Yoga Students and Teachers
If you have been practicing Yoga, teaching or offering it as therapy, you will have experienced the transformative aspects of Yoga. The learning journey in Yoga is is so often about clearing away confusion and misconceptions, as much as it is about learning previously unknown information.
If you have been practicing for a while you will know that most people who claim to be teachers of Yoga are undertrained and lack crucial knowledge because they are simply not trained or expert in areas such as Philosophy, Sanskrit and Yoga.
YogaPhilosophy was founded by Dr.Shyam Ranganathan to makeup for this lack of experienced teaching coupled with a rigorous foundations in the history of Yoga.
All courses as YogaPhilosophy are taught by experts with PhD level training, and extensive, field changing research, in the topics they teach. That means, that the philosophy courses are tall taught by someone with a PhD in philosophy, and a research specialization in Yoga, with knowledge of the original texts in Sanskrit. The Sanskrit course is similarly taught by a scholar of Sanskrit.
YogaPhilosophy is the only online source of training in Yoga and Philosophy that meets this rigorous criterion of expertise.
Our instructors also typically have over 20000 teaching hours of experience, and are practiced in introducing sophisticated ideas in accessible terms.
If you are new to YogaPhilosophy, sign up for this free, 1 CE hour course that overviews the history of Yoga, it’s essential philosophy, and its relationship to practice, teaching and therapy.
Level 1 and Level 2
100 Hour Certifications
100 Hour Yoga Philosophy Certifications are Unparalleled Introductions to the Essentials of Understanding Yoga and Philosophy
Level 1 Certification
Transform Your Practice with our Level 1, 100-Hour Yoga Philosophy Certification!
Unlock the profound wisdom and timeless teachings of yoga with our comprehensive Level 1, 100-Hour Yoga Philosophy Certification. Designed for both aspiring yoga teachers and dedicated practitioners, and anyone interested in philosophy, this program offers an immersive journey into the decolonial, ethical, and philosophical foundations of yoga.
What you will learn
- Historical Roots: Explore the rich history of Yoga from ancient times to the modern era.
- Key Texts: Dive deep into the Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali, the Bhagavad Gītā, the Upaniṣads, and other essential yoga traditions such as Buddhism, Jainism, Sāṅkhya, Vedānta. As well, unique to this program, learn about the global history of ethical and philosophical thought in the Western, Chinese and Indian traditions and understand Yoga’s unique and empower contribution to the options.
- Decolonial Training: Learn about the Western origins of many common assumptions about learning, knowledge, and practice that are weaved into ordinary yoga spaces and discern how to distinguish these colonial elements from your own authentic practice.
- Course Correcting Practices: Integrate the Yamas and Niyamas and all Eight Limbs into your daily life and teaching practice.
- Meditation and Problem Solving: Develop a continual personal meditation practice to enhance mental clarity and inner peace.
- Rigorous Training: gain the basic skills to discern the distinction between reliable and incorrect translations of the Yoga tradition.
- Interpretation vs. Explication: Learn how to avoid projecting your beliefs on to Yoga texts via interpretation, by learning how to uncover the philosophy of the tradition.
Course Features
- Expert Instructors: All courses taught by leading experts on the topic of instruction.
- Interactive Learning: Engage in thought-provoking discussions and group exercises.
- Flexible Schedule: Enjoy the convenience of asynchronous recorded content that fits your lifestyle.
- Comprehensive Resources: Access a wealth of study materials, including bonus course material, articles, recorded lectures and archived class discussions.
- Unlimited mini consultations: each valued at $50.
- Certification: Receive a recognized certification upon successful completion of the course.
Who Should Enroll
- Yoga practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of yoga philosophy.
- Aspiring yoga teachers aiming to enrich their knowledge and teaching credentials.
- Individuals interested in personal growth, mindfulness, and spiritual development.
Join us on this transformative journey and enrich your yoga practice with the timeless wisdom of yoga philosophy.
Pricing
- The pricing is modular: you pay for the components as and when you enroll in them. Join any time by first enrolling in the program. Once you are in the program (enrollment renews every year unless cancelled), you have access to the four courses that makeup the 100 hours at a discount. Take them in the prescribed order, one at a time, at your own pace.
- Course Durations are renewable: You have the option of allowing courses to renew to allow more time to explore the material.
- Minimum Price to Complete the Program: If students do not repeat courses and complete within a year, the cost is $1216
Component Courses
Availability
Available Continually
(1) Five Limbs: A deep dive Yoga Practice (20 hours)
(2) Yoga for Mental Being: an overview of the mental health implications of Yoga’s Philosophy (20 hours)
(3) Yoga Moral Philosophy: A survey of moral philosophy from Europe, China and and India. Students will learn about the difference between Yoga and other South Asian philosophies like Buddhism. Students also gain an introduction to various sources of Yoga’s philosophy. (30 Hours)
Available Twice a Year
(4) Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra: Beyond the Surface — deep dive into the the foundational text. Students retain life access to this material. 4 week intensive consists of bespoke scheduling, classes limited to 3 students, and a free private one hour session at the end of the course. (30 Hours)
Level 2 Certification
Distinguish Yourself via the Level 2, 100-Hour Yoga Philosophy Certification!
