Pratyahara — withdrawal of the senses — is the fifth limb of yoga. It is a practice that helps us begin to go within. Pratyahara prepares the yogi for meditation. But why is it important to disconnect from sensory experience? And how can we do it most effectively? In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali defines pratyahara […]
After the yamas, the niyamas, and asana—that is, the ethical principles and physical practice of yoga—yogis learn to control the breath. Managing the breath, called pranayama, is the fourth limb of yoga. (You’ll recall there are eight limbs.) In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali gives us some insight into the purpose of managing the breath. In […]
In the Yoga Sutras, we learn that asana—the “physical exercise” part of yoga—is one of eight limbs that comprise the yoga lifestyle. Often, students of classical yoga philosophy point out that Western yoga overemphasizes asana and mostly neglects other aspects of the practice. But that doesn’t mean we should overlook the benefits of a physical […]
The yamas and niyamas, you’ll recall, are the first two limbs of yoga. If are a regular reader of the Track Yoga blog or a student of classical yoga, you’ve heard these terms. The yamas and niyamas are principles for living the yoga lifestyle. But what are the benefits of the yamas and niyamas? Some […]
Daily life can be a roller coaster. When things are going well, it’s easy to think positively. But obviously, things don’t always go well. We all have challenges and times when things don’t go our way. Dealing with negative thoughts can be difficult, but fortunately for yogis, our practice teaches us how to do it. […]
The second limb of yoga — the niyamas — is closely connected to the first. The first limb (the yamas, or “restraints”) are five principles that describe how yogis should behave. The niyamas are sometimes referred to as fixed observances. Like the yamas, they are about behavior, but the behaviors are more internal. One way […]
As we move through the second section of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, we encounter the eight limbs of yoga. The first of these limbs—the yamas—is a set of disciplines that describe how yogis should behave. If you look closely at the yamas, you may notice they are a lot like some of the Ten Commandments. The […]
There are 196 verses in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. The verses are divided into four sections, and it’s not until we are close to halfway through these verses that we encounter the eight limbs of yoga. The second second of the Yoga Sutras is about the spiritual discipline. In sutra 2.28, Patanjali tells us to practice yoga! […]
In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali makes a few statements about the seer and the seen that are confusing at first glance. The seer is us and the seen is our perception of reality. Sutra 2.21 tells us, The seen exists only for the seer. Patanjali seems to be suggesting that the only reason there are things […]
Before we can transcend suffering and reach enlightenment, we need to understand why we suffer. In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali explains this in verses that describe the nature of the material universe. Specifically, he reveals the three aspects of human nature—called the three gunas—that govern our experience. By giving us this yogic look at nature, […]