An Introduction to the
History & Philosophy of Yoga
12-week course starts October 1st 2026
Academically rigorous. Actively Contemplative. Practically Inspiring.
➤ Yoga has a thousands-of-years-old history, but most of the yoga postures we practice today are barely 100 years old — and most yogic texts don't talk about postures much at all?
➤ The Yoga Sūtras, often cited as the "Yoga Bible," are underpinned by a worldview that rejects the material world and householder life — while other traditions affirm world and spirit together?
➤ Yoga philosophy doesn't teach "one thing" — it reflects a myriad of traditions and lineages, evolved over time, that don't always agree with each other?
What if I told you that...
If you ever feel confused, lost or overwhelmed about yoga philosophy, I don't blame you.
We are constantly bombarded with content online telling us what "real" yoga is and isn't. It's easy to feel doubtful, nervous or simply lacking knowledge. Perhaps you're not sure if you're being culturally respectful, or if you even understand the philosophy you are reading or trying to share. It's one big blur, and you're not quite sure about the difference between the Vedas, the Upanishads and Patañjali, let alone what comes afterwards.
But it doesn't have to be this way...
Why study the History and Philosophy of Yoga?
The truth is, there is no single yoga philosophy and no one “right” way to integrate it. Yoga has always changed, and continues to do so. This is why we must study the history and philosophy of yoga:
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To build a conceptual “map” of yoga’s evolution
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So grounding and nuance replaces confusion & overwhelm
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To be freed from the pressure to be “right.”
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To cultivate active, ongoing enquiry & open ourselves to all the beautiful diversity of what yoga can be.
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To situate ourselves as modern practitioners within the context of yoga's history
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To become active seekers ourselves, initiating more deeply into the mysteries of yoga
In doing so, yoga philosophy transcends abstract theory to become a living practice and way of life. Practice becomes deeper, more profound and more meaningful; you have a deeper understanding of what you're doing, why, and how works. If you are a teacher, you will transition from parroting philosophy from books and other teachers to sharing from a place of deep inner confidence, knowledge and embodied wisdom - because you have done the work to understand yoga's roots - and your relationship to them today.
Signature programme
If you...
➤ Feel curious about yoga beyond the physical and want to understand its history and philosophy in a way that is clear, accessible, and inspiring, without fear of “getting it wrong,” or blindly repeating ideas you don’t fully understand.
➤ Have completed your 200-hour training, yet sense a disconnect between the philosophy you’ve been taught and what feels meaningful and alive in your own practice, teaching and life.
➤ Are seeking context and guidance to make sense of where different yogic practices come from, what they were originally for, and how they might be understood and made relevant today, in your own life.
...then this course is for you.
What's included?
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6 pre-recorded video lectures — approx. 1-1.5 hours each, to explore key topics at your own pace and build a conceptual map of yoga's history & philosophy.
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6 Live Group Calls - to explore, question and integrate what you have learnt in the lectures, through facilitated community discussion. Expect to explore yoga history, philosophy and how it relates to your modern life, teaching & practice, today.
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Course Handbook — filled with reflective course highlights and journal prompts to help you consolidate knowledge in relation to your own life & practice.
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Suggested Reading list & guide — to further your knowledge & enquiry beyond the course with topics that interest you.
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Contemplative, Reflective Prompts — to inspire you to take your learnings into your own life, creating meditations and practices for your own life and teaching.
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Bonus: Guest Teacher Workshop on Bhakti and Yoga with Dr Ankur Barua, Cambridge University Lecturer of Hindu Studies (one not to be missed!).
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Lectures:
The main content of the course is delivered through six pre-recorded lectures, which you can watch or listen to in your own time. These lectures are designed to give you a rich, engaging introduction to key moments and ideas in the history and philosophy of yoga—from its ancient roots to modern developments. Each lecture is around 90 minutes long and accompanied by optional reading suggestions, reflection prompts, and occasional short quizzes to help you digest and integrate the material.
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Lecture outlines:
Each lecture explores a different theme or period in the history and philosophy of yoga. Together, they build a picture of yoga as a diverse, evolving, and often contradictory tradition—inviting reflection, curiosity, and critical engagement, as we build a conceptual map of yoga's history and philosophy.
Lecture 1: What Is (Yoga) Philosophy?
We begin by asking what we mean by 'philosophy'—in yoga and in life. You'll explore different ways of thinking about knowledge, liberation, and practice.
Lecture 2: Ancient Yoga – The Vedas, Upaniṣads & Early Concepts
A deep dive into some of the earliest Indian texts that shaped yogic worldviews: ritual, renunciation, liberation (moksha), and the Self (ātman).
Lecture 3: Classical Yoga – Patañjali and the Eight Limbs
Unpacking the Yoga Sūtras, dualism, the eight limbs (aṣṭāṅga yoga), and how this shaped later ideas of practice and purity.
Lecture 4: Beyond Patañjali - Evolving Visions of Yoga, Dharma, and Liberation
Explore how Indian philosophy reimagined yoga after Patañjali—through devotion, action, and non-duality. This lecture dives into the Bhagavad Gītā, Advaita Vedānta, and the Laws of Manu to trace evolving answers to timeless questions about self, duty, and liberation.
Lecture 5: Medieval Developments: Tantra, Hatha and the Body as Sacred
Explore non-dual Śaiva Tantra, embodied liberation, subtle body maps (like kuṇḍalinī and chakras), and their influence on modern yoga.
Lecture 6: Colonialism, Orientalism & Yoga Today
How yoga was reshaped under colonial rule—through nationalism, Western interest, and the invention of modern postural yoga. We also explore contemporary currents: the rise of post-lineage yoga, decolonial thought, trauma-informed practice, and the - should what we practice today even be called yoga?
