When student Ellinor Hopen first began in HPUs Yoga Philosophy class, she was surprised that there was no actual physical yoga practice.
– I thought that we would do more yoga. I guess I was a little bit disappointed in the beginning, but now I think what we read in class still is quite interesting, Hopen says to Kalamalama.
– And I really enjoy the meditation part, she adds.
Course Description of Yoga Philosophy:
A study of classical Indian philosophy through yoga philosophy and practice. Emphasis is on reading original texts (e.g., Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutra, etc.) in English translation accompanied by secondary source writings and lectures on key philosophical concepts such as karma and rebirth. To demonstrate the relation between yoga practice and philosophical ideas students will be instructed, to a limited degree, in the practice of mediation and yoga postures when possible.
10 Years
Professor Matthew LoPresti has been teaching and developing the Yoga Philosophy class for about 10 years. He tells Kalamalama that he was inspired to create this class after realizing that many people practicing yoga in the West do not truly understand it.
The professor understands that some students may be disappointed when first coming to his class. Yet he thinks that the course description is quite clear.
Quit Yoga Practice
A couple of years ago, LoPresti used to take his class down to the park to practice yoga. The students would voluntarily lead a 15-minute practice, everybody would bring their yoga mats and afterwards they would talk about Buddhism and its philosophy.
– Why did you stop doing that?
– It was difficult. I mean, the front yard was nice, but it is noisy and not always the nicest facility. It had its upsides and downsides, LoPresti answers.
The professor also points out lack of room as one of the reasons.
Regardless, he has decided that doing meditation in class would be a middle ground.
– And then they can take the meditation part into their own practice. Most of my students do yoga on their own, LoPresti says to Kalamalama.
Met the Expectations
Although some students may be disappointed, the professor finds that his class is more eager to understand the roots of the yoga tradition.
His student Anneliese Gallimore is an example of that. She is an art major and chose Yoga Philosophy because it related to what she wants to teach with art.
– It is a lot about healing the body. I wanted to learn more about the ancient texts and the philosophies behind it, she tells Kalamalama.
Gallimore never expected to do any physical yoga, and when she gets questioned whether it would favor the class, she thinks that it would take away class time that they would spend studying texts.
– I would rather take a specific yoga class for just that. I think it makes sense that we do not do any yoga here, she says.
– Would Have Been Neat
Professor LoPresti thinks it “would have been cool” to practice physical yoga in his class. He tells Kalamalama that he has envisioned a yoga lab where they could meet Monday and Wednesdays, and then have a studio an additional day to do physical yoga as a PE credit.
– That would have been neat to do with in conjunction with the class, he says.
HPU-student Hopen believes that yoga exercises would be a good addition to the Yoga Philosophy course.
– Because then we would get to practice the theory we learn. That would have been helpful, she concludes.