Uncover The Origins of Yoga & Debunk Popular Myths

Enhance Your Practice & Teaching By Understanding Yoga’s True History

Join the FREE 60-minute seminar to learn about distinguishing mainstream trends from facts to unearthing the true purpose of yoga and its philosophy, get ready to explore yoga’s ancient roots and bring fresh perspective to your practice.

Taught by Firdose Monda – Registered E-RYT 500 Teacher & Researcher

Ready for more? Join the:

LIVE Online Yoga & Politics – Holding the Essence of Yoga Teacher Training

Our Live Cohort Begins February 18th!

While modern yoga has been positioned as an escape from the day to day tedium, the news cycle, and even our own thoughts, the practice – like everything – has always been intertwined with politics. In this 12-hour, LIVE online training led by Firdose Moonda, E-RYT 500, we will look at how yoga has evolved as a culture, through societies, time periods and continents. Over six weeks, we will consider what we think we know about the history of yoga; whether statements such as “yoga is for everyone,” have ever held true and how we can work towards making them a reality and examine ways to be respectful and responsible practitioners. Keep an open mind and let’s dive in.

You will take away:

  • Knowledge of yoga history and politics
  • Freedom and confidence to question and be questioned
  • The ability to think critically and analytically about source materials and beliefs

Throughout this 12hr training, you will learn:

Session 1: Systems of Separation
A historical look back at the society in which yoga philosophy emerged. We will discuss the caste system, and the role of women and ask who theorized yogic ideas and who the intended audience was.

Session 2: The Intersection of Yoga and Religion
There is a perception that yoga and Hinduism are linked but what about other religious movements such as Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity? Is it possible to be spiritual but not religious?

Session 3: Colonization and Yoga
With liberation as one of the stated aims of yoga, we will look at how the philosophies were used in the fight for Indian independence, as well as other global freedom struggles, like the Civil Rights and Anti-Apartheid movements.

Session 4: Yoga Moves West
How did yoga cross oceans, with who and for whom? We investigate the seeds of what we know as transnational yoga today, complete with changing demographics and styles of practice.

Session 5: Cultural Appropriation and Appreciation and Hindu Nationalism
Recent years have seen growing conversations around who owns yoga and this is a deep dive into this topic. It will consider the meanings of appropriation and the harms it my cause and the converse reappropriation of yoga in India by the current government.

Session 6: What Does Yoga’s Political Future Look Like
As an evolving culture, yoga has and will change over time. In a world that is becoming more polarised and right-wing, what will yoga look like? And what could the effects of increasing advances in medical science, AI, and other technologies be on yoga?