The Living Thread

Yogic Philosophy for Modern Belonging

OUR INTENTIONS FOR CREATING THIS COURSE

For the curious mind, we’ve created a complete, ongoing, online philosophical deep dive into theYoga Sūtras of Patañjali in its entirety, An explorative journey of ancient yogic philosophy and its modern-day application.

This course was birthed from a desire to fill a gap in what we wish existed.

We noticed it was hard to find a course dedicated to the extensive study of yoga philosophy that is both:

Comprehensive

‍ ‍ A longer-term commitment to showing up regularly for the study of sacred texts

Adaptable

‍ ‍ Bringing the teachings down to earth, and allowing them to evolve with the modern times

The structure of the container will be held with two intentions in mind:

How do these ancient teachings fit into modern day life?
Belonging - within the self and within a sangha (spiritual community); individuals coming together in shared self inquiry

With love,

Katie & xyloh

The Living Thread

Sūtra can be translated as “thread”: a strand that gathers and holds together what might otherwise remain separate. In this way, the thread becomes a meaningful metaphor for sangha: a community woven together through shared practice, curiosity, and connection. Each teaching becomes a thread that can be picked up, followed, and explored. The ancient wisdom of the Yoga Sūtras weaves together with the questions and experiences of our lives today. Each of us carries a different thread - our perspectives, practices, questions, and lived experience - and together they form something larger than any one strand. Through sangha, ancient wisdom remains alive, not simply as something to be studied, but as something to be practiced, questioned, and lived. The thread invites us to stay connected to the teachings, to ourselves, to one another, and to the ongoing inquiry into what it means to live with awareness.

this container is for you if:

You thrive in co-created spaces where there is spaciousness for rich, raw and vulnerable conversation to unfold.

You want to learn from devoted teachers that are passionate about this work, about honoring the lineage, and translating the text in a way that’s both digestible and interesting.

You are seeking a spiritual community. At its heart, the course is rooted in sangha—a community of shared inquiry, meaningful dialogue, and ongoing integrated study.

You are interested in building a more intimate relationship with your own psyche.

You want to embody Yoga as a way of life. You crave an understanding of the roots of Yoga, and its meaning beyond the physical postures. Your heart is calling you to open into something deeper.

You are a Yoga Teacher wanting to expand your understanding of Yogic philosophy, so the teachings become lived, embodied wisdom and can be interwoven into your classes.

Please note that you do not have to a registered yoga teacher to join this course. This course is open to anyone who is interested in engaging in thoughtful discussion around yogic philosophy.

Schedule

Open to All. 80-hr. CEU for RYT’s, 40-weeks total.

All classes held virtually.

Option to join for one part or all four.

Over the course of 40-weeks (10 weeks/chapter), we will cover all four books: Samādhi, Sādhana, Vibhūti and Kaivalya Pada-s, and all 196 sutra-s.

We are calling in those who feel drawn to go beyond the surface, and move from studying the teachings to truly living them in a way that feels practical, accessible, and embodied.

Wednesdays 10:30 am EST / 7:30 am PST
Jan 20 2027 - Dec 01 2027

Classes will run 90 minutes long. Recordings will be sent via email following the live call.

What a session looks like each week (subject to change):

Opening meditation
Chant sutra & break down sanskrit
Sutra lecture & discussion
Embodied practical application - āsana, prānāyāma, meditation, somatic practices, partner exercises, journaling, visualization, meditation, chanting/sound, etc.
Closing

There will be short hOMework given each week that will include short summary responses, journaling prompts, practical application, reflections, etc. This is how the knowledge becomes embodied, living wisdom.

There will be a longer, creative assignment to be completed at the end of each book to show your understanding of the material learned.

There will be a final project for those who choose to join for the entire course.

Each book will count as 20 CEUs, for a total of 80 CEUs for the entire text.

1.5 hour live calls x 10-weeks = 15 hours

Homework = 4 hours

Final creative assignment = 1 hour

20 CEUs x 4 books = 80 CEUs

The Breakdown by Book.

