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Yoga Philosophy

Courses and Certificate in Yoga Philosophy

The Yoga Philosophy program offers a number of online short courses that provide a foundational introduction to the spiritual and philosophic traditions that inform yoga, and is designed to enrich one's own yoga practice or even advance one's career as a teacher. Online classes, marked as YGPX, are offered each semester and enrollment is open (upcoming courses are listed below under Schedule + Location). Students must complete 120 hours of coursework for Certificate in Yoga Philosophy. Details are below under General Information

View Catalog and Enroll Online
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Professor Christopher Key Chapple, Ph.D. introduces the program

Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yuj, which means to yoke, join, or apply. Yoga is usually translated as union, for its methods and practices lead to a profound integration of body, mind, and spirit. The yogic ideal is to achieve complete freedom and authenticity by transcending the limiting structures of the ego-personality (the person we behave as on a normal day) and discovering the true spiritual Self within.

Yoga is a set of spiritual practices but in itself is not an institutionalized religion, per se. Hinduism is related to yoga through a common recognition of the Vedas as an authoritative source, and both Buddhism and Jainism share many of the core values of the yoga tradition. But Classical Yoga is best understood as a system of spiritual practice, rather than a particular religion.

The Yoga Philosophy professional certificate program provides a foundational introduction to these spiritual and philosophic traditions. Students must complete a total of 12.0 semester hours in coursework to receive a certificate of completion in Yoga Philosophy (see Course Requirements below).

Who Should Participate

This program is designed for yoga teachers and students of yoga who have an interest in learning about the rich traditions associated with yoga practice. These include Classical Yoga, various schools of Hinduism (Shaiva, Vaishnava, and various forms of devotionalism), Buddhism, and Jainism.

Program Benefits

Students who study yoga philosophy have the rare opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich history and culture of Yoga. Students will be exposed to the language and root texts on yoga which emerged from classical period of Indian history, which are foundational to the modern practice of yoga in the United States. Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Appreciate and understand the historical and cultural context of yoga
  • Understand and teach from the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, which continues to be revered by scholars and practitioners alike as the most coherent and authoritative outline of the fundamental principles of Classical Yoga
  • Value the root texts on yoga in its original language

General Information

Course and program requirements, schedules and tuition are subject to change; and additional fees may be incurred for books and materials. Click here to review all policies prior to enrollment. For additional information, contact BCLA Yoga Studies at (310) 258-5435 or YogaStudies@lmu.edu.

Please note: because this is a fully online program, enrollment eligibility is dependent on place of residency. Please review State Authorization before enrolling.

  • Courses are offered each term, and prospective students may begin this program at any time. Students register for each course individually via the course catalog. Not all courses are offered each term. Please review the course requirements below for the certificate program.

    Next Course: Upcoming courses are listed below under "Schedule" and in the course catalog.

    Tuition: $288 a unit

  • Courses required for this program are offered during the Fall, Spring and Summer terms. Schedules vary for individual courses. Please consult the course catalog for individual course times, locations, and requirements.

    Upcoming Courses - Fall 2024

    Connecting Online

    MyLMU is the primary Internet-based portal for students, faculty and staff at Loyola Marymount University. Once you log in to the portal with your credentials, you can directly and securely access the various online learning platforms, including Brightspace and Zoom, and your student record. Click here to begin.

  • Students must complete a total of 12.0 semester hours in coursework with a letter grade of 'B-' or higher in each course to receive a certificate of completion. This includes each of the required five courses totaling 7.0 semester hours (marked below with an asterisk*), as well as 5.0 semester hours of elective course work in Yoga Philosophy.

    Please refer to the course catalog for required text, class meeting location, and other general information.

    Sanskrit Requirement: The Sanskrit requirement (Levels I and II) is completed in partnership with Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS). Each level is 1 unit, and additional levels can be taken to fulfill elective requirements.

    The principal aim of OCHS is the study of Hindu culture, religion, languages, literature, philosophy, history, arts, and society, in all periods and in all parts of the world. Led by Dr. Zoë Slatoff, students have the opportunity to dive deeper into the study of Sanskrit. 

