Awaken Study Circle
Beyond the Mind's Stories
Classical Pranayam, Philosophy & Meditation
Over 5,000 years ago, the ancient seers of India asked a question that still echoes in every yoga class, every meditation cushion, every moment of stillness you have ever touched: what is the mind — and is it possible to be free of its suffering?
In this two-hour workshop, we go to the root of that question. Not as philosophy for its own sake, but as a living inquiry into your own experience — right now, in this body, in this breath.
Using Patanjali's Yoga Sutras as our map, we move through classical pranayama, deep philosophy teaching, and guided meditation — arriving at the oldest and most radical insight yoga has to offer: that what you have been looking for has never been absent. The stillness was always there, beneath the mind's stories.
"Yoga is the complete stilling of the turnings of the mind."
— Patanjali, Yoga Sutra I:2
Led by Manish Pole
YOGA & MEDITATION EDUCATOR SINCE 2003 ·
CO-FOUNDER, AWAKEN SCHOOL
Meditation is about becoming friends with yourself. Manish has spent over two decades at the intersection of ancient yogic wisdom and contemporary life. Trained deeply in classical yoga and philosophy — including 7 years living, training and teaching with Bharat Thakur, described by TIME Magazine as "the Living Himalayan Master" — he brings the Yoga Sutras, Vedanta, and the science of meditation alive not as historical texts, but as practical maps of the mind.
With a background in Psychology, Literature and Journalism, Manish holds philosophical depth and human warmth in the same hand — drawing living connections between Patanjali, the Buddha, modern neuroscience, and the person sitting in front of him. A Keynote Speaker at World Expo 2020 and wellness conferences globally, he co-founded Total Yoga — with schools across India, the USA, UK, UAE, Singapore and New Zealand — before founding the Awaken School in 2023.
He believes in the power of a genuine mentorship journey to navigate the inner path — ancient wisdom and modern research, held together without dogma and without contradiction.
TESTIMONIALS
I feel that the training offered a very genuine experience, no gimmicks, a complete focus on exploring yoga at its fullest. This training enabled me to gain a much deeper understanding of the philosophy and history of yoga, how to apply that to my life, and how to embed it within the classes I share as a teacher.
And here I am closing 20 years with Manish Pole, my Yoga teacher, coach, and a friend which makes my yoga journey unique, enriching and has shaped me to be what I am today. Another deeper aspect of his teaching style is the ability to connect YOGA philosophy with the practice which provides context and reasoning to why we are doing what we are doing.
My journey with the Yoga & Meditation Teacher Training began from a deep inner necessity, a longing to find more meaning in life, and a genuine thirst for clarity and inner peace. The online videos offer great flexibility, allowing you to move at your own pace. For me, this meant taking time for reflection and meditation, integrating the teachings rather than simply consuming information.
As a student of the M&YTT programme with Manish, and as someone who's known and learned from Manish over the years, I'm grateful and deeply appreciative not just for the depth of knowledge presented through the course; but also the spirit of enquiry and seeking that is sparked and fostered.
Upcoming Retreats & Workshops
Awaken events happen across the globe and even online! Explore the whole events calendar and reserve your spot.