Offerings
Our online classes include Sanskrit language and literature, mantra recitation, Yogasutra chanting, and Indian philosophy. We offer both live online sessions taught via Zoom and pre-recorded classes for you to work through at your own pace with support from us throughout. Our sessions are taught from a lifetime of learning and experience from being immersed in authentic Indian traditions and culture, combined with academic qualifications from both East & West.
We frequently update this page with new offerings, as well as announcements of any in-person retreats, trainings, and workshops.
संस्कृत Sanskrit
Sanskrit is an ancient Indo-European language with a history of use spanning millennia. Sanskrit texts are traditionally imparted through recitation, and pronunciation plays a vital role, enabling us to experience the essence of meaning. Today, we find many spiritual practices deriving from Sanskrit texts and traditions. In order to cultivate a deeper connection to this wealth of material and find its original meaning, we must return to the source. Our Sanskrit language sessions are taught by Kamala, who holds an MPhil in Indian philosophy and Sanskrit from Oxford University, and has studied Sanskrit traditionally in both Varanasi & Karnataka, India.
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Description Learn to pronounce the Sanskrit alphabet accurately, alongside reading and writing in both IAST transliteration and Devanagari script. Each session is accompanied by written and spoken exercises, with plenty of support to cultivate self-sufficiency and confidence. These 7 immersive sessions are the perfect starting point for learning the Sanskrit language, a great tool for deepening your mantra chanting practice, and an excellent complement to deepen your yogic knowledge and skills, whether you’re a teacher or student of yoga.
Level: Beginner, no prior experience required
course duration: 7 sessions, 1.5 hours eachtext goes here
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Today, we find many spiritual practices and philosophies deriving from Sanskrit texts and traditions. In order to cultivate a deeper connection with this wealth of material and find its original meaning, we must return to the source in the Sanskrit language. This 6 session course combines the individual experience with language learning, bridging spiritual, theoretical and practical approaches to the study of the Sanskrit language. In these sessions, you’ll learn the rudiments of Sanskrit vocabulary and grammar, while acquiring the tools for text comprehension through practical application by reading excerpts from the Upanishads. Each class is accompanied by practice exercises and detailed summary sheets containing references and concise explanations of key topics covered.
Level: Intermediate, basic Sanskrit knowledge equivalent to our level 1 Sounds & Scripts of Sanskrit course is a prerequisite to join
course duration: 6 sessions, 1.5 hours each
योगसूत्र Yogasutra Recitation
Patanjali’s Yogasutra is one of the foundational texts on yoga philosophy, and learning to recite it in the original Sanskrit with accurate pronunciation enables you to unlock the essence of yoga through sound. All sessions are suitable for beginners and those who wish to deepen an established chanting practice.
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These sessions cover the first chapter of the Yogasutra, called the Samadhi Pada, or the chapter on “pure consciousness.” This section of the text includes Patanjali’s definition of yoga as “stilling the fluctuations of the mind” and describes the foundations for attainment of the goal of yoga. All classes in our Yogasutra courses move sequentially through the sutras, with focus on accurate Sanskrit pronunciation, as well as creating and sustaining a chanting practice. Audio recordings and handouts are included.
course duration: 11 sessions, 1 hour each
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The second chapter of the Yogasutra is the Sadhana Pada, or chapter on “practice.” It discusses kriyayoga, the practical application of the philosophy of yoga, through cultivation of the eight limbs or ashtanga. These sessions focus on accurate Sanskrit pronunciation, as well as creating and sustaining your own sadhana or practice of the sutras. Audio recordings and handouts are included for your practice.
course duration: 14 sessions, 1 hour each
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The third chapter of Patanjali’s Yogasutra is known as the Vibhuti Pada, meaning the “chapter on manifestation” or “abundance.” This chapter explains samyama, which is the practice of the three final limbs of ashtanga yoga. Samyama leads the yogic practitioner to the development of siddhi, meaning “perfection” or “accomplishment and the fulfilment of yogic practice. It is the ability for the yogi to manifest and experience the fruits of practice. These sessions focus on learning to recite with accurate Sanskrit pronunciation. Audio recordings and handouts are included for your practice.
