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Yoga Bliss: 20-Hour Online Yoga Philosophy Training

Course program

The 20-Hour Online Yoga Philosophy Training by Yoga Bliss Lembongan is a Yoga Alliance YACEP-accredited course that explores the roots, texts, and core concepts of yoga philosophy. It’s designed for students who want to understand yoga beyond asana and learn how to weave philosophical teachings into both their personal practice and their teaching.

Aspiring yoga teachers preparing for a 200-hour training, certified teachers wanting to deepen their philosophy knowledge, experienced teachers who feel uncertain about teaching philosophy, and practitioners interested in exploring yoga beyond the mat. No prior credentials required.

The curriculum traces yoga from its earliest mention in the Vedas through to modern postural yoga, and examines the Four Paths of Yoga in both their original form and how they can be adapted to contemporary life. You’ll study the Vrttis — the fluctuations of the mind described by Patanjali — and learn to recognize them and soften identification with them.

From there, the course moves into the Pancha Koshas, the five layers of the self, and how an understanding of them can inform teaching. You’ll work through the Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga as a lived framework, not just a concept, and examine the Kleshas as the obstacles that keep the mind unsettled. The final section covers the chakras as energy centers, including signs of imbalance in yourself and others and practical tools for re-balancing.

A recurring thread through the course is the life of the householder — how to live a yogic life while participating in the modern world, which is something the ancient texts alone don’t spell out.

The course is led by Lisa Nelson, an E-RYT 500 and YACEP-registered teacher with more than a decade of combined practice and teaching experience. Her study of yoga philosophy began during her first 200-hour training in India and has continued through multiple subsequent trainings in different styles and categories.

The format is fully online and self-paced, with lifetime access to all materials so students can revisit the teachings over time. A final assignment is required for students who wish to claim CE credits; other students can complete the course without it. The 20 hours count toward Yoga Bliss Lembongan’s Online 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course, and the course can also be bundled with other continuing education trainings from the school.

The curriculum traces yoga from its earliest mention in the Vedas through to modern postural yoga, and examines the Four Paths of Yoga in both their original form and how they can be adapted to contemporary life. You’ll study the Vrttis — the fluctuations of the mind described by Patanjali — and learn to recognize them and soften identification with them.

From there, the course moves into the Pancha Koshas, the five layers of the self, and how an understanding of them can inform teaching. You’ll work through the Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga as a lived framework, not just a concept, and examine the Kleshas as the obstacles that keep the mind unsettled. The final section covers the chakras as energy centers, including signs of imbalance in yourself and others and practical tools for re-balancing.

A recurring thread through the course is the life of the householder — how to live a yogic life while participating in the modern world, which is something the ancient texts alone don’t spell out.

Meet your teacher

Lisa Nelson

Lisa Nelson is an E-RYT 500 and YACEP-registered yoga teacher with more than a decade of combined practice and teaching experience. She leads Yoga Bliss Lembongan's online trainings, with a particular focus on yoga philosophy.

Read more about Lisa
Lisa Nelson

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