To enroll in the Yoga Philosophy Certificate Program, please click here.
Once you have completed all requirements, click here to apply for the Yoga Philosophy Certificate.
Why a Certificate in Yoga Philosophy?
The Certificate Program provides a well-rounded introduction to the philosophic traditions of India. Students take five core courses that provide a foundation in the language and primary texts which inform yoga philosophy. These courses include Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, Bhagavad Gita, Samkhya Karikas, Upanishads, and Sanskrit 1. In addition, students are invited to explore the diversity within historical and contemporary yoga traditions by taking three to five of our many elective courses.
Completing the program in a university setting ensures an education from qualified teachers. All courses are taught by university-level scholars and/or advanced practitioners with specialized training.
Eligibility Requirements for the Certificate
Students can register for the certificate program at any time. Simply fill out the “Yoga Philosophy Certificate Program Application” and mail or fax it in with your signature. Registering for the program allows us to track your progress and anticipate your graduation.
Students must complete 12 Continuing Education (CE) units of study, including 7 units in five required courses, and 5 units of elective coursework. Some requirements may be waived if you can demonstrate completion of course equivalents elsewhere. Students must maintain a grade point average of B or higher.
There will be an administrative fee of $50.00 upon completion of the coursework.
Core Courses
Sanskrit 1(2.0 CE units) – offered each semester
Learn Sanskrit, the ancient language of the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jaina scriptural traditions. Read and understand the Sanskrit script (Devanagari) focusing on correct pronunciation, preliminary grammar, and translation exercises using hatha yoga vocabulary and Yoga philosophy texts.
Yoga Sutra of Patanjali(2.0 semester hours) – offered each semester
The Yoga Sutra outlines the basic practices of Yoga, including its ethical precepts, its movement and breathing techniques, and various styles of meditation. Learn about Yoga’s analysis of mind, its theory of karma, and the eight stages that constitute the core of the Yoga path.
Samkhya Karika of Ishvarakrishna (1.0 semester hour) - offered once per year
The Samkhya Karika of Ishvarakrishna outlines basic metaphysical and psychological principles that underpin yoga Philosophy. Learn about the system of tattvas, the building blocks of physical and mental reality. The role of knowledge in cultivating self-understanding will be emphasized.
Upanishads (1.0 semester hour) - offered each semester
The Upanishads constitute the philosophical insights of the early sages of India and also document some of the earliest practices of Yoga. Study the key ideas of the Upanishads, including non-dualism, the identity between Self (Atman) and Supreme Consciousness (Brahman), and the ineffability of the absolute.
Bhagavad Gita (1.0 semester hour) - offered once per year
The Bhagavad Gita encapsulates the primary features of Yoga practice. It narrates the story of a confused warrior seeking counsel from his charioteer (Lord Krishna) who illuminates the nature of various Yoga practices. Learn key Sanskrit verses, read through and discuss the entire text, and explore the meaning of such topics as the three gunas (core constituents of reality) and visionary consciousness.
Sample Electives
All current course offerings may serve as electives other than Yoga Therapy Rx or Vinyasa Krama Yoga, which are their own certificate programs.
Sanskrit 2 (2.0 CE units)
Yoga for Transformation (2.0 CE units)
Tibetan 1 (2.0 CE units)
Tibetan 2(2.0 CE units)
Hatha Yoga Pradipika(1.0 CE unit)
Asana, Pranayama, and Meditation (2.0 CE Units)
Yoga Vasistha(1.0 CE unit)
Rig Veda(1.0 CE unit)
Kashmir Shaivism(1.0 CE unit)
Goddess and Yoga(1.0 CE unit)
Six Schools of Indian Philosophy(1.0 CE unit)
Vedanta(1.0 CE unit)
Yoga and Ecology(1.0 CE unit)
Vedic Chanting(1.0 CE unit)
Yoga of Sound(1.0 CE unit)
Jaina Yoga(1.0 CE unit)
Contemporary Thinkers (series)(1.0 CE unit)
Path of Buddhist Meditation(1.0 CE unit)
Tibetan Buddhist Tantra(1.0 CE unit)
Buddhist Contemplative Practice(1.0 CE unit)
Women in Buddhism(1.0 CE unit)
Subtle Anatomy of Yoga(1.0 CE unit)
Faculty are university-level scholars and/or advanced practitioners with specialized training, some of whom are LMU professors from Theological Studies or other departments.