For thousands of years, yoga—which in Sanskrit means “a yoking to” and is described in The Yoga Sutras as “the cessation of the modifications of the mind”—has evolved to include different styles and schools of practice. Each offers unique benefits and has a shared ancient history that started in South Asia. As the 21st century continues with an examination of the concept of the word “lineage,” I envisioned such a project for Yoga Alliance and the modern world’s main existing yoga schools, or lineages.

I pitched the concept of Yoga Lineages to Yoga Alliance also thanks to the deep learnings and conversation that grew from the scientific research on yoga work Dr. Sat Bir Singh Khalsa and I have done for the organization. Yoga students generally, and yoga teachers specifically, are voracious learners and explorers, and rooting a conversation on yoga in a smart, intersectional dialog is a space in which we thrive.

In its first iteration, Lineages will explore Integral Yoga, Viniyoga, Kundalini Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Sivananda Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, and Kripalu Yoga. I will interview the following heads or presumptive heads each month, and after our conversation, that head will teach a Master Class.

• June—Swami Asokananda of Integral Yoga (June 23 and 30)

• July—Gary Kraftsow of Viniyoga (July 21 and 22)

• August—Pritpal Kaur Khalsa of Kundalini Yoga (August 18 and 19)

• September—Joan White and Patricia Walden of Iyengar Yoga (September 23, Joan and Patricia, and 30, Patricia only)

• October—Atmaram of Sivananda Yoga (October 14 and 19)

• November—Kino MacGregor of Ashtanga Yoga (November 16 and 18)

• December—Stephen Cope of Kripalu Yoga (December 7 and 14)

These guests will spend 60 minutes with me in a Zoom webinar session talking about the origin, evolution, and story of their lineage, and then, in the second event, will teach a 60-90 minute Master Class in their lineage. Register at yourya.org!