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Elizabeth De Michelis

Elizabeth is currently based at the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, where she researches the history – both ancient and modern – of yoga and meditation, with special reference to problems of knowledge transmission and authority validation. She has a long-standing interest in religious phenomena, languages, communication and religion and is particularly fascinated by how people’s beliefs influence their behaviour.

Elizabeth completed a BA in Modern Languages at Milan, Italy, then worked in business at management level for several years. Eventually the wish for a career change, and ongoing questions regarding the nature and history of modern forms of yoga led her to return to academia. She obtained an MA in Religious Studies from SOAS, University of London, then a PhD from the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge. Her doctoral work, now published under the title A History of Modern Yoga, was on the modernisation of Hinduism and more particularly on the modernisation of yoga and its transmission to the West.

For about five years (2000-2004) she worked as Director of the DHIIR, University of Cambridge, promoting and carrying out innovative research work on the modernisation of Yoga and Ayurveda. Since the demise of the DHIIR she has been researching various aspects of yoga and meditation and promoting: (a) specialist research in these areas, (b) interdisciplinary academic communication and networking, and (c) the diffusion of relevant research findings (in appropriate and useful forms) to the wider public.

source: www.divinity.cam.ac.uk/modernyoga/

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Chair – Session 2 Monday 10 July 12.00 - 1.00pm more Birthlight Trust Launch Reception Monday 10 July 6.00 - 8.00pm more

• Journal of Contemporary Religion
• A History of Modern Yoga: Patanjali and Western Esotericism

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