Vidya Institute Is Delighted To Present
Philosophies & Practices Of The Bhagavad Gita
Explore The Yogic Journey Of Self Discovery With Integrative Iyengar Yoga Sadhana
Guided Yoga Philosophy & Scripture Teachings Featuring Gitte Bechsgaard RP PhD CIYT-III
Asana-Pranayama Sadhana Classes Featuring Gloria Goldberg CIYT-IV & Sheila Haswell CIYT-III
Curriculum Taught Live Online Via Zoom With Video Recordings Sent To Your Email After Each Class
September 10th, 2026 – May 13th, 2027
“Devote yourself to this yoga of equanimity; Skill in action he’s in the practice of this yoga”
— Bhagavad Gita II:50
If exploring the Path of karma (action), jnana (wisdom), and bhakti (devotion) sounds interesting, then this year’s curriculum is for you.
Never before have we offered an immersive program that dives into the perennial scripture of the Bhagavad Gita.
This September, you’ll initiate the great yogic journey of heroic Self-discovery, during your first year of study and carefully integrated yogic practice.
The Bhagavad Gita holds many of the hidden foundations of Eastern psychology, where the goal of human life is Self-realization.
According to the Eastern systems, knowing the real Self (Atman) is the first and foremost purpose of life.
Though the Gita is composed of ‘only’ seven hundred slokas, it possesses all the principles of the philosophy and psychology of the East. Despite its condensed form, you witness all the philosophical and psychological wisdom of the Upanishads.
And yet, the Gita is considered the Moderate Path.
One which offers us a profound synthesis of the various traditional Margas of yoga:
- Karma Yoga: The Yoga Of Action
- Jnana Yoga: The Yoga Of Wisdom
- Bhakti yoga: The Yoga Of Devotion
Each of the Bhagavad Gita’s eighteen chapters describe a different aspect of the heroic journey of Self-discovery.
The ultimate aim?
To demonstrate how one establishes equanimity to the seeker, both in their internal lives as well as in their activities in the world at large. Basically, to help us in developing tranquility and steadfastness, while performing our daily actions.
The Gita teaches the art and discipline of both skillful and reaction-free action.
These teachings help you understand the distinction between the real Self (Atman) and the egoic self, with all its limited perceptions.
What one might call the ordinary self is subject to change and destruction; it is very prone to moods and reactions.
Constantly attached and entangled.
But the True Self, the soul, is beyond that.
The Atman is at the core. The essence of the consciousness within.
It is everlasting.
Eternal and infinite.
In this great Perennial Yoga Shastra, The Bhagavad Gita, the seeker is told that the yogi must hold knowledge of both the field – prakriti – and the Knower of the field – The Atman.
Only then can a yogi truly learn the art of being in the world, but not of the world.
The key to this understanding lies between the two.
Between the egoic self and the Atman.
Here you uncover the ‘internal life’, requiring refinement to be harnessed for good.
Spiritual training focuses on the understanding and mastery of one’s internal states.
And on the skillful performance of one’s sva-dharma.
Without fully grasping one’s inner potential and higher purpose in life, developing the soul and exhausting the karmas becomes impossible.
Most certainly, it’s not possible to awaken spiritually.
Because to awaken is to move from one unique plane of consciousness to entirely different one.
Everyone has their egos and thoughts that tell them who they are, providing guidance on how all is supposed to be in life.
The Bhagavad Gita guides the seeker to the path which enables them to slip away from their own expectations, eventually navigating to an entirely different realm of perception.
And yet, if you wish to ‘see’ in this manner, you first must develop your own divine ‘eye’.
The Development of this ‘cosmic vision’ is immortalized within the texts when Arjuna is confronted face to face with Krishna, in his true form.
Themes of this journey are not merely found within its scriptures, the unique dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna conceptualizes all aspects of life.
Arjuna, like many of us, begins the journey in a state of despair and feels unable to cope with the crises and difficulties of life.
So he seeks Lord Krishna’s guidance.
Krishna presents him a philosophical foundation to understanding the purpose of life,
He shows the way to live with evenness of mind in all situations.
Krishna offers Arjuna much practical advice:
- On living artfully.
- On facing life’s greatest challenges with an even mind.
- On dharma.
- On the heroic journey of Self-discovery.
Here, we witness the Guru and the archetypal Divine teacher standing by Arjuna’s side and advising him, once he is ready to truly listen.
But for quite a while Arjuna remains attached to his old values.
Rigid old definitions of himself.
Self-perceptions deeply ingrained.
Arjuna was used to the security of knowing what’s right.
Having a set of rules to live by, regardless of ego or efficacy.
Thankfully Krishna addresses the whole being of Arjuna, as his most beloved disciple and friend.
Focus was not merely placed on the obvious problem Arjuna faced, but rather on the ‘internal battle’ between the old identity and the new identity beginning to unfold before him.
In many ways the Bhagavad Gita emphasizes that the ‘battle’ is taking place within, between the egoic self and the noble qualities of the soul and Atman on the other side.
Here, it is only the buddhi and the Atman which can lead to Self-realization.
During our regular sessions together you will:
- Discover Eastern psychology’s fundamentals as laid out in the Bhagavad Gita
- Understand the three Paths (margas) of Yoga, Karma, Jnana, & Bhakti
- Explore the famous ‘Definitions of Yoga’ as witnessed in the Bhagavad Gita
- Uncover the archetype of the heroic journey of self-discovery
- Explore the concept of sva-dharma and its importance for spiritual life
- Examine the Indian doctrine of karma and Reincarnation
- Learn the fundamentals of buddhi yoga and experience its practices
- Realize the true role of Devotion and the Guru in spiritual life
- Internalize the art of living in this world without being of this world
- Participate in an advanced exploration of the Yoga of meditation
- Learn about the important ideas of sacrifice held within the Bhagavad Gita
- Explore the Bhagavad Gita’s link to the Upanishads and the Yoga Sutras
- Understand the nuances of renunciation and purification of our entanglements
- Engage in an advanced exploration of the famous commentary Jnaneswars Gita and selected commentaries of Sri Aurobindo
- Demystify the esoteric scriptures through the oral teachings of the Iyengar’s and Sri Krishan Mantriji
Gitte Bechsgaard RP PhD CIYT-III will join together with Gloria Goldberg CIYT-IV and Sheila Haswell CIYT-III to bring a true integration of the philosophies and practices uncovered within the Bhagavad Gita’s great yogic journey of Self-discovery, in integration with BKS Iyengar’s Path Of Practice.
Bringing their decades of collective Iyengar Yoga Sadhana experience, Gitte’s years of personal private study with Sri Krishan Mantriji, alongside Gloria & Sheila’s longstanding tutelage under the Iyengars, this year program provides participants with an unmatched opportunity to delve into the classical integrative depths of the Yogic Journey.