Join me in the pre-Alpine hills for a four-day immersion in philosophy and practice (July 3-7, 2024). I’m excited to be teaching with Michela Montelbatti, who runs a beautiful retreat centre called Casa Corvo, near the border with Italy. We’re going to be exploring how to integrate traditional wisdom with modern priorities. Our practice will go beyond postures, including seated meditation and pranayama, and we'll investigate how yoga philosophy relates to our lives. Spaces are limited, so early booking is advised – contact me here for a discount code before October 31.
Why do so many of us feel we aren’t good enough? If comparisons make us unhappy, what might yoga texts say to console us? How can we find more contentment with things as they are? Join me in person in London for a three-part course that explores how to do this. We'll bring philosophy to life in accessible ways. Over three in-person meetings (Sep 15, Oct 13 and Nov 17), we'll reflect on what we mean by the self – and how it differs from a Self – as well as what stops us from feeling fulfilled. We'll also investigate practical ways to develop helpful qualities.
Calling all men – come and get empowered to share more of who you are by joining a supportive international community. Hosted on Zoom by Daniel Simpson and Matthew Green, this monthly men’s group explores what's going on for us at a deeper level, encouraging us all to get in touch with what matters. Each session has a theme, blending small group discussions with practical insights. We meet on Sundays for 90 minutes (from 7:00 – 8:00 pm, UK time), and our next session is on January 21, 2024.
Join me in Wales, near the border with England, for a practical discussion of philosophy and history (Sat., Jan. 27, 1:00 - 4:00 pm). It's often said that yoga is timeless, but methods and objectives have changed a great deal since the earliest descriptions. So, what if yoga didn't always mean union, wasn't really a practice, and sequences of postures were recent inventions? This talk draws on the latest research to explore some common misconceptions about yoga history and philosophy. There will be plenty of time to ask questions about any topic.
Calling all men – come and get empowered to find deeper fulfilment in your relationships! Join Daniel Simpson and Matthew Green for a four-week immersion (November 5-26, 2023), in which we’ll explore how this process starts by improving our relationship with ourselves. We’ll develop our capacity to speak authentically, listen more deeply, and draw clear boundaries without shutting down. In the process, we’ll enhance our skills for relational life, whether that’s with a partner or anyone else. We meet online and there’ll be practical “homework” between live sessions.
Join me to reflect on what it means to be human in yogic terms. Over four in-person sessions in London, our interactive community will explore a range of topics that relate yogic teachings to life "off the mat". These include the relevance of dualistic systems to human relationships, the challenges of balancing truth and non-harming, what it means to alleviate suffering in the 21st century, and how ancient frameworks such as the gunas might be helpful. There is also the opportunity to join a closed Facebook group for discussion between live sessions.
Join me "in L.A." (via Zoom) to discuss the Upanishads! We'll be drawing inspiration from the oldest texts that talk about yoga and freedom from suffering. Among other questions, we'll be asking "Who am I really?" as well as "What is my purpose?" and "How might philosophy guide me?" This interactive workshop brings philosophy to life – there will be plenty of time to ask questions, and the focus is on practical insights with everyday relevance. It’s hosted by the L.A. Iyengar Yoga Institute on Saturday, April 29 (11.30 am - 1.30 pm Pacific Time, which is 7.30 - 9.30pm in the UK).
Join our transformative men’s group to explore what really matters to you, and how to turn that into action. Our supportive community will help you get clearer about what you want and start making it happen. Find out what’s holding you back and begin to let go of unhelpful patterns. We often try to do this alone, but it’s easier with others. In this four-week immersion, you’ll discover the power of collective intention, empowering you to find your own way to whatever inspires you. We meet online from October 2 - 23, 2022. Tune in and commit!
Techniques for inversions and balances (Saturday, January 30, 2:00–5:00 pm). Do you ever find you wobble if you stand on your head, your hands or your forearms? Would you like to build more confidence to turn upside down, or lift up from the ground? How might yoga philosophy help us face fears? Join me and Manu Rossi to work on these skills. We’ll build firm foundations for postures, looking both at the physical and mental dimensions. We'll also see how this relates to some of the broader goals of practice, from steadiness of mind to internal detachment.
Join us online on December 12 for a nourishing mixture of chanting and discussion to help us prepare for hibernation. With winter on the horizon, we will reflect on how to sustain ourselves with a balance of strength and ease. The Yoga Sutra says a posture should be sthira and sukha – steady and comfortable. We will explore what this stability means and how we can develop it in times of uncertainty. We will also consider how to use this support to find happiness and peace as we move toward the end of a challenging year, looking forward to a new one with inner contentment.
A talk about the benefits of yoga in challenging times, presented at the India By The Bay festival in Hong Kong (October 15, 2020). The session looked at yoga philosophy in practical ways, presenting ideas from traditional texts for a general audience. There’s more about the festival here – it was live-streamed this year due to the pandemic, but will hopefully be back to its usual format next time round.
The Bhagavad Gita shows how to be calm in the midst of adversity. Its insights are particularly relevant to this year’s challenges. The text teaches yoga as a bridge between the self and the world as a whole, inspiring action with the aim of serving others. Each of its methods develops understanding of interconnection, encouraging detachment from personal gain. Exploring it together, we’ll discuss its main themes, and ways to put them into practice. Whether you’re reading it for the first time or the hundredth, the Gita is a timeless source of inspiration.
What exactly is dharma? This complex word has a wide range of meanings, from the basis of natural order to social duties. Join us for an online retreat (August 22–23) to explore its implications in times of upheaval, with a focus on finding our purpose by acting with virtue. We will consider how to determine what is true, when it is right to resist injustice and by what means, and which underlying principles shape ethical conduct. There will be a mixture of study, discussion and practice, reflecting on how ancient teachings apply to modern challenges.
As we look forward to emerging from isolation, this weekend immersion (May 23-24) explores how yoga philosophy and Sanskrit can help us to nurture collective consciousness. We’ll be reading and chanting from texts, and discussing their practical relevance in challenging times. As taught in the Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutra, an important goal of yoga is to alleviate suffering. We will consider this in two different ways that are ultimately one: taking care of the self and the world as a whole. Newcomers to Sanskrit welcome!
