Education. Inspiration. Empowerment.
Join Noah In-Person or Online for 6+ Days of Deep Dive Study of all things Yoga Philosophy — Mythology, History, Culture & Theme Based Teaching — July 14-18 & July 30 (All Online Day)
The yoga tradition has the better part of 3,500+ years of rigorous philosophical traditions, each arguing their own views about the world and humanity and the goals/meanings/purposes of this whole project called life. And in addition, we have 6,000+ years of mythological storytelling and archetypes. How does that reduce down and package into a 60/75/90-minute postural yoga class? It does not. In any yoga class, we are teaching just a fraction of the immensity of this material. Not to mention that most of the poses we teach are not older than 1930s-1950s, c/o Krishnamacharya and the “Mysore Asana Revival” (and some of these poses were just invented on Instagram last month!). Add to this that there are no standards or agreements over methodology and pedagogy in modern postural yoga across stylistic boundaries, so the stew that is called “yoga” is really quite vast and diverse.
This fact can spark frustration for yoga teachers and practitioners, who want to know the “answers” in neat and tidy categories. For others, this diversity and plurality sparks wonder and curiosity. At the Mazé Method, this fact sparks a strong desire for ongoing learning, deepening experience, endless creative possibilities, and clear paths for decision making within the context of what and how to teach. The more one learns, the more one realizes how much more there is. The more you advance the project of knowledge, the more aware you become of how much more there is that you do not know. Knowledge expands the horizon of ignorance.
In addition to the philosophical traditions, yoga offers a wide and deep ocean of mythology, filled with symbolism, mythic narrative, and rigorous philosophies. We will dive deeply into both the rigorous philosophical AND mythic storytelling traditions of yoga. We will explore the stories and symbolism behind yoga poses and more deeply understand the practices of asana, meditation, mantra, mudra etc. We will explore asana and the stories and symbolism behind the asanas that we commonly practice and teach, explore how the stories that the poses tell are told again and again in our body/mind/breath with endless variation, how the interpretive possibilities affect our experience of yoga. We will explore these teachings in both their historical context, as well as how we, as modern yogis, may derive meaning from these ancient wisdom traditions.
The symbolism and mythology of yoga’s spiritual tradition add deeper dimensions of meaning to the practice on the mat and provide insights that expand our understanding of the historical traditions. This peek into yoga philosophy and mythic storytelling offer many insights to us now, as 21st century yogis, about our own conscience, culture and nature. You will gain deeper understanding and appreciation for the depth and richness of the history of traditions that influence modern yoga, as well as how we each bring our own cultural and personal stories to the practice.
Our discussions will include background in storytelling, folklore and oral and aural traditions of memory, recitation, interpretation and commentary. We will examine the main currents of yoga philosophy and cultural traditions of South Asia, from Veda to Tantra to Modern Postural Yoga, including the indigenous religious traditions of South Asia, namely Hinduisim, Buddhism and Jainism. What do these traditions say about the nature of the cosmos and human nature? What relevance do these traditions have to us? We examine how yoga has come to be associated with posture, asana, and the dissemination of yoga to the west and subsequent proliferation of modern postural yoga.
***Important: Our exploration will be entirely secular in nature; no belief required or expected. Please bring an open and curious mind, your cognitive and intellectual critical thinking skills, your imagination and creativity, your engaged and courageous heart, and the somatic storehouse of your body. Remember, ask every question, follow the evidence wherever it leads, look for the exception, and be courageous to try something different and maybe even change your mind based on the evidence.
Daily Structure: Our study together will consist of eight immersive days over two weeks. Our time together each day will consist of three main categories of experiential learning:
Again-- as the substance of this program, is our educational approach. Our focus is on education — not advocacy. Our exploration is entirely secular in nature; no belief required.
Syllabus of Daily Philosophy Topics (subject to flexibility):
Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3:
Day 4:
Day 5:
Day 6:
Day 7:
Day 8:
“I would definitely recommend this program, and I already have. It was top notch in quality and quantity of material, as well as in support and openness and communication. Noah’s unique experience has produced an unparalleled leader, facilitator, and guide. Lessons learned in our training modules have extended far beyond the scope of yoga into life and relating to others in a more effective manner. I received SO MUCH, this training goes above and beyond for any student wanting to deepen their skills, gain confidence, and reach a new level of mastery in yoga.”
“Noah is inspiring and exhibits an unparalleled mastery of teaching. For some time now, I have been contemplating the notion, “be impeccable with your word.” I tried to think of people who embody this and would often come up empty until I met Noah. Noah is careful with his words, exhibits accuracy, accountability, and thoughtful articulation. These are important qualities in an effective leader. When Noah speaks, people listen – and they take it to heart. Along with that, he also embodies creativity, playfulness, humor, sensitivity, and ardor. All of these qualities make for a very well-rounded, inspiring leader and I feel honored to have received guidance and to have learned such a great deal, not just about yoga, but about life.”
The Mazé Method School was created to provide the highest quality yoga education through our in-person and on-demand programs.
This is the hardest and the most rewarding training I’ve ever done.
Studying with Noah has opened up possibilities I hadn’t known existed.
This experience was transformative. I was challenged, affirmed, inspired, and reminded of what a gift it is to be a yogi.
I will forever be grateful for this experience. It was exactly what I hoped for and exceeded my already high expectations.
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