Embodied Philosophy

Transforming Complex Trauma: The NeuroAffective Relational Model
2023-06-12 00:00 - 2023-06-21 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles)
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LIVE Mondays & Wednesdays June 12, 14, 19, 21 @ 7 – 9 pm EDT

If you can’t attend this event live, all registrants will have access to the recording.

If you are already a member sign in and add the course to your favorites. You will need to be subscribed to be able to receive reminder emails from Embodied Philosophy including to receive the Zoom link for the live sessions. For support, please reply to your confirmation email or contact hello@embodiedphilosophy.com.

Transforming Complex Trauma: The NeuroAffective Relational Model

Thanks to current research on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and complex trauma (C-PTSD), we now have greater awareness of the long-term impact of early trauma and how children carry forward these trauma-based adaptations into adulthood through their personality. Using the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM), we will present the Adaptive Survival Styles model – historically referred to as “Character Structures.” The NARM Adaptive Survival Styles will provide a useful framework for how to understand and address the psychobiological patterns of personality that often lead to symptoms and disorders that so many adults are dealing with, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, sleep and eating disorders, relational and sexual challenges, and so many other forms of personal and collective suffering. The therapeutic model of NARM will be introduced as a way of providing helping professionals, and anyone interested in complex trauma, by providing comprehensive theory and useful skills to support personal and collective healing and transformation.

Module 1: Overview of Developmental Trauma, Character Structures and the NeuroAffective Relational Model (June 12)

Module 1 will introduce the NeuroAffective Relational Model and how this framework will be used to present a less pathologizing and more humane understanding of personality, complex trauma and human suffering. An overview of the trauma-informed movement will be presented, including a differentiation between complex trauma (C-PTSD) and shock trauma (PTSD). Using research on adverse childhood experiences and developmental trauma, participants will be introduced to the NARM Adaptive Survival Styles model, which are five trauma-based, developmental adaptations that children carry forward into adulthood.

Module 2: Adaptive Survival Styles (June 14)

Module 2 will explore the NARM framework of the Adaptive Survival Styles, specifically focusing on the earliest developmental stages of the Connection and Attunement Survival Styles, their corresponding shame and pride-based identifications and adaptive survival strategies. Participants will also be introduced to the historical understanding of “Character Structures” and how the NARM framework has evolved our understanding of personality and personality disorders.

Module 3: Adaptive Survival Styles Continued (June 19)

Module 3 will continue exploring the NARM framework of the Adaptive Survival Styles, specifically focusing on the developmental stages of the Trust, Autonomy and Love-Sexuality Survival Styles, their corresponding shame and pride-based identifications and adaptive survival strategies. Participants will also be introduced to the historical understanding of “Character Structures” and how the NARM framework has evolved our understanding of personality and personality disorders.

Module 4: Healing Developmental Trauma and the Adaptive Survival Styles (June 21)

Module 4 will present an introduction to the NARM therapeutic approach. An overview of the NARM 4 Pillars will be introduced, which are relational skills designed for resolving developmental trauma and supporting post-traumatic growth. The NARM understanding of heartfulness as a vehicle for healing developmental trauma will also be covered. Participants will be introduced to research-informed theory and skills that can be applied for supporting personal and collective change.

In this course students will:

Identify how the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) fits into the current field of trauma studies.

Discuss the legacy of unresolved developmental trauma including negative self-concept, dysregulation of the self, and interpersonal difficulties.

Summarize a basic understanding of the role of the ACEs Study in understanding Complex Trauma (C-PTSD).

Name the five NARM Adaptive Survival Styles.

Summarize a basic understanding of the NARM 4 Pillar approach for addressing complex trauma.Describe the basic NARM principle of Heartfulness.

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Brad Kammer, LMFT, LPCC, trained as a Somatic Psychotherapist and has worked in the field of trauma for over 20 years, specializing in working with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD).

Brad is a college professor and has been involved in community education, outreach and consulting to numerous communities and organizations. Brad has also been a trainer for Somatic Experiencing® (SE®).

Brad is a Senior Trainer and Training Director of the NARM Training Institute. He teaches the NeuroAffective Relational Model® (NARM®) internationally and has provided consultation to thousands of therapists and other helping professionals around the world. He is also the executive producer of the Transforming Trauma podcast.

Websites:

www.body-mindtherapy.com

www.narmtraining.com

Healing Addiction: A Yogic Perspective
2023-07-08 00:00 - 2023-07-09 23:59 (America/New_York)
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LIVE July 8-9 @ 1 – 4 pm EDT. Convert your time here.

If you can’t attend this event live, all registrants will have access to the recording.

If you are already a member sign in and add the course to your favorites. You will need to be subscribed to be able to receive reminder emails from Embodied Philosophy including to receive the Zoom link for the live sessions. For support, please reply to your confirmation email or contact hello@embodiedphilosophy.com.