Book 1

Samādhi Pāda: Contemplation

Week 1: community Guidelines, Intro to The Yoga Sūtra-s &.Samkhya Philosophy

Week 2: 1.1 - setting the context

Week 3: 1.2 - 1.4 - definition of yoga

Week 4: 1.5 - 1.11 - vrtti-s

Week 5: 1.12 - 1.16 - practice and non-attachment

Week 6: 1.17 - 1.22 - samādhi, 1.23 - 1.29 - Isvara

Week 7: 1.30 - 1.31 obstacles

Week 8: 1.32 -1.40 methods/mastery for obstacles

Week 9: 1.41 - 1.46 different types of Samādhi

Week 10: 1.47 - 1.51 the progression of Samādhi

Runs 1/20/27 - 3/24/27

3/31/27 & 4/7/27 - No class; integration break

Book 2

Sādhana Pāda: Practice

Week 1: intro to Book 2

Week 2: 2.1-2.2 kriya-s

Week 3: 2.3-2.11 klesha-s

Week 4: 2.12-2.14 karma, 2.15 -2.16 why we suffer, 2.17 - 2.25 cause of suffering

Week 5: 2.26 - 2.29 intro to 8-limb path

Week 6: 2.30-2.31, 2.35-2.39 yama-s

Week 7: 2.32-2.34, 2.40-2.45 niyama-s

Week 8: 2.46-2.48 asana

Week 9: 2.49- 2.53 pranayama

Week 10: 2.54-2.55 pratyahara, integration

Runs 4/14/27 - 6/16/27

6/23/27 & 6/30/27 - No class; integration break

Book 3

Vibhūti Pāda: Powers

Week 1: intro to book 3

Week 2: 3.1 dhāranā

Week 3: 3.2 dhyāna

Week 4: 3.3 samādhi

Week 5: 3.4-3.8 samyama, inner limbs

Week 6: 3.9-3.16 transformation of consciousness

Week 7: 3.17-3.26 siddhi-s, yogic powers

Week 8: 3.27-3.37 siddhi-s, yogic powers

Week 9: 3.38-3.49 siddhi-s, yogic powers

Week 10: 3.50-3.55 siddhi-s, yogic powers that lead to kaivalya

Runs 7/7/27 - 9/8/27

9/15/27 & 9/22/27 - No class; integration break

Book 4

Kaivalya Pāda: Liberation

Week 1: intro to book 4

Week 2: 4.1-4.6 origins of Siddhis

Week 3: 4.7– 4.12 karma

Week 4: 4.13–4.18 nature of reality

Week 5: 4.19–4.24 witness consciousness

Week 6: 4.25–4.29 discriminative wisdom

Week 7: 4.30–4.32 freedom from karma

Week 8: 4.33–4.34 kaivalya, ultimate liberation

Week 9: summary, recap, Q & A, final dharma talk presentations

Week 10: embodied practice, dharma talk presentations, closing the container

Runs 9/29/27 - 12/01/27

Final Creative Project = 1 hour (to be turned in)

about us.

Katie Rinaldi (She/Her)

E-RYT 500, YACEP, Yoga Therapist, Yoga Teacher Trainer, Soul Doula & Ceremonialist

Forever a student of Life, Katie walks her path with curiosity. Her deeper purpose emerged not through seeking but through surrender—when she opened her heart to receive the natural unfolding of her dharma. She serves as a bridge between weaving the ancient with the modern to empower others to lead more authentic and intentional lives through yoga and plant medicine.

xyloh Yugen (they/them)

E-RYT 500, YACEP, Yoga Therapist, Yoga Teacher Trainer, QMHP-C

xyloh has been a registered yoga teacher since 2019 and holds a Master of Arts degree specializing in yoga therapy. They facilitate 200hr Yoga Teacher Trainings in Peru each year along with their service pup, Potato. Additional experience includes children's yoga, equine yoga, yoga as adjunctive support in mental health settings, and running workshops focused on nervous system regulation. They utilize a trauma-informed approach to help create an inclusive and supportive space for finding connection in places of disconnect. Curiosity is used as an entryway into exploration of beingness, where yoga serves as an invitation to step back Home to oneself physically, psychologically, and spiritually.

Payment Structure

The course is broken down into four parts (one for each book), each 10 weeks long.

There are two payment options:

Individually(if you want to join for a specific portion) - $150-$250 sliding scale / book (~ 15-25$ per weekly class)
All four books bundled together (if you want to join for the whole course) - $500-$800 sliding scale

Pay via Venmo: @k8t-rinaldi

Pay via PayPal: Ker72989@gmail.com

If you are in need of financial assistance, please reach out to see what we can work out. Limited work trade / scholarship opportunities available.

This course is non-refundable.