Yoga Philosophy Club | LIVESTREAM
Daniel Simpson | Starts 6 November 2025 | £135 for 5 sessions (£30 single drop in)
Yoga philosophy offers an invaluable framework for living with greater clarity, connection and wisdom. This online gathering offers a supportive space to explore yogic insights in dialogue – a place for teachers and practitioners of yoga to reflect together on how ancient yogic wisdom can support modern lives.
Sessions are facilitated by Daniel Simpson, whose blend of scholarly knowledge and light-hearted humour makes timeless teachings accessible and relevant. Whatever your experience with studying philosophy, these meetings provide an opportunity to think deeply and unpack yogic ideas.
Each session is structured around a core theme, introduced by a short presentation providing context. Then there is time and space for reflection, questions and lively, open discussions. Questions are welcome about any topic, so it’s also a great opportunity for practical guidance on anything related to yoga philosophy and how you might bring that into your life or your yoga classes if you are a teacher.
You’re free to attend any session as a standalone, or to build a pathway through the year by joining regularly. Those who attend five sessions over 12 months get a discounted rate and a certificate of attendance – and these hours will count towards your 300-hour certification if you are part of that programme.
We meet online every few weeks, alternating between Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:00–9:00 pm. See below for the dates and inspiring topics that we have lined up.
Purchase a multi-session pass, which gives you credits to book five discounted sessions of your choosing from the topics below. Valid 12 months.
DATES AND TOPICS
Yogic Freedom for Modern Practitioners
Thursday 6 November 2025 7–9pm
The traditional objective of yoga is liberation. In this session, we explore what that means in contemporary life.
- What did freedom mean in ancient yogic texts, and what does it look like today?
- To what extent is yoga about liberation from something oppressive?
- Is freedom to be able to act in particular ways, or freedom within?
- How far do words like “autonomy” and “independence” reflect yogic values?
- Do traditional ideas of renouncing the world still have any appeal?
The Problem of Suffering & How to Find Peace
Tuesday 9 December 2025 7-9 pm
Alleviating suffering is a common yogic goal. We discuss how that works, and whether suffering is also a teacher to listen to.
- What makes us suffer and how do yogic teachings help us respond?
- To what extent do people’s reactions make things worse?
- Is some degree of suffering inevitable? If so, why?
- How much of it might be collective as opposed to individual?
- Which mental tendencies are unhelpful? How can we counter them?
Doing the Right Thing – Yoga & Ethical Dilemmas
Wednesday 14 January 2026 7-9 pm
Yoga texts highlight ethics but say little about worldly life. We reflect on values that help us navigate everyday challenges.
- How do we define right action? How much does it depend on context?
- Are Patañjali’s yamas and niyamas the most helpful list of guidelines?
- Might we have different priorities? If so, are other qualities relevant?
- Do yogic practices lead to good conduct automatically? If not, why not?
Relationships – Balancing Boundaries & Acceptance
Thursday 19 February 2026 7-9 pm
Our relationship with everything is yoga. We consider some skills that improve communication about people’s needs.
- How far do relations with others depend on the way we relate to ourselves?
- If acceptance leads to yogic contentment, does that stop us setting boundaries?
- How might we strike a healthy balance between saying “yes” and “no” in life?
- Does the self mean something different to yogis and therapists? If so, how?
Yogic Perspectives on What Makes Life Meaningful
Tuesday 24 March 2026 7-9 pm
What we inherit and how we act shapes who we become. We contemplate how to find meaning in this process.
- How do we define dharma and karma in contemporary terms?
- What gives us purpose? How free are we to make our own choices?
- How much of life is shaped by factors beyond our control?
- What distinguishes things we can change from those we can’t?
- Does it help to prioritise values instead of objectives?
Is Yoga Political? Reflecting on Power & Practice
Wednesday 6 May 2026 7-9 pm
How we act “off the mat” is at least as important as yogic practice. We investigate how that translates into social priorities.
- Should politics and yoga be separate, or is everything political?
- Do yogic ideas have political corollaries? If so, what does yoga stand for?
- To what extent do yogic powers have worldly applications?
- Might there be yogic ways to handle disagreement?
- Which values seem important to prioritise?
What's Appropriate – Rethinking Authenticity
Thursday 11 June 2026 7-9 pm
Debates about appropriation have raised important questions about authenticity. We identify ways to respond with integrity.
- Do practices have to be old to be authentic?
- Who defines what is traditional and on what basis?
- Which criteria help us decide what is and isn’t yogic?
- Has there ever been any such thing as “one true yoga”?
- What keeps new methods anchored in earlier ideas?
Yoga & Death – Surrendering to Impermanence
Tuesday 15 September 2026 7-9 pm
Yogic teachings discuss immortality, but bodies decay and eventually die. We examine aversion to this and how facing it helps.
- Does yoga prepare us for death? Or is it more about trusting in life?
- How far can we understand something we haven’t experienced?
- What can we learn from letting go of others, or anything else?
- Might breathing – or any other practices – offer us insight?
Purchase a multi-session pass, which gives you credits to book five discounted sessions of your choosing from the topics below. Valid 12 months.
Are you interested in this Course?
Daniel Simpson Biography
Yoga Philosophy Teacher
Daniel Simpson is the author of The Truth of Yoga, an accessible guide to yoga history and philosophy. His approach is engaging and fun, combining scholarly knowledge with humour and insight, while exploring the links between traditional wisdom and modern priorities.
Daniel first encountered yoga in India in the 1990s, and has returned for frequent visits since then. He has studied extensively with teachers in Rishikesh, Pune and Mysore, among other places, as well as attending the Maha Kumbh Mela – the world’s biggest pilgrimage.
He holds an MA in Traditions of Yoga and Meditation from SOAS in London, having earlier studied history at Cambridge before a career as a foreign correspondent. He now teaches courses at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, and contributes to yoga teacher trainings in the UK and internationally.
He also hosts the Ancient Futures podcast.
Course Dates
The course has the following schedule:
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Yogic Freedom for Modern Practitioners
6 Nov 2025 | Thu | 7-9pm | Livestream
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The Problem of Suffering and How to Find Peace
9 Dec 2025 | Tue | 7-9pm | Livestream
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Doing the Right Thing – Yoga and Ethical Dilemmas
14 Jan 2026 | Wed | 7-9pm | Livestream
-
Relationships – Balancing Boundaries and Acceptance
19 Feb 2026 | Thu | 7-9pm | Livestream
-
Yogic Perspectives on What Makes Life Meaningful
24 Mar 2026 | Tue | 7-9pm | Livestream
-
Is Yoga Political? Reflecting on Power and Practice
6 May 2026 | Wed | 7-9pm | Livestream
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Defunding the Yoga Police – Rethinking Authenticity
11 June 2026 | Wed | 7-9pm | Livestream
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Yoga and Death – Surrendering to Impermanence
15 Sep 2026 | Tue | 7-9pm | Livestream
Pricing
- £135 for 5 sessions. Drop in price of £30
- You may attend this module as a stand alone YA accredited course or as part of our 300-hour programme.
- To reserve your place, please >>click the BOOK button below or at the top of the page>> click BOOK NOW >> sign in or input your details and choose payment method
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Terms & Conditions
- Trainings at the Shala School of Yoga are independently run by the teachers, and all payments for training services are processed by the Shala School of Yoga on behalf of the individual teachers hosting the course.