Authenticity in Yoga: Practical Philosophy | In Studio or Livestream
Daniel Simpson | 1 - 2 March 2025 | 30 hours | Price: £395
Yoga philosophy is as relevant to practitioners today as at any time in history. Suitable for all, this course brings philosophy to life in an engaging way that maintains the authenticity of yogic traditions without oversimplifying them.
We will examine how yoga has evolved over the centuries, and discuss what connects modern practice to earlier teachings. This facilitates a deeper understanding of yoga’s roots, while highlighting principles that shape innovation in alignment with tradition.
The training is accessible to anyone, including those with no experience of philosophy. (If you have little or no prior exposure, you might find it helpful to read Daniel Simpson’s “The Truth of Yoga” in advance). The interactive format allows for reflection on contemporary priorities, while delving deep into timeless wisdom. You will emerge with a clearer perspective on authenticity, and if you are a teacher this will help anchor your teaching and practice in yogic ideas.
Daniel’s approach to teaching combines scholarly knowledge with humour and insight, making yoga philosophy accessible and fun. We asked him some questions in a recent video. Watch it HERE to learn what makes this training especially distinctive.
This course can be attended as a stand-alone course or as an optional module on our Yoga Alliance-accredited 300-hour programme.
N.B. you will have immediate access to on-demand content after booking (details below)

Authenticity in Yoga: Practical Philosophy Course Overview
Explore the main themes that shaped yoga’s development with Daniel Simpson. Building on ideas from his book The Truth of Yoga, this training examines the links between philosophy and practice, and the many different ways they have been woven together.
Through a mix of live discussion and online study, you will reflect on your role in this ongoing fusion of ideas and techniques, while developing connections with yogic traditions. This is an engaging and relevant course for all yoga teachers and practitioners who want a clearer understanding of the philosophy and history of yoga.
Before we meet for 12 hours of live discussions, you will have access to an online course to study on-demand (12 hours). This unpacks a major yoga text, relating its teachings to contemporary applications. You can choose between the Yoga Sūtra, the Bhagavad Gītā, the Haṭha Pradīpikā and the early Upaniṣads.
There are also a further 6 hours of self-study, including reading and journaling to prepare for an assignment (with written and spoken options). This will help you to articulate a personal perspective on yoga philosophy.
Authenticity in Yoga: Practical Philosophy Course Content
LIVE DISCUSSION (12 hours)
We meet for four interactive sessions, held in studio, or via livestream. Each starts with a short presentation followed by questions. We then split into groups to inquire in more depth, before reconvening to share our ideas:
- The Roots of Modern Yoga – how contemporary methods evolved from a variety of sources, transforming world-renunciation into quests for well-being.
- Rethinking Authenticity – why practices don’t have to be old to be authentic, which requires us to define what connects ancient frameworks to modern applications.
- The Meaning of Freedom – what it means to be free in the 21st century, comparing this with older definitions while discussing yogic obstacles and ways to transcend them.
- Finding Our Way with Philosophy – how to integrate traditional perspectives with contemporary priorities, both in everyday life and as a teacher and practitioner.
VIDEO ON-DEMAND (12 hours)
Your choice of pre-recorded course will be released when you book. All of the options includes 8 hours of teaching, plus 4 hour-long discussions about the material. You can study this material at your convenience. Please select one of the following:
- The Yoga Sūtra – “Beyond Eight Limbs”
- The Bhagavad Gītā – “Yoga for Everyone’s Benefit”
- The Haṭha Pradīpikā – “How Physical Yoga Evolved”
- The Early Upaniṣads – “Yoga’s Philosophical Roots”
ASSIGNMENT (6 hours)
A short piece of writing or oral presentation that explores your connection with yogic traditions. Guidance on how to complete this will be provided in the last live discussion.



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 modules scheduled:
-
released after booking ON DEMAND VIDEO
(to be watched within 3 months)
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Saturday 1 March 2025 In Studio or Livestream
10 am - 5:30 pm Live session 1
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Sunday 2 March 2025 In Studio or Livestream
10 am - 5:30 pm Live session 2
Pricing
- £395 (includes ON DEMAND pre-recorded videos + 2 days in studio / livestream + final ASSIGNMENT)
- A non-refundable deposit of £150 is required on booking
- If you book the IN STUDIO option but wish to have flexibility to attend via VIRTUAL LIVESTREAM you can pay an admin fee of £25 by clicking on the FLEXIBLE HYBRID ADMIN FEE orange button. This will hold your IN STUDIO place but also gives you access to the LIVESTREAM links. You can request this at any point during the course but since this needs to be activated manually, it will only be processed during our admin team's working hours Monday to Friday (7am-4pm).
- 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
- If you do not pay in full, please ensure that you save your credit card details so we can process the final payment of £245. This will happen 21 days before the start of the course and a receipt will be sent to you when the payment has been taken.
- In order for the balance to be processed, please ensure that you save your card details and opt for the direct debit option. If you prefer to pay by the credit card option then this incurs a 2.4% charge. Receipts will be sent to you when the payments are taken.
- 300 hour students get a 10% discount on this training if they have booked three trainings with us including the core. Email us if this is the case and the discount will be applied when the balance is taken
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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.