{"id":1212,"date":"2021-04-12T07:07:57","date_gmt":"2021-04-12T07:07:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insight.yoga\/Insight\/?page_id=1212"},"modified":"2026-04-24T14:22:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T13:22:25","slug":"yoga-and-philosophy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/insight.yoga\/de\/yoga-and-philosophy\/","title":{"rendered":"Yoga Philosophy"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Yoga Philosophy<\/h3>

Insight Yoga<\/h6><\/div>[vc_empty_space hide_on_mobile=““][vc_empty_space hide_on_mobile=““][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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All too often, Western students want to bypass the philosophical aspects of Yoga and get on with its practice. But it is impossible to practice Yoga authentically without first having grasped its metaphysics. Conversely, Yoga metaphysics will not reveal its full depth tosomeone who stays aloof from the practical discipline.
\nGeorg Feuerstein<\/p>\n

\"\"Yoga has developed based on observations and ideas about ourselves and our place in the world, on a deep exploration of our inner world and how we meet life in every moment, in a quest to find real and lasting peace and happiness. It is vital to understand these foundations of our yogic endeavours, otherwise they might become misguided and blunt. Understanding these foundational insights gives eyes to our practice: without it, our practice is blind
\nIn yoga texts, we find the practice of sv\u0101dyhaya, or \u201cself-study\u201d, which denotes the reading of the scriptures and an inquiry into who we truly are. This demonstrates the central importance of knowing the \u201cwhy,\u201d and thus having clear intentions and goals in our yoga practice. We also find the highly respected traditions of j\u00f1\u0101na or vic\u0101ra Yoga, where inquiry into the true nature of things is seen as the key to attain real peace and freedom. This is what I aim for in my yoga philosophy\/psychology classes. These classes are not just \u201cthe theory\u201d or some dry \u201chistory\u201d from long ago, they are a practice in themselves, and alive with inquiry and dialogue.<\/p>\n

Since yoga has undergone a cultural transfer from the East to the West, it is particularly important to grasp what the Indian yoga masters were aiming for. In modern western culture, yoga has been commodified and commercialised to the point where some of its original values and goals have been forgotten, and some of its tremendous potential has been lost. These classes attempt to recapture these original aims, and deepen our understanding and practice..
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The Yoga Alliance rightly apportions 10% of the teacher training time to this part of yoga.I usually teach about 22.5 hours of yoga philosophy\/psychology on a 200-hour training program, or 32.5 hours on an advanced 300-hour syllabus. These classes are interactive, creative\u00a0and engaging, not just dry lectures. They often challenge the conditioned views that my students have held and never questioned, taking them out of their comfort zones and into new possibilities of seeing the world and their own potential. Coming\u00a0from a German background, I cherish clear structure, sound teaching methodology and high-quality teaching materials. Obviously, my classes introduce the foundational concepts of yoga first, and then delve into their applications in different systems and scriptures. They include a lot of Dias and other partner and group activities to enliven the exploration.Yoga studios who invite me to teach on their teacher training programs or to hold workshops, can choose the main philosophical topics they want me to focus on. Every topic can\u00a0be either introduced briefly, or expanded upon in greater detail. Here is a list of your choices:<\/p>\n

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1. Introduction<\/strong>
\n1.1 Acknowledgements
\n1.2 Intention
\n1.3 Sanskrit
\n1.4 Invocation<\/p>\n

2. Eastern and Western Philosophy<\/strong>
\n2.1 Classical Western Philosophy
\n2.2 Eastern Philosophy
\n2.3 What is Yoga?<\/p>\n