Healing Addiction: A Yogic Perspective

This course applies the lens of yoga to the pervasive issue of addiction. Addiction can be described as ‘the dis-ease of the lost self.’ As we look outside of ourselves for what can only come from inside we become increasingly disconnected from lasting peace and tranquility. In disconnection, the conditions for addiction become fertile and dysfunctional patterns often develop. This can occur not only with a substance, one can develop dysfunctional addictive patterns in relationship to other people, food, shopping, work, power, and much more. And sometimes, the patterns are so deeply ingrained that changing them presents tremendous challenges at every level of being.

Healing Addiction, A Yogic Perspective presents a framework for healing that integrates teachings, texts, and practices from yoga, data from modern neuroscience studies, trauma healing, and current addiction treatment approaches. This framework, based on the theme, ‘The Issues Live in Our Tissues,’ presents a holistic relapse prevention model grounded in compassionate awareness, change, and healing.

Module 1: Broadening The View of Addiction (July 8)

Most often when we hear the word addiction, thoughts instantly turn toward abuse of a substance. However, as we look more deeply we see that many are affected by behavioral or process addictions. Research has found that there are stark similarities between substance addiction and the psychological dependence to activities like compulsive gambling, sex, work, shopping, and eating disorders. As we expand our view, we see that addiction really isn’t about the substance or even the addictive behavior at all. In this module, we examine the underlying problem of addiction and introduce the solution from the view of yoga.

Module 2: A Model for Healing (July 9)

In Module 2 we will explore the yogic model for healing proposed in the Yoga Sūtras and the Upaniṣads. Here we look at a framework for relapse prevention that includes practical tools for cultivating sustainable recovery.

In this course students will:

Learn how the essential teachings of yoga can be applied to the root cause of addiction and the process of healing.

Be introduced to a framework for relapse prevention that includes cognitive approaches and trauma-informed mind/body-based practices.

Engage the yogic view of how we transform dis-functional patterns.

Understand how ‘the issues live in our tissues.’

Apply practical tools to support yourself and others in recovery.

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An accomplished speaker and teacher, Nikki Myers is an MBA, E-RYT 500, Yoga Therapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Addictions Recovery Specialist, and Ayurvedic Specialist. Born from her struggles with addiction and work with countless students, Nikki is the founder of Y12SR, Yoga of 12-Step Recovery. Based on its theme ‘the issues live in the tissues’, Y12SR is a relapse prevention program that weaves the art & science of yoga with the practical tools of 12-step programs.

Y12SR meetings are available internationally and the curriculum has rapidly become a feature of addiction recovery treatment centers. Nikki’s work has been featured in the New York Times, Black Enterprise, The Huffington Post, Origin Magazine, CBSnews.com and countless podcasts. She is honored to be a co-founder of the annual Yoga, Meditation and Recovery Conferences at Esalen Institute and Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. Nikki has been featured as a keynote speaker at the International Association of Yoga Therapist (IAYT) conference and the International Conference on Integrative Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She was named a Yoga Journal Game Changer and is an honored recipient of the esteemed NUVO Cultural Visionary Award.

5-Day Chakras Challenge
2023-07-17 00:00 - 2023-07-21 23:59 (America/New_York)
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LIVE July 17 – July 21, 2023 – Everyday at 7am PT / 10am ET (Convert your time here.)

If you can’t attend this event live, all registrants will have access to the recording.

If you are already a member sign in and add the course to your favorites. You will need to be subscribed to be able to receive reminder emails from Embodied Philosophy including to receive the Zoom link for the live sessions. For support, please reply to your confirmation email or contact hello@embodiedphilosophy.com.

5-Day Chakras Challenge

Join Jacob Kyle, Director of Embodied Philosophy, in a transformative journey to discover, explore, and meditate with an ancient system of Tantric yoga.

The chakras are one of the most popular topics in the spiritual world, but access to yoga practices from ancient yoga texts is hard to come by. Those who want to understand the different philosophical streams of yoga can’t distinguish the ancient from the modern.

Inform Your PracticeIn a matter of five days, you will become a more informed yoga or meditation practitioner, which will help you stand out from the fitness yogis and “McMindful” meditators.

Embody Five ElementsWhy should we care about the five elements? Because challenging ourselves to develop tools to connect and feel affection for nature has perhaps never been so timely and necessary.

Challenge YourselfDiscover an ancient yoga text about the divine feminine, the Kubjikamāta Tantra, explore a non-dual yogic philosophy, and use the elements as tools to ground, flow, enflame, inspire, and expand.

