Join me online (Apr 29 – May 26) to get immersed in the Upanishads, exploring foundations of yoga philosophy as well as the earliest frameworks for practice. This engaging course relates timeless wisdom to modern priorities. Over four modules, we'll cover a selection of early Upanishads, tracing key themes in a series of videos. We’ll also look at links between the Vedas and Upanishads, as well as their influence on later traditions. Each module combines live discussion with pre-recorded lectures. You can also ask questions at any time via the course website.
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.
Join me for an online immersion in the Hatha Pradipika (16 hours of teaching, study on demand). The course explores connections between modern yoga and early traditions of physical practice, in which postures are merely a warm-up for subtler techniques. These steady the mind by raising various forms of energy. Over four modules, we’ll read the whole text, as well as looking at others that sparked its ideas. The format is clear and engaging, including recordings of live Q&As and video lectures using slides and other visual aids. Sign up now to start today!
Become your own guru of yoga philosophy! Join me online for a 30-hour course on putting philosophy into practice. Together, we'll explore the connections between modern yoga and earlier approaches – and in the process develop our own. Whether or not you're a teacher, the course will help you feel clearer about why you do what you do, and how that relates to traditional teachings. The overall aim is to find your own way – and to express it yourself in a final project. See this video for a taste of what to expect. The course runs from February 1 to March 16, 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.
Join me online for a four-week immersion in the Bhagavad Gita (Sep 25 – Oct 22, 2023). It's a text with a timeless message about social engagement, and it explains how to find peace of mind by serving others. One can live in the world and attain liberation – a goal that speaks directly to modern practitioners, in contrast to the more ascetic aims of other texts, such as the Yoga Sutra. The course format is engaging and clear, without oversimplifying. Together, we’ll explore the whole text through a mix of live discussions and pre-recorded videos. Join us today!
Free online talk with Q&A – recorded on Tuesday, September 19, at 7:00 PM (UK time). What links yoga with dharma? Are they sometimes at odds? The simplest translation of dharma is “doing the right thing”, which according to the dictionary covers anything from law to religion – along with ethical values and social roles. What are the implications for yoga practitioners? Do traditional ideas reflect modern priorities? How might each shape the other? Since dharma is not always prominent in globalised yoga, it helps to reflect on what’s lost in the process.
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.
I'm excited to be launching a retreat and I'd love you to join me! It's a long weekend at the end of August (25-28), and we'll be exploring what makes yoga authentic, bringing its philosophy and history to life through discussion and practices. The setting is a beautiful location in the Forest of Dean (near Gloucester in the west of England), with a yoga pavilion overlooking the gardens. This is a great opportunity to study in depth and share ideas with a diverse group. The format is accessible and fun, and everyone is welcome. Space is limited, so secure your place today.
Calling all Iyengar yoga teachers... and anyone else who might be interested! I'm running a six-part course on philosophy for the Iyengar Yoga Institute of Los Angeles, helping teachers to prepare for assessments. We will focus in particular on the Yoga Sutra and the Bhagavad Gita, but also look more broadly at yogic traditions. All sessions are conducted on Zoom, and they’re open to anyone anywhere. They're held on Saturdays at 9.00 am Pacific time, which is 5.00 pm in the UK and 6.00 pm in most of continental Europe. The dates are August 5 and 12, September 9 and 16 and October 7 and 14. You can find out more about the syllabus here, where you can also book.
Join me to explore why we still study the Yoga Sutra. Unlike most classes today, Patanjali's text doesn't teach sequenced postures, and its goal involves renouncing the world. So why is it so influential? This free talk with online Q&A presents some suggestions – with particular focus on asana. It was recorded on May 23, and is now archived on YouTube. If you’d like to dive deep into the Yoga Sutra, join me for an online course at truthofyoga.com. It runs live from June 5 to July 2 (2023), and will later be available on demand.
Join me online for an in-depth guide to the Yoga Sutra. Together, we’ll explore why yoga doesn’t always mean union, why Patanjali’s system has more than “eight limbs”, and why its overall objectives are often quite different to modern priorities. Together we'll read the full text, with reference to commentaries that help to explain its traditional meaning. You can study on demand, so you set your own pace. Each module has a series of videos, including recorded Q&As, and you can ask questions at any time via the website. The approach is insightful and fun without dumbing down.
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).
How far can yoga be stretched before becoming else? Join me on Sundays in March for a four-week immersion in contemporary history. Together, we’ll explore (among other topics): how postures came to predominate; when the goal became health and wellness; why all approaches to yoga get merged into “union”; what it means to be authentic in the 21st century. As a result, we’ll build a bridge between the past and the future, charting ways to stay connected to tradition while continuing to innovate. The course runs live via Embodied Philosophy. Find out more here.
This course is a comprehensive guide to contemporary yoga and its origins. Whether you’re a teacher, a curious practitioner or just interested in history, it’s an overview of all the most important themes with lots of fascinating details. We explore where postures come from, the role of female practitioners and other topics from politics to science. The course runs for almost two months, and it’s available to study on-demand, with an online forum for asking questions at any time. There are also some live Q&As on Zoom. You can find out more and sign up here.
Join me for the replay of a free online talk that explores misconceptions about early yoga. It’s often said that yoga is timeless, and in some ways, it might be – at least in terms of conscious presence. However, methods and objectives have changed a great deal since the earliest descriptions. As we'll see, a few common ideas have been turned upside down. The talk was recorded on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. It lasted one hour, including Q&A. You’re still welcome to ask about anything, ancient or modern – just contact me here.
Join me on Sunday, October 30 (2:00 pm UK time) for an engaging guide to the main ideas that have influenced yoga over the centuries. Drawing on examples from traditional texts, and discussing them together, we’ll explore how philosophy relates to our practice and everyday lives. We’ll also reflect on changes in the meaning of yoga as it’s evolved. Everyone is welcome – no prior knowledge is needed, and those with more experience may appreciate the chance to ask questions and clarify thoughts. You can attend in person or online, and recordings are available.
Join me in June for an engaging guide to the Bhagavad Gita! It teaches yoga as a way to act wisely in everyday life, and unlike many other yogic texts, it says there's nothing to renounce except self-centred thinking. Over four weekly sessions, we'll look at key verses and discuss them together. Among other topics, we'll examine what it means to live life as an offering, reflect on definitions of social justice, and see why the divine that exists in all beings inspires ethical conduct. The format of the course is accessible and fun. Participate in person, online or via replay.
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 me for an hour-long talk on the Bhagavad Gita’s innovations (recorded on Wednesday, October 27, 2021). Unlike other early yogic texts, which promote renunciation, the Gita’s focus is worldly activity. It combines the philosophy of earlier Upanishads with devotional religion, providing seeds of inspiration for the later evolution of physical yoga. The talk was hosted online by Yoga Alliance, and accessible to anyone. The recording is also on YouTube. For a deeper exploration of the Gita’s ideas, an online course is available here.
