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Religion or a Rebellion?
This CPD explores yoga’s cultural origins - through myths, beyond the mat, beyond the West, and beyond what you were taught in teacher training.
Master all things Yoga and deepen your own practice with our
Online CPD courses designed to unlock anatomy, philosophy, sequencing, and self-discovory.
C.P.D course with ZAHIR AKRAM
OM YOGA Magazine Yoga Teacher of the Year 2024 🏆
Deepen your skills. Honour your practice. Keep evolving.
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THE CULTURAL
ORIGINS OF
YOGA
THE SCIENCE & THE PHILOSOPHY
Yoga Philosophy Course based on the stories of Shiva (the first Yogi) & Parvati, the first student of Yoga.
🟠 WHAT YOU WILL LEARN ON THIS COURSE
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🧘♀️ Revisit the timeless question: What is Yoga?—delve into its true essence, far beyond poses or techniques.
🕉️ Explore the ancient Kashmir yoga traditions—gain insights from one of yoga’s most profound lineages.
📖 Journey through the story of Shiva and Parvati—understand yoga through the lens of the first yogi and first yoga student.
🔍 Discover what yoga is—and what it is not—challenge common assumptions and expand your understanding through multiple perspectives.
🌱 Experience yoga as a transformative journey—not just exercise, but a path to resilience, connection, and personal growth.
🔄 Let go of rigid definitions—embrace the idea that yoga is alive, evolving through stories, experiences, and reflection.
💡 Connect ancient wisdom to modern life—learn how the struggles and triumphs of Shiva and Parvati mirror your own human journey.
💪 Build inner strength and resilience—discover how yoga can help you navigate life’s challenges with grace and courage.
❤️ Cultivate connection—with yourself and the world around you—understand yoga as union in its fullest sense.
🛤️ Step into your personal evolution—use the teachings to become the person you’re meant to be, both on and off the mat.
🔥 Embrace yoga as a practice of hope and heart—find meaning even in hardship, and rediscover your inner spark.
✨ Join a living conversation about yoga—this course isn’t about rote learning; it’s about experiencing yoga as a dynamic, personal path.
“Their story, written in the language of Love - as Zahir says - is so beautiful. Full of lessons & wisdom. It's much more than the origins of Yoga, it's also the meaning of Life” – Mark, Yoga Teacher & Clinical Psychologist
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🟠 WHAT YOU WILL RECIEVE -
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✅ 30 step-by-step lessons
✅ Interactive quizzes to reinforce key concepts
✅ Industry-recognised certification for Yoga Alliance CE hours
✅ Bonus 1:1 coaching session (worth £100) to refine your teaching
✅ Email support whenever you need guidance
"Yoga is not a religion. But a profound Science of Transformation".
YOUR CHANCE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 1ST YOGI, SHIVA
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“Life is a continued learning process.
Each day presents an opportunity for learning.” 😊
"These courses are truly a lifetime’s work, and I'm so grateful to have a platform to share everything I've learned over the years with you. My goal is for you to walk away feeling more confident in your understanding—not only so you can teach with assurance but also to empower you to be yourself and to question conventional yoga wisdom. Too often, this wisdom, even with the best intentions, causes more harm than good. I hope you can use what I teach to continue sharing the magic, helping others evolve and heal, just as yoga has done for me—and for you."
ZAHIR AKRAM
About Your Tutor – Zahir Akram
Dedicated husband, dad, and lifelong seeker.
For a fuller biography, click here.
Hi, I’m Zahir Akram, your course tutor and the owner of Akram Studio. My journey started in 2004 as a personal trainer, with early experiences as far as New York. Over the years, I’ve continuously evolved my approach, always seeking new and effective ways to guide others towards their goals.
I’ve been deeply honored to receive recognition along the way, including being voted the best yoga teacher in Surrey in 2019 (though I’ll admit, I’m not even the best teacher in my own household!). These moments have been humbling reminders of my passion to help students not only move better but feel empowered in their own bodies, breaking down complex science into accessible lessons.
For those considering this course, know that my commitment to learning runs deep. I’ve dedicated years to understanding the intricacies of lower back pain, and that journey continues today. But this quest goes beyond just the body. For over a decade, I’ve immersed myself in the wisdom of the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra—a text that has profoundly influenced my approach. Its teachings remind me that each individual is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each person must discover their own magic on their own path.
Having personally struggled with chronic back pain since a car accident at 17, I understand the frustration and confusion that can come with it. Early advice I received only added to that frustration, and this course is my way of cutting through that noise—helping you to guide your students with clarity, while giving them the tools to listen to their own bodies. Sometimes, the most powerful teaching is helping someone discover the wisdom already within them.
I’ve studied at the National Academy of Sports Medicine and N.E.S.T.A. in biomechanics, alongside beginning a degree in Osteopathy at the London School of Osteopathy. Though life’s demands shifted me away from completing that degree, the knowledge gained continues to fuel my work.
I’m here to share not just the science, but the deeper philosophy that underpins yoga. Together, we’ll explore both the anatomy of the body and the timeless wisdom that can guide your students towards their own unique path.
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 Greeks, who first dissected the human body, to the yogis who say we are not the body. This journey has led me from my parents' birthplace in Kashmir, to the bustling streets of Calcutta, and the serene landscapes of Nepal. I’ve broken down and dissected everything, from the mechanics of breathing to the intricacies of Bandhas.
I’ve had a complex relationship with yoga. I’ve loved it, critiqued it, fallen out of love with it, had enough of it—and yet, I keep coming back. My understanding of yoga isn’t just a collection of other people’s words or theories. It’s a tapestry woven from my own experiences, filled with moments of doubt, rediscovery, and personal growth.
Yoga has given me the strength to forge my own path, and that’s exactly what I hope to share with you. As the Sufis say, “In a conflict between the heart and the brain, follow your heart.” This course isn’t about rigid rules or seeking absolute truths. It’s about finding what feels true and right for you, with a heart-centered approach to learning.
ZAHIR AKRAM