Essential Yoga Philosophy | Mike Bloch-Levermore

An entertaining, academic perspective on the key texts and concepts of yogic thought

Yoga's History

A complete overview of the Yoga Sutras by breaking the text into sections and sticking each part to the wall in a giant collage.It’s probably the most comprehensive study-guide you can get for the Sutras in a couple of hours, allowing a much broader picture of the text than simply a focus on the eight limbs.

The Śramanas

We study yoga in the age of the forest ascetics, or Śramaṇas. Listening to stories from the Buddha’s harrowing time as a hardcore renunciant, with readings from the Pali canon and Thích Nhất Hạnh. Learn about the practice of tapas and discuss the dedication it takes to be an ascetic.

The Mahābhārata

The Bhagavad Gītā starts in the centre of a great battle, which can be a confusing place to start! We learn about the Mahābhārata, the epic that encompasses the Gītā, by getting to know the Kuru family, the Pandava brothers and just what they’re fighting about.

The Yoga Sutras

A complete overview of the Yoga Sutras by breaking the text into sections and sticking each part to the wall in a giant collage.It’s probably the most comprehensive study-guide you can get for the Sutras in a couple of hours, allowing a much broader picture of the text than simply a focus on the eight limbs.

Two Kinds of Oneness

Meditate on the layers of ourselves, koshas, and how underpinning them all is the one, Brahman. Plus learn about the lost school of Classical Tantra, discussing the alternative Tantrik Five Layers and how this beautiful, differing worldview of oneness became largely forgotten.

LIFELONG LEARNING

Includes a massive 100-page book, full of illustrations, cartoons and further reading.

Thank you so much for the course in philosphy, it´s a course that every yogi should take.

I gained a lot of insights and I loved the way you teach Philosophy including all of your knowledge, which you shared so generously.

Camilla Tell

Ingela Holgersson

THANKYOU for your splendid presentation of yoga philosophy - both live and the written edition on Essential Yoga Philosophy - it has been a pleasure to read and interact with you. Clear and insightful

I really resonated with your way of teaching. Your light-hearted and interactive approach certainly made the concepts more simple to grasp!

Ulrica Cassel

Toni de Wit

YOUR PHILOSOPHY MODULE FOR TEACHER TRAININGS

Thinking of launching a 200hr / 500hr Yoga Teacher Training? Have Mike run your philosophy module.
The training can be fitted into a month training, held as a weekend module or wrapped around your own philosophy notes as you like.
The Essential Yoga Philosophy training takes between 12-20hrs, and can include engaging homework as requested. Just send me an email, and we can make some plans.

PHILOSOPHY FOR EVERYONE

If you’re not setting up a teacher training, but want to learn about yoga philosophy, you’re also in the right place!
Check the dates and locations for joining an Essential Yoga Philosophy module below. Some events will be held independently, and some are already part of 200hr teacher trainings.
If you’re new to yoga, were left confused by other trainings, want some refreshing, or are simply curious, I’m confident almost anyone can gain a greater clarity in yogic history and philosophy from attending.

IN-PERSON OR ONLINE?

There isn’t a pre-recorded version of this course, you have to join an event! Check out the dates at the bottom of the page - events can be attended physically, joined on Zoom, or a combination of both, depending on what’s specified.
No dates that suit? Invite Mike to run an Essential Yoga Philosophy training for your local community. It doesn’t have to be part of a 200hr teacher training, just send me an email and we’ll have a chat.

PHILOSOPHY MAKES ME KINDA SLEEPY…

This is going to be entertaining! Cartoons, skateboards, interactive games, competitions for candy; philosophy shouldn’t be boring. Especially Indian philosophy, it’s rich with stories, strange analogies, badly dubbed cartoons and 80s TV shows.
And if something doesn’t stick during the training, there’s a massive illustrated book included in the course to make sure you’ll have these teachings for life.

A CLEAR, MODERN PERSPECTIVE ON YOGIC THOUGHT AND HISTORY

Essential Yoga Philosophy is a comprehensive, accessible introduction to key aspects of yogic thought, important texts and yoga’s history.
Presented to make complex subjects understandable and applicable to your yoga practice in a mixture of mild irreverence and profound contemplations. Taught from an academic perspective with research from modern scholars such as Mark Singleton, James Mallinson, Seth Powell, Christopher Wallis, Oxford University and SOAS in London.