Karnataka is a state in southwest India with coastlines along the Arabian Sea. Replete with heritage destinations, Karnataka is renown for its wildlife, national parks, and “magical hill stations.” Local landscapes are filled with contradiction: spectacular waterfalls, lush rolling green vistas, towering mountains, and peaceful rivers. Species of rare medicinal plants can be found in the dense forests and trekking destinations abound.
Yogic Studies offers a wonderful tour of many of these transformative destinations. Yogic Studies is an “educational platform dedicated to providing the highest quality research and teaching, offering university-level courses on Yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism, and South Asian Languages.” Learn more about Yogic Studies
Yogic Studies Courses Completed
2020-2023
For me, the upcoming journey is inspired by the foundation of classes I’ve taken through Yogic Studies. It has included instruction in the Sanskrit language (both written and spoken), classes in related history and culture, as well as a dive into the Upanishads; a vision of the interconnected universe and the unifying principle behind the diversity within.
While some days have been more of a stretch than others, I continue to enjoy the challenge and look forward to putting places and faces to the many names which have become so familiar.
My Yogic Studies path to date has included:
SKT 101A The Devanagari Seminar Dr. Seth Powell
YS 101 Elementary Sanskrit Dr. Antonia Ruppel
YS 102 Elementary Sanskrit Dr. Antonia Ruppel
YS 103 Elementary Sanskrit Dr. Antonia Ruppel
YS 105 A Brief History of Asana Dr. Seth Powell
YS 108 Roots of Yoga Dr. Jim Mallinson
YS 119 Yoga and Esotericism Dr. Keith Cantú
YS 121 Eight Limbs of Yoga Dr. Stuart Sarbacker
YS 126 Theosophy and Yoga Dr. Keith Cantú
YS 204 Spoken Sanskrit Dr. Varun Khanna
YS 207 Upanishads Dr. Varun Khanna
Dr. Seth Powell PhD, Harvard University
Founder & Director, Yogic Studies
From the Yogic Studies website: “Seth Powell is a scholar of Indian religions, Sanskrit, and yoga traditions, who earned his PhD in South Asian Religions at Harvard University. His dissertation comprised a critical edition, translation, and detailed study of a 15th-century Sanskrit yoga text from south India known as the Śivayogapradīpikā—which uniquely combines yoga, ritual, and devotion. He also works extensively on the visual and material culture of yoga in premodern India, uncovering yoga’s past through temple sculptures.
As an educator, Seth is passionate about sharing the latest academic research on yoga’s vast history and philosophies and is gifted in his ability to present the ancient teachings of yoga clearly in an accessible, light-hearted, and inspiring manner—while maintaining a rigor and sensitivity to traditional Indian knowledge systems.”
Seth has spent numerous year traveling and conducting field research in India, including at many of the sacred sites we will be visiting in Karnataka. He will be sharing this research and knowledge with you throughout the trip!
Karnataka State Tour
Southern India, December 4-13, 2023 – This is not your average trip to India. This 10-day journey through the sacred sites of Karnataka is unlike any other tour you will encounter. Each day we will visit special historical sites connected with the ancient traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism—all with a special eye towards the history and philosophies of yoga.
This “Embodied History” of yoga tour allows participants to uniquely uncover yoga’s past by experiencing the rich visual and material culture of India preserved through the millennia in its many sacred temples, caves, mountains, rivers, and shrines. Imagine—Indiana Jones meets spiritual pilgrimage meets academic study abroad program. We hope you can join us for this special educational and cultural journey into the heart of south India.
Itinerary
Day 1 Bangalore, Orientation
Day 2 Shravanabelagola, Hoysaleswara & Kedareshwara Temples
Day 3 Chennakeshava, Patañjali Belur Temple, Shringeri Matha & Temples
Day 4 Kedareshwara and Kadambeshwara Temples
Days 5-7 Hampi Temples & Environs (UNESCO World Heritage site)
Day 8 Aihole, Pattadakal Temples
Day 9 Mahakoota, Badami Temples & Caves
Day 10 Conclude in Belgaum, Belagavi Airport
I encourage you to check back for updates. As my journey unfolds and as time allows, I will share personal insights and visual highlights from this experience. You are welcome to come along for the ride! If you are curious and want to learn more about this this tour or classes, please visit the Yogic Studies website.
Rocky Blumhagen, Modern Elder Academy (MEA) Alum 28 Degrees and Deep River. Oxford Next Horizons Scholar. Stanford DCI, Class of 2019 is a yoga and mindfulness practitioner. To read more about Rocky – Click Here
Read more of Rocky’s posts on Chip Conely’s Wisdom Well blog.