This challenge offers the unique opportunity to:

Integrate with nature through meditation

Discover an under-studied ancient yogic text

Embody Tantric teachings through visualization techniques

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Jacob Kyle is a yoga and meditation teacher, writer, philosophy educator and the Founder of Embodied Philosophy, an online educational platform for wisdom studies and contemplative practices. Jacob holds three Masters Degrees: an MPhil in Sanskrit & Indian Philosophy and Religions from the University of Oxford (2023), an MA in the History of Philosophy from the New School for Social Research (2013), and an MSc in Political Philosophy from the London School of Economics and Political Science (2007). Jacob received dīkṣā into a Tantric form of meditation in 2015, and has since that time been studying and practicing with Kashmir Shaivism scholar-practitioner Paul Muller-Ortega. In 2020, he was initiated as an Acharya (authorized teacher) of Neelakantha meditation and continues to dedicate his life to studying deeply the texts and traditions of the Śaiva-Śākta Darśana, as well as making available through the Embodied Philosophy platform transformative wisdom teachings, practices and perspectives.

Yoga and Social Justice
2023-08-08 00:00 - 2023-08-29 23:59 (America/New_York)
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LIVE August 8, 15, 22, 29 @ 7:00-9:00pm ET. Convert your time here.

If you can’t attend this event live, all registrants will have access to the recording.

If you are already a member sign in and add the course to your favorites. You will need to be subscribed to be able to receive reminder emails from Embodied Philosophy including to receive the Zoom link for the live sessions. For support, please reply to your confirmation email or contact hello@embodiedphilosophy.com.

Yoga and Social Justice

What happens when social justice in yoga is a collective duty? In what ways will our practice change if we answer questions like, “how do I participate in my and others’ oppression on and off the mat” or “what does liberation look like through yoga?” Can we examine and dismantle systems preventing marginalized people from experiencing yoga? This workshop will engage these and other questions about yoga and social justice through curiosity, compassion, and loving accountability. This seminar is ideal for individuals interested in learning how oppression and colonization manifest in historical and contemporary yoga. Attendees will consciously examine various tenants of yoga and modern adaptation of early practices free of colonial and harmful systemic influence. Attendees will also gain the necessary tools to divest from mainstream yoga beliefs, practices, and norms that work against liberation and justice. Last, attendees will begin and sustain collective change work as practitioners, teachers, and members of an interconnected world.

MODULE 1: Social Justice 101: Introduction, Key Concepts, and Self-Study

Undertaking social justice study requires the development of critical consciousness or “the ability to recognize and analyze systems of inequality and the commitment to take action against these systems” (El-Amin et al., 2017). This module will focus on one component of critical consciousness development. Specifically, we will develop an in-depth understanding of social justice concepts and terminology. Additionally, we will explore how our social identities inform our lived experience and yoga practice.

MODULE 2: Social Justice as A Sacred Duty

Yoga Activist and author Dianne Bondy once stated, “it is my sacred duty – my Dharma, if you will – to seek justice and yoga for all of us.” This module will propose social justice as an individual, collective, and universal assignment refined over time. We will examine the presence of social justice and liberation in yogic philosophies.

MODULE 3: History: Exploring Social Justice, Activism, and Change Work in Yoga

Having established a critical lens for yoga, Module 3 will shift the conversation to efforts of yoga change makers. We will explore how individuals “do the good work” of decolonizing yoga at the individual, interpersonal, and institutional/systemic levels. We will demystify what social justice in action looks like by observing historical and contemporary examples.

MODULE 4: Action: Embodying Justice and Transformation in Yoga

The second component of critical consciousness involves a commitment to change work. We will prepare for ongoing social justice engagement by developing an embodiment and transformation toolkit. The toolkit will include actionable steps for incorporating social justice into one’s yoga practice, community, business, and/or lifestyle. Additionally, we will discuss possible barriers or challenges associated with social justice work and solutions. We will conclude by imagining liberatory futures for yoga.

This course offers the unique opportunity to:

Apply social justice vocabulary, concepts, and perspectives to yoga.

Engage in critical change work in community with like minded peers.

Experience embodied activism live.

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Natalie Malone (she/her), MS 200RYT, is a doctoral-level counseling psychologist trainee, researcher, and yoga instructor. Her research prioritizes Black women’s sexual, spiritual, and holistic wellness. As a yoga teacher multicultural educator, and healer, Natalie intentionally integrates social justice, embodied healing, and holistic wellness into her work.

3-Day Ayurveda Challenge: Build a Conscious Diet
2023-09-09 00:00 - 2023-09-11 23:59 (America/New_York)
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LIVE Sessions September 9-11, 2:00-3:30pm ET (Convert your time here.)

If you can’t attend this event live, all registrants will have access to the recording.

If you are already a member sign in and add the course to your favorites. You will need to be subscribed to be able to receive reminder emails from Embodied Philosophy including to receive the Zoom link for the live sessions. For support, please reply to your confirmation email or contact hello@embodiedphilosophy.com.

