The Philosophy & Practice of Yoga
OLLI, Winter 2024
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This ten-week series explores how yoga’s ancient philosophy sheds light on our modern lives. Each week we focus on a different limb of yoga as outlined in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, including posture (asana), gesture (mudra), breath (pranayama), sense withdrawal (pratyahara), focus (dharana), meditation (dhyana), and yoga nidra. Learn how the practices build upon each other to bring you closer a more compassionate relationship with your body, thoughts and emotions.
WEEK 1: Thursday, February 1
History of Yoga & Setting Intention - In our introductory session, learn the history of yoga and the key differences between with the pre-Vedic Samkhya view and the post-Vedic Tantric philosophy and how they relate to modern yoga practice. We will then go through a mudra meditation to help you uncover your intention or Sankalpa for our time together. WEEK 2: Thursday, February 8
Philosophy of the Yamas & Niyamas - Using Patanjali's Yoga Sutras as our guide, we will explore the first two limbs of Yoga, the Yamas and Niyamas. These are the external ethical guidelines that help us to be in community together and the internal ethical guidelines that help to alleviate suffering. (Yoga Sutras 2.35-2.45) WEEK 3: Thursday, February 15
Asana & the Physical Body - The third limb of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras is what most people think of when they hear the word 'Yoga', the poses. Learn safe and effective movement patterns that create ease and embodiment. (Yoga Sutras 2.46-2.48, Hatha Yoga Pradipika Ch:1,v17-18) WEEK 4: Thursday, February 22
Mudra & the Emotions - Mudra comes from Vedanta, or Tantric philosophy of using the body as a tool to find greater mindfulness. This week, learn the history of mudra and how these powerful hand gestures create a link between the body, breath, mind, and emotions. Practice time will include mudras for common ailments such as headache, insomnia, digestive distress, anxiety, and depression. (Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Ch:3) WEEK 5: Thursday, February 29
Pranayama & the Energy Body - The fourth limb of the Yoga Sutras brings us the practice of conscious breathing. This week, learn how breath impacts the nervous system and simple effective techniques that create a calm mind and reduce stress. (Yoga Sutras 2.49-2.53, Hatha Yoga Pradipika Ch:2,v1-11) WEEK 6: Thursday, March 7
Pratyahara & Inner Silence - The fifth limb of the Yoga Sutras is the mindfulness technique of withdrawing the senses toward the internal landscape of sensation, thought, and breath. We will combine asana, mudra, and pranayama practices this week that help hone present-moment and compassionate self-awareness. (Yoga Sutras 2.54-2.55) WEEK 7: Thursday, March 14
Dharana & Focus - The sixth limb of the Yoga Sutras involves single-pointed focus, and is the first step toward meditation. Here we will use a variety of techniques to build attention including chanting subtle body movements, vowel sounds, visualization, and conscious breath. (Yoga Sutras 3.1-3.15) WEEK 8: Thursday, March 21
Dhyana & the Inner Wisdom - The seventh limb of the Yoga Sutras is absorption of your awareness into the state of meditation. Using all that we have learned so far, we will practice several techniques that awaken the witness consciousness, including body scan, Bija mantra, and Japa Mala. (Yoga Sutras 3.1-3.15) WEEK 9: Thursday, March 28
Samadhi & Yoga Nidra - The eighth and final limb of the Yoga Sutras is the connection to universal consciousness and a recognition of the bliss that is already present at the core of who we are. Each week we have built the practices upon the previous and now we come to the guided meditation practice known as Yoga Nidra which helps you uncover that inherent bliss. (Yoga Sutras 3.1-3.15) WEEK 10: Thursday, April 4
Putting it All Together - In our last class, enjoy a well-rounded class combining all of our practices including intention, asana, mudra, pranayama, sound, body scan, and guided meditation. |
Cheryl Fenner Brown, C-IAYT
See Press for more information.
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I began my yoga teaching journey in 2004 with a 740-hr training with Hatha teachers at Piedmont Yoga Studio in Oakland, California, followed by an 800-hr Integrative Yoga Therapy training at Kripalu in 2015. I am certified as an E-RYT 500 and continuing education provider through Yoga Alliance. In 2016, I was among the first teachers certified through the International Association of Yoga Therapists as a C-IAYT. I have taught over 9,300 hours of public classes and workshops and love teaching how posture, breath, and attention can completely transform how they feel in their bodies and about themselves. Students appreciate my deeply educational approach to yoga; I weave anatomy, philosophy, asana, mudra, chanting, pranayama, and yoga nidra together for a well-rounded experience delivered with compassion and humor. Encouraging each student to honor where they are in their bodies every time they step onto the mat enables profound self-awareness. I specialize in helping people in midlife (and beyond), those with structural injuries, and cancer patients thrive.
I began my yoga teaching journey in 2004 with a 740-hr training with Hatha teachers at Piedmont Yoga Studio in Oakland, California, followed by an 800-hr Integrative Yoga Therapy training at Kripalu in 2015. I am certified as an E-RYT 500 and continuing education provider through Yoga Alliance. In 2016, I was among the first teachers certified through the International Association of Yoga Therapists as a C-IAYT. I have taught over 9,300 hours of public classes and workshops and love teaching how posture, breath, and attention can completely transform how they feel in their bodies and about themselves. Students appreciate my deeply educational approach to yoga; I weave anatomy, philosophy, asana, mudra, chanting, pranayama, and yoga nidra together for a well-rounded experience delivered with compassion and humor. Encouraging each student to honor where they are in their bodies every time they step onto the mat enables profound self-awareness. I specialize in helping people in midlife (and beyond), those with structural injuries, and cancer patients thrive. |