    Required Coursework: In addition to Sanskrit, the core courses (YGPX 816, 817, 818, 819) are required, plus five (5) semester hours of elective coursework (see course descriptions below for additional information).

  • YGPX 815
    Yoga Philosophy: core courses
    4.5 Semester Hours

    Core classes include:

    • Yoga Sutra (15 hours)
    • Bhagavad Gita (10 hours)
    • Samkhya (10 hours)
    • Upanishads (10 hours)

    These core courses are required for the Yoga Philosophy certificate and the 250-hour teacher training. Tuition is $1,050 (19% savings when you register for the core courses all together!). View course details here.

    YGPX 816*
    Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali
    2.0 Semester Hours

    The Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali is perhaps the seminal work on the meaning and purpose of Yoga. The study of this text is not simply an academic curiosity, but a vital means of deepening our self-understanding and transforming our consciousness. In this seminar, we will explore essential teaching from all four chapters through not only lecture and dialogue, but also through integrated practices such as chanting and meditation. View course details here.

    YGPX 817*
    Samkhya Karika
    1.0 Semester Hours

    The Samkhya Karika by Ishvarakrishna is the root text of the Samkhya system, which is regarded as one of the six darshanas or foundational perspectives of orthodox Hindu thought. Consisting of only seventy-five aphorisms, the Samkhya Karika outlines a basic metaphysical perspective that informs some of the core teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, and the traditions of hatha yoga, tantra, and Kashmir Shaivism. In this five-week course, we will thoroughly examine the concepts of purusha and prakriti, the three gunas, and the other twenty tattvas or metaphysical principles outlined by the system. Students will gain an enhanced understanding of the concept of moksha or spiritual liberation as understood in the Indic contemplative traditions. 

    Spring 2025 registration and dates will be announced soon.

    YGPX 818*
    Upanishads
    1.0 Semester Hours

    The Upanishads constitute the philosophical insights of the early sages of India and also document some of the earliest practices of Yoga. Study the key ideas of the Upanishads, including non-dualism, the identity between Self (Atman) and Supreme Consciousness (Brahman), and the ineffability of the absolute. 

    Spring 2025 registration and dates will be announced soon.

    YGPX 819*
    Bhagavad Gita
    1.0 Semester Hours

    The Bhagavad Gita encapsulates the primary features of Yoga practice. It narrates the story of a confused warrior seeking counsel from his charioteer (Lord Krishna) who illuminates the nature of various Yoga practices. Learn key Sanskrit verses, read through and discuss the entire text, and explore the meaning of such topics as the three gunas (core constituents of reality) and visionary consciousness. 

    Spring 2025 registration and dates will be announced soon.

    YGPX 984
    Jain Faith and Practice
    1.0 Semester Hours

    This course will explore Jain cosmology, ethics, and meditative practices. Pre-dating Buddhism, Jainism established a comprehensive worldview that emphasizes nonviolence, honesty, and simplicity. We will examine its history and ongoing global relevance. 

    Spring 2025 registration and dates will be announced soon.

    YGPX 820-899, 901-905
    Elective Studies
    1-2 Semester Hours

    * indicates that course is required for the certificate program

    OCHS Sanskrit: Level 1 

    We integrate traditional Indian and Western methods to provide an interactive experience of learning Sanskrit.

    This course is ideal for beginners and those with some experience who would like to reinvigorate their studies. We focus on pronunciation and learning through sound, as well as reading, writing, and a little grammar using chapters from Yogāvatāraṇam: The Translation of Yoga.

    Joining theory with practice, this course is taught through video lectures, audio, and written material, with weekly assignments to help you learn at home.

    • Start date: April 27, 2025

    OCHS Sanskrit: Level 2

    This course builds upon our Sanskrit: Level 1 course. We further develop our understanding through grammar and by chanting and translating verses from yoga-related texts.

    We will study chapters 3 and 4 of Yogāvatāraṇam: The Translation of Yoga. This integrates traditional Indian and Western academic methods of learning.

    Over nine weeks we learn masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns in all of their eight cases as well as more verbs and sandhi rules. This allows us to read from texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, Hathapradipika, the Sivasamhita, and popular mantras.

    • Start date: July 27, 2025