This all-encompassing course invites yoga teacher trainees to explore the philosophical, historical, and ethical foundations of yoga with clarity and depth. Designed to support the certification process for Original Hot Yoga teachers, this curriculum moves far beyond surface-level study. Trainees engage with classical texts like the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Katha Upanishad, and the Mahabharata, alongside Tantric works such as the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra and the Yoga Yajnavalkya. Key themes include karma and liberation, the meaning of Namaste, belief systems (dualism, non-dualism, pluralism), and the history of Hatha and modern yoga. Each lesson emphasizes how these worldviews shape what we teach and why it matters. Whether unpacking a single word from the Bikram Dialogue or tracing the evolution of yoga through India’s spiritual traditions, this course cultivates thoughtful, informed, and empowered teachers ready to honor the tradition while speaking authentically.