Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra is often said to teach the theory behind modern practice. But what does it actually say, apart from listing eight things that include the word asana? Join me in Cheltenham (or via Zoom) for an in-depth exploration of this influential text. Over four weekly sessions, we'll study key sutras that explain its objectives, and consider how they might be applied in the twenty-first century. The format of the course is accessible and fun, with the aim of inspiring discussions on yoga philosophy and what makes it relevant to modern practitioners.
Join me and Manu Rossi for a workshop (in person in Cheltenham and online) exploring foundations of inner stability. We'll look at techniques that promote a more grounded and balanced approach to breath-led movement, and see how this relates to the philosophy of yoga – both in postural practice and everyday life. We'll begin with a focus on subtle dimensions, seeing how breathing affects our embodiment, then build on this with tools that add a meditative quality. We'll also consider how to take this approach beyond the mat. Saturday July 10, 2-5 pm (UK).
Join me online for a 12-hour course to accompany my book, The Truth of Yoga. It's an overview of yoga's evolution in four modules, from the earliest history to modern debates about authenticity. The format combines group discussion with video lectures, and the style is engaging without oversimplifying. If you've ever felt confused about yoga philosophy, this course is for you. And even if you've studied for years, you'll still find something new – an accessible guide to the latest research, and a comprehensive overview of how today's yoga relates to the past.
Here’s the recording of a recent talk, which was streamed online and includes Q&A. Here’s a brief introduction from Yoga Alliance, which hosted the workshop: “Unpack the importance of distinctions with Daniel Simpson, a tutor at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and author of The Truth of Yoga. In this workshop, he details how Patañjali’s yoga is not about union. Rather, its ultimate goal is detachment from matter. He also discusses how a dualistic system can be helpful with worldly objectives, from making wise choices to building relationships."
The Truth of Yoga provides a clear and accessible overview of yoga’s evolution. The book’s concise and engaging chapters describe key themes that have influenced practices over the centuries. Accompanying online courses go a step further, diving deeply into yogic texts – such as the Yoga Sūtra and Bhagavad Gītā – to present what they teach in an interactive format. They‘re light-hearted and fun, and they offer a mixture of scholarly knowledge and traditional wisdom. You can find out more – and enrol today – at: http://truthofyoga.com
Join me for a series of online classes discussing Yoga Beyond Postures – hosted by the 92nd Street Y in New York. Today, the word "yoga" is often used as a synonym for physical contortions. Yet for most of its history, the practice was different. It involved sitting still and refining awareness, and its goal was to free us from suffering. Over three weekly sessions, we will explore what this means in accessible ways, examining insights from yoga philosophy, and investigating how to embody them. The course is inspired by my newly published book, The Truth of Yoga.
How do we interpret traditional texts in the twenty-first century? Priorities have changed since the earliest yogis renounced worldly life. Which teachings still speak to us clearly across the millennia, and how do they relate to the way we live now? This online workshop (Saturday, February 13) explores ideas from The Truth of Yoga, which is an accessible guide to the history of yoga, examining links between philosophy and practice. Drawing inspiration from ancient ideas, we will reflect on what it means to find freedom from suffering in everyday life.
It can feel daunting to study alone. We often have books that we’d like to explore, but don’t find time to sit and read. And even if we do, they might spark questions we struggle to answer. It helps to discuss ideas with someone else who offers structure and support. Whatever your priorities — from reading a text to a broader inquiry on how modern practice relates to tradition — we’ll focus clearly on your goals, devising a plan that helps achieve them. Online and in person (location permitting).
Daniel’s next online courses at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies start on April 21. They cover yoga philosophy, the roots of modern yoga, the Yoga Sutras and the Vedas and Upanishads. Each course includes video lectures, supplementary reading and online discussion forums – plus an optional written assignment with certification. The teaching lasts two months, plus an extra few weeks for the essay. Course materials are available for download, so you can revisit them at your convenience. See the links for more details.
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.
Join us online for an immersive and practical workshop. Sanskrit texts were traditionally taught through oral transmission. It was thought that through chanting and memorization, knowledge seeped into one’s consciousness on a level beyond the literal meaning of the words. There is a specific method to how verses are structured and categorized and this affects the intonation. Through both discussion and practice, we will explore how meter works, focusing on proper pronunciation and its effects. We will also look at some of the philosophy that verses convey.
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!
Building on a recent book club — which read Roots of Yoga — we’ll be meeting on Sundays (from May 3 at 5:00 PM, UK time) to talk about themes from traditional texts with a practical focus. Each chapter in Roots of Yoga draws on multiple extracts to show how an aspect of practice developed. These sessions will do something similar, exploring ideas from a range of texts — both ancient and modern. A selection of readings will be shared in advance, then we’ll discuss them together, reflecting on ways of applying what they teach.
These are challenging times. Some yogic texts say the ultimate state is isolation, but withdrawal from the world isn't everyone’s goal. To promote reconnection, I invite you to a forum for sharing ideas and inspiration. Each week, we'll begin with a reading from traditional texts, and talk about its relevance to how we live now. There'll be space to discuss how we feel, and a short meditation. All perspectives are welcome! Feel free to drop in, or to join us regularly. Tuesdays, 7:00 - 8:00 PM (UK). See inside for the Zoom link.
This online workshop explores how yogic texts can provide inspiration in times of adversity. Although their goals involve withdrawal from worldly life, they also promote peace of mind and harmonious relationships. Drawing on traditional texts, we'll reflect on their meanings in practical ways and see how their teachings relate to our lives. Yoga began as a way to escape from the cycle of births, so we’ll consider how this differs from modern priorities and ask if ancient texts need reinterpreting. This will spark new ideas for putting philosophy into practice.
A wide-ranging talk at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Originally titled “Tantric Sex, the Kama Sutra and Yoga,” it explored the distinctions between sexual rituals and physical pleasure, as well as the function of yogic techniques. This was part of a weekend school in Oxford in March 2020, which was later repeated online with new materials. You can stream the full programme here, including an updated version of this talk.
The oldest descriptions of yoga in practical terms can be found in the Upanishads. They talk about focusing inward, revealing knowledge of an underlying oneness pervading all things. This is often why yoga is said to mean union. Over three weekly sessions, from 6 April, we’ll discuss the foundations of Upanishadic thought, before looking in detail at the Katha and Shvetashvatara Upanishads, which present yogic teachings. Mondays from 7:00 - 8:00 PM. Originally scheduled at Triyoga Camden, now online.
