The oldest descriptions of yoga in practical terms can be found in the Upanishads. They talk about focusing inward, revealing knowledge of an underlying oneness pervading all things. This is often why yoga is said to mean union. Over three weekly sessions, from 6 April, we’ll discuss the foundations of Upanishadic thought, before looking in detail at the Katha and Shvetashvatara Upanishads, which present yogic teachings. Mondays from 7:00 - 8:00 PM. Originally scheduled at Triyoga Camden, now online.

How did physical yoga develop and what was its purpose? The word hatha is often used today for a gentler approach – perhaps in contrast to flow. However, its original meaning was “forceful,” and its powerful methods included arm balances. To explore where hatha came from, and how it relates to modern yoga, we’ll read the fifteenth-century Hatha Pradipika. Over four weekly sessions (from November 18, at Triyoga Camden), we’ll see how it builds on earlier teachings, combining Tantric ideas with ascetic techniques to transform the practitioner.

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra is often said to be the source of yogic teachings. Yet the text lists no postures, gives limited instructions and its ultimate goal is a state of isolation from worldly existence. So what makes it relevant to modern practitioners? Reading the sutras together – with reference to extracts from traditional commentaries – we will clarify their message and how it’s interpreted. Over four weekly sessions (from September 23, at Triyoga Camden), we will discuss how Patanjali’s ideas can be used to find freedom in embodied activity.

Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now has inspired millions of readers to live in the moment, learning to let go of emotional pain and accept what happens. This involves seeing clearly how thoughts can control us. However, is there a risk that tuning out of the mind promotes dissociation, using spiritual ideas to avoid facing pain? Does it put too much faith in the power of the present? Over four weekly sessions (from June 18, at Triyoga Camden), we discuss the ideas behind Tolle’s teachings and ways to interpret them in practice.

Can wisdom be taught or does it have to be lived? Siddhartha is a classic account of the spiritual quest, exploring a path between self-indulgence and self-discipline. Over four weekly sessions (from 18 Feb), we’ll read Hesse’s novel and discuss its themes. How do we find the right teacher? Can we follow our hearts without being ruled by desires? Does silence speak louder than words? Can fiction get closer to truth than philosophy and history? Come and share your ideas!

How do we find peace in the midst of life’s challenges? Does yoga detach us or help us to act? What is our purpose? These timeless questions are the heart of the story in the Bhagavad Gita. It can be read in an evening and shape a whole lifetime. Exploring it together, we will find our own ways to relate to its insights. Over three weekly sessions (starting 26 Nov), we will look in depth at the Gita’s ideas, from teachings on yoga to moral dilemmas.