Live Calls:
While our lectures in the history and philosophy of yoga offer rich insights, it is through our interactive Zoom calls that we explore, discuss and reflect on our learning, together. Calls will be around 75 - 90 minutes. All calls will be recorded for replay access if you can't make it live, and you’re welcome to message Floss in advance with any questions or reflections you’d like brought into the space.
You will have access to the prerecored lectures from 1st of October. Our live calls are every other Thursday evening at 6.30 pm UK time, from the 8th of October 2026.
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Thursday 1st October - live orientation
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Thursday 8th October - call 1
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Thursday 22nd October - call 2
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Thursday 5th November - call 3
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Thursday 19th November - call 4
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Thursday 3rd December - call 5
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Thursday 17th December - call 6
BONUS | Live Workshop with Guest Teacher, Dr Ankur Barua
As part of this round of An Introduction to the History and Philosophy of Yoga, we are privileged to be joined by Dr Ankur Barua, Cambridge University lecturer in Hindu Studies and one of my own teachers, for a special guest workshop exploring bhakti (devotion) as “a habit of the heart," stemming from research into his latest book, Hindu Devotionalism as Philosophy: The Integrative Visions of Bhakti, which will be published by Bloomsbury early next year. Through ideas of steadfastness, attachment and dedication, Ankur will explore how bhakti and yoga become intertwined in Hindu philosophical and scriptural traditions, and what these teachings might offer for our own practice, teaching and lives.
This session is scheduled for Thursday 12th November, 5-6pm UK time. Recording if you can't make it live.
This course's approach:
This course is not like the majority of other philosophy and history of yoga courses, which focus on abstract ideas and dry history without integration or reflection on modern life and yoga practice.
Instead, underpinned by the ancient and premodern view of philosophy as a practice and ways of life, this course combines rigorous academic research on the philosophy and history of yoga with philosophy as a practical and active enquiry - one that helps us reflect on and through the past, in order to find more value and meaning in the present.
Through this course, you'll learn to see yoga philosophy as it actually is: not one idea, but a system of interconnected branches and layered ways of seeing and understanding the whole. You'll move beyond regurgitating concepts, into actually thinking philosophically, approaching angles such as:
The Goals of Practice
Also known as 'soteriology' - the philosophy of the goals of spiritual and religious practice.
Underlying Visions of Reality
Also known as 'metaphysics' - the philosophy of the fundamental nature of reality.
The Role of Tradition
What is the role of tradition in the evolution of yoga, and what about today?
About your teacher | Floss Harry, MPhil
Hi, I’m Floss—yoga teacher, philosophy facilitator, and scholar-practitioner with a Masters in the Philosophy of Religion from the University of Cambridge. I am passionate about reconnecting yoga philosophy with life, where theoretical study and embodied practice go hand in hand; both helping us live better and more fulfilling lives.
I am dedicated to creating spaces for yogis to engage with yoga’s history and philosophy in a way that is academically grounded, personally meaningful and spiritually rich.
I’d love to welcome you into this space of learning and enquiry. Any questions? Just reach out.
Signature programme
By the end of this programme you will...
➤ Have an academically grounded understanding of yoga's historical, philosophical evolution - from pre-Vedic times to the Modern day — so you have a clear map of yoga's evolution to draw on, instead of guesswork or oversimplification.
➤ Have been introduced to the ancient idea of philosophy as a way, the different branches of philosophy, and sacred yogic texts — so you have real reference points to draw on, rather than borrowed lines you can't fully stand behind.
➤ Have reflected on what yoga means in your life, and have discovered new paths of exploration and inspiration on your own spiritual journey — so your practice feels like something you're actively living, not just performing.
➤ If you are a yoga teacher, have a transformed understanding of yoga's evolution, the emergence of modern yoga (and the yoga you teach), and more clarity around your philosophies and values — so you can teach philosophy with genuine confidence and authenticity, rather than secondhand certainty.
Yoga philosophy as a practice & ways of life helps us live richer & more meaningful lives.
Like the ancient yogis and mystics, we must remember the true purpose of philosophy: not to arrive at final answers, but to ask questions. Questions that allow us to engage more deeply with our world, practices and life.
By building a map of yoga's evolution, we can begin to situate ourselves as modern practitioners, finding a deepened connection to yoga's past, and a more authentic relationship to yoga in our own lives as we ask - what does yoga - and life - mean for me today? How can the diverse and ancient traditions of yoga aid my journey? And where might my own views, values and goals differ from some the ideas I come across?
On this journey, there is no ‘final’ answer. Rather, it is an ongoing practice of enquiry; one that deeply enriches our lives and sense of purpose.
Floss has a fantastic depth of knowledge and clearly is incredibly passionate about the subject matter. I liked the combination of individual study combined with group discussion. The discussion allowed for deeper reflection and exposure to other viewpoints. Exposure to key philosophical concepts like the idea of soteriology also really helped to build context when considering how yoga has changed over time.
— Rosie, Yoga Teacher, London
Floss dives deep into the philosophy and history of yoga in a way that I haven’t experienced elsewhere. Not only does she eloquently present the course material, weaving history, theology, philosophy. I have learnt far more on this topic from this course than in my yoga teacher training and would recommend it to anyone teaching or practising yoga who is looking to deepen their knowledge
— Nathalia, Yoga Teacher, Cambridge
Payment Options
Pay in One
£
439
Pay in x3 Instalments
£
159
Every month
Earlybird ends Monday 14th of September 2026.
I can't wait to welcome you into this space of enquiry, community and exploration!
We begin on October 1st 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)