What do you think?
Beyond Wellness: How Restoring the Religious Roots of Spiritual Practices Can Heal Us
Go deeper than superficial self-care with the religious secret sauce you didn’t know you were missing
In the chaos of today’s world, we’re all searching for meaning. The wellness industry has sold us a promise that we can find it if we just buy the right products, attend the right retreats, and follow the right celebrity gurus. But is this true? Or are we picking and choosing from a self-care salad bar in ways that satisfy our hunger but don’t truly nourish us?
When we approach practices like yoga and ayahuasca as fitness routines and life hacks, we miss out on the sacred wisdom they have to offer us. But by digging into the real and often ancient religious traditions behind these practices, from Buddhism to Christianity and beyond, we can make them more meaningful, ethical, and effective—without the often unpleasant baggage of joining an organized religion.
In this engaging and deeply personal book, award-winning scholar and writer Liz Bucar embarks on a quest to get to the heart of “spiritual but not religious” activities from detox diets to sound baths. As she tries out each practice for herself, she asks how we can get more out of it by tuning out the hype and taking the religious meaning behind it seriously—with emotionally profound and often surprising results. Whether it’s as simple as setting an intention for a yoga asana or as complex as reevaluating what a “higher power” is, it’s time to understand, experience, and simply get more out of our spiritual practices. It’s time to dig deeper with Beyond Wellness.
In the chaos of today’s world, we’re all searching for meaning. The wellness industry has sold us a promise that we can find it if we just buy the right products, attend the right retreats, and follow the right celebrity gurus. But is this true? Or are we picking and choosing from a self-care salad bar in ways that satisfy our hunger but don’t truly nourish us?
When we approach practices like yoga and ayahuasca as fitness routines and life hacks, we miss out on the sacred wisdom they have to offer us. But by digging into the real and often ancient religious traditions behind these practices, from Buddhism to Christianity and beyond, we can make them more meaningful, ethical, and effective—without the often unpleasant baggage of joining an organized religion.
In this engaging and deeply personal book, award-winning scholar and writer Liz Bucar embarks on a quest to get to the heart of “spiritual but not religious” activities from detox diets to sound baths. As she tries out each practice for herself, she asks how we can get more out of it by tuning out the hype and taking the religious meaning behind it seriously—with emotionally profound and often surprising results. Whether it’s as simple as setting an intention for a yoga asana or as complex as reevaluating what a “higher power” is, it’s time to understand, experience, and simply get more out of our spiritual practices. It’s time to dig deeper with Beyond Wellness.
- GenresReligionNonfiction
256 pages, Hardcover
Published April 28, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 7, 2026
I wanted to love this book (at least as much as I love Liz’s awesome substack newsletter, Reimagining Religion), because spiritual but not religious (SBNR) spirituality is one of my main interests after deconstructing a high-demand religion myself and trying to figure out what’s next.
I was expecting this book to be a much more open-minded embrace of different traditions on a spiritual level. It was more academic and mostly information sharing to contextualize certain practices instead. Nothing wrong with that of course! And still important work.
I’d say this book is more for those curious in purely secular spirituality from a non-believing lens, not SBNR believers like me who have already done a lot of the context-setting and research on our own. We know *something* exists, we’ve already tried and honor many of these practices through a religious lens, and we are more interested in the next layer deeper — how can we maintain belief and create a spiritual heritage when we no longer have one organized or designated spiritual home by choice?
It’s a subtle but important difference… For me being SBNR is more of a lived existential question about the meaning of life itself than a focus on wellbeing rituals alone. I had hoped to get more religious philosophical context on belief and meaning in the SBNR context vs. a few specific rituals/practices attached to them.
It feels like the book sort of fell prey to its own premise (giving permission to folks to adopt certain practices as long as they do it “right”). I get it’s hard to sell a book about wellbeing without making it about specific modalities that make you more well (doesn’t hurt if those practices are trendy and popular). But that meant it was very surface level, and I wanted to go even deeper. That’s what I love about Liz’s newsletter — explaining the religious philosophy behind current events to help us understand how we got here and what might be next.
