer and Andy Davies and contributors. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.
Chapter 8.