New Course: The Roots of Modern Yoga

Roots of Modern Yoga
January 9 2023

Our newest course, The Roots of Modern Yoga, is now open for enrolments.

This course is developed by Daniel Simpson whom many of you will know as one of our best tutors and the author of The Truth of Yoga: A Comprehensive Guide to Yoga’s History, Texts, Philosophy and Practices.

This course attempts to answer the question: How did an ascetic approach to renunciation become a globalised industry focused on postures?

We explore the development of yoga, from traditional texts to contemporary practices. In the process, we highlight trends – as well as influential teachers – that have shaped this evolution.

Although some of what is taught today has ancient roots, other components – such as sequences of postures – emerged more recently. When, where, and why did these changes occur? Priorities shifted in the early twentieth century, with the promotion of physical methods for health and wellbeing. This inspired new systems of practice based on āsana, which were aimed at urban householders.

Most earlier yoga was a full-time commitment pursued by renouncers. Its methods were less focused on posture and more concerned with subtle techniques of transformation. Some of these are still widely taught, but they get less attention than bodily contortions.

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