The Story of Yoga: A Visual and Textual History

Join us for a transformative full-day workshop designed for yoga teachers and dedicated practitioners who are eager to deepen their understanding of yoga beyond the mat. Led by renowned scholar Dr. Seth Powell, this two-part workshop will take you on an immersive journey into the origins and evolution of yoga.

Drawing on the latest academic research, we will journey from yoga’s shrouded origins as an ascetic tradition in ancient India, to the emergence of postural yoga in the west and around the globe. Along the way we will explore attempts to define “yoga”, the relationship between yoga philosophy and practice, the diverse varieties and expressions of Indic yoga, the history and chronology of yogic postures (āsana), the multi-billion dollar commercialization of yoga, the imbrication of yoga, religion, and politics, and more. Debunking common misperceptions about yoga’s antiquity, we will uncover the remarkable ways yoga has changed, innovated, and been adopted by millions of practitioners over the past 2,500 years!

Session 1: 12.30-3.30pm: The Roots of Yoga in Premodern India
What is yoga, really? This first session will investigate the nature of “yoga” as it has been understood over the millennia through India’s primary source texts. We will explore the historical roots and contested origins of yoga as an ascetic discipline on the fringes of ancient Indian civilization. We will then trace its early history from the Upaniṣads and the Yogasūtras of Patañjali, to Krishna’s wartime teachings in the Bhagavadgītā; from cakras, maṇḍalas, and flying yoginīs in the Tantras, to the rise of Haṭhayoga (“the yoga of force”) in the medieval period. We’ll look at ancient Sanskrit texts, carvings from medieval Hindu temples, illustrated manuscripts, and more to unpack this rich and fascinating history.

Session 2: 4.00-7.00pm: The Global Rise of Postural Yoga
In the afternoon, we will bring history into the present. We will begin by locating yoga in India during the colonial period to better understand the rise of modern postural yoga and how it was shaped by the global forces of modernity. We will explore the complex ways in which yoga was adapted and promoted by key figures and reformers in the 19th and 20th centuries, which set the stage for yoga’s international expansion. We will conclude by reflecting on the unique challenges and complexities facing yoga and yoga practitioners in the modern world. We will allow time for discussion and reflection on key issues such as: cultural appropriation, the commercialization of yoga, yoga and religion, politics, etc.

Whether you are a seasoned teacher or a curious student, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to learn from one of the leading voices in Yoga Studies and walk away with a deeper connection to yoga’s past and its relevance in our modern lives.

Key Themes:

• The historical evolution of yoga and its philosophical roots
• Defining yoga: how its meaning has changed over time
• Assessing the key sources for understanding yoga’s past
• The art of translating ancient texts for modern audiences
• The tensions between tradition and innovation
• Yoga as business; commercialization and consumerism
• Cultural appropriation and respectful practice

Expect thought-provoking and visually engaging lectures, lively discussion, and the opportunity to engage with like-minded individuals in an open, collaborative environment.

Dr. Seth Powell is a scholar of Indian religions, Sanskrit, and yoga traditions, who earned his PhD in South Asian Religions at Harvard University. His dissertation comprised a critical edition, translation, and detailed study of a 15th-century Sanskrit yoga text from south India known as the Śivayogapradīpikā—which uniquely combines yoga, ritual, and devotion. Seth also works on the visual and material culture of yoga in premodern India, uncovering yoga’s past through temple sculptures.

As an educator, Seth is passionate about sharing the latest academic research on yoga’s vast history and philosophies and is gifted in his ability to present the ancient teachings of yoga clearly in an accessible, light-hearted, and inspiring manner—while maintaining a rigor and sensitivity to traditional Indian knowledge systems. He is also the host of The Yogic Studies Podcast.