Introduction

I used to resist teaching yoga philosophy, I just didn't know how to get it to fit into the flow of the class. When I tried to share themes that had transformed my life, it felt heavy or complex. But I also felt uneasy leaving it out. Yoga philosophy has been a path to so much more freedom in my life, inspires my teaching, and is really what makes yoga stand out to my mind as something so relevant and so powerful. 

Instead of giving longer talks which felt clunky, I began looking for ways to let the themes be felt through the practice itself. Students often connect more when a theme is explored in movement, in the pauses, and in a few simple words, rather than through a long explanation. The teachings of yoga become clearer when they are experienced in the body, explored through breath, and reflected on in stillness. They are not abstract concepts stored in ancient texts. They are tools that can help us navigate the realities of life today.

Below is the structure I use to integrate yoga philosophy in my teaching today and the method I share in my 300-hour training and in my Creative Sequencing Course, I share yoga ideas in a Series of classes, giving more time to become familiar with new movements, ideas and practices. Each week I choose a practice that is most relevant- including movement, meditation or  pranayama that reflects the ideas I share. Sometime the theme is explicit- I tell the students and describe in detail, sometimes it is more subtle- it informs my teaching but I do not give too many Sanskrit terms. This way I can use what I feel is the right approach fro all my classes and students- the same theme but presented differently. 

Below is an example- based on the Kleshas. I share much more in the Creative Sequencing Online course and also ways to embody this approach in the 300hr teacher training. (You receive the Sequencing course in the 300hr training also).

Ignorance is the basis and foundation of all of the kleshas. We are not able to see clearly and this causes suffering. Metaphors include: wearing smudgy glasses or rose tinted spectacles. 

The Five Kleshas

This is a six week series of classes exploring the kleshas, or obstacles to freedom, described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.    

The Yoga Sutras present yoga as a complete system for easing the restlessness and dissatisfaction that can colour our lives if we leave the mind up to it's usual habits, ie the habit of seeking the negative over the positive, known as the negativity bias. This is alluded to in the sutras where Patanjali describes how we are inevitably "ignorant" the first klesha; and this underlies all of our experience. The kleshas describe the patterns that keep us caught in struggle, such as craving what is pleasant, avoiding what is unpleasant, or fearing change. 

The yogis believed the true nature of reality is not that which shifts and changes all the time, but that there is an underlying truth that is eternal. Yoga practice helps us to shift the focus to what is underneath and in this process find more peace. When we understand these patterns, we can begin to recognise them in our own thoughts and behaviour, and explore ways to meet life with more steadiness and clarity.

Six Week Outline

General tips for sharing philosophy in class

Pause
Include moments for reflection. Give students space to notice the patterns of the mind as they practice. For example, “Notice how now you want to come out of utkatasana, but earlier you wanted to get moving when we were sitting still.”

Language
Speak in your own everyday language and then link it to the yoga teachings. This keeps it relevant while honouring the lineage. You can add the original Sanskrit term and its source if it feels appropriate.

Your role as teacher
Use phrases like “the yogis described this as” so students see it as part of a wisdom tradition rather than a personal opinion they must accept. You are exploring together, not preaching a fixed belief.

Sharing without naming
You can bring yogic ideas into a class without always naming them. Sometimes it is enough to share the practical aspect and leave the detailed explanation for a workshop or retreat.

Link to contemporary science
Modern psychology and neuroscience have validated much of what the yogis described. For example, practices that change habitual thinking patterns have been shown to rewire the brain. You can share this in everyday terms and, if the moment feels right, link it to concepts like pratipaksha bhavana from the Yoga Sutras.

Share from experience
Choose a theme and live with it for a while before teaching it. Students value hearing how the teachings show up in everyday life. No one is assessing you, and your own small insights can offer others a fresh perspective.

Conclusion

It can feel hard to convey ancient teachings and Sanskrit in a way that feels natural, but yoga philosophy doesn’t have to be complicated. There’s so much creativity in movement right now, and it’s exciting to see different traditions weaving into yoga. But unless we leave space for what makes yoga unique, actually embodying its wisdom, we risk losing the real heart of the practice. 

Today, as we face the fragility of human existence and the planet, these teachings feel more relevant than ever. Yoga will keep evolving, but it’s up to us to ensure it remains meaningful. Yoga knowledge has always been about right now! The themes are timeless, so let’s explore ways to convey some ideas that show how relevant yoga is today.

I do not envy the yoga teachers training right now, there is so much information and so many “experts” claiming to have the right way. BUT! If we can find a way through all the noise, back to the heart of the practice- what an incredible time to be teaching yoga when it is SO needed and the science and wisdom of yoga are coming together.  

For complete guidance on how to integrate powerful language, and convey yoga concepts with clarity & depth do check our 300- hour Advanced teacher training.