This talk is part of our ongoing exploration of the guru–śiṣya (teacher–student) tradition, focusing on how wisdom can be discovered outside formal learning environments. It invites you to reflect on the ways life itself becomes a teacher — in nature, in challenges, and even in unexpected opposition.
Drawing on narratives from the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Rāmāyaṇa, and Mahābhārata, we explore how ancient texts illuminate practical approaches for modern learning:
For yoga practitioners, these stories validate learning that happens beyond formal structures and offer guidance for engaging with wisdom wherever it appears. For teachers, they inspire innovative methodologies and ways to help students see the richness of learning opportunities around them.
As modern yoga navigates questions of authenticity, lineage, and innovation, these narratives remind us that the tradition itself has always embraced multiple pathways to wisdom. This session equips you with tools for transforming everyday experiences into teaching moments, deepening your own insight, and supporting the growth of those you guide.
Join this session to explore how the ancient stories of the Epics and Purāṇas illuminate practical wisdom for modern yoga practice and teaching.
Agi Wittich is a yoga practitioner since two decades, and is a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher. Wittich studied Sanskrit and Tamil at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, completing a PhD with a focus on Hinduism, Yoga, and Gender. She has published academic papers exploring topics such as Iyengar yoga and women, the effects of Western media on the image of yoga, and an analysis of the Thirumanthiram yoga text.
