Yoga : Beyond the Physical Practice

Please note - parking is off 900 South and you will walk down the path towards the big red barn.

This lecture will focus on the philosophy of the eight-limbed path, offering insight into how Yoga extends beyond physical movement into a way of living. Whether you're new to yoga or simply curious, this is a chance to learn, reflect, and connect with the essence of the practice in a relaxed, informative setting.

This is not a physical practice, so no Yoga mat is required.

About the Speaker

Eliza Eshelman is a dedicated Ashtanga yoga practitioner who carries forward the tradition and authenticity of the practice. Over a series of extended trips from 2011-2016 she studied directly with Sharath Jois in Mysore, India and was given the blessing to teach the practice. This means she is formally trained in the lineage and methods as preserved under his guidance with the responsibility to teach the practice as taught by the tradition. This authorization not only ensures technical precision but also lineage integrity. She is one of about 200 teachers in North America to receive this teaching authorization.

Academically, Eliza completed a Graduate Certificate in Yoga Philosophy from Loyola Marymount University (LMU, Los Angeles, CA) where she studied primary texts, spiritual traditions, and how yoga’s philosophical foundations enrich both practice and teaching. She is currently obtaining her Masters degree at LMU in Yoga studies. She deepens her understanding of foundational yogic language through ongoing study of Sanskrit through the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Eliza also practices and studies Vedic chanting, integrating the oral, musical, and devotional dimensions of yoga into her teaching. She is also a certified Ayurvedic practitioner having studied at an Ayurvedic College in Miami, FL from 2010-2012 and spent time in an Ayurvedic clinic in Kerala, India in 2011.

Her work stands at the intersection of tradition and scholarship: rooted in the Ashtanga lineage, yet enriched by rigorous study and the subtle arts of language and sound. In her classes and lectures, students can expect a thoughtful, authentic path—a practice that is more than just postures, but a living expression of Yoga's philosophy, breath, and spirit.

Her intention is to share this practice as taught by her teacher, Sharath Jois who unexpectedly passed away in November of 2024.

This is an informative lecture and may include some participation, but no movement is required.