Patañjali's Yoga Sūtras
Desikachar said that no one should teach yoga until after they had studied the core text in the traditional manner, and then they should review the text every week.
I have spent the bulk of my years teaching and practicing directly with the Sūtras: I was driven by questions of how-yoga-changes-people, the tradition and how it shows up in contemporary times, discerning the truth of yoga from the industry gimmicks, spiritual bypassing, and loneliness of trying to do it alone. This is the context and content of the sūtra-s. The answers are in here.
This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime chance. This is my last teaching before I retire as ‘yoga teacher’. I will host a weekly gathering for six months exploring book four in depth and simultaneously weaving it to the preceding books 1-3. For me, it is the completion of a commitment. For you, it is an opportunity to enrich and deepen, with lots of support for after I retire!
If you have journeyed through books 1-3, this will be the crown and place it all comes together.
If you’ve studied some part of the sūtras - with me or elsewhere - this is your last chance to work with me & cohort.
If you’ve never done this before this is a truly unique opportunity to live yoga. You’ll come to understand it and yourself in such a way that you’ll never be the same and will never lose what you have learned.
FAQ
Who is this course for? Am I qualified?
This course is for anyone who is interested and can commit to once a week for six months.
There are no prerequisites because this is, in a sense, the pre-requisite. You do not need to be flexible or well. You don’t have to know Sanskrit. You don’t have to have any prior experience like a teacher training.
There are only two real questions:
Are you interested?
And is this the right time for you?
What should I expect?
We’ll meet for two hours on zoom every Monday (except major holidays) from 3-5 pm CST January-June 2026.
Each class will slowly discuss a concept from book four (On Freedom) in two ways: what does that mean for me as a practitioner? and how does one teach yoga? Book four is also special in that it reflects or wraps up books 1-3: we’ll be reviewing the content of those books constantly, so this is the perfect to wrap up your study but also a perfect place to begin.
We’ll combine brief grounding (breath, simple movement, quiet contemplation) with presentation, small group discussion, whole group discussion, and personal reflection.
Every 2 hour class will have a 15 minute bio break midway.
Recordings will go up within a week. Use them as back up, but never feel like you have to ‘catch up’.
Cost?
$85 per month for 6 months
Testimonials
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Karin helped me find something deeper than the superficial “western yoga exercise.” She guided me to understand yoga’s roots and the true meaning of embodiment. What began as just exercise has grown into an all-encompassing, lifelong practice and study. Her one-to-one mentoring is invaluable for anyone looking to make their practice an anchor in daily life. Combined with her various group offerings, Karin’s guidance has continually invited me to unfold and expand my practice and understanding of yogic living. Karin’s teachings are rooted in lineage while remaining mindful of its complexities, offering a path that is both respectful and conscious.
Nayda Ro
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Karin is uniquely fit for transmitting Śrī Patañjali's teachings. For most it is rote or ostentatious, while for Karin it is a living fire coming from within. She is a rare teacher and her students are lucky.
Saraswati Vasudevan
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Karin has a rare gift.
Leslie Kaminoff