To be clear, I still enjoyed this book a lot, especially the final chapter on psychedelics (which was the first time I felt like Liz herself connected with belief instead of taking a purely academic/analytical lens).
Overall, that’s probably on me for expecting a spiritual POV from an academic! Even still, I left this book feeling like, I’m not sure academics can truly speak to/understand the SBNR experience when they themselves don’t believe… just as I know religious leaders don’t understand the “believing but not religious” experience because they don’t understand losing faith/the benefits of a secular mindset. I still feel like I’m in the messy middle. 🤷♀️
I was expecting this book to be a much more open-minded embrace of different traditions on a spiritual level. It was more academic and mostly information sharing to contextualize certain practices instead. Nothing wrong with that of course! And still important work.
I’d say this book is more for those curious in purely secular spirituality from a non-believing lens, not SBNR believers like me who have already done a lot of the context-setting and research on our own. We know *something* exists, we’ve already tried and honor many of these practices through a religious lens, and we are more interested in the next layer deeper — how can we maintain belief and create a spiritual heritage when we no longer have one organized or designated spiritual home by choice?
It’s a subtle but important difference… For me being SBNR is more of a lived existential question about the meaning of life itself than a focus on wellbeing rituals alone. I had hoped to get more religious philosophical context on belief and meaning in the SBNR context vs. a few specific rituals/practices attached to them.
It feels like the book sort of fell prey to its own premise (giving permission to folks to adopt certain practices as long as they do it “right”). I get it’s hard to sell a book about wellbeing without making it about specific modalities that make you more well (doesn’t hurt if those practices are trendy and popular). But that meant it was very surface level, and I wanted to go even deeper. That’s what I love about Liz’s newsletter — explaining the religious philosophy behind current events to help us understand how we got here and what might be next.
To be clear, I still enjoyed this book a lot, especially the final chapter on psychedelics (which was the first time I felt like Liz herself connected with belief instead of taking a purely academic/analytical lens).
Overall, that’s probably on me for expecting a spiritual POV from an academic! Even still, I left this book feeling like, I’m not sure academics can truly speak to/understand the SBNR experience when they themselves don’t believe… just as I know religious leaders don’t understand the “believing but not religious” experience because they don’t understand losing faith/the benefits of a secular mindset. I still feel like I’m in the messy middle. 🤷♀️
October 3, 2026
This book was published in 2026. I just came across it a few days ago in our library. I will refer to the author as Dr. Liz, as she has a doctorate from the University of Chicago Divinity School. Impressive, but this book is somewhat of a disappointment. I'll mainly focus on her first chapter, "Bendy Bodies." As you would have guessed, it is about Yoga. Thanks to this book, I learned about a lawsuit in Encinitas, California, about Christian do-gooders who filed a lawsuit against the school system for incorporating Yoga into the school physical education curriculum. They ridiculed the "Sun Salutations" of Yoga. What me worship the sun...no way, Jose! Whereas the Sun Salutations just refer to a yogic routine done at sunrise. I've practiced that routine for years, and not once considered I'm worshiping a "Sun God." The case was Sedlock vs Baird, 2013. Long story short: It appears that the school system had blended in the teachings of Yoga Gurus, particularly Pattabhi Jois. Working alongside the Judge, the school made some drastic changes in the Yoga program, and eliminated all references to the philosophy beneath. Jois, following his teacher Krishnamacharya, developed a physical Yoga flow routine which he called Ashtanga Yoga. Anyhow, Dr. Liz seems oblivious of the fact that the "Ashtanga Yoga" flow routine is entirely unrelated to the Eightfold (Ashta is Sanskrit for Eight) path of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The rules of Hatha (physical Yoga) are outlined in a manual (Hatha Yoga Pradipika) not directly connected to the Yoga school. Dr. Liz failed to mention this very important point. Hatha Yoga focuses on physical exercise and also the directing of the body's Prana (pronounced Praana) which is a powerful bio-electrical energy that flows through every part of the body, mainly the autonomic nervous system. The main thing is that physical (Hatha) Yoga is quite distinct from Yoga philosophy. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali mention Asana (pronounced Aasana) but it is to do with a comfortable seated pose for meditation. Smile point: the word Asana also means throne, or something you sit on. Which is where the British word "Arse," (Ass in American English) meaning the butt, came from! :)
Dr. Liz states that she found herself returning to the religious systems and worldviews that gave rise to her yoga practice. And yet she gives completely erroneous meanings to Hindu schools of thought. She says Vedanta emphasizes impermanence. Nonsense: Vedanta teaches about the presence of a universal eternal consciousness that is NOT impermanent. She then mentions Sankhya and says it teaches us that we do not have control over external events. Nonsense again: it teaches how fragments of consciousness and energy create life. She then brings up the word Tantra and says it is about everyday experiences as a way to encounter the divine. Nope; Tantra is a very esoteric practice that includes ecstatic approaches to sexuality. Indeed, the Tibetans welcomed it into their "Buddhism," which is a hodge-podge of Yoga, Tantra, the ancient Bon religion, with Buddhism thrown in. I can't believe this Professor of religion can get such basic terms completely wrong.
