Yoga Sutras Workshop

Have you ever heard of the Yoga Sutras?

If you have been exploring the path of yoga for some time, the answer is likely yes. We invite you to go deeper into the study of the Yoga Sutras, a foundational text for anyone developing their yoga practice and way of life. Its authorship is traditionally attributed to Patañjali, a Hindu sage.

One of Patañjali’s major contributions was putting into written form the profound philosophy of yoga, which had been passed down orally until the 3rd century BCE. In technical terms, the Yoga Sutras, or “Yoga Aphorisms” in Sanskrit, are 196 aphorisms divided into four chapters. They address every dimension of life, from ethical conduct to the study of meditation. After a careful analysis of human consciousness, Patañjali presents eight stages, or steps (Ashtanga), leading to yoga’s goal as he saw it: “the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.” As Yogananda later described it, “Yoga is about calming the mind, so that we can listen with complete fidelity to the infallible guidance of the inner voice.”

Throughout history, many respected authors and yogis have offered commentaries and interpretations of this text. All agree that the Yoga Sutras represent the philosophical essence of the yoga tradition. More simply, they can be understood as a text that defines the qualities of mind-consciousness and the ways yoga practice helps us observe and transform them. Below are the 8 steps of yoga:

• YAMA: Ethical principles and guidelines for living in society.
• NIYAMA: Personal discipline and attitudes toward oneself.
• ÁSANA: Physical postures.
• PRANAYAMA: Expansion of prana, or vital energy.
• PRATYAHARA: Withdrawal of the senses.
• DHARANA: Focusing the mind on a single point.
• DYANA: Meditation.
• SAMADHI: Enlightenment.

B.K.S. Iyengar used the metaphor of a tree to explain Patañjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga in a simple and accessible way.

The practical relevance of this wisdom in modern life will be explored in depth in the Yoga Sutras Workshop we offer, guided by JAY JAGANNATH and SHEYNA VODOVOZ. They share yogic philosophy in a practical and coherent way.