The Yoga Sutras

Sometimes as yogis, we put the most emphasis on the physical aspect of our practice- the asanas, or postures. In all reality, asana is only one small part of yoga.

Patanjali was a great sage of ancient India. He is the author of the Yoga Sutra, written around 2,000 years ago. It gives us a blueprint of the steps to achieve a state of inner bliss- the ultimate goal of yoga.

In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali outlined an 8-limbed path of practice. The 8 limbs are: 

1.    The Yamas - basic moral guidelines for relating to others: characteristics we seek to embody as our most compassionate selves. 

v Ahimsa – non-violence

v Satya – truthfulness

v Asteya – non-stealing

v Brahmacharya – responsibility in the sharing of energy

v Aparigraha – non-hoarding or non-grasping

2.    The Niyamas - personal observances

v Saucha – purity

v Samtosha – contentment

v Tapas – disciplined use of our energy

v Svadhayaya – self-examination

v Ishvara pranidhana – devotion to the Highest Self

3.    Asana - physical postures

4.    Pranayama - breath control

5.    Pratyahara - withdrawal of the senses 

6.    Dharana - concentration

7.    Dhyana - meditation

8.    Samadhi - self-actualization and union with the Divine (i.e. "enlightenment")

I’ve been doing a series on the Yamas the last few weeks for one of my classes, and I think they’re absolutely worth closer examination for anyone who practices yoga.

Ahimsa is probably the best recognized of the Yamas. It translates from Sanskrit to non-violence. Ahimsa encompasses much more than just physical harm to others- it also includes non-violence in our words and our thoughts. It means having compassion for every living thing, and asking ourselves in every situation, “How can I best ensure that no harm is done here?”

A true practice of ahimsa requires honest self-examination and careful vigilance. We must notice our words and thoughts, and be aware of the intention behind our actions. It takes a lot of humility and honesty to achieve this introspection.

In asana practice, the concept of ahimsa is absolutely essential. Students of yoga must always examine the body carefully and recognize when they have to back off of a pose. If we let our egos get in the way, we can get caught up in “achieving” poses even if we do harm to our bodies in the process. Ahimsa asks us to be non-violent in our interactions with others, and also non-violent towards ourselves.

Check back for more of the Philosophy of Yoga in the next few weeks as I continue to work through the rest of the Yamas.

“This is the unusual thing about non-violence- nobody is defeated, and everybody shares in the victory. “ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.