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.
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 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 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 to explore the evolution of physical practice. Yoga today is widely seen as sequenced postures. But when did it start to be taught this way and why? What came before? This free talk (recorded on Thursday, March 10, 2022) presents a brief history of hatha yoga, discussing the context in which it emerged and how it relates to contemporary practice. It lasts one hour, including questions – and you're welcome to ask follow-ups here. The recording is also on YouTube. For a deeper exploration, try this course on the Hatha Pradipika.
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.
Here’s the recording of a recent talk about pranayama. It was streamed online (on Tuesday, July 6) and includes Q&A. Here’s a brief introduction: “For much of the history of yoga, control of the breath was the main technique of physical practice. This talk will explore its development – from ascetic and Vedic origins to complex tools for transforming the body and dissolving the mind.” The event was hosted by Yoga Alliance, and was open to non-members. A recording is also archived at yourya.org/events, with a PDF of quotes used in slides.
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."
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.
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.
