Into the Depths
a journey of reflection
jan 31 - july 25
2026
The Yoga of Reflection
Socrates said that the unreflected life is not worth living. Unless we reflect, we live in darkness, sadly disconnected from the wisdom of our souls. To awaken that wisdom requires reflection. We must shine the light of awareness into our darker places, and see what moves beneath the surface of our minds. This means asking potent questions, and listening to the inner voices that respond. When we learn to engage ourselves in this simple but profound way, we learn to to be a light to ourselves. We learn to reconnect to the wisdom that we have forgotten.
To know what our souls needs, and to respond to those needs with absolute clarity—this is the most pressing of all spiritual concerns. In these fraught times, we have forgotten how to listen. We are estranged from ourselves, and confused about our spiritual needs, because we have been drawn out of ourselves by an extracting, progressive, technological, machine-based regime. Yoga helps us come back into touch with ourselves, so we can hear the voices by which our souls speak, and allow those voices to guide us toward our true life.
This course is about connecting to our forgotten wisdom by inquiring into the depths of our souls, and learning to listen all over again. It is about turning our attention inward and seeking the guidance of our hearts. Together we make a sacred inquiry into the depths of our souls, an expedition into the folds of our being. What we seek is not something we know in advance, but something that emerges slowly as we proceed. For what we seek is the truth of who we are, not as told by this or that tradition, but as revealed to the open heart.
The truth that matters is already inside of us, and our task is simply to unearth it and bring it to light. To this end, we add rigorous and disciplined reflection to our practice of yoga. We contemplate the writings of yogic poets, sages and luminaries who renounced convention and abandoned dogma for the promise of discovery, who wandered into the wilderness and emerged with unexpected riches. Some of these, like Socrates, never heard of yoga, while others, like Sankara, helped define it, but all of them had a yogic spirit. Instead of following their footsteps (which would only lead to empty excavation sites) we take their words as inspiration, and we set out on our own.
In this way, we engage in the yogic process of reflection, and we bring an old tradition of authentic spiritual seeking alive. Together we sift and sort through the sands of our minds, uncovering our delusions, and allowing them to melt in the light of our awareness. We do not strain to align our thoughts with any particular view, unless it calls to us from within. Instead, we make space for our souls to stand forth, and to show us our true spiritual needs, so that we can begin to respond to them intelligently. Through this potent process, we allow ourselves to evolve. We allow our minds to bend and reshape around new insights. Because the soul dances in the light of awareness, and when the soul dances, there is magic in our lives.
* * *
This will be the fifth annual round of this course, and I expect it to be more potent than ever. Through these conversations, a certain idea of yoga has been slowly emerging. Not an idea of what yoga was, but an idea of what yoga aspires to be. And in some way, that is what we have been looking for all along—an idea of yoga that engages our spiritual needs, and meets the longings of our souls. So we will be attempting to articulate that idea of yoga together as the course unfolds. In that way, we will be participating, consciously and reverently, not only in the yoga of reflection, but in the modern renewal of the yoga tradition itself.
The readings will be drawn from many of the same sources of inspiration that we encountered in years past - Weil, Krishnamurti, Gaita, Campbell, Zimmer, Dillard, et.al. — but will also include writing that is of sociological and historical interest, particularly in framing the modern experience of the self, such as Taylor, Rorty, Kingsworth and McGilchrist. I hope you will join me on this philosophical journey, which seems to get better and better every time.
* * *
The course involves a balance of weekly live talks, guided meditations, short assigned readings, reflective journal prompts and peer discussion groups. There are no exams or other assessments, and you can adjust your level of engagement as needed. The course material will remain posted until two months after the end of the course. And the community is there to inspire and support you when you need it most.
For questions, please email info@blacklotusyoga.com
Course Structure
Saturdays | Jan 31 - July 25
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM CET
On Mondays I release a new set of materials including:
talk (usually about 20 min)
reading selection by pdf (40 mins of reading)
journal prompts for reflection
On Saturdays we meet live to talk about the material.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM CET. Typically, I talk for the first half of the session, then we open up. We will meet 20 times in all.
You meet with your study group each week at an arranged time.
Study groups are optional, but highly recommended, because current students love them and find them enriching.
All live sessions will be recorded and reposted.
The recordings will be added to the course page within 24 hours, so you can watch them later if you can't make it live.
Session Dates
JANUARY
31
APRIL
4 • 18 • 25
(no session Apr 11)
FEBRUARY
7 • 14 • 21
(no session Feb 28)
MAY
9 • 23 • 30
(no sessions May 2 or 16)
JULY
4 • 11 • 18 • 25
MARCH
7 • 14 • 21
(no session Mar 28)
JUNE
6 • 13 • 20
(no session Jun 27)
Course Structure
Saturdays | Jan 31 - July 25
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM CET
On Mondays I release a new set of materials including:
talk (usually about 20 min)
reading selection by pdf (40 mins of reading)
journal prompts for reflection
On Saturdays we meet live to talk about the material.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM CET. Typically, I talk for the first half of the session, then we open up. We will meet 20 times in all.
You meet with your study group each week at an arranged time.
Study groups are optional, but highly recommended, because current students love them and find them enriching.
All live sessions will be recorded and reposted.
The recordings will be added to the course page within 24 hours, so you can watch them later if you can't make it live.
JANUARY
31
FEBRUARY
7 • 14 • 21
(no session Feb 28)
MARCH
7 • 14 • 21
(no session Mar 28)
APRIL
4 • 18 • 25
(no session Apr 11)
MAY
9 • 23 • 30
(no sessions May 2 or 16)
JUNE
6 • 13 • 20
(no session Jun 27)
JULY
4 • 11 • 18 • 25
Session Dates
Testimonials
A note from your guide
I am thrilled to announce the fifth round of Into the Depths, my extended immersion into the yogic process of reflection. This year, we are starting later than usual, thanks to the release of the Black Lotus Program.