Embark on a 3-Day Journey into the Ayurvedic Philosophy of Food

Your food choices determine how much strength, energy and mental alignment you manifest. Food sciences today are confused, retracting their forceful recommendations every few years and replacing it with confusing opposing evidence. With no consistency and scanty science, the food industry has bullied the modern world for nearly a century with food products, non-nutritive stimulators, and made us servants of our unenlightened tongues.

Herbs and foods that are natural to the Earth reconnect us to the rhythms of nature. Bio-magnetic forces that have recently received attention by modern science help us understand the transformative impact of natural herbs and spices. During this three-day journey, employ the philosophy of food practiced through the ancient Indian system of Ayurveda.

DAY 1: Feed Your Rasa

The six tastes (rasa) are deeply connected with our digestive capacity and preferences. Through them, you can transform the gifts of the earth into energy. We will learn how to taste food and why feeling happy is important for digestion, fitness, and strength. When you become conscious of your food choices, you learn that what you digest influences the qualities you embody.

DAY 2: Find Real Āhara

Learn the 10 food groups used in Ayurveda. Step away from kitchen tools, preparation, and processes that confuse your subtle body, and replace them with nourishing choices. We will explore the foods that aid and improve your agni (digestive fire) so as to lead a more fulfilling life.

DAY 3: Empower Taste using the World of Herbs

Expand your in-house pharmacy with a handful of readily-available herbs for specific common ailments. Recognize and transform early symptoms, and bring yourself back to health. Integrate fresh foods and time-tested herbal formulations that balance the complex chemistry of our bodies, helping us to build the strength and vitality that fuels a long and happy life.

This challenge offers the unique opportunity to:

Develop an Ayurvedic dietary plan

Transform cravings into contemplations

Harness spices and herbs for common ailments

Learn to eat in alignment with the day and season

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Bhaswati Bhattacharya is a board-certified physician-scientist and Fulbright Scholar trained in family medicine and preventive medicine, serving as Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill-Cornell Medical College. Her research focuses on integrating the wisdom and science of authentic traditional medicines such as Ayurveda into health care. She has earned an MD from Rush U of Chicago, a Masters in Public Health (MPH) from Harvard U, and PhDs in pharmacology/neuroscience (Columbia U) and Ayurveda (Banaras Hindu U, India). Her documentary Healers Journey into Ayurveda is on The Discovery Channel, and her book Everyday Ayurveda is a national bestseller published by Penguin Random House. She teaches a course in the Embodied Philosophy library called The Wisdom of Ayurveda.

FREE Masterclass: Voyage to Vagus
2023-09-26 19:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
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LIVE Sessions September 26, 7:30pm ET (Convert your time here.)

If you can’t attend this event live, all registrants will have access to the recording.

If you are already a Wisdom School member, you do not need to register. You will be emailed the link to join prior to the live event.

Voyage to Vagus: How to Arouse Physiological Relaxation

The vagus nerve is beloved by humans for being the chief parasympathetic nerve that governs the relaxation response. A well-functioning vagus nerve is fundamental for the body’s ability to recover, repair, and heal. This seminar details the five tangible actions that promote a vagal dominant state called, “The 5P’s of the Parasympathetic Nervous System.”

In this seminar you will learn to uncover your body’s ability to “Turn ON your OFF switch,” and learn how “position, perspective, place, palpation, and pneumatic pacing” play a role in your health. The session includes an experiential tour of the 5 P’s including a novel breathwork exercise to hasten relaxation with the author of Body By Breath, founder of Yoga Tune Up, and Yoga Therapist, Jill Miller.Who should attend?

Yoga teachers

Physical Therapists

Pilates instructors

School teachers

Mental health professionals

The “breathwork-curious”

Anyone who is stressed out!

Masterclass attendees will . . .

Learn which regions of the body are innervated by the vagus nerve.

Learn the difference between proprioception and interoception and how these concepts help you in daily life.

Build awareness of how to manually stimulate your vagus via breath, position, palpation, place, and mindset

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Jill Miller, C-IAYT, ERYT, YA-CEP is a fascia and movement expert that forges links between the worlds of yoga, massage, athletics, and pain management. Her programs, Yoga Tune Up® and The Roll Model® are found at gyms, yoga studios, hospitals, athletic training facilities and corporations worldwide. She is the former anatomy columnist for Yoga Journal and has been featured in New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Shape, Women’s Health, O, Today Show, and Oprah Winfrey Network. She is the author of _The Roll Model: A Step-by-Step Guide to Erase Pain, Improve Mobility, and Live Better in Your Bod_y, and a contributing author on self-myofascial release in Fascia, Function and Medical Applications. She is the creator of dozens of instructional DVDs, with movement luminaries Tom Myers, Katy Bowman, Kelly Starrett DPT and Jen Fraboni DPT. Her newest book is Body by Breath: The Science and Practice of Physical and Emotional Resilience. She lives in LA with her husband, 2 kids and rescue dog. www.tuneupfitness.com

Visionary Experience: Exploring the Intersection of Buddhism and Shamanism
2023-10-07 00:00 - 2023-10-21 23:59 (America/New_York)
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Pre-Workshop Lecture and Meditations Available Now On Demand | LIVE Workshop October 21, 11am-5pm ET (Convert your time here.)

