Alumni Reception – 10th Anniversary of the MA Traditions of Yoga and Meditation

We are thrilled to be celebrating our 10th Anniversary. We’d love you to join us!

SOAS University of London and SOAS Centre of Yoga Studies are pleased to invite past graduates of the MA Traditions of Yoga and Meditation to a drinks reception in celebration of this momentous occasion.

This MA programme, the first of its kind in the academy, was conceived of by Prof. Ulrich Pagel (Seiyu Kiriyama Professor in Buddhist Studies and MA Convenor) and officially launched in September 2012. The first students graduated in 2014. Since its inception, this MA programme has been instrumental in the establishment of the field of Yoga Studies.

This alumni event is an opportunity to celebrate the twelve cohorts that have graduated since 2012. It is also an occasion to reconnect and network with fellow SOAS alumni, to hear how others have benefited from their studies, and to chat with friends that you may not have seen since graduation. It is a chance to share your stories with your peers, to forge new projects or simply remember those exciting days of study.

We are delighted to host Dr Suzanne Newcombe (Open University and Inform at King’s College London) as our Keynote Speaker. She will discuss the formation of the field of Yoga Studies and its trajectory, and may touch on modern yoga and its place in contemporary society.

Dr Tessa Watt (MA Traditions of Yoga and Meditation 2013) will speak about her experience since graduation, which will include some reflections on the project, Mindfulness in Westminster. She will mention some of the achievements of other alumni of the MA degree, such as successful business ventures, appointments to academic posts, publications, and careers as influential researchers and educators in the field of Yoga Studies.

We are currently re-designing the MA Traditions of Yoga and Meditation to align it closely with the changing landscape in Yoga Studies. You will be the first to learn of our plans at the alumni reception. We shall also share with you effective ways to inspire the next generation of MA students so that they too can benefit from the academic experience that was available to you.