course duration: 14 sessions, 1 hour each
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The fourth and final chapter of the Yogasutra is the section on "final liberation" or "complete unity," known as kaivalya in Sanskrit. Each session in this course focuses on recitation with accurate pronunciation, and includes learning the summarising verses for opening and closing the recitation of the full Yogasutra, as well as information on Sanskrit terminology for various aspects of pronunciation. All sessions are accompanied with audio recordings and handouts for practice.
course duration: 9 sessions, 1 hour each
मन्त्र Mantra
Chanting Sanskrit mantras with correct pronunciation creates sound vibrations that have positive effects on mind & body. All our mantra recitation sessions are suitable for beginners and those who wish to deepen and refine an established chanting practice.
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A journey through traditional Sanskrit mantras. In these sessions we cover 10 mantras, focusing on correct pronunciation, meaning, philosophy and sources, for the experience of union (yoga) created through sound vibrations. Each mantra contains a particular intention or sankalpa. Perfect for beginners to mantra chanting and those who have an established practice, but would like to refine and deepen their connection to these sacred sounds. There are two courses available, part 1 and part 2 (10 mantras per course). Note: part 1 is not a prerequisite to part 2, as each course contains different mantras.
The mantras contained in part 1 include: Ganesha, Guru, Sarasvati, Lakshmi, Durga, Yogasana, Pranayama, Surya, Navagraha, and Saha Navavatu
The mantras contained in part 2 include: Pavamana, Purna, Karadarshana, Hanuman, Prakrti, Tvameva Mata, Surya Arghya, Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Mahamrityunjaya, and Shantakaram
course duration: 10 sessions, 1 hour each (for each part)
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The Bhagavad Gita, meaning “Song of the Lord,” is a philosophical text which is fundamental in its discussion of karma, dharma, yoga, and liberation. In this course, we cover the full first chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, teaching you how to recite the text traditionally, with focus on accurate Sanskrit pronunciation. Each session is accompanied by audio recordings and handouts for your practice, alongside supplementary texts you can study alongside our recitation sessions, and philosophy handouts which give insight on the main themes from the chapter.
course duration: 13 sessions, 1 hour each
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Translated from Sanskrit, Rudrashtakam means “eight verses to Rudra” while stotram means “verses of praise,” often referring to compositions of numerous verses of dedication to a particular deity. The Rudrashtakam Stotram is dedicated to Rudra, another name for the deity Shiva. It is a composition of eight verses dedicated to the deity Shiva, and is recited for protection and removal of all sorrows and suffering. In this course, you’ll learn how to pronounce the stotram with correct Sanskrit pronunciation and melody. In addition to the focus on pronunciation and recitation, we’ll also look at the meaning of these verses and the philosophy of Śiva expressed within them.
course duration: 5 sessions, 1 hour each
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These sessions are dedicated to the warrior Goddess, Mahishasuramardini who is a manifestation of Durga. In each of the 20 sessions we cover one verse of the stotram, including how to recite with focus on accurate Sanskrit pronunciation, followed by meaning and philosophy surrounding the text. Each class recording is also accompanied by a detailed handout and audio recording for your practice. These verses are recited to bring strength, energy and become victorious over any challenges we encounter in life.
course duration: 20 sessions, 1 hour each
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This course teaches you to recite the full Hanuman Chalisa in a traditional style with accurate pronunciation, discussion of the meaning and stories contained in the recitation. Hanuman is the monkey deity revered for his bhakti or devotion and loyalty to Lord Rama. The Hanuman Chalisa is not a Sanskrit composition, but is in the Awadhi language, a precursor to Hindi and a modern Indian language in its own right. The sessions are accompanied by a comprehensive handout including Devanagari, transliteration, and the meaning of each of the 40 verses contained in this composition. There are also audio recordings to accompany each session for your practice.
course duration: 9 sessions, one hour each
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In this course, you’ll learn to recite mantras dedicated to the Goddess or Devi from the text called Devi Mahatmya, through recorded classes and a daily self-paced practice. The mantras you will learn describe the Goddess as being present in all beings in many different forms, expressing the true essence and shakti (divine energy) of Devi as being the creator, maintainer, and dissolver of all. She is expressed as the essence of the three main archetypes of the Goddess, who preside over each three days of Navaratri, the nine-night celebration of the Goddess. In these sessions, we focus on accurate Sanskrit pronunciation, translation and meaning, as well as philosophy. The sessions are accompanied by audio recordings for your daily practice and a handbook with the mantras, translations, explanations about Navaratri and the different manifestations of the Goddess or Devi you will learn about in each session. This course is tailored to the celebration of Navarātri, however, you may take it at any time to learn these mantras.
course duration: 3 sessions, 1 hour each
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Translated from Sanskrit, devi means “goddess” and kavacham means “armour” or “shield.” The mantras of the Devi Kavacham are recited to bring the Goddess’s ultimate protection and strength to the one reciting. These verses are found at the beginning of the text called Devi Mahatmya (also known as Durga Saptashati). It is traditional to recite the Devi Kavacham before any other section of the text, so it is the first step in learning to chant the Devi Mahatmya. In these sessions, you will learn how to recite the entire Devi Kavacham, with focus on accurate Sanskrit pronunciation. We also share information on the key themes and overview of the meaning of the verses. The verses of the Kavacham mention many specific names of the goddess alongside parts of the physical body, and through the recitation, each part of one’s body is understood to be protected by a different aspect of Devi. The various names of the Goddess are mantras in themselves, and by reciting them, we can invoke her qualities to bring more protection, strength, energy, and abundance into our lives during these auspicious days. This course was recorded during Chaitra Navaratri, an auspicious celebration of the Goddess that takes place each Spring. All sessions are accompanied by audio recordings and handouts for your practice.
course duration: 10 sessions, each between 30-40 minutes
षड्दर्शन Indian Philosophy
The six principal Indian philosophical systems are known as shaddarshana in Sanskrit. Darshana means “sight,” and these philosophical systems present ways of seeing to enhance and substantiate your spiritual practices.
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Sutra texts present a distillation or concentration of an idea or teaching in the most compact way. Each individual verse in a sutra text is like a thread or fibre that is woven into the next, creating a sequence and unfolding of understanding that stitches or weaves together knowledge of the Universal within the individual. This 5 session course focuses on the translation, word by word meaning, and key themes found in the first chapter of Patañjali’s Yogasutra, the Samadhi Pada. This chapter focuses on the definition of yoga and theme of samadhi or pure consciousness and through the sessions we explore these topics with a firsthand look at the original Sanskrit text. This course is perfect for those who want to deepen their understanding of yoga philosophy and learn new Sanskrit vocabulary along the way.
course duration: 5 sessions, 1 hour each
This course is an excellent accompaniment to our Yogasutra: Samadhi Pada chanting sessions and can be purchased as a bundle together with the chanting course.
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In this course we take an in-depth look at the identity of the Supreme Goddess, her many manifestations, and her heroic triumphs, as presented in the Sanskrit text known as Devi Mahatmya. This text is situated at the heart of Indian philosophy and is widely studied and recited for its profound truths, which are expressed in a lively narrative format. In this course, we’ll also be sharing a special Navadurga Mantra from the text, which is dedicated to the 9 aspects of the Goddess who preside over each day of Navaratri (a celebration of the Goddess which happens 4 times a year). This mantra offers protection and energy to the one who recites it.
course duration: 5 sessions, 1 hour each
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