If you can’t attend this event live, all registrants will have access to the recording.

If you are already a member sign in and add the course to your favorites. You will need to be subscribed to be able to receive reminder emails from Embodied Philosophy including to receive the Zoom link for the live sessions. For support, please reply to your confirmation email or contact hello@embodiedphilosophy.com.

Visionary Experience: Exploring the Intersection of Buddhism and Shamanism

This course will help you to understand and develop your own visionary capacities through the lens of two ancient traditions where visionary experience has been the cornerstone of practice and self-development for thousands of years. You will learn about the general history and practice of both traditions and then focus on learning different methods of developing and attaining visionary experience, and honing your inner vision, in each of them. These are grounded, yet expansive methods which you could apply in your personal or professional life. This class is particularly helpful if you are trying to organize your capacity to understand and develop your visionary skills, and is suitable for visionaries at all levels of development.

PRE-WORKSHOP LECTURE & MEDITATIONS: An Overview of Visionary Experience in Shamanic and Buddhist Practices

This pre-recorded module, released two weeks before the live session, offers teachings on the larger context of shamanic and Buddhist practice, and how visionary experience informs and enlivens both traditions. We’ll look at how visionary experience is expressed in both Shamanic and Buddhist Practices, in particular the journey from ordinary reality to non-ordinary reality, and back. We will cover an overview of the commonalities and differences between the two traditions, with focus on the visionary experience, and consider visionary experiences through both Shamanic and Buddhist lenses and contexts.

Daily Samatha Meditation practice

Consideration of suffering-inducing statements

Post-meditation journaling

LIVE WORKSHOP + PRACTICE: The Shamanic Journey and the Fundamentals of Deity Meditation Drawn from Buddhist Practice

In this day-long class, you will learn the basics of the shamanic journey, one of the primary ways shamanic practitioners access inner vision. You will also learn the fundamental processes of deity meditation drawn from Buddhist practice, receive assistance in identifying your strengths as a visionary, and help in addressing any challenges you find in the process of integrating your visionary capacities into your everyday life. And finally we will have an oracle demonstration with student questions.

This course offers the unique opportunity to:

Explore Buddhist traditions that are deeply tied to Shamanism

Learn meditations that can help the visionary organize their inner experience

Follow along with stories of spiritual journeys that can serve as archetypes for our own

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In the mid-nineties, Isa began developing Depth Hypnosis as she entered into clinical practice. Her studies, both in academia and in the field of cultural and linguistic anthropology, comparative religion, and transpersonal psychology formed the basis of her approach with clients and students. As the body of work that grew out of her clinical practice became larger, she began teaching others so that more people could benefit from the techniques she had developed. In order to accommodate the number of classes that grew out of this process, she co-founded the Foundation of the Sacred Stream, which is now a school for consciousness studies in Berkeley, California, serving hundreds of students each year. Isa teaches and speaks nationally and internationally, and she has published numerous articles, podcast episodes, videos, and the books Return to the Great Mother and Coming to Peace. She maintains a private practice with institutions and individuals in Depth Hypnosis and Coming to Peace processes. Isa speaks five languages and has lived in eleven countries. She is the mother of two children and lives with her partner in San Francisco.

Embodied Yoga Therapy Certificate Program
2023-10-08 00:00 - 2023-12-06 23:59 (America/New_York)
Learn more or register now…

Embodied Yoga Therapy Certificate Program

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Gain a comprehensive understanding of yoga therapy and how it can be supported by the healing practices of Ayurveda and Tibetan Buddhism

Bridge ancient wisdom with modern healing practices to address various health conditions and concerns

Cultivate awareness of the mind-body connection, promoting psychological well-being and personal growth

Embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, deep healing, and the integration of ancient wisdom with modern science through the Embodied Yoga Therapy for the Embodied Philosophy Certificate Program. This program offers a comprehensive exploration of contemporary yoga therapy and the historical lineages of Tibetan Buddhist, Contemporary Somatic, and Ayurvedic-informed practices that incorporate yoga as a form of adjunctive medicine. This program is designed for individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of yoga’s therapeutic potential and its integration with holistic healing modalities. Participants will delve into the nuances of yoga therapy, combining ancient wisdom with modern scientific research to develop a well-rounded approach to supporting physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

PROGRAM OUTLINE

Introduction to Embodied Yoga Therapy with Dr. Chris Walling

History of Modern Yoga: Spiritual Practice and Applied Health with Stephanie Corigliano

