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
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) 258-8725 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.