Podcast Summary:

New Books Network – The 4th Yoga Darśana Yoga Sādhana Conference
Date: March 9, 2026
Host: Dr. Raj Balkaran
Guests: Dr. Suzanne Newcomb (Senior Lecturer, Open University), Dr. Raphael Voix (Research Fellow, CNRS)

Overview & Main Theme

This episode introduces and explores the upcoming 4th International Yoga Darśana Yoga Sādhana Conference, set for Paris in May 2026. Instead of featuring a new book, the discussion centers on the evolution and significance of the conference series, which has become a vibrant academic hub for yoga studies. The conversation covers the event’s origins, its thematic focus on “Authenticity, Authority, and Adaptation,” aims for inclusivity, and its pivotal role in shaping and reflecting yoga scholarship internationally.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Origins and Evolution of the Conference

• Genesis (02:02):
  • The conference originated in 2016, initiated by Matylda at Yagiellonian University, Krakow.
  • Early collaboration among scholars from Cambridge (including Elizabeth De Michelis, Mark Singleton, and Suzanne Newcomb) helped cement academic yoga studies as a field.
  • The first conference saw unexpected high attendance, gathering indologists, social scientists, and those studying modern yoga.
  • COVID-19 caused some disruption, but since the 2022 Krakow event, the goal has been to run these conferences biennially.

"We were really blown away by the amount of attendees we got... people were brought together who were studying yoga from all sorts of different academic, disciplinary angles." — Suzanne Newcomb [02:37]

Thematic Focus and Conference Structure

• Scope and Methods (04:40):

  • The conference invites rigorous academic engagement primarily from humanities and social sciences; biomedical/therapeutic studies are not the focus.
  • Interdisciplinary dialogue is fostered between indology and the social sciences.

• This Year’s Theme—Authenticity, Authority, Adaptation (07:16):

  • Deliberate use of broad, alliterative themes to invite a wide range of research and facilitate meaningful panel groupings.
  • Themes act as prompts: not restrictive, but generative and open-ended.

"The idea really, I think, behind this conference is to gather as much as possible all the people nowadays that are working in the academia on yoga." — Raphael Voix [08:36]

Details of the 2026 Conference

• Location & Dates (10:50):

  • Held in a large, new social sciences campus in northern Paris.
  • Runs Wednesday, May 27 (midday) to Friday, May 29 (evening), ending with a group Seine cruise.
  • Attendees are encouraged to stay for weekend museum visits.
  • Panels run concurrently in multiple rooms (120 speakers expected over three days).

• Keynotes:

  • Dominic Goodall: On the origins of Kundalini in 7th-century Shiva Siddhānta scriptures. [11:47]
  • Sunita Kali & Christian Novetsky: “Yoga as a Theory of Sovereignty.” [12:40]
  • Keynotes may be livestreamed (if tech allows); all other sessions are in-person only.

"Basically the conference will be organized... around different panels... 120 speakers this year... two main keynote conferences." — Raphael Voix [11:06]

Conference Logistics & Participation

• In-Person Emphasis (13:52):

  • The event is intentionally in-person for deeper engagement, although recent years explored online and hybrid models.
  • Two keynotes may be broadcasted for remote viewing.

• Community & Network Building (14:48):

  • The conference is part of a broader international research initiative (website: yogaresearch.org).
  • The call for involvement—new organizers, participants, and contributors are encouraged.

2026 Conference Highlights

• Book Launches (19:23):

  • Launch and panel discussion for the first critical edition of the Haṭhapradīpikā, a pivotal hatha yoga text.
  • A “mystery” second book launch to be announced.

• Film and Exhibitions:

  • Film debut by Jason Birch and team on “Contrary Tradition.”
  • Mantra Yoga panels linked to ongoing ERC projects and an exhibition from the Vienna group's Mantra research.

• Workshops & Side Events:

  • Workshop led by Lucy McConstantini.
  • Focus on “local yogas” in France and panels on Mantra Yoga.

"We try to be really welcoming to early career scholars and PhD students... Even people like Raphael and I... can't keep up with all the scholarship anymore. These conferences are really crucial." — Suzanne Newcomb [21:35]

Inclusivity and Conference Culture

• Welcoming Early Career Scholars (21:35):
  • Strong encouragement for students and new academics, emphasizing supportive feedback and collaborative growth.
  • A “safe space” to present ongoing research and receive constructive critique.

"It's a safe space to actually discuss ongoing research... usually there's a very nice atmosphere." — Raphael Voix [23:07]

• Comparisons of Academic Cultures (26:36):
  • European conferences often emphasize collaboration over competition, helping foster grant partnerships and a collegial atmosphere.

The Broader Significance of Yoga Studies

• Why Yoga Studies Matter (28:46):
  • The study of yoga offers unique insights into globalization, embodiment, suffering, ways of knowing, and cultural exchange.
  • Yoga’s pervasiveness makes it a lens for broader inquiry into meaning and universality.

"I believe very strongly that you get to the universals by doing a rigorous study of a particular... yoga studies is a really interesting place to do that kind of exploration." — Suzanne Newcomb [29:57]

• Interdisciplinarity (32:38):
  • The field illustrates fruitful collaboration between contemporary sociological research and indology (study of classical Indian texts).
  • Hosting the conference in different locales strengthens academic ties and institutional cooperation.

Looking Ahead

• Future Plans (34:16):
  • Preliminary intentions for the next conference (2028) in Finland, likely late May.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "There are papers that don't explicitly refer to the alliterative title. And it also... signposts some of the kind of really big questions in social sciences and humanities like authority and authenticity."
  — Suzanne Newcomb [09:15]

• "Welcoming the critique because it's well intentioned and it's aimed at building you up rather than tearing you down. So that's a really important point in terms of the culture of the conference."
  — Raj Balkaran [24:18]

• "All the research, serious research, academic work... positively taken all this input from this vast collective that is not always nameable."
  — Raphael Voix [25:55]

• "Yoga studies... brings back an idea... you cannot study contemporary India without knowing about the text, you know, that made this culture."
  — Raphael Voix [32:40]

Important Timestamps

• 02:02 – Origins and background of the conference series
• 07:16 – Explanation of this year’s theme: Authenticity, Authority, Adaptation
• 10:50 – Practical details on dates and structure
• 11:47 – Details on keynote speakers and topics
• 14:48 – Discussion of remote/online options and network building
• 19:23 – Announcement of book launches, film, and exhibition highlights
• 21:35 – Emphasis on supporting early career scholars
• 26:36 – Differences in academic and conference cultures
• 28:46 – Reflections on the value of yoga studies
• 34:16 – Announcement of tentative future conference in Finland

Final Thoughts

The 4th Yoga Darśana Yoga Sādhana Conference is a marquee event for the ever-expanding field of yoga studies, providing a forum for interdisciplinary collaboration, methodological diversity, and a collegial, supportive exchange—especially for early career scholars. With a rich program of keynotes, launches, panels, and cultural events, the Paris meeting aims to deepen understanding of yoga—past and present—while reflecting on broader issues of knowledge, culture, and scholarly community.

Links:

• Conference & network: yogaresearch.org
• Direct link to event: See podcast notes