What wisdom can we learn from the sages of ancient India?
Stories of the ancient Indian Sages are rich with yogic wisdom. This is why so many yoga poses are named after them.
From Sage Bharadvāja’s quest for complete knowledge to Viśvāmitra’s feud with Sage Vasiṣṭha over his wish-fulfilling cow, these riveting stories have much to teach about the yogic quest.
This course integrates academic content, captivating storytelling, and esoteric exposition to bring to life the wisdom found in the stories of the sages. We will also examine specific yoga postures connected with the sages.
This course will help you:
- Learn about the stories of Indian sages and their profound meanings
- Gain insight into key yoga postures related to the sage's stories
- Develop a deeper understanding of the spiritual basis of postural yoga practice
- Explore themes of human nature and spiritual evolution
- Honor tradition by learning from a member of an ancient Indian living wisdom lineage
This 4-part on-demand online course is taught by scholar of Indian mythology and The Stories Behind the Poses author Dr. Raj Balkaran.
Course Structure
Module 1: Celestial Sages
Module 2: Sacred Power
Module 3: Divine Difficulty
Module 4: The Power of Reversals
6+ Hours of Video Lessons
Valuable for the simply curious, longtime yogis, expert practitioners and everyone in between
Downloadable Notes
Easily follow along with and refer back to the class slides
Access Anytime, Anywhere
Whether day or night, wherever you are, you have forever access to this on-demand course
Ancient Wisdom, Modern Applications
Learn mantra and other techniques to apply teachings to your life
Join The Indian Wisdom School
Become a part of our community and gain access to exclusive events and lessons
Yoga Alliance Credit
This course counts as 12 hours of YA Continuing Education Credit
Meet Your Instructor
Dr. Raj Balkaran is the founder of The Indian Wisdom School, scholar, and author, including for the popular book this course is based on, The Stories Behind the Poses. He teaches a number of courses through the Indian Wisdom School, the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, Yogic Studies, and Embodied Philosophy. He also hosts the New Books in Indian Religions podcast.
Before becoming a scholar, Dr. Balkaran was initiated into Indian Wisdom Traditions by multiple lineal teachers and apprenticed with a renowned Indian spiritual master for twelve years. For the past two decades, he has been immersed in daily spiritual practice and study, cultivating a deep understanding of these traditions.