The Roots of Modern Yoga: Free Course Preview

Roots of Modern Yoga
April 18 2023

How did an ascetic approach to renouncing the world become a globalised industry focused on postures? In our newest course – The Roots of Modern Yoga – we explore the development of modern forms of yoga, from traditional texts to contemporary practices. In the process, we highlight trends – as well as influential teachers – that have shaped this evolution.

The free sample lesson below is called Reapppraising the Body.

The first non-seated postures were arm balances, which were effectively warm-ups for subtler methods. They appeared in texts a thousand years ago, as the influence of Tantra inspired haṭha-yoga. Instead of mortifying the body, practitioners transformed it. Working with the breath, and new techniques known as mudrā, they used physical practice to raise vital energy up the spine, dissolving the mind. Over the centuries, haṭha-yoga became more dynamic, including a wider range of postures.

Please enjoy the video lesson and download the class notes here.

And if you like what you see, you can still join us for the current term and join in the discussion.

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