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Yoga Beyond the Poses
The Cultural Origins of Yoga
Most people practise the poses. Few ever experience what yoga truly is.
Discover the living roots of yoga through the story of Shiva and Parvati - where silence, love, surrender, and self-discovery become the real practice.
Led by OM Yoga Magazine teacher of the year 2024 | Trusted by 100+ teachers worldwide | Lifetime access | Yoga Alliance CPD accredited
Dear Yogi
Yoga is not just movement. Yoga exists beyond flexibility.
It is a living tradition - a path of self-discovery, surrender, and transformation that has been passed down through stories and direct experience for thousands of years.
In this course, we explore the true cultural and philosophical origins of yoga through the timeless story of Shiva and Parvati. Together we move beyond the surface of poses and techniques into the deeper reality that yoga was always meant to be: a journey of love, silence, facing our inner demons, and ultimately becoming w
You will learn 👇🏽
🟤 How ancient mythology reveals the living essence of yoga
🟠 The power of silence as the highest teaching
❣️ How love, trauma, and surrender shape the path
🟡 Practical techniques (including breathing practices) to experience these truths in your own body and life
Whether you are a complete beginner who wants to start with depth, a dedicated student seeking more meaning, or a teacher who wants to bring real substance to your classes, this course offers a clear, respectful, and transformative way to understand what yoga truly is.
No dogma. No rigid rules. Just an honest exploration of the roots, so you can practise and teach with authenticity and confidence.
This is yoga beyond the poses - the cultural origins, the living philosophy, and the path of becoming.
Zahir Akram - Author of 'Yoga - Madness or Meditation?'
What's inside-
Immediately accessible insights that eliminate confusion and equip you with the clarity on yoga that every student needs.
The Back Pain Essentials Mini-Course Includes:
This focused, Yoga Alliance CPD-accredited programme delivers immediately applicable insights that remove confusion and equip you with the clarity and confidence to guide students with lower back pain safely and responsibly.
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🟠 What is Back Pain, Really? (and why it matters in yoga classes)
🟤 Can Yoga Cause Back Pain?
🟡 Can Yoga Exacerbate Existing Back Pain?
👉🏽 Bonus Homework - Immediate application exercises
THE BASICS
Build a clear understanding of back pain in the context of yoga teaching.
THE MECHANICS
🟠 Develop the anatomical foundation every yoga teacher needs.
🟤 Lower Back Anatomy – What every teacher must understand
👉🏽 BONUS - The Discs (how they function and get stressed in yoga)
THE POSES
🟠 Learn safe, anatomy-respecting modifications and cueing for the poses that most commonly stress the lower back.
🟤 Safe modifications and cueing for: Bhujangāsana (Cobra), Nāvāsana (Boat), Paścimottānāsana (Seated Forward Fold), Uttānāsana (Standing Forward Fold), Virabhadrasana (Warrior)
🟡 Real-life examples of risky versus safe alignment
THE BIGGEST MYTHS
🟠 Replace potentially harmful instructions with evidence-informed alternatives.
“I Bend So I Don’t Break” – Debunking dangerous forward-fold cues
🟤 Tight Hamstrings - The real story and safer alternatives
🟡 One Size Fits All – Balancing Science & Tradition
💡 Additional Bonuses
🟠 Worst poses for back pain + biomechanics analysis
🟤 Everyday teaching cues that protect rather than risk the spine
By the end of this short programme, you will have a practical framework you can apply immediately in class, allowing you to teach with greater confidence, reduce risk to your students, and position yourself as the teacher who truly understands back care.
MORE ABOUT YOUR TUTOR
I’m Zahir - dad, husband, yoga teacher, and forever seeker.
Om Yoga Magazine - Yoga Teacher of the Year 2024
I’ve dedicated half my life to understanding what makes us who - and what - we are.
My studies have taken me from anatomy to philosophy - from the ancient Greeks, who first dissected the human body, to the yogis who remind us that we are not the body at all. That journey has carried me from my parents’ birthplace in Kashmir, through the bustling streets of Calcutta, to the quiet, expansive landscapes of Nepal.
Along the way, I’ve broken things down (quite literally) from the mechanics of breathing to the complex, often misunderstood nature of the human skeleton.
I’ve studied anatomy and movement for over 25 years, working as a Personal Trainer throughout that time. My education includes the National Academy of Sports Medicine, the London School of Osteopathy, and years of experience as a senior yoga teacher, studio owner, and exercise physiologist.
What drives my work is translating complicated science into something practical and usable. You’ll see that reflected in my teaching, and in my Instagram and YouTube content, where anatomy is explored through movement rather than memorisation.
My aim is simple: to help you understand anatomy in a way that gives you clarity, confidence, and trust in your own teaching - so you’re no longer guessing, copying cues, or doubting yourself in front of students.
That is my promise to you.
Namaskar
ZAHIR AKRAM
Want more
Proof?
The transformation stories shared with me over the years have been truly overwhelming - far too many to feature here. Yet each one underscores the profound impact of mastering conscious breathing.
Here is another honest, heartfelt reaction from a student experiencing how this approach reshapes practice and teaching confidence...
After just one module, your teaching will be transformed .
Shall we get started?
Important Disclaimer
This course is for educational purposes only. Drawing on 25 years of study in anatomy, movement, and yoga practice, informed by my own experience with lower back pain - it provides information on spinal mechanics, common yoga cues, and evidence-informed movement principles to help yoga teachers and practitioners make safer, more informed decisions in class.
It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it is not a substitute for professional healthcare. I am not a physician. Always consult a qualified medical professional regarding any pain or medical condition before applying concepts from this course. Participants assume full responsibility for their own practice and any modifications they choose.