As practitioners of yoga we are usually quite sure what yoga is and why we do it. But across time, place, language and culture – what was yoga? And what do we imagine yoga will be? Does past and future collide in the present of our practice, and should we pay attention?

Join Ruth Westoby for a short talk and discussion of what is, and was, yoga. See whether she can persuade you that historicising and philosophising could be a practice of yoga.

Ruth will define yoga, offer a timeline of yogas, and attempt to integrate contemporary and classical critical theories. By means of three case studies she will consider how yoga has been theorised: the myriad perspectives of the philosophical systematisations (the darśanas), the ‘insouciance’ towards metaphysics of Haṭhayoga (to quote James Mallinson), and the accretive and divergent messaging of Swami Vivekananda which heralded yoga to the world stage.

The format is a live Zoom seminar in which you can ask questions and offer reflections. Ruth will provide further study resources to participants.

If you are unable to make this event but would like to hear this lecture Ruth will be offering something similar through Hereford Yoga Centre on 4 July https://www.herefordyoga.co.uk/.