Yoga and the Vedic Tradition
A six-week special series with Craig Williams
April 7 - May 12, 2009 at Yoga Yoga North

The emergence of Yoga in the West is a relatively recent phenomena. Various schools or branches of yoga abound each touting a unique method, viewpoint or goal. Far from being a relaxation technique or exercise fad, the original yoga tradition developed out of a larger multi-dimensional Indic heritage: the Vedic Tradition. Unfortunately in the West few Yoga teachers or practitioners are aware of the Vedic roots of the Yoga tradition or the Dharmic cultural milieu from which Yoga blossomed.

In this 6 part series, we will examine the original Vedic Yoga and its various branches or Vedic sciences: Yoga, Ayurveda, Jyotish, and Vedanta. We will examine Vedic source texts such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads and explore the deeper practices of Yoga: Pratyahara, Dhyana, Mantra and Atma-Vichara. Far from being just a dry and academic series, we will reconnect Yoga to its Vedic heritage and experience the soul and spirit of the Indic culture.

Tuesdays, 7:30pm - 9:00pm at Yoga Yoga North

Spring Session: April 7 - May 12
(April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12)

Session Summary:
Week 1: Introduction and Overview of Vedic Yoga
Week 2: Bhagavad Gita and Yoga
Week 3: Upanishads and Yoga
Week 4: Ayurveda, Gunas, Yoga Psychology, Mantra therapy
Week 5: Yoga sutras: Kriya Yoga, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi
Week 6: Advaita Vedanta, Atma-Vichara, Mantra therapy

Cost: $149 (Includes all six 1.5-hour sessions)
Click here or call (512)380-9800 to register now!

Recommended Reading

The Bhagavad Gita, translation by Swami Prabhavanandha and Christopher Isherwood or traslantion by Winthrop Sargeant
Both of these editions offer accurate yet readable presentations; the Sargeant translation also has a nice pocket edition as well.

The Upanishads, translation by Swami Prabhavanandha and Manchester or translation by Shyam Shukla
I prefer the Shukla edition however the Prabhavanandha edition if quite readable and user friendly for first-time readers.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, translation by Swami Hariharanandha Aranya or translation by Feurstein
The Hariharanandha edition is one of the most accurate translations of this text and includes Vyasa’s commentary.

Ramana, Shankara, and the 40 Verses, foreward by Alan Jacobs
We will use this succinct text to explore the sobering insights of Advaita Vedanta and its connections to the Vedic Yoga.

Vedantic Meditation, by David Frawley

Yoga and Ayurveda, by David Frawley

Hatha Yoga Pradipika, commentary by Swami Muktibodhanandha

Craig Williams (Shambhu-Das) is a Clinical Herbalist and Acupuncturist in private practice specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda and Yoga. He holds a Master's Degree in Oriental Medicine and is a Professional Member of the American Herbalist Guild. Craig is the recipient of the prestigious "Veda Kovid" title awarded by David Frawley and the American Institute of Vedic Studies recognizing extensive training in the Vedic Sciences of Ayurveda, Yoga, Jyotish and Vedanta. He also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Religious Studies with a focus on Hindu Studies and has studied Mantra therapy with Thomas Ashley-Farrand. More background information can be found on his website at www.AyurvedaAustin.com.

"Craig Williams has studied the Vedic tradition in depth including Ayurvedic Medicine, Vedic Astrology, and the spiritual side of Yoga and Vedanta. In addition, he possesses an excellent knowledge of herbology, Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. Craig has the capacity to teach and practice Ayurveda with reference to both its clinical and philosophical sides, from the herbal treatment of specific diseases to the meditation methods of Yoga for psychological well-being. He can be not only highly informative, but a great inspiration to his patients and students." - Dr. David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri)

Student Testimionials

This was an amazing series. This series provided an education in the more esoteric yogic practices taught through the lens of the texts from the perspective of a practitioner who possesses a great deal of knowledge about them and personal experience of the subtle and energetic dimensions of spiritual practice. My own spiritual practice expanded and deepened as a direct result of what we talked about in Craig's lectures, which is not necessarily something I expected would happen in a lecture series about yogic texts I have been studying for years! Craig is an amazing resource and we're very lucky to have such ready access to him. I would strongly recommend this series to any student of matters of the spirit whether or not they have a background in yoga. - Jesse

The best summary I ever heard in my life, even though I grew up in India and spent my first 25 years there! - Vel

I absolutely loved the class. It was a primer into the world of Vedic traditions. It was fascinating to be reintroduced to yoga as being a facet of something much bigger. Craig did an awesome job of conveying complex and diverse principles in a very concise and clear manner, Kudos! - Saurabh

I am so pleased that Yoga Yoga is supporting the sharing of Craig's profound depth of knowledge and sustained sadhana. He brings the expanded awareness of what yoga is all about, well beyond the asana practice that most Westerners believe to be yoga. Please bring him back as often as he will present. He's a rare talent and a man of the most intense integrity - an honorable example for us all. - Helen

This course made me look at the world in a more poetic way. Craig presented the yogic culture knowledge with so many layers that I started realizing how much we, in our Western society, can be stuck with words and one way of looking at a specific subject whereas there seem to be this multi-layer/infinite and absolute way that encompasses it all. - Stephanie