Building on a recent book club — which read Roots of Yoga — we’ll be meeting on Sundays (from May 3 at 5:00 PM, UK time) to talk about themes from traditional texts with a practical focus. Each chapter in Roots of Yoga draws on multiple extracts to show how an aspect of practice developed. These sessions will do something similar, exploring ideas from a range of texts — both ancient and modern. A selection of readings will be shared in advance, then we’ll discuss them together, reflecting on ways of applying what they teach.

These are challenging times. Some yogic texts say the ultimate state is isolation, but withdrawal from the world isn't everyone’s goal. To promote reconnection, I invite you to a forum for sharing ideas and inspiration. Each week, we'll begin with a reading from traditional texts, and talk about its relevance to how we live now. There'll be space to discuss how we feel, and a short meditation. All perspectives are welcome! Feel free to drop in, or to join us regularly. Tuesdays, 7:00 - 8:00 PM (UK). See inside for the Zoom link.

This online workshop explores how yogic texts can provide inspiration in times of adversity. Although their goals involve withdrawal from worldly life, they also promote peace of mind and harmonious relationships. Drawing on traditional texts, we'll reflect on their meanings in practical ways and see how their teachings relate to our lives. Yoga began as a way to escape from the cycle of births, so we’ll consider how this differs from modern priorities and ask if ancient texts need reinterpreting. This will spark new ideas for putting philosophy into practice.

A wide-ranging talk at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Originally titled “Tantric Sex, the Kama Sutra and Yoga,” it explored the distinctions between sexual rituals and physical pleasure, as well as the function of yogic techniques. This was part of a weekend school in Oxford in March 2020, which was later repeated online with new materials. You can stream the full programme here, including an updated version of this talk.

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.

I invite you to join me and Corrie Preece for a week of immersion in yogic inquiry (11-18 July). In a beautiful setting, away from distractions, we’ll weave together philosophy, postural practice and subtle techniques with transformative power. Our focus is on nurturing connection and community, exploring how yoga enriches our lives. We’ve found a magical place in the Portuguese hills, with acres of trails and idyllic wild swimming spots. We’ll eat homegrown food and sleep outdoors in comfortable tipis and geodesic domes. Early bird prices until 31 March.

For the next two months (29 Nov 2019 - 31 Jan 2020), I’ll be covering Milka Hutna’s Friday night class at Globe House Yoga. It’s a beautiful space for practice, just off Bermondsey Street - near London Bridge. The class is general-level Ashtanga, exploring the primary series, and it concludes with some yogic breath-work (pranayama) - an ideal way to start the weekend. Each class costs £10 to drop in. Discounted passes are also available (£50 for six classes). You can email me here if you have any questions.

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.

Is yoga the practice, or the state it results in? Where did it come from and what is it for? It's often said yoga means “union”, but with what? How do modern classes relate to what's taught in ancient texts? If you’re curious about yoga philosophy, this afternoon workshop will help you explore it in practical ways. We’ll look at a range of definitions of yoga from traditional texts and put some of their theory into practice. The venue is Globe House Yoga, near London Bridge (Saturday, 9 November, 2:00 - 4:00 pm). Contact Daniel to book.

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.

Control of the breath is one of the oldest yogic practices. Although modern classes are focused on postures, the main physical technique in early texts is pranayama. This is said to be the key to inward focus, and freedom from suffering. In this afternoon workshop at Globe House Yoga, near London Bridge (Saturday 14 September, 2:00 - 4:00 pm), we'll explore a variety of traditional methods, as well as discussing the theory behind them, along with their place in yoga history. Contact Daniel to book.

Modern yoga is focused on postures, but other forms of practice are even more powerful. Join us on a London rooftop for an uplifting fusion of physical methods and inner inquiry, with practical insights from yoga philosophy. This integrated workshop includes a playfully challenging postural sequence, traditional breath-work, silent sitting and a little bit of chanting. We conclude with a group discussion and Q&A. Our aim is to nurture independent practice. Book now for Saturday, 20 July (14:00-17:00).

Two of Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga highlight ethics. Although the Yoga Sutra’s teachings on yama and niyama have social aspects, their ultimate goal is renouncing the world. Unless we retreat like Iron Age ascetics, might they need rethinking? Are other rules more relevant to modern challenges, from social instability to environmental meltdown? Can yogic ethics be adapted to serve new priorities? Come and share ideas and discuss alternatives! Booking now for Sunday, 18 August (14:30 - 17:00), at Triyoga Camden.

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.

An afternoon workshop of history and practice. Most postural yoga is technically called “hatha”. Nowadays, this term is often used for a gentler class, but its original meaning was “forceful”. We’ll explore where this came from and how it made yoga more dynamic, evolving into modern forms of practice. We’ll start with texts, looking at the first to teach “hatha” by name (the Dattatreya Yogashastra), then implement some of their teachings. Booking now for Saturday, 13 April (14:30 - 17:00), at Triyoga Shoreditch.

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!

The start of the year brings a chance to reflect on what we want to develop and what needs letting go. In this workshop (on 6 Jan), we will explore these ideas through yogic texts and apply them in practice. Finding a balance of resolution and release is of vital importance in yoga philosophy. It’s the basis of guidance in the Yoga Sutra and the Bhagavad Gita. We will examine what this means by reading verses from both before exploring them practically.

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.

[IN-PERSON CLASSES SUSPENDED] This dynamic approach to yoga is accessible - suitable both for beginners and those with experience. You don't have to be bendy, or exceptionally fit. Practice helps focus the mind while building strength and flexibility. Sports stars use yoga to help them recover and avoid injury. When restrictions permit, classes are at Upper Rissington Village Hall. In the meantime, online private instruction is available. If you have any questions, please contact the teacher, Daniel Simpson.

In the past 2,500 years, yoga has evolved from a way of transcending the world to a multi-billion-dollar industry. But where did it come from and what was it for? A Brief History of Yoga is a four-week course that puts practice in context, presenting an overview of how it developed. Accessible and fun, combined with academic depth, it explores common themes in yogic teachings, and their relevance today.