Intro to Clinical Yoga Therapy – The Map and the Territory with Dana Slamp

Anatomy & Physiology with Jill Miller

Integration Session 1 with TBD

Perspectives on Trauma in Yoga Therapy with Dr. Chris Walling

Contemplative Psychotherapy: An Integration of Somatics and Yoga with Dr. Chris Walling

Yoga & Modern Medicine: Skeletal Uniqueness and Asana Pain Science and Yoga with Dr. Lori Rubenstein Fazzio

Yoga & Community Healing with Natalie Malone

The Profound Wisdom of Ayurveda 1: Dosha with Dr. Bhaswati Bhattacharya

Integration Session 2 with TBD

The Profound Wisdom of Ayurveda 2: Dinacarya with Dr. Bhaswati Bhattacharya

The Profound Wisdom of Ayurveda 3: Ayurvedic Travel Rituals with Dr. Bhaswati Bhattacharya

Buddhist/Tibetan Yoga Module 1 with James Bae (Hyoun Bae)

Nocturnal Meditation for Psychological and Spiritual Growth with Andrew Holecek

Integration Session 3 with Dr. Chris Walling

Buddhist/Tibetan Yoga Module 2 with James Bae (Hyoun Bae)

Summative Session + Closing with Dr. Chris Walling

Learn more or register now…

FREE Meditation Resolution: Five Days, Five Tattvas
2024-01-01 00:00 - 2024-01-05 23:59 (America/New_York)
Register now for free…

Join us LIVE January 1-5, 2024.

Wisdom School Members are automatically enrolled and will receive access information via email. Not a member? Sign-up for free today! Enroll in Meditation Resolution 2024 →

A “tattva” in Indian philosophy refers to a principle, element, or aspect of reality.

The concept varies across different philosophical schools but generally represents the building blocks or fundamental truths of the universe. In Sāṃkhya, one of the oldest schools of Indian philosophy, there are 25 tattvas, including elements like the mind, ego, and various sensory and physical elements. In Śaivism and other schools, the number and nature of tattvas can differ, but they all aim to describe the composition and structure of the universe, both material and non-material. Tattvas are used to understand the relationship between consciousness, matter, and the cosmos.

In this five-day meditation commitment, we will aim to cultivate a foundation for a year of meditation. Your meditation teachers will guide you through a unique daily practice of meditation and offer insights and teachings from some of the world’s meditation traditions.

This five-day commitment is entirely free and will set you up for a year of sustained meditation practice. Your facilitators will teach you how to stick with your practice, even when 💩 hits the fan.

If you can’t attend this event live, all registrants will have access to the recording.

Register now for free…

The Matsyendrasaṃhītā: A 30-Day Chakra Sādhanā
2024-05-28 00:00 - 2024-06-26 23:59 (America/New_York)
Join us LIVE starting May 28, 2024.

Wisdom School Members are automatically enrolled and will receive access information via email. Not a member? Enroll in the 30-Day Chakra Sādhanā →

Study the yoginīs & their chakras through an ancient yoga text…

The original Tantric practices associated with the chakras are still largely unknown, mentioned within early yogic texts that have received very little study and attention. In this 30-Day Sādhanā, we will explore a tradition of chakra practice as found in an early haṭha yoga text called the Mastyendrasaṃhītā. In this text, we find a sophisticated technology of chakra meditation practice that uses visualization, mantra, breath, and posture to cultivate a contemplative experience of one’s intrinsic divinity.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to both familiarize yourself with an obscure but nonetheless important ancient yoga text, while experimenting with a form of chakra meditation practice that has the potential to radically deepen your yoga practice.

Participating in this 30-Day Process requires just 20-30 minutes of your time per day. Every day will include a live (or occasionally pre-recorded) video session with Jacob Kyle, during which he will unpack a short teaching or translation from the text, followed by a practice grounded and inspired by the Matsyendrasaṃhītā. While the daily practice will remain consistent, the accompanying studies will build on a sequence of “movements” to deepen the synergy of knowledge and experience.

If you can’t attend this event live, all members and registrants will have access to the recording.

Learn more and enroll today . . .

Śiva Sūtras: Opening to Absolute Consciousness
2024-08-06 09:00 - 2024-08-15 09:00 (America/New_York)
Join us LIVE for this 4-Module Course Starting August 6, 2024.

Wisdom School Members are automatically enrolled and will receive access information via email. Not a member? Enroll in the Śiva Sūtras Live Course →

The text that is broadly considered to be the founding text of Kashmir Shaivism is the incredibly timely text, the Śiva Sūtras (SS). The SS, which was composed by an author named Vasugupta, is considered by the tradition to be a “revealed” text, or āgama.

In the “Śiva Sūtras Summer School”, we will be engaging with this important work as a foundational text of yoga philosophy. The SS is fruitful text for modern yoga and meditation practitioners who are seeking a context of knowledge that helps to situate the experience of individuality within a broader picture of what reality is all about.

