MAY :: Online workshop series :: how to live yogic ethics and beyond
ONLINE In a time when people seem more and more separate, it is important to consider how we act and why. Ethical systems think deeply about our responsibilities to ourselves and those around us. They give us guidelines for how we should behave that go beyond our gut instincts. They help us be more productive, more satisfied with our lives, and live better in community with others.
This series of workshops explores systems of ethics across time. We will begin by setting the stage, discussing the difference between systems that are meant for personal liberation and those that are meant to help people live together in communities. In addition to the yogic ethical systems like the well-known yamas and niyamas, we will discuss later hathayoga ethics as well as Buddhism and Jainism. Non-violence is a foundational ethic in yoga and civil society, thought it can mean quite different things. We will dig deeply into non-violence to understand its implications for the individual and society. Finally, we will discuss the relationship between the Buddhist middle path and the Greek ideal of temperance.
Saturdays in May 2025 10am – 12pm Central Time
***Eligible for 8 hours of CE with Yoga Alliance.***
All sessions held on Zoom. All sessions are recorded. Workshop materials including handouts and recording links are provided.
SESSION 1 :: Saturday, May 3rd Empathy, Fairness & Cooperation: Building Blocks of Morality What are ethics and why are they important? Where do they come from? This week we will discuss theories about the origin of moral behavior, as well as its rational development. SESSION 2 :: Saturday, May 10th Yogic Ethics: Yamas and Niyamas This week we will explore the yogic systems of ethics, including the yamas and niyamas of the Yoga Sutras. Also the Jain and Buddhist ethics as well as hathayogic systems. Can yoga exist without an ethical system? SESSION 3 :: Saturday, May 17th The Middle Path, Temperance & the Mean Central to many systems of ethics is a concept of moderation. This includes the ancient 'middle path' of the Buddha as well as Aristotle's temperance and Confucius's 'mean.' This week we will discuss the ethical meaning and effect of moderation. SESSION 4 :: Saturday, May 24th Non-Violence This week we will explore non-violence old and new. From the Jains to Patanjali to Gandhi to MLK Jr, non-violence has many meanings, purposes and functions.
:: 4 TWO-HOUR WORKSHOPS :: $200 (lectures with group discussion, no physical practices)
