In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the Yamas are put forth as "restraints” - suggested ways to live in harmony with other people and beings around us. These practices are the absolute cornerstone of Yoga: Non-harming, Honesty/Authenticity, Non-Stealing, Moderation, and Non-Grasping.

Examined individually and together, these practices have the potential to bring more ease and meaning to our relationships with our own inner selves AND with the beings around us. My vision for this course is an opportunity for us to learn more deeply about yoga teachings and ourselves, in a quiet and personal way. These are not merely intellectual concepts - in fact, they are very useful suggestions that we can apply immediately to daily lives . We can acknowledge the areas where we routinely face challenges, and also acknowledge our strengths... and learn how to support ourselves with compassion and structure.

In this philosophy class, we'll examine each of these principles through in-depth sutra study, reflection, and discussion. We'll look at each practice and how we can work gracefully with it in our own lives. Just to be clear, this is not an asana class!