It provides an inspiring narrative of how one can cultivate meaning in this lifetime in a way that resists being reduced either to familiar modes of religious doctrine or to the assumptions of cosmic meaninglessness that are characteristic of a prevailing relativistic worldview.

Live sessions will take place Tuesdays and Thursdays – August 6th, 8th, 13th, and 15th at 9:00am ET. Each of the four modules will be around 2 hours in length, followed by a 30 minute Q&A. Recordings will be available the day following the live session.

Those who take this course will:

Learn how the non-dual Tantric traditions are incredibly applicable to modern householder life,

Study the way Reality organizes itself, according to the emanationist cosmology of Śaiva Tantra, and compare this view to other accounts of how reality functions,

Discover why we should think about this text as the most central text of yoga philosophy,

Engage with what the central yoga practices are that are connected to the tradition behind the Śiva Sūtras,

Consider who some of the key non-dual philosophers are, and where their perspectives overlapped and diverged,

Study the comprehensive philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism,

Become educated on the relationship between the non-dual Tantric traditions more broadly and the philosophical tradition known as the pratjabhijñā,

Incorporate a recitation of the SS into your practice over two weeks to help you begin memorizing these sūtras for your own reference and practice,

Be able to name and describe what makes Kashmir Shaivism different from other yoga traditions, and

Live the SS in your life and begin to align with the profound meanings communicated within it.

Learn more and enroll today . . .

Your Course Instructor

Jacob Kyle is a yoga and meditation teacher, writer, philosophy educator and the Founder of Embodied Philosophy, an online educational platform for wisdom studies and contemplative practices. Jacob holds an MPhil in Sanskrit & Indian Philosophy and Religions from the University of Oxford (2023), an MA in the History of Philosophy from the New School for Social Research (2013), and an MSc in Political Philosophy from the London School of Economics and Political Science (2007). Jacob received dīkṣā into a Tantric form of meditation in 2015, and has since that time been studying and practicing with Kashmir Shaivism scholar-practitioner Paul Muller-Ortega. In 2020, he was initiated as an Acharya (authorized teacher) of Neelakantha meditation and continues to dedicate his life to studying deeply the texts and traditions of the Śaiva-Śākta Darśana, as well as making available through the Embodied Philosophy platform transformative wisdom teachings, practices and perspectives.

Future of the Yoga Teacher 2024
2024-09-14 09:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
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LIVE September 14, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm ET. Convert your time here.

If you can’t attend this event live, all registrants will have access to the recordings within 1-2 business days following the event. Members attend for free! Not a member? Learn more and enroll.

Myths about the present are stifling your future. Discover solutions to thrive in today’s yoga world.

By the end of this one-day summit, you will have actionable solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing yoga teachers today.

Refine your relationship with yoga’s history and philosophies, discover bridges between yoga & other embodied perspectives, enhance the yoga community as a place of wisdom and connection, nurture your yoga practice and/or teaching through transformative education, give back – these are just a few ways we can be of service to the yoga world.

Showing up for this one-day summit is a decision to creatively contribute to solutions, and throughout this event there will be opportunities to cultivate greater knowledge, sensitivity and access to actionable solutions. By the end of this summit, you will take a step to become conduits of compassion, wisdom, and vision. Join us in this project to build a sustainable yoga future.

We believe in asking questions and discovering a path forward informed by wisdom.

Throughout the summit, we will be exploring constructive perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing yoga teachers & communities.

Learn actionable ways to integrate philosophical perspectives into your yoga teachings

Study a hybrid business model integrating grassroots brick-and-mortar business practices with online techniques & strategies

Chart out the “three great stages” of your yoga career

Flip your perspective with the sādhana-centered business model

Resolve your discomforts with the money side of things by understanding its presence in yoga’s history

Design yoga classes, workshops, and retreats along philosophical themes

Harness the 3-step process for creating “magical” experiences

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Saṃskāras, Spiritual Technology & Sādhana School
2024-10-22 09:00 - 10:30 (America/New_York)
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LIVE + FREE Seminar October 22, 9:00 am – 10:30 am ET. Convert your time here.

If you can’t attend this event live, all registrants will have access to the recordings within 1-2 business days following the event. Members attend for free! Not a member? Learn more and enroll.

In this Talk and Q&A session, we’ll explore the concept of “saṃskāras” and how the various spiritual technologies found in the yoga tradition help to transform the trajectory of our lives by changing these habituated modes of experience. This is a central topic that helps us to understand the relationship between theory (or philosophy) and practice in the yogic tradition.

This event offers a glimpse into the themes and approaches explored in the full course on “Yogic Technologies” beginning October 29th, and it offers all participants an opportunity to get their questions answered, and to learn about whether either the Fall Sādhana or the year-long Sādhana School is for you.