As to the other chapters, they are indeed interesting. All said and done, I am glad I found this book in our library system. I regret I only give it 4 stars, because at the end of the day, the book does not accurately teach the religious roots of yoga. The second chapter is about mindfulness. Dr. Liz seems to feel that mindfulness, as taught in many universities and health centers, is completely cut off from its original Buddhist roots, which she feels is unfair and unfulfilling. However, it is that separation that allowed MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) to become widely taught and learned. No "Buddhist Baggage," so to speak! The book explores the original Christian approach to the management of alcoholism by AA (Alcoholics Anonymous). I'd have thought that a devout Yoga student such as her would have promoted the idea that the "Higher Power" as taught in AA is right within us. The book also does an exploration of diet, physical fitness, and the use of psychedelics like Ayahuasca. But talking about diet, the book is certainly food for thought; it is indeed a WORTHWHILE READ. I've read some One-Star reviews, but the book does not deserve such negative reviews, I don't think. I was inclined to give it only 3 Stars, but I've decided that 4 Stars is more appropriate. Dr. Liz has accomplished quite a bit with this book.
Dr. Liz states that she found herself returning to the religious systems and worldviews that gave rise to her yoga practice. And yet she gives completely erroneous meanings to Hindu schools of thought. She says Vedanta emphasizes impermanence. Nonsense: Vedanta teaches about the presence of a universal eternal consciousness that is NOT impermanent. She then mentions Sankhya and says it teaches us that we do not have control over external events. Nonsense again: it teaches how fragments of consciousness and energy create life. She then brings up the word Tantra and says it is about everyday experiences as a way to encounter the divine. Nope; Tantra is a very esoteric practice that includes ecstatic approaches to sexuality. Indeed, the Tibetans welcomed it into their "Buddhism," which is a hodge-podge of Yoga, Tantra, the ancient Bon religion, with Buddhism thrown in. I can't believe this Professor of religion can get such basic terms completely wrong.
As to the other chapters, they are indeed interesting. All said and done, I am glad I found this book in our library system. I regret I only give it 4 stars, because at the end of the day, the book does not accurately teach the religious roots of yoga. The second chapter is about mindfulness. Dr. Liz seems to feel that mindfulness, as taught in many universities and health centers, is completely cut off from its original Buddhist roots, which she feels is unfair and unfulfilling. However, it is that separation that allowed MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) to become widely taught and learned. No "Buddhist Baggage," so to speak! The book explores the original Christian approach to the management of alcoholism by AA (Alcoholics Anonymous). I'd have thought that a devout Yoga student such as her would have promoted the idea that the "Higher Power" as taught in AA is right within us. The book also does an exploration of diet, physical fitness, and the use of psychedelics like Ayahuasca. But talking about diet, the book is certainly food for thought; it is indeed a WORTHWHILE READ. I've read some One-Star reviews, but the book does not deserve such negative reviews, I don't think. I was inclined to give it only 3 Stars, but I've decided that 4 Stars is more appropriate. Dr. Liz has accomplished quite a bit with this book.
