Yoga Philosophy as Pragmatic Course Model - Thesis Example

Thesis: Yoga Philosophy as Pragmatic Model I. Underlining Investigation Main Focus The focus of my thesis is to create a 13-week undergraduate course using yoga philosophy as the basis for a new paradigm of leadership. This leadership paradigm will allow students to discover work or a way of being in the world that has meaning and heart and would benefit society. Essential Questions There are number of questions that will be investigated. Can yoga be a pathway to personal liberation and freedom; can this liberation define a new way of looking at leadership? Can the ancient wisdom of yoga philosophy aid emerging adults in becoming fully expressed and authentic beings. Will becoming more authentic allow people to take action that is beneficial for society? Does the inward journey of discovering authenticity lead to a more fulfilling and liberated life? Will this liberation inspire others to follow suit? If so, what will the impact be on society if these young adults are able to be courageous enough to take the necessary action to understand what their life purpose is and pursue this meaning? How does authenticity and personal liberation correlate to dharma (calling)? How does one following their dharma affect society? Can this effect be termed as transformative leadership? Does the old paradigm of leadership need to change? Form This will be a 3-credit thesis/project that will include a 15-20-page paper with 15-20 cited sources and a 13-week undergraduate curriculum. II. Purpose Intention The intention is to inspire young adults to accept themselves. It is also to challenge these individuals to act as leaders and ultimately view leadership in a new way -- using the ancient wisdom of yoga philosophy (yoga being more than postures, but also, knowledge, devotion, physical practice, discipline, meditation, awareness, authenticity etc.). Personal Motivation People are suffering. More specifically emerging adults are suffering. The rates of suicide, drug use, depression and obesity -- to name a few examples -- are increasing at an alarming rate. Young people will be the first generation to not be as financially successful as their parents. Most are familiar with the stereotypical mid-life crisis, and this is now bleeding over into this generation, being described as the quarter-life crisis. The twenties can be a time of possibility, inspiration, and the discovery of one’s deepest values and truths. It can also be a time of challenge as one begins creating the kind of life their soul is calling for. My hope is to design a class for young adults interested in cultivating an authentic life of meaning and purpose. Young adults are longing for inspiration and to find their place in the world — their communal identity. Humans have become so disconnected from the natural order of life, most don’t even know what foods are in season or where and how they grow. The family structure has changed and the rapid pace of the world makes it difficult for young adults to stop and listen to their inner wisdom and create a life based on their deepest desires and passions. We are deeply disconnected from one another, from cooperation, and from our purpose. This class is about finding a connection to the rhythm of life, and discovering who one truly is. With this inner truth the way one participates in the world would be greatly changed, increasing the individual’s positive interactions with humanity. This is a generation of inspiration. Young people want to be inspired, by the cars they drive, the food they eat and the work they do. They no longer share their parent’s values, such as a typical 9-5 job. They want work that benefits; they want to be agents of change. They are a generation that realizes the “old way of doing things isn’t working”. This class will provide the scaffolding to discover who they are authentically and the leader they are and to discover a pathway to work that is meaningful. Throughout this class, students will understand a leadership model steeped in yoga philosophy that can be applied to any personal or professional project. It will allow students to understand what it means to live a life of purpose and passion. With the model, readings, lectures and experiences, each student will use the model to create a project that has meaning for them and understand experientially how it pertains to them creating a life of meaning. I cannot remember a time when leadership has not been an interest of mine. Recently I worked at Kripalu’s Semester Intensive college program; during this time I began to teach a six-week experiential leadership class. This inspired me to go back to school and create the leadership model and create a curriculum that could be used in a broader venue. While working (as a life coach and teacher) with over 70 young adults at Kripalu, I began to understand the struggles and confusion that this generation suffers from. Over the four-month semester of working with these students every day I saw the transformation that each student went through, with yoga as their foundation. It became apparent to me that the current state of affairs is not effective for a large population of young adults -- past leadership needs to change. With the use of yoga and yoga philosophy I saw profound effects on these students. Indeed, Harvard University has been researching long-term effects on these specific students and I content that these students will have more tools to live the life they dream. I believe by transforming oneself the world transforms. As Gandhi says “be the change.” This is how true transformative change occurs, this is leadership. The Tantras (scriptures of Yoga), claim that this is a time of Kaili Yuga — an era of greed, destruction, ignorance and suffering; however, one can find personal liberation through discipline of yoga. I believe that our deepest calling is to grow more and more into our authentic self — this is the work of a leader — and constitutes the redefinition of past leadership models. We are all called to leadership. Leaders consider this life precious and are thus willing to act deliberately in service to life. Moreover, leadership is a journey into the depths of what it means to be human. Leadership is about being fully expressed, about being called to one’s greatness and about having the courage to act in ways that are in alignment with one’s highest self. The world relies on each of us to heed the call of our heart. There is a divine unfolding of life to hear one’s personal calling and the path of yoga can provide the tools to answer this call, and to live a life of possibility, passion and integrity. By liberating one’s own heart and stepping fully into their authenticity one inspire others to do the same — this is the new way of leadership. Through this highly experiential leadership class, which would include lecture, readings, videos, group work, movement and expressive arts, I students will: Understand a radically new and powerful leadership model that can be used both personally and professionally Connect to a personal calling and have the tools to act on it Discover what it means to live an authentic life and be responsible for the impact of living authentically Begin to see life clearly; without fear, fantasy or distortion Take the courageous inward journey and discover the leader within Embody the Yoga of Leadership This is the new leadership. Personal and Professional Development Personal and professional development goals will be achieved in developing this thesis by becoming a better researcher, creating effective curriculum that is truly transformational. Ideally this will be taught in a university where students will have the lifetime tools to positively affect society. III. Means of Accomplishing Goals Incorporation of Past Research All of the classes I took were connected to becoming more authentic—which is ultimately a pathway to leadership. Please see attached program review. Literature Review The literature review will consists of a broad array of writings and perspectives that demonstrate that traditional leadership approaches need to be realigned to contemporary instructional model that adequately addresses these issues, preparing students for 21st century demands. Specific examples include: Howard Gardner: Multiple Intelligences research This is useful for distinguishing how different people learn, emphasizing and supporting the need for this class to be both analytical and experiential. Jeffrey Arnett: Emerging Adults—statistics on emerging adults. I will interview young adults about how they feel, what inspires them, and what they long for. This will be used to develop a sense of the generation, which will be mapped along with contemporary literature. Robins and Wilner (2001): Quarterlife Crisis, the Unique Challenges of Life in your Twenties This book and similar literature investigates the contemporary human condition of the young adults. Wiggins, G. and McTighe (2007): Understanding by Design, A Brief Introduction Curriculum development literature such as the Wiggins and McTighe’s (2007) Constructivist model will be considered to development a strong foundation for a course model. Yoga Philosophy and effects of yoga: Find research on the effects of yoga and compare it to statistics on emerging adults. A quantitative and qualitative assessment of how yoga affects authenticity. Then investigate how authenticity can lead to being a leader of your own life and discovering work that is meaningful. Research the psychology of yoga. Data Collection Interview young adults to research the effect of people following their “dharma” or “calling” and the effect that had on society and how that is truly an act of leadership Summary and Analysis Methodology IV. Benefits for Society Cultural Significance When individuals choose to liberate their own soul, it in turn inspires others to do the same. The power of this work is endless Audience College Students and those interested in claiming their life purpose and their leadership. Publishing and Publicity I would like it to become a college course or I would like it to become a week intensive course in the summer for graduating seniors to guide them how to move forward into the world. It could also be a weekly series at multiple colleges. Audience Response There is a new way to leadership. For true transformation to occur it must begin with authenticity—and yoga is a direct pathway to this authenticity. Once this authenticity is awareness, then one can move forward and take action toward a project, a vision or a goal with the skills to succeed. One does not need to “practice” yoga to reap its benefits—the tools of yoga are universal. References Robbins, Alexandra; Wilner, Abby. Quarterlife Crisis: The Unique Challenges of Life in Your Twenties. Tarcher, 2001. Wiggins, G. and McTighe, J. (nd) Understanding by Design: A brief introduction. Center for Technology & School Change at Teachers College, Columbia University. Retrieved 6/7/07 Read More

