Join me online for a 90-minute talk – with Q&A – on pranayama (Sunday, Nov 21). For most of the history of yoga, control of the breath was the main technique of physical practice. Exploring it in terms of philosophy, we'll look at the significance of subtle anatomy, and see how it works to transform the practitioner. We'll also reflect on themes that shape yoga's development over the centuries. The aim is to share ideas and inspiration – it's not a guided practice session. The workshop is hosted by the Iyengar Yoga Institute of Los Angeles, and everyone is welcome.
I'm looking forward to presenting a session on the history of yoga at this year’s World Yoga Festival. Held upriver from London at the end of July, it’s billed as: "Four rejuvenating days incorporating yoga asana from many different lineages, pranayama, meditation, non-duality, Ayurveda, chanting, kirtan, wisdom talks and music concerts in a series of large, decorated and carpeted marquees set in a country park beside the river Thames.” The vibe is "somewhere between retreat and festival," the organisers add. You can find out more and book tickets here.
Join me for a live conversation that’s shaped by your questions. We can focus on any dimension of yoga – ancient or modern. Perhaps you’re confused about what comes from where, or how different teachings relate to each other. Or maybe there’s something specific you’d like to ask about my book, The Truth of Yoga, which is a comprehensive guide to yoga history and philosophy. Whatever your question, it’s welcome! The session is hosted on Zoom, on Monday June 28 at 7.00 pm UK time (for other locations, use this calculator).
Join me online (Wednesday May 19, 7.00 PM UK time) for a free discussion about yoga’s development over the centuries. We’ll explore what inspired it originally, and when it evolved into what it is now – as well as how that relates to modern practice. There’ll be time to ask questions about any aspect of yoga’s history and philosophy. The overall aim is to see the big picture of what comes from where, as well as considering why things change. The talk expands on ideas from The Truth of Yoga, which is available both as a book and an online course.
I enjoyed this conversation with Stuart Sarbacker, a professor at Oregon State University. Like me, Stuart has recently published a book about yoga history, and he’s also a teacher and longstanding practitioner. We talked about some of the main themes of The Truth of Yoga, and more broadly about contemporary issues. There were also some good questions about the distinctions between yoga scholarship and practice, which yielded interesting exchanges. The event was hosted by Grass Roots Books (in Corvallis, Oregon), on Sunday, March 14.
Join me in Mystic – via the recording of an online talk about The Truth of Yoga, including questions on yoga history and philosophy from local practitioners. This free event (held on Saturday, January 30 at 2:00 PM EST) was co-hosted by Bank Square Books and the Mystic Yoga Shala in Connecticut. I presented a short summary of the book, including some examples of modern misconceptions, then focused on how yoga can help reduce suffering. The discussion was part of the bookshop’s Self Improvement Series.
Join me online (Saturday, January 9, 2021, at 2:30 PM GMT) to explore my new book, The Truth of Yoga. I’ll give a short talk before answering questions about any aspect of yoga history and philosophy that might be of interest. To quote the booking page: “Yoga keeps changing. Some of its teachings sound timeless, while others have been discarded or reinvented. As priorities shift, what preserves their connection to what went before? What defines a practice as yogic and not something different? How can we align with tradition in the twenty-first century?” Come and share ideas!
I was invited to give a presentation to the Independent Yoga Network conference in 2019. All speakers were asked the same question: “What is Yoga?” My response, based on traditional texts, suggested that yoga means self-inquiry. Therefore, conclusions can only be drawn from direct experience. As a result, attempts to police others’ practice and declare it “not yoga” are themselves “unyogic”. A longer essay based on the talk was later published in the journal Spirituality Studies. Entitled “Yoga Police? No Thanks!” it’s available here.
What exactly is yoga? How did it evolve from a meditative way of transcending the world to a global industry worth billions of dollars? This talk explores the meaning of yoga in multiple contexts: from ancient ascetics who never sat down to modern stretching for affluent urbanites. Despite what Hindu nationalists claim, there is no such thing as “One True Yoga.” Come and find out more on Tuesday, March 12 (7:00 PM), at Cafe 1001 on Brick Lane, E1 6QL. Tickets available here.