The ITD program continues to exceed my expectations. The level of engagement, the devotion of the community, the scope of transformation among the participants, all of this continues to astonish me.
A sure sign of the success of the program is the number of students who continue to enroll for another consecutive year. There is a contagious passion here for exploring the backwaters of the soul, with the loving support of our community. And like the experience of yoga, each pass is unprecedented, refreshing and new.
I want to emphasize that this is not an academic course. The aim is not to delineate all the diverse schools and lineages of yoga, much less to defend any particular ideological strain. Instead, draw on diverse yogic myths (especially those of Siva and Sakti), yogic traditions (classical and tantric) and authors (old and new, from both East and West) can help us in elaborating an idea of yoga that speaks to our hearts.
There are no requisites here, no exams, no accreditations, but something finer and more profound—an invitation to dive deep into the inner tradition of yoga with an amazing community of sincere seekers from around the world, who are ready to embrace the confusion, the heartache, and also the sublime wonder of being alive. If this pulls on the strings of your heart, you are absolutely welcome to join.
Last year, I gave a series of three talks designed to prime you for the course, and answer any questions that you might have about its content and purpose. The recorded talks may be found towards the bottom of this page, labeled "The Myth of Kundalini". Enjoy.
warmly,
Ty
Tuition
Into the Depths 2026
A six-month journey into the yogic process of reflection
$600 USD
A one-time payment for the full immersion.
• Full access to the 6-month course
• All 20 sessions, talks, readings, and guided meditations
• Live weekly conversations + recordings
• Weekly peer discussion groups
• Community access throughout the program
We have reduced tuition this year to make the course more accessible. While we are not offering a formal payment plan, we’re always committed to supporting sincere students. If cost is a barrier, please reach out to us at info@blacklotusyoga.com, and we will gladly explore a custom arrangement with you.
The Myth of Kundalini | Part I
A prelude to Into the Depths
In this first talk, Ty introduces the myth of Kundalini as an archetype of human and spiritual development. Through Hatha Yoga, mythology, and contemplative philosophy, he explores the creative force that rises through the body, breaks through old conditioning, and invites us into clearer modes of seeing. This session offers a taste of the reflective inquiry at the heart of Into the Depths.
The Myth of Kundalini | Part II
In this second talk, Ty deepens the exploration through the dynamic mythology of Shiva and Shakti — the creative and contemplative dimensions of consciousness. By tracing their erotic, symbolic, and psychological interplay, he reveals how this rising force awakens insight, dissolves separation, and draws us into fuller intimacy with awareness itself. A further glimpse into the contemplative terrain we explore together in Into the Depths.
The Myth of Kundalini | Part III
In this final talk, Ty turns to the inner dynamics of Kundalini as they unfold within practice itself. Through the mythic relationship of Shiva and Shakti, he explores how our sense of self is continually created, revealed, and undone — and how awareness learns to hold this unfolding with openness rather than grasping. By weaving tantric symbolism, psychological insight, and contemplative philosophy, Ty illuminates the subtle process by which awakening becomes an ordinary, intimate movement of our lives.
FAQs
How much time does this course demand?
1
The expected time to watch the videos, do the readings and attend the live sessions is about 5 hours/week. But there are no exams in this program, and no pressure to make up what you miss.
Do I have to be advanced to enroll?
2
There is no requirement concerning your ability in yoga practice, or your familiarity with the themes. But this course is best suited for people who are already practicing yoga and want to look deeper into the experience.
What if I cannot join the live sessions?
3
There are people who have taken this course in time zones that make it impossible to join the live sessions, and they have had a great experience with the course. They are staying connected on the forums and by participating in their study group.
How long will I have access to the material?
4
This course is a sustained contemplation of spiritual life. And like any contemplation, it is meant to change form and dissolve. What is most important is not the information given, but what transpires between us as we engage one another in reflection. Also, the course is ongoing, and you are invited to continue as the course continues.
Will this course help me as a yoga teacher?
5
This course will help you immensely as a teacher, by deepening your understanding of yoga, and helping you develop a language for talking about yoga that is all your own.
Will I receive a certificate at the end of this course?
6
No. This course is free of all certification concerns. It is about you and your process with yoga.
Will I get personal attention in this course?
7
In a way, this course is all about personal attention, because we get to know each other rather well in the discussion sessions. And there is ample time to ask anything at all. But we do not do asana together, and no private instructions is offered here.
Absolutely. In our live sessions, we share the practice of philosophical inquiry, and occasionally practice meditation and pranayama together as well. But we do not practice asana together as part of this course.
8
Do we practice together?
Will the material be the same as last year?
9
For this year's iteration, I am recasting the program and revising the readings, and I will be remaking the entire collection of video talks, as the year unfolds, in response to the movement of our conversation. In short, this year's course will be entirely new.
Is Buddhism covered?
10
Many of the things we contemplate in this course lie at the intersection of yoga and Buddhism. In consequence, this course naturally explores Buddhist teachings on suffering, impermanence and emptiness, and also explores the Buddhist practices of tonglen and the four immeasurables.
What about Tantra?
11
Hatha Yoga draws much of its philosophical background from the tantric tradition, including its understanding of the subtle body and the role of embodiment in spiritual practice. So this course naturally explores many Tantric ideas, and often contrasts them to the classical tradition of Patañjali.
Is there a religious orientation?
12
This course explores spirituality from an ecumenical perspective. We read authors who are Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, atheist, agnostic, and unaffiliated. Our purpose is to go to the heart of spirituality, beyond all sectarian distinctions.