In the forthcoming 8-week Sādhana, we’ll begin by discussing how the term “yoga” has evolved from its ancient roots to its modern interpretations, providing an overview of key historical and philosophical foundations. This will set the stage for a deeper exploration of the many branches of yoga, as expressed through a variety of different Sanskrit texts. We’ll also introduce various dualistic and non-dualistic philosophies, and discuss how these ideas inform both classical and contemporary yoga practices.

In this interactive event, the theory of saṃskāras (and learning about the spiritual technologies that transform them) will help you discover whether the forthcoming process of study and practice is for you. We’ll answer your questions about the full curriculum and how it can support your contemplative adventure, whether you’re a student, teacher, or a seeker of wisdom.

Facilitated by Jacob Kyle, Founder and Director of Embodied Philosophy.

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Body of Sādhana - Half-Day Immersion
2024-11-23 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
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LIVE Seminar and Workshop November 23, 10:00 am – 2:45pm ET. Convert your time here.

If you can’t attend this event live, all registrants will have access to the recordings within 1-2 business days following the event. Members attend for free! Not a member? Learn more and enroll.

Break Free from the Chaos and Discover the Power of Daily Sādhana in this Half-Day Live Event

Getting off the householder hamster wheel for a couple of carefully curated moments every day has become increasingly important. We could say that the rise of meditation reflects a necessary response to the trend of scheduling every fleeting moment of our lives with something to do, with some way to “be productive!” Meditation and contemplative practices in general are timeless and found throughout the world’s wisdom traditions, but perhaps at no other time has its benefits been so exhaustively in demand.

But which form of meditation is right for me? And what about the rituals and practices that one does before and after meditation? What is the point of these other “limbs” of practice? How do I fit meditation in when my day is already completely full to begin with?

In this half-day workshop, you’ll learn:

The benefits of transforming meditation from an occasional practice into a central pillar of your life.

A cycle of practice that takes you from the “gross” body (light postural yoga) to the subtle body in meditation.

The theory of sound and vibration in yoga, and how it relates to practice.

A number of Sanskrit chants that you can incorporate into your personal practice.

A journaling reflection exercise that helps to integrate the experience of meditation.

The philosophy and science of nāda yoga (the “inner sound”)

The practice of uccāra (the “upward enuncation” of mantra)

The practice of nyāsa (the practice of “placing” mantras on the body)

Facilitated by Jacob Kyle, Founder and Director of Embodied Philosophy.

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Subtle Body Anatomy with Tias Little
2025-04-12 00:00 - 2025-05-10 23:59 (America/New_York)
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April 12th and May 10th, 10am – 2pm ET (Recording Available). Convert your time here.

If you can’t attend this event live, all registrants will have access to the recordings within 1-2 business days following the event. This 8-hour workshop over the course of 2 weekends is a portion of the Embodied Philosophy’s Yoga Teacher Training that is available for one-off purchase. Members attend for free! Not a member? Learn more and enroll.

Two 4-Hour Saturday Workshops

Yoga is more than just movement—it is a deep exploration of the forces that animate and shape our being. In Subtle Body Anatomy, renowned teacher Tias Little guides students through a dynamic and integrative approach to understanding the body as a gateway to awareness, healing, and transformation.

Bridging ancient wisdom with contemporary somatic studies, this course explores the structure of the body as an interconnected field of physical, energetic, and psychospiritual experience. Through embodied practice, meditation, and guided inquiry, Tias illuminates how the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems interweave with the energetic pathways of the nadis, chakras, and koshas.

Each workshop unfolds progressively—from grounding in the feet and legs to the expansive potential of the crown—offering practical techniques to sense, refine, and balance the subtle body. Participants will engage in yoga postures, breathwork (pranayama), and visualization exercises to cultivate greater awareness and integration of their subtle anatomy.

Whether you are a practitioner, teacher, or seeker, this course offers an invaluable opportunity to deepen your understanding of the body-mind connection and to experience yoga as a living, multidimensional practice.

In this 2-day workshop, you will:

Learn how the physical body interweaves with the energetic body through the chakras, nadis, and koshas.

Develop greater somatic awareness and refine your ability to sense subtle energetic shifts.

Explore the relationship between fascia, the nervous system, and the flow of prana.

Gain practical tools for using breath, visualization, and meditation to regulate energy and balance the subtle body.

Understand the symbolic and archetypal significance of the subtle body in yogic tradition.

Experience a progressive journey from the feet to the crown, unlocking new layers of awareness in your practice.

Integrate the teachings into your personal or professional yoga practice for greater depth and insight.

Receive expert guidance from Tias Little, blending Eastern wisdom with Western anatomical and psychological perspectives.

Facilitated by Tias Little, Founder of Prajna Yoga.

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