106: Overview of Yoga History

In this course, we will discuss some of the fundamental teaching concepts and principles that provide the invisible backbone for yoga teaching. By exploring these terms, we will be able to develop a common language for the most important ideas in yoga teaching, and create a pathway for developing your skills as a teacher.

Note for CE Credits: If you are a current teacher taking this course for Yoga Alliance CE credits, you may submit for 4 hours of Yoga Humanities credit via the Yoga Alliance website.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Estimate the age of the yoga tradition list and describe the defining characteristics of the seven eras of yoga history.

  • Define “veda,” “upanishad,” “dharma,” “guna,” “sutra," “hatha”, as well as describe the difference between a dual and non-dual philosophy.

  • Describe the significance of the Bhagavad Gita, tantra, and your role in the Krishnamacharya lineage.

Course Curriculum

106: Overview of Yoga History

    1. START HERE

    2. HOW TO TAKE THIS COURSE

    3. ABOUT THIS COURSE

    4. ABOUT YOUR FACULTY

    5. COURSE MATERIALS

    6. Q&A

    1. JOURNAL REFLECTION #1

    2. INTRODUCTION TO LESSON ONE

    3. OVERVIEW OF THE AGES

    4. THE VEDIC AGE: THE BEGINNING

    5. JOURNAL REFLECTION #2

    6. THE VEDAS

    7. THE CASTE SYSTEM

    8. THE END OF THE VEDAS

    9. IN OTHER NEWS

    10. LESSON SUMMARY

    1. INTRODUCTION TO LESSON TWO

    2. THE RISE OF ASCETICISM

    3. JOURNAL REFLECTION #3

    4. THE UPANISHADS

    5. KEY IDEAS OF THE UPANISHADS

    6. KEY IDEA: DUALISM AND NON-DUALISM

    7. OTHER RENUNCIANT TRADITIONS

    8. IN OTHER NEWS

    9. LESSON SUMMARY

    1. INTRODUCTION TO LESSON THREE

    2. OVERVIEW OF THE EPIC STORIES

    3. THE BHAGAVAD GITA AND JOURNAL REFLECTION #4

    4. KRISHNA'S TEACHINGS: THE THREE PATHS

    5. PATH #1: JNANA YOGA AND JOURNAL REFLECTION #5

    6. PATH #2: KARMA YOGA AND JOURNAL REFLECTION #6

    7. KEY IDEA: DHARMA AND JOURNAL REFLECTION #7

    8. PATH #3: BHAKTI YOGA AND JOURNAL REFLECTION #8

    9. IN OTHER NEWS

    10. LESSON SUMMARY

    1. INTRODUCTION

    2. OVERVIEW OF THE CLASSICAL AGE

    3. KEY IDEAS: DUALISM AND THE GUNAS

    4. THE YOGA SUTRA OF PATANJALI

    5. ACTIVITY AND JOURNAL REFLECTION #9: MEDITATION

    6. IN OTHER NEWS

    7. LESSON SUMMARY

    1. INTRODUCTION

    2. JOURNAL REFLECTION #10

    3. OVERVIEW OF TANTRA

    4. TANTRA: KEY IDEAS

    5. JOURNAL REFLECTION #11

    6. IN OTHER NEWS

    7. LESSON SUMMARY

About this course

  • $45.00
  • 60 lessons

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Student Reviews

5 star rating

Yoga History

Susanne Tholl

Absolutely fascinating! Thank you Rachel for explaining the history of yoga and breaking it down so that one can understand its relevance in relation to the ...

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Absolutely fascinating! Thank you Rachel for explaining the history of yoga and breaking it down so that one can understand its relevance in relation to the history of the world over the past 4,000 odd years.

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5 star rating

Overview of Yoga History

Gillian Bayley

I totally enjoyed the journey with Rachel into the history of Yoga. I learned so much and can't wait to continue on this path of knowledge and enlightenment...

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I totally enjoyed the journey with Rachel into the history of Yoga. I learned so much and can't wait to continue on this path of knowledge and enlightenment. Rachel is a great yoga teacher, she inspires me to learn more and she makes learning fun! Thank you :-) Namaste

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Meet Your Instructor

E-RYT 500, LMT, MFA, MS Rachel Scott

Teacher trainer, author and ERYT 500 instructor, Rachel has spent thousands of hours leading YTTs, mentoring teachers and helping students uncover and express their voice, passion and potential by building the pragmatic skills that they need to share their own teaching voice with confidence.

To build this robust and transformational YTT, she combined her extensive academic training as an educator (M.Sci Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies, BA Columbia University, Phi Beta Kappa) with her cumulative experience as a trainer, teacher, and mentor.

An anatomy nerd, Rachel is also a licensed massage therapist and has spent hundreds of hours in the cadaver lab. Her books include, "Yoga for Mind, Body & Spirit," "Living Yoga," and "Head Over Heels: A Yogis' Guide to Dating." Connect with her on Instagram and YouTube @rachelscottyoga.