Yoga History, Theory, and Philosophy

Catalog description

In this course we will explore the historical arc of major premodern Indian Yogic traditions. In addition to an analysis of the myriad psycho-somatic practices for liberation that came to be designated as "yoga," we will track the development of the major philosophies and views that animated these embodied disciplines. The course will shift between a close reading of primary sources and secondary scholarship. Regarding the former, we will read classic yogic works in their entirety, such as the Katha Upanisad, the Bhagavadgita, the Yogasutra, and the Hathapradipika. However, we will also study and historicize lesser-known textual masterpieces on yoga.