3. The Core Concepts of Yoga Philosophy<\/strong>
\n3.1 Impermanence: Anitya
\n3.1.1 Not Ground to stand on
\n3.1.2 The Fallacy of Attachment: R\u0101ga and Dve\u1e63a
\n3.2 Stress\/Suffering: Duhkha
\n3.2.1 I can\u2019t get no Satisfaction
\n3.2.2 Addicted
\n3.2.3 The four \u201aNoble Truths\u2019 of the Buddha
\n3.3 Not seeing things as they truly are: Avidy\u0101
\n3.3.1 Identification-Disease
\n3.3.2 No Boundary?
\n3.3.3 Brainwashed by Society
\n3.4 Enlightenment
\n3.4.1 Beyond Words
\n3.4.2 Different Models
\n3.5 The conditioned Mind: Citta
\n3.5.1 Introduction
\n3.5.2 Western Ideas about how the Mind works
\n3.5.3 The model of the Ka\u1e6dha Upani\u1e63ad
\n3.5.4 Buddhi, Aha\u1e43k\u0101ra, and Manas
\n3.5.5 The Metaphor of the Chariot
\n3.6 Karma and Sams\u0101ra
\n3.6.1 Introduction
\n3.6.2 You reap what you sow
\n3.6.3 A simple Principle, yet a complex Web
\n3.6.4 Good Karma? Bad Karma?
\n3.6.5 Different Kinds of Karma
\n3.6.6 Rebirth: Sa\u1e43s\u0101ra
\n3.6.7 Sa\u1e43sk\u0101ras and V\u0101sana
\n3.7 Ethics \u2013 Yama and Niyama
\n3.7.1 Why Ethics?
\n3.7.2 Rule\/Law or Guideline?
\n3.7.3 Yama and Niyama
\n3.7.4 The Pa\u00f1ca \u015a\u012bla in Buddhist Yoga
\n3.7.5 Ethical Considerations for Yoga-Teachers
\n3.7.6 Philosophy Essay: An Ethical Exploration
\n3.8 The Teacher-Student Link: Guru-Cela
\n3.8.1 Who is going to lead us out of the Matrix?
\n3.8.2 Two kinds of Gurus
\n3.8.3 The Student (\u015ai\u1e63ya)
\n3.8.4 The critical Importance of the Guru-\u015ai\u1e63ya Relationship in Yoga
\n3.8.5 Looking for a Teacher
\n3.8.6 The Danger of Abuse of Power
\n3.9 Spiritual Materialism
\n3.9.1 Introduction
\n3.9.2 The Ego sneaking in
\n3.9.3 The Lord of Form
\n3.9.4 The Lord of Speech
\n3.9.5 The Lord of Mind
\n3.9.6 Spiritual Bypassing
\n3.10 Inquiry and Integration
\n3.10.1 Philosophia Perennis
\n3.10.2 Is it still Yoga?
\n3.10.3 Philosophy Essay: Yoga in my Life<\/p>\n

4. Historical Overview<\/strong>
\n4.1 Challenges in mapping out the History of Yoga
\n4.2 Yoga Timeline
\n4.3 Horizontal \u2013 Vertical \u2013 Integral Approaches
\n4.4 The Indian Idea of cyclical Time: Catura Yuga<\/p>\n

5. Vedas<\/strong>
\n5.1 The four Vedas
\n5.2 \u015aruti-Texts
\n5.3 From Shamanism to Proto-Yoga
\n5.4 Vedic Deities
\n5.5 Fire Rituals and Mantra-Yoga
\n5.6 The Drink of the Gods: Soma
\n5.7 The few Philosophical Speculations in the Vedas
\n5.8 Laws of Manu
\n5.9 The Caste System: Catura Varna
\n5.10 Phases in Life: Catura \u0100\u015brama
\n5.11 Catura Puru\u1e63artha<\/p>\n

6. Indian Mythology: The Pur\u0101nas<\/strong>
\n6.1 Overview
\n6.2 Deities
\n6.1.1 Sr\u012b Gane\u015ba
\n6.1.2 Lord \u015aiva
\n6.1.3 \u015aakti
\n6.1.4 Lord Vi\u1e63nu
\n6.3 Scriptures and Stories
\n6.4 The R\u0101m\u0101y\u0101na<\/p>\n

7. Upani\u1e63ads<\/strong>
\n7.1 Introduction
\n7.2 From outer Rituals to Inner Exploration
\n7.3 A new kind of Yoga and Yog\u012b
\n7.4 Illusion: M\u0101y\u0101
\n7.5 The one Source of everything: Brahman
\n7.6 The Soul: \u0100tman
\n7.7 Going beyond Avidy\u0101: J\u00f1\u0101na Yoga
\n7.8 The Pranava \u2013 \uf05c<\/p>\n

