This course from the
Center for the Study of Jain Yoga, explores Jain Yoga from the 11th to the 17th century CE, often considered the "Dark Age" for Jain Yoga. We will investigate the evolution of Jain Yoga, its interaction with other Indian spiritual traditions, particularly Hatha Yoga and the Bhakti movement, and its role in shaping broader yogic traditions. The course will also examine key texts, including the
Yogapradīpa and the
Yoga Battīsī, and their commentaries, focusing on how Jain scholars integrated physical, spiritual, and devotional practices into their teachings.
Learning Objectives:
• Understand the evolution of Jain Yoga during the medieval period and its relationship with other Indian traditions.
• Analyze the influence of Hatha Yoga and the Bhakti movement on Jain Yoga practices.
• Study the Yogapradīpa and Yoga Battīsī as central texts and explore their impact on Jain spiritual practices.
• Engage with Jain Yoga's approach to atma-paramatma (individual and universal consciousness), and meditation.
Course Details
4 hrs Self-Study + 4 hrs Live Zoom Q&A sessions on May 9, 16, 23, and 30 at 8-9AM PDT.
Learning Area

Yoga, Self-care and Spirituality
Instructor

Corinna May Lhoir
Corinna Lhoir, M.A., is a PhD student of classical Indology and a contract lecturer for Beginner’s Sanskrit and Origins of Yoga at Universität Hamburg as well as an entrepreneur with her own online learning platform with focus on studies of yoga and Sanskrit (yogastudien.de). She holds a B.A. in Languages and Cultures of India and Tibet with focus on classical Indology from Universität Hamburg, a M.A. in Traditions of Yoga and Meditation from SOAS, University of London, and a M.A. in Oriental Languages and Cultures (India) with a focus on Jainism from Ghent University in Belgium. Her research primarily focuses on yoga in Jainism. She is currently preparing a critical edition of the Yogapradīpa, a Jain medieval text on yoga and meditation.