September 5, 2026
"You might also feel like you're living through uncertain times and grappling with how best to respond. We all could us some roots right now. And religion offers some deeps ones".
Had this quote been at the beginning of the book, it would have been clearer what the true thesis is, and thus not made it to my reading list.
The book is a religious studies professor's exploration of the history of religious components and its influence on various wellness activities such as mindfulness, psychedelics, and yoga. But she does not stop there. What becomes increasingly obvious is the author's attempt to convince the reader that much of the wellness activities we participate in the 21st century are not only strengthened by religion, but are essentially useless without it.
This approach alienates a large segment of the the population (including myself) who participate in secular wellness activities not due to or inclusive of dogmatic principles, but for personal and familial health.
I was extremely disappointed that it took reading the book to understand that she is not a religious studies professor, but a religious, religious studies professor.
Had this quote been at the beginning of the book, it would have been clearer what the true thesis is, and thus not made it to my reading list.
The book is a religious studies professor's exploration of the history of religious components and its influence on various wellness activities such as mindfulness, psychedelics, and yoga. But she does not stop there. What becomes increasingly obvious is the author's attempt to convince the reader that much of the wellness activities we participate in the 21st century are not only strengthened by religion, but are essentially useless without it.
This approach alienates a large segment of the the population (including myself) who participate in secular wellness activities not due to or inclusive of dogmatic principles, but for personal and familial health.
I was extremely disappointed that it took reading the book to understand that she is not a religious studies professor, but a religious, religious studies professor.
July 6, 2026
IO think I was the wrong person to read this book. I think a huge part of the American economy is built on convincing people with money that they are doing life wrong and if they just pass some of that money over, a flock of self-declared experts will tell us how to do it right. I also think the Wellness sellers are among the chief culprits. When I heard that the book was about restoring the religious dbases of these ideas I thought she was going to use faith to show how bogus they are (since at least Christian faith is based on the idea that none of us are doing it right and that is OK. instead, she tries to affirm programs ranging from diets that treat food as poison through to hallucinogens as a path to enlightenment as if they were good but would be tiny sprinkle of religion. I still find them all bogus and think she secretly does too but is afraid to say so because none of the cool kids go to church.
August 30, 2026
Liz Bucar uses these pages to relay the origin stories of practices that abound in our culture and to explain how seemingly secular practices take on religious undertones. I appreciated that as an agnostic, she pointed out both the harm and the beauty of religious traditions. I was saddened by how tenets of the faith I’ve observed has contributed to eating disorders and unhealthy body image, but I wasn’t surprised by that connection being so obvious. Bucar demonstrates candor not only about her engagement with each of the practices she explores but also about realities in her life that have led her to spiritual openness.
April 29, 2026
Beyond Wellness is such a smart, thoughtful, and applicable book. In it, religion professor Liz Bucar argues that modern wellness pursuits that many of us turn to — like yoga — lose some of their power when we divorce the practice from its underlying theology. Dr. Bucar provides religious context for so many of these practices leading readers toward a more enriching and holistic pursuit of health.
September 12, 2026
I find it ironic that the author, obviously beloved by some, also managed to annoy both religious (me) and not religious folks. I don’t care to have a finger shaken in my face; I get plenty of that from the white Christian nationalists and evangelicals telling me to be quiet and abandon my rainbow family. There are many Jesus- loving Christian’s who also love humanity with a Fred Rogers embrace.
Just ugh.
Just ugh.
May 20, 2026
I don’t have a high level of religious literacy, so many ideas in this book were new to me. I felt challenged and inspired by what I learned in this book. I’ll be thinking about these insights for a long time, especially about community and shared experiences.
May 26, 2026
Worth the read
June 7, 2026
How modern wellness culture is different from religious traditions while still coming directly from it. Good? Bad? Both? Unclear thesis. Not enough here for a book but she has an excellent substack
September 20, 2026
An interesting and important premise in theory, but overall it just left me feeling confused.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews