Living In Alignment

Daniel Simpson - The Truth (& Untruths) of Yoga

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Twenty years ago, Daniel Simpson quit his job as a foreign correspondent for The New York Times. It’s a long story – it wound up as a book – but to keep it brief, Daniel got high and freaked out while his colleagues hyped a bogus case for war.


Daniel Simpson is the author of The Truth of Yoga, an accessible guide to yoga history and philosophy. He holds a master's degree in yoga studies (from School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London) and teaches courses at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, on yoga teacher trainings and via his website: truthofyoga.com


In this wonderful episode we uncover:


  • Daniels fascinating story working as a foreign correspondent, his curious and wild travels in India, his path as a yoga practitioner (by accident) and teacher, and more
  • The motivation behind his book, The Truth Of Yoga, and how it has filled a gap in the market for yoga practitioners
  • The many untruths of yoga
  • The complexities around the meaning of “yoga”
  • The questionable relevance of popular texts to yoga, as we know it today
  • The real purpose of the Yoga Sutra
  • The value, and barrier, of the Bhagavad Gita in our modern lives
  • How we need to continue the innovation of yoga whilst respecting the culture and traditions
  • The influence of Tantra on yoga as we know it today
  • The relevance and misunderstandings of Tantra for yoga practitioners
  • Clarifying the purpose of eastern chakra systems and the development of the chakras over time in the western world
  • The varying auxiliaries or limbs of yoga, beyond Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga system
  • The potential healing with an 8 limbed path
  • Why all of this matters
  • Applying discernment as we approach our studies
  • Daniel’s upcoming retreat that integrates theory and practice
  • Daniel’s online offerings and courses


    • Mentioned: 


    • Swami Hariharananda Aranya - Yoga Philosophy of Patanjali with Bhasvati
    • Kurt Leland - Rainbow Body



      • CONNECT WITH DANIEL:


      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielcsimpson/

      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthofyoga/

      Website: http://truthofyoga.com & https://www.danielsimpson.info/

      Substack: https://ancientfutures.substack.com/

      Podcast: Ancient Futures - https://ancientfutures.substack.com/

      Yoga Retreat: https://bit.ly/uk-retreat August 2023

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      Living In AlignmentBy Amy Landry
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