Resources
Yoga Philosophy and Sanskrit
Yoga Philosophy courses are brought to you, taught or supervised by Dr. Shyam Ranganathan, founder of Yoga Philosophy, translator of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra (Penguin 2008) from Sanskrit, and translation expert, professional philosopher and scholar of South Asia. Shyam holds an MA in South Asian Studies, an MA and PhD in philosophy, and is member of the Department of Philosophy and York Center for Asian Research, York University, Toronto. With over two decades of cutting-edge research and over 20000 hours of teach experience, having taught over 4000 students, Shyam is a CYA-E-RYTGOLD yoga teacher (over 1000 hours training). Yoga Philosophy is a registered yoga school (CYA-RYSGOLD) and a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP). All Yoga Philosophy courses count toward continuing education requirements. All Yoga Philosophy courses contain a combination of on-demand content and weekly, live expert support! Join any time, stay as long as you please!
Introduction to Sanskrit
Tailored specifically for students of yoga, this affordable course will help students to unlock the wisdom of texts, such as the Yoga Sūtra, themselves. Learn the basics of Sanskrit grammar, rules of sound and orthographic changes when words combine (sandhi/euphonic combination), and to read Devanagari (देवनागरी). Whether you are a novice or your Sanskrit is rusty and you would like to brush up, this subscription course is designed to help you learn the Sanskrit language independently, and at your own pace. Students who enroll will have the benefits of expert video lectures and slides to guide them through lessons and exercises. What’s more, the course includes synchronous virtual tutorials where you can directly ask the instructor your specific questions.
These tutorials will be recorded, so if you can’t make it, you can send in your questions, and have the recorded answers posted for review at your convenience. Join the definitive introduction to Sanskrit for Yogis! (30 CE Hours.)
Five Limbs: Yoga Sūtra Essentials for Practice
Uncover the Potential of Your Practice. This course is a must for students of yoga interested in getting the most out of their yoga instruction in posture flow, breathing exercises or attention guiding meditation. Instruction consists in a combination of on-demand video lectures, and weekly live, virtual tutorials with Dr. Shyam Ranganathan, founder of Yoga Philosophy. This course is suitable as the basis for yoga philosophy instruction and tutoring for teacher trainees. Learn about the core of Yoga Philosophy essential to practice, as well as the history of South Asian Philosophy in which yoga sits as a highlight. Learn how contemporary yoga practice is, and can be, a continuity of the ancient insight of Yoga Philosophers.
Participants in this course are able to supercharge their practice and yoga learning by supplementing their activity with a deep understanding of the philosophy of Yoga. (20 CE Hours.)
Yoga Moral Philosophy: destroying systemic discrimination
Are you upset about the way the world is and you are not sure what to do about it? This one of a kind ethical theory review on a global scale is designed to put the yogi back into the driver’s seat. It begins with a broad review of standard Western ethical theory, moves to influential East Asian ethical theory (Taoism and Confucius) and culminates in South Asian moral philosophy. At the end, we will review Yoga from sources such as the Vedas, Upaniṣads, Yoga Sūtra, and the Bhagavad Gītā.
This exploration will help students of yoga appreciate how many of the popular ideas associated with Yoga (scams) are actually derivable from famous Western options that are projected on to Yoga, and how Yoga constitutes a radical moral theory that, in practice, disrupts systemic discrimination and harm, and is a basis for prosperity. (30 CE hours)