8. The Mah\u0101bh\u0101rata (MBh) and Bhagavad-G\u012bt\u0101 (BhG)<\/strong>
\n8.1 Introduction MBh
\n8.2 Background to the MBh
\n8.3 The Story in a Nutshell
\n8.4 Guna Symbology
\n8.5 Intro BhG
\n8.6 Background to the BhG
\n8.7 Summary BhG
\n8.8 Bhakti Yoga
\n8.9 J\u00f1\u0101na Yoga
\n8.10 Karma Yoga<\/p>\n

9. Advaita Ved\u0101nta Traditions<\/strong>
\n9.1 Overview
\n9.2 \u015aankara
\n9.3 R\u0101m\u0101nuja
\n9.4 Madhva
\n9.5 Caitanya
\n9.6 Modern Advaitins<\/p>\n

10. Buddhist Yoga<\/strong>
\n10.1 Introduction
\n10.2 The Life of the Buddha
\n10.3 The Four Noble Truths
\n10.4 Dependent Origination
\n10.5 Non-Self
\n10.6 Buddhist Psychology
\n10.7 Mindfulness
\n10.8 Compassion
\n10.9 The Hinay\u0101na Tradition
\n10.10 The Mah\u0101y\u0101na Tradition
\n10.11 The Vajray\u0101na Tradition
\n10.12 Integration into our Practice<\/p>\n

11. Compassion in the Yoga Tradition<\/strong>
\n11.1 The two Wings of the Bird of Liberation: Wisdom and Compassion
\n11.2 Separation and Suffering
\n11.3 Pity, the \u2018near enemy\u2019 of Compassion
\n11.4 Interconnectedness leads to Compassion for both Sides
\n11.5 The \u201cHeavenly Abodes\u201d: Brahma Vih\u0101ra
\n11.6 Bodhicitta and Bodhisattva
\n11.7 The Practice of Compassion as Karma Yoga<\/p>\n

12. Dvaita\/S\u0101mkhya Philosophy<\/strong>
\n12.1 Overview
\n12.2 The seductive Creatrix: Prak\u1e5bti\/Dri\u1e63ya\/Triguna
\n12.3 The Consciousness-Souls: Puru\u1e63a\/Dra\u1e63tra
\n12.3 S\u0101mkhya\u2019s Map of Evolution<\/p>\n

13. Jaina Yoga<\/strong>
\n13.1 Historical Overview
\n13.2 Jaina Philosophy
\n13.3 Karma as polluting particles
\n13.4 The Levels of Purity: Le\u015byas
\n13.5 The Ford-makers: T\u012brtankara
\n13.6 Jaina Yoga Practice<\/p>\n

