Start a Reading Group

Name of contributor: Katie Rutherford

Sections: Theory Syllabus - section 4.1; philosophy - sections 5.3, 5.11 and 5.14

I have started a reading group for trainees and mentees and other students who are neither teachers, nor being trained as a teacher but who are just interested in philosophy. Guided by the “Theory Syllabus” we started with the Introduction to LOY (Levels 1 and 2), then Arogya Yoga (Level 2), then Light on Pranayama Section 1 and Section 2 Chapter 10 (Levels 1 and 2). Next will be Yoga Sutra Parichaya (Level 2) which is the translation Guruji did on the yoga sutras specifically for children. We meet every week (with breaks for holidays) and read aloud and discuss for around 1 ¼ – 1 ½ hours. We are all surprised how much we are learning – we cover so much from the Anatomy and Physiology Module and the Yoga Philosophy Module as it just comes up in so much of Guruji’s writing. And we talk about how it relates to our own practice. It has proved a very friendly and accessible way to make inroads into the vast, rich and deep theoretical framework underlying yoga as well as to keep close to Guruji through his writing.

Link to Theory Syllabus: https://iyengaryoga.org.uk/guides/theory-syllabus-all-levels/