TOP POST
My Sanskrit Journey and New Course
26 March 2024
Yoga teachers, would you like to gain confidence in pronouncing Sanskrit? Kīrtan wallahs, how much could you enhance your practice through some foundational Sanskrit knowledge?
TOP POST
How Buddhist is Modern Mindfulness?
18 September 2023
Over the past forty years, a new transnational movement has emerged in which participants engage in techniques of contemplation that fall under the broad rubric of 'mindfulness'. Originally a feature of Buddhist soteriology, mindfulness has been embraced as a panacea for a range of social and intrapersonal problems. It has been utilised within clinical, corporate, and educational settings and promoted as a privatised lifestyle-enhancement technology.
TOP POST
Postures Versus Poses
19 June 2023
Over the past few years, at the Devon School of Yoga, we have consciously dropped the word 'pose' from our teaching vocabulary and the learning materials we provide for our courses.
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The influence of Jaina philosophy on Patañjali
26 September 2022
There are a number of striking parallels between the doctrine of Patañjali and that of the early Jainas. For example, Patañjali's five yamas are identical to the five 'great vows' of Jainism..
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Was Patañjali truly important?
29 August 2022
Although the Yogasūtra, is widely regarded as a classic, the authoritative status of Patañjali's work in premodern yoga has been contested within scholarship. This essay draws on new research to critically assess the importance of Patañjali's Yogaśāstra in yoga's history.