As you may know, there are eight limbs of classical yoga. The first seven help prepare yogis for the final limb: union with a higher power, or samadhi. Samadhi can also be called union with all that is or union with God. Whatever you call it, the goal is the same. Reaching samadhi means shedding […]
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali offer remarkable tools for understanding the practice of yoga and its benefits. The work is divided into four sections. The first section is an overview of the obstacles to enlightenment. Next comes an explanation of yoga and its eight limbs. Then, Patanjali gives us a look at yogic powers. If […]
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 […]
In the first chapter of the Sutras, Patanjali addresses the issue of concentration and gives yogis practices for maintaining calm. In the early sutras, we learn that concentration and breathing exercises are tools for stilling the mind. That stillness, which we must create before we can reach enlightenment, is the goal of yoga. Many practices […]
In the last few weeks, we’ve explored the first chapter of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, which is about contemplation. As we’ve seen, the purpose of yoga is to still the mind, and there are specific obstacles we need to recognize. Patanjali tells us that meditation (concentration or contemplation) is the key to staying on the path […]
In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali introduces us the sound of the universe. It is the sound of OM. In some translations, OM is God’s voice. Chanting a mantra is one of the most profound and effective tools for turning inward and quieting the mind. There are many mantras, but none is as well-known as the […]
“The cure of the part should not be attempted without treatment of the whole. No attempt should be made to cure the body without the soul. Let no one persuade you to cure the head until he has first given you his soul to be cured, for this is the great error of our day, […]
We often come across this question – which is the most effective type of meditation? And, why not when there exist uncountable types of meditation. While the question is complex, the answer is simple. There is no one size that fits all. The best meditation for you will be the one in which you are […]
Are they one and the same? Or are they two different techniques? Do they have something in common? Well, these topics do confuse most of you, especially if you are new to meditation. While some suggest that meditation is essential for mindfulness, others feel that mindfulness lays the foundation for deep meditation. However, in […]
If you’ve practiced yoga for a while, you’ve probably become more mindful. While you may not think of your new “skill” as mindfulness, you’ve likely heard the term. Jon Kabot Zinn, a pioneer in this area, describes mindfulness—specifically mindfulness meditation—as awareness. Being mindful means being able to see clearly and stay focused on what is […]