Yoga & Tantra: History, Philosophy and Mythology 

Join Tova Olsson for this thought-provoking Book Club series, spanning three sessions exploring the rich traditions of yoga and tantra through her acclaimed book, Yoga & Tantra: History, Philosophy & Mythology.

One ticket provides access to all three live sessions.

Note: It's not essential to have read the book to benefit from the sessions. Tova will guide us through the key themes and ideas. That said, reading along will enrich your understanding and give you the chance to engage more deeply.

About Yoga & Tantra

Yoga & Tantra: History, Philosophy and Mythology was originally written as course literature for Yoga Teacher Trainings, aiming to provide future teachers with essential knowledge about the theoretical aspects of yoga. Written by a scholar-practitioner, the book straddles academic and experiential knowledge, combining discernment with devotion. 

It offers a comprehensive, yet accessible, overview of the historical development of yoga and tantra and the various philosophical systems used under the name "yoga philosophy." The book also provides insight into how the classical texts (such as the Yoga Sūtra or the Bhagavad Gītā) often referenced in yoga classes can be understood contextually, i.e., how they relate to and reflect the time and place where they originated. Finally, it explains how yogic mythology and its many deities can be understood to shed light on our inner experiences and how they can be used to awaken dormant aspects of ourselves. 

Loved by hundreds of yoga teachers and used in numerous teacher trainings, Yoga & Tantra will invite you to look at your practice in new ways and to question the stories you have been told about the history, philosophy and mythology of yoga. 

Session One | Thursday 11 Sep | 7:00pm - 8:00pm AEDT

The first session will cover the first two chapters of the book, namely "The History of Yoga- or a brief overview of the human longing for liberation" and "Yogic Philosophy- from Veda and Vedānta to Sāṃkhya and Śaiva Tantra. If you have ever been confused about the history of yoga and what is meant by "yoga philosophy," you do not want to miss this session!

Session Two | Thursday 25 Sep | 7:00pm - 8:00pm AEDT

The second session will cover the historical background and content of the canonical texts the Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali and the Bhagavad Gītā. Why are these two texts are viewed as particularly important within transnational yoga and what do they mean for contemporary practitioners?

Session Three | Thursday 9 Oct | 7:00pm - 8:00pm AEDT

The third and last session will be dedicated to yogic mythology and storytelling. We will touch on the great epic the Rāmāyana, which holds the stories of the virtuous king Rāma and his devoted servant Hanumān and the Devī Māhātmyam which holds the stories of the Goddess. If you want to understand how deities correspond to inner wisdom qualities and understand the concept of kuṇḍalinī, this session is a must!

Sessions are presented live via Zoom. Recordings will be available to registered participants for 7 days after each session.

Purchase Yoga & Tantra: History, Philosophy and Mythology

Purchase Tova's book direct from her publisher Motilal Banarsidass or at online bookstores.

About the Author

Tova Olsson is a scholar of religion, author, and yoga teacher with over 20 years of experience in educating. She is appreciated for her deep knowledge, her ability to explain esoteric ideas and philosophical concepts in an accessible way, for her skillful storytelling and humorous approach. She holds a MA in Religious Studies and is currently working on her PhD, researching the construction of gender in contemporary Tantra in Europe. She is the author of "Yoga and Tantra: history, philosophy and mythology", published by Motilal Banarsidass, as well as several academic articles. She runs the online school Saraswati-Studies where she teaches internationally on the history, philosophy and mythology of Yoga and Tantra. 

Connect with Tova

Online courses: https://saraswati-studies.teachable.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saraswati_studies

This event is proudly supported by Yoga Australia and Amy Landry.

By registering for this event, you agree that your registration details (name and email address) will be shared with Amy Landry for the purposes of event delivery and post-event communications.