I cannot remember a time when leadership has not been an interest of mine. Recently I worked at Kripalu’s Semester Intensive college program; during this time I began to teach a six-week experiential leadership class. This inspired me to go back to school and create the leadership model and create a curriculum that could be used in a broader venue. While working (as a life coach and teacher) with over 70 young adults at Kripalu, I began to understand the struggles and confusion that this generation suffers from.

Over the four-month semester of working with these students every day I saw the transformation that each student went through, with yoga as their foundation. It became apparent to me that the current state of affairs is not effective for a large population of young adults -- past leadership needs to change. With the use of yoga and yoga philosophy I saw profound effects on these students. Indeed, Harvard University has been researching long-term effects on these specific students and I content that these students will have more tools to live the life they dream.

I believe by transforming oneself the world transforms. As Gandhi says “be the change.” This is how true transformative change occurs, this is leadership. The Tantras (scriptures of Yoga), claim that this is a time of Kaili Yuga — an era of greed, destruction, ignorance and suffering; however, one can find personal liberation through discipline of yoga. I believe that our deepest calling is to grow more and more into our authentic self — this is the work of a leader — and constitutes the redefinition of past leadership models.

We are all called to leadership. Leaders consider this life precious and are thus willing to act deliberately in service to life. Moreover, leadership is a journey into the depths of what it means to be human. Leadership is about being fully expressed, about being called to one’s greatness and about having the courage to act in ways that are in alignment with one’s highest self. The world relies on each of us to heed the call of our heart. There is a divine unfolding of life to hear one’s personal calling and the path of yoga can provide the tools to answer this call, and to live a life of possibility, passion and integrity.

By liberating one’s own heart and stepping fully into their authenticity one inspire others to do the same — this is the new way of leadership. Through this highly experiential leadership class, which would include lecture, readings, videos, group work, movement and expressive arts, I students will: Understand a radically new and powerful leadership model that can be used both personally and professionally Connect to a personal calling and have the tools to act on it Discover what it means to live an authentic life and be responsible for the impact of living authentically Begin to see life clearly; without fear, fantasy or distortion Take the courageous inward journey and discover the leader within Embody the Yoga of Leadership This is the new leadership.

Personal and Professional Development Personal and professional development goals will be achieved in developing this thesis by becoming a better researcher, creating effective curriculum that is truly transformational. Ideally this will be taught in a university where students will have the lifetime tools to positively affect society. III. Means of Accomplishing Goals Incorporation of Past Research All of the classes I took were connected to becoming more authentic—which is ultimately a pathway to leadership.

Please see attached program review. Literature Review The literature review will consists of a broad array of writings and perspectives that demonstrate that traditional leadership approaches need to be realigned to contemporary instructional model that adequately addresses these issues, preparing students for 21st century demands. Specific examples include: Howard Gardner: Multiple Intelligences research This is useful for distinguishing how different people learn, emphasizing and supporting the need for this class to be both analytical and experiential.

Read More