14. The P\u0101ta\u00f1jala Yoga \u015a\u0101stra (PY\u015a)<\/strong>
\n14.1 Introduction
\n14.1.1 We know little about Pata\u00f1jali
\n14.1.2 Different Angles of Interpretation
\n14.1.3 The S\u0101\u1e43khya-Angle
\n14.1.4 Influences
\n14.1.5 Sequencing
\n14.2 Samyoga-Abhavah \u2013 The Disappearance of Association
\n14.2.1 Avidy\u0101 \u2013 False identity
\n14.2.2 Kle\u015ba \u2013 The primal causes of suffering
\n14.2.3 Prak\u1e5bti \u2013 The Play of Gunas and how it fools us
\n14.2.4 Citta \u2013 The conceptual mind
\n14.2.5 Puru\u1e63a \u2013 Superior witnessing Consciousness
\n14.2.6 Viveka – Discrimination
\n14.2.7 V\u1e5btti-nirodha \u2013 Stilling consciousness
\n14.3 V\u1e5btti \u2013 Fluctuations
\n14.3.1 Pata\u00f1jali\u2019s definition of his yogic path in a nutshell
\n14.3.2 Pata\u00f1jali defines what \u2018v\u1e5btti\u2019 are
\n14.3.3 How the v\u1e5btti are finally stopped
\n14.4 Karma and Sa\u1e43s\u0101ra \u2013 Binding Cyclic Existence
\n14.4.1 How Karma relates to suffering
\n14.4.2 How to free one\u2019s self from Karma
\n14.5 Nirv\u0101na \u2013 Pata\u00f1jali on Enlightenment
\n14.5.1 The practice
\n14.5.2 Kaivalyam \u2013 Aloneness\/Isolation [of the Soul]
\n14.6 Abhy\u0101sa and Vair\u0101gya \u2013 Letting go of the Material World through Practice
\n14.6.1 The importance of practice
\n14.6.2 Abhy\u0101sa \u2013 Sustained stillness
\n14.6.3 Vair\u0101gya \u2013 Detachment\/Renunciation
\n14.6.4 Antar\u0101y\u0101h \u2013 Obstacles
\n14.6.5 Pratisedha \u2013 Counteracting the Obstacles
\n14.6.6 Practices commonly practiced in Pata\u00f1jali\u2019s time
\n14.6.7 \u012a\u015bvara \u2013 the special Puru\u1e63a
\n14.6.8 The practical use of \u012a\u015bvara
\n14.7 Yog\u0101nga \u2013 The Limbs of Yoga Practice
\n14.7.1 A\u1e63t\u0101nga \u2013 The eight Limbs
\n14.7.2 Yama and Niyama \u2013 Liberating Conduct
\n14.7.3 \u0100sana \u2013 Yoga Posture
\n14.7.4 Pr\u0101\u1e47\u0101y\u0101ma \u2013 Regulating and Stilling the Breath
\n14.7.5 Praty\u0101h\u0101ra \u2013 Withdrawal from Attention to the Senses
\n14.7.6 Dh\u0101ran\u0101 \u2013 Concentration on one Object
\n14.7.7 Dhy\u0101na \u2013 Meditation
\n14.7.8 Sam\u0101dhi \u2013 Communion with the Essence of an Object
\n14.8 Samyama \u2013 Integrated Consciousness
\n14.8.1 Dh\u0101ran\u0101 + Dhy\u0101na + Sam\u0101dhi
\n14.8.2 Vibh\u016bti\/Siddhi \u2013 Relative Accomplishments through Samyama\u2019s direct Perception
\n14.9 Ways of Integrating Pata\u00f1jali into our Practice
\n14.9.1 Philosophical Considerations
\n14.9.2 Contemporary Challenges
\n14.9.3 Possibilities<\/p>\n

15. Tantra Yoga<\/strong>
\n15.1 Introduction
\n15.2 The Tantric View of the Body and the manifest World
\n15.3 Three types of spiritual practitioners
\n15.4 Introduction to Tantric Philosophy
\n15.5 Neo-Tantra \u2013 look carefully for its Authenticity as a Liberation Teaching
\n15.6 The Importance of a Guru in Tantra
\n15.7 Tantric Literature
\n15.8 Classical Practices
\n15.9 Different Schools or Paths of Tantra: Dak\u1e63ina M\u0101rga
\n15.10 Different Schools or Paths of Tantra: V\u0101ma M\u0101rga
\n15.11 Tantra in Comparison to other Philosophies<\/p>\n

16. Hatha Yoga<\/strong>
\n16.1 Hatha Yoga and the Body
\n16.2 What exactly is Hatha Yoga?
\n16.3 Study the Texts yourself \u2013 Sv\u0101dhyaya
\n16.4 Maps of the Human\u2019s Subtle Physiology
\n16.5 Prelimaries and Foundations
\n16.6 Yama and Niyama
\n16.7 \u1e62atkriy\u0101
\n16.8 \u0100sana
\n16.9 Pr\u0101\u1e47\u0101y\u0101ma
\n16.10 Mudr\u0101
\n16.11 Bandha
\n16.12 Meditation Practices
\n16.13 A brief Comparison between Hatha Yoga and Pata\u00f1jala Yoga<\/p>\n

17. Modern Postural Yoga<\/strong>
\n17.1 Introduction
\n17.2 Cultural Transfer: Problems and Opportunities
\n17.3 Physical Culture in the 19 th und 20 th Century
\n17.4 The main Modernisers of Yogas in the 20th Century
\n17.4.1 Manibhai Haribhai Desai (\u015ar\u012b Yogendra)
\n17.4.2 Jagannatha Ganesha Gune (Swami Kuvalyananda)
\n17.4.3 Tirumalai Krishnamacharya and his famous Students
\n17.5 Critical Acclamation
\n17.5.1 Text Study
\n17.5.2 Homework: My Yoga
\n17.6 Scientific Research[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space hide_on_mobile=““][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n