The Level 2, 100 Hour Yoga Philosophy Certification is available to those who have successfully completed the Level 1 program.
What you will learn
- Practical Tools: Students will learn the practical tools of Logic, Translation Theory, and Introduction to Sanskrit to allow them to do their own research and reading of the Yoga tradition.
- Key Topics: Logic and Critical Thinking, Translation Theory, Introduction to Sanskrit,
- Decolonial Training: Learn about the Western origins of many common assumptions about learning, knowledge, and practice that are weaved into ordinary yoga spaces and discern how to distinguish these colonial elements from your own authentic practice.
- Course Correcting Practices: Integrate Yoga-based practices of clear thinking in your daily life.
- Meditation and Problem Solving: Acquire the critical thinking skills required to solve problems.
- Rigorous Training: gain the basic skills to discern the distinction between reliable and incorrect translations of the Yoga tradition.
- Interpretation vs. Explication: Continue learning how to avoid projecting your beliefs on to Yoga texts via interpretation, by learning how to uncover the philosophy of the tradition.
Course Features
- Expert Instructors: All courses taught by leading experts on the topic of instruction.
- Interactive Learning: Engage in thought-provoking discussions and group exercises.
- Flexible Schedule: Enjoy the convenience of asynchronous recorded content that fits your lifestyle.
- Comprehensive Resources: Access a wealth of study materials, including bonus course material, articles, recorded lectures and archived class discussions.
- Unlimited mini consultations: each valued at $50.
- Certification: Receive a recognized certification upon successful completion of the course.
Who Should Enroll: Level 1 graduates who are...
- Yoga practitioners seeking a rigorous access to the Yoga tradition
- Aspiring yoga teachers aiming to enrich their knowledge and teaching credentials
- Individuals interested in personal growth, and scholarship.
Join us on this transformative journey and enrich your yoga practice with the timeless wisdom of yoga philosophy.
Pricing
- The pricing is modular: you pay for the components as and when you enroll in them. Join any time by first enrolling in the program. Once you are in the program (enrollment renews every year unless cancelled), you have access to the four courses that makeup the 100 hours at a discount. Take them in the prescribed order, one at a time, at your own pace.
- Course Durations are renewable: You have the option of allowing courses to renew to allow more time to explore the material.
- Minimum Price to Complete the Program: If students do not repeat courses and complete within a year, the cost is $1223
Component Courses
Availability
Available Continually
(1) Yoga and Translation: Survey of recent translation theory that is applicable to translating the Yoga Sūtra (20 Hours)
(2) Yoga and Logic: Learn about the basics of critical thinking and Logic and how this is part of the practice of Yoga (20 Hours)
(3) Introduction to Sanskrit: learn basic knowledge of Sanskrit that will help students students investigate basic texts of Yoga in the original language. (30 Hours)
Available Twice a Year
(4) Manifesting Prosperity and Success~~~ Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra: Focus Book 3. Deep dive into the the foundational text. Students retain life access to this material. 4 week intensive consists of bespoke scheduling, classes limited to 3 students, and a free private one hour session at the end of the course. (30 Hours)
Level 1 Courses
Five Limbs: Yoga Sūtra Essentials for Practice
20 hours – Basics of Yoga Practice (Book 2 of the Yoga Sūtra)
Welcome to Yoga Philosophy and Mental Well-Being: Engage your Kaivalya and Thrive
20 hours – Yoga teachings for mental health (Books 1 and 4 of the Yoga Sūtra)
30 hours – Overview of Ethical Theory from Around the World, which Distinguishes Yoga as a Unique Option
Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra: Beyond the Surface, Abiding in One’s Essence (May or November)
30 hours – Deep dive into the Yoga Sūtra to set students up for life long learning
Level 2 Courses
20 hours – Dr. Ranganathan, professional philosopher, translation theorist, and translator of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra (Penguin 2008) shares decades of research. Students learn how to and how to not translate any text.
20 hours –Dr. Ranganathan, professional philosopher, and translator of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra (Penguin 2008) shares his decades of research on the foundations of Logic and Critical Thinking in the practice of Yoga.
30 hours – Definitive Introduction to Sanskrit—the Language of Yoga’s Philosophy—for Yogis, with quizzes and a final test to confirm learning.
Manifesting Prosperity and Success
30 hours – Deep dive into Yoga Sūtra with special emphasis on the enigmatic Book 3, or the book of Powers and Success.
Self-Help Courses
This is a free course offering an introduction to how Yoga, the ancient practice, is a basic practice of radical transformation and success by self-help.
32 hours – Career and Life Planning with the ancient Wisdom of Yoga and Modern Neuroscience Support
Yoga, the Guņas, and Polyvagal Audio-Therapy
Designed to supplement therapeutic practices like yoga, this ground breaking, neuroscience based course and intervention can help you take your work to the next level.
Yoga Philosophy Streaming includes new, monthly content that addresses current challenges in light of Dr. Ranganathan’s extensive research in philosophy and practice of yoga.