Join Norman Sjoman, acclaimed scholar and author for this afternoon lecture on the Yoga Sutras.
Norman will enlighten us with his knowledge of the Yoga Sutra, as well as the texts that were written a few thousand years prior, and the ones which were chronicled after.
This is a glimpse into the whole of yoga tradition. He will examine what yoga was throughout this period with some added focus on the asanas. Knowing the thoughts of the original practitioners of yoga helps us expand the possibilities of our own practice, as well as enhances our understanding of the mysteries that underlie the riches of yoga.
Norman Sjoman began the study of Yoga in Sweden under a Frenchman who had reclaimed his body after a devastating car accident. This is also where his love of Sanskrit began. His curiosity took him to India where he obtained a PhD in Sanskrit at the Centre for the Advanced Study of Sanskrit at Pune University.
Norman spent 20 years studying and teaching in India, while simultaneously advancing his yoga practice under B. K. S. Iyengar. His travels and knowledge also led him to teach at Berkeley, UBC and The University of Calgary.
He has taught yoga in the Netherlands, the UK, Japan, Sweden, Finland, and Poland in addition to India. He now teaches here in Calgary and has written 4 books on yoga – the well known Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace, Yogatouchstone, Dead Birds and Yogasutracintamani. Norman maintains his practice to this day.
Many of his students, such as Valery Petrich, Kate Charlebois, and Gert Van Leeuwen are well known while possessing a particular skill set.
Normans focus has now shifted to his art. He has exhibited a series of portraits of yogis and siddhas here in Calgary and in India. He is interested in the similarities between spiritual disciplines and the creative activity of artists.
