Led by Pranaba and Parvati Hansen

The Essence of the Yoga Sutras
Apply the Wisdom of Patanjali for Spiritual Success

Yoga Alliance RYT's and E-RYT's: This course offers up to 35 hours of continuing education credit. Ask your instructor for documentation.

6 days

• Jul 28 – Aug 3, 2013 (pick-ups available*)

*Pick up & drop off at Sacramento Airport. Click on link next to date to get full details.

Patanjali, the great ancient exponent of yoga, described the stages of spiritual development for all seekers. These principles of yoga are based not on dogma, but on how we are made. During this course, you will explore these important subjects:

• Ashtanga Yoga – How to use the Eightfold Path to enhance your spiritual practices.
• Obstacles to Yoga – What holds you back spiritually, and how to overcome it.
• Samadhi – What is this state of Oneness, and how can you move toward an actual experience of it.
• Attitude – How to develop the attitudes essential for success in your spiritual life.
• Making Patanjali practical – How to integrate the essence of yoga into your daily life.

You will receive your own copy of our course textbook, Demystifying Patanjali: The Yoga Sutras (Aphorisms) by Swami Kriyananda (available in 2013). Patanjali has often been translated with great intellectual complexity and dryness. In this newly completed, highly readable book, Kriyananda reveals Patanjali’s vision of the single, practical path that underlies all spiritual traditions—that of moving from ego-identification to soul-identification—and how to walk that path using the nonsectarian tools of yoga. 

Instructors Pranaba and Parvati Hansen are two of Ananda's most widely-traveled teachers, having helped start Ananda communities in Italy, Seattle, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Portland, and Dallas. Their deep joy and calmness are excellent examples of yoga in action. This week will include some advanced yoga postures classes for Ananda YTT graduates. Required for AYTT Level 2 Certification.

Prices are all-inclusive and cover accommodations, meals, classes or activities, and course materials.

The Essence of the Yoga Sutras starts the afternoon of the first date listed. It’s ideal to arrive before 4 pm, if you are able to. That way, you can join in the afternoon session of yoga and meditation, which begins at 4:45 pm. Dinner is at 6:30. The first real gathering of your group is at 7:30 pm. If you need to arrive here after 5 pm, that’s fine, but it helps us if you let us know at 800-346-5350. We can also put aside a dinner for you if you need to arrive after 7 pm. The program ends with lunch on the last date. Please see our Daily Schedule.

See Transportation and Directions whether you are coming by plane, car, bus or train. Our Frequent Questions page answers many of the questions you might have about How to Go on Retreat.