A Linguistic Criticism of the Components of the New Spiritualism of Yoga from the Viewpoint of Iranian Yoga Veterans and Its Conflict with Divine Spirituality

Yoga, from the perspective of religious studies, is considered one of the six philosophical systems of Hinduism and a practical method of mysticism in this tradition. However, today yoga is predominantly recognized as a form of exercise worldwide. Most studies on the evolution of yoga in the modern era and its relationship with its philosophical and mystical roots have focused on Western societies. This article aims to address the question of whether the pioneers of Iranian yoga embrace spiritual dimensions in yoga or not. The data for this research, consisting of published interviews with 26 Iranian yoga pioneers in the "Yoga Knowledge" journal, were analyzed linguistically through descriptive analysis, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The analytical model consisted of five variables found in New Age spirituality. The results showed that 96% of these individuals described and explained yoga in terms of self-realization and self-development, 84% referred to introversion, and 42% mentioned living in the present moment. Additionally, 61% of them considered yoga as a means of connecting with the spiritual realm, and 77% described it as a life-enriching practice. The findings of this research can contribute to the understanding and critique of yoga's nature as one of the emerging forms of spirituality.