A course designed for students who have been practising Sanjeevani Yoga for at least 6 months and have a good experiential understanding of asanas, pranayamas, savasana and meditation.

In this course we will explore the history and philosophy of yoga through key yogic texts, ethnographic sources and Indian art to develop a better understanding of what we mean when we say “yoga is not an exercise class but a way of being”. This is an opportunity to develop a solid understanding of: 

• What was meant by the word “yoga”  in the original yoga texts. It is increasingly said that these texts explained yoga as being “union of body and mind” but this is only one of many ways this word is used in these texts and actually not a particularly common one. Giving it such a narrow meaning can lead to a lot of confusion and diminishes the true value of yoga. As our understanding of this word often acts as a pointer to what the purpose of our practice is, it is important we get this right!                                                
• The rich history and diversity of traditional yogic practices.
• How yoga was first introduced to the West.
• How practices have evolved since being introduced to the West.