What exactly is yoga? How did it evolve from a meditative way of transcending the world to a global industry worth billions of dollars? Where is it going now?

This talk explores the meaning and philosophy of yoga in multiple contexts: from ancient ascetics who never sat down to modern stretching for affluent urbanites. Despite what Hindu nationalists claim, there is no such thing as “One True Yoga.” Sometimes, it indicates union. However, in the best-known yogic text – the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali – the goal is the separation of consciousness from matter.

Early yogis renounced worldly life to sit in silence. Traditional texts have little to say about social engagement, except for warning about distractions from meditation. Few Western practitioners look at things this way. Can westerners evolve a more socially engaged yoga, or is that cultural appropriation?

Come and find out more with Daniel Simpson. Daniel teaches yoga philosophy at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and holds a Master’s degree from SOAS, University of London, where he studied with some of the world’s leading scholars of yoga. He writes about yoga for magazines and on his website: http://danielsimpson.info

NB You need to book your ticket (£7.90) through Eventbrite at the link below. The talk is in Cafe 1001, which is a great venue in the Truman Brewery near Brick Lane.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yoga-ancient-philosophy-for-modern-times-tickets-55760466055

No refunds

Jules Evans

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Yoga: ancient philosophy for modern life

Cafe 1001

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Yoga: ancient philosophy for modern life

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