Yoga Philosophy

“Dr. Ranganathan shares in this course a vast knowledge of the sutras obtained through passionate study and devotion. There is a transformative quality of understanding that through his teachings brings a deeper meaning of the 5 limbs and the necessary stages one should endeavor on the path towards ultimately embracing devotion to lordliness. A must for the serious student of yoga, and those seeking direction to move on in their lives!”

“This course does an amazing job of going through the Yoga Sutras both in detail, but also in an engaging way. The content draws from original translations of each relevant sutra text (translated from Sanskrit to English), and is expanded upon with clear explanations and examples. I found this content to be unlike any other translation / interpretation of the YS texts I've read before and gave me a clear, stripped-down, and much more authentic understanding of the philosophy behind the YS. I highly recommend this course as a foundation to really understand not only the Yoga Sutras, but also, to offer a perspective on how to view and approach your life. The interactive / live tutorials that are included are absolutely invaluable and a 'hidden perk' of signing up. I thoroughly enjoyed this course!”

“I looked for a class on yoga philosophy for a long time. Course after course turned out to be just some weirdo ruminating on what the Yoga Sūtra means... "to them." These are invariably people with no actual scholarly background in the text. Some of them are clearly actual kooks. Anyway, finding something real has been WEIRDLY hard and I am so thankful I finally stumbled across Dr. Ranganathan's work. This class is rigorous. Diligent students will gain meaningful familiarity with Book Two of the Yoga Sūtra and understand its practices and thought on a whole new level. Go through the material marked "Bonus," and especially the "How to read and understand philosophy" video, which should probably be viewed right at the beginning. Every bit of material provided is rich in information and very helpful to progression in the course overall. The one downside to "Five Limbs" is that it is quite the awakening to the truth of yogic thought. Ever after you will be tormented by hearing yoga teachers in studios everywhere make bizarre claims about yoga you will know for a fact are simply incorrect. My final comment is that due to the nature of yoga, you will find applications for what you learn in all areas of life, not just what happens on the mat. ”

“The main comment I would like to make about this course is regarding Shyam's rigor. Shyam does not try to impose some interpretation about the sutras. He systematically goes back to philosophical tools such as explications, as well as the four most common moral theories about the right and the good. Shyam carefully describes and explains these moral theories and how the yoga sutras relates to them. I have been practicing ashtanga yoga (asana, pranayama, and some sitting meditation) for 17 years and I could not recommend enough this course. Shyam is welcoming, structured in his teaching, well-prepared, and open to discussion. I highly recommend this course for anyone interested in incorporating yoga into their everyday life.”

“Most people think of asana when they think of yoga. This course delves into yoga philosophy and allows the student to understand the rich background and history of yoga. This should be a must for all yoga teacher training programs!”

“Shyam is a phenomenal teacher who enthusiastically shares his knowledge and extensive research of the history of yoga & other philosophies and the Yoga Sutras Essentials. Since taking this course, I have found myself applying the knowledge I gained in real time to both solve problems and to recommit to my practice using basic yoga ethics and principles. I now also feel more confident to share with others - what is yoga? and how can we truly practice it? ”

“5 stars are not enough to rate this course ”