The Guide to Wisdom & Self-Realisation
This month in Jivamukti we head back to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras where we will unpack some of the rich ancient wisdom that this text bestows upon the reader/practitioner.
In today’s fast-paced society, the Yoga Sutras offer timeless wisdom on managing stress, cultivating mindfulness, and fostering inner peace. They encourage a holistic approach to wellbeing that resonates with many seeking balance and clarity in life.
Reading the Yoga Sutras can provide a deeper understanding of yoga beyond physical postures, integrating ethical practices and mental discipline that are crucial to personal growth.
But for maximum benefit it’s better to approach the Yoga Sutras with intention rather than attempting to read cover to cover, which is exactly what we’ll be doing this month in our classes!
Patajali and Yoga Tradition – what you need to know!
Patanjali is a significant figure in the history of yoga and Indian philosophy, often dated to around the 2nd century BCE to the 4th century CE. He is best known for compiling the Yoga Sutras, a foundational text that outlines the philosophy and practice of yoga. Although the exact details of his life remain mostly unknown, he is believed to have originated from India.
Patanjali’s teachings are often associated with the classical yoga tradition, which is distinct from other schools like Advaita Vedanta. The Yoga Sutras are primarily concerned with the practice of Raja Yoga, which emphasises meditation and the control of the mind.
The Yoga Sutras serve as a guide for practitioners, outlining the eight limbs (Ashtanga) of yoga:
The Eight Limbs of Yoga
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- Yama (social moral restraints)
- Niyama (self observances)
- Asana (postures)
- Pranayama (breath control)
- Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses)
- Dharana (concentration/single pointed focus)
- Dhyana (meditation)
- Samadhi (absorption/engagement with true essence)
Many prominent teachers and schools have been influenced by the Yoga Sutras, including: Krishnamacharya recognised as the Godfather of yoga and who later trained Patthahi Jois, the founder of Ashtanga Yoga; B.K.S. Iyengar, known for his contribution on alignment and the use of props, and T.K.V. Desikachar, who emphasised a personalised approach to yoga.
How will the Yoga Sutras enrich your spiritual journey?
Engaging with the Yoga Sutras can significantly enrich your spiritual journey, providing a framework for both practice and philosophy. Consider selecting a few sutras to contemplate deeply, perhaps with a teacher or in a study group or perhaps explore sutras that interest you or align with your current practice.
Recommended reading – Intermediate
Several translations of the Yoga Sutras are well-regarded:
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras by Swami Satchidananda, accessible and includes explanations.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Sri Swami Vishnu-devananda, offers practical insight.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: A New Commentary on the Yoga Sutras by B.K.S. Iyengar, ties philosophy to practice.
Beginner
If this is something new I would try something a little easier to start with and would recommend:
A Seeker’s Guide to the Yoga Sutras by Ram Bhakt
The Yamas & Niyamas by Deborah Adele.
Pose of the month
Pose – hero
Sanskrit – virasana वीरासन
Pronounced – VEER-AHS-anna
Type – seated
Virasana translates as brave person or hero, it is a pose that is particularly stimulating to the feet, ankles, and toes making it a practice that very much stimulates the vortex of energy at the root of the body – Muladhara Energy.
Don’t worry!!
In Jivamukti the class is structured so that the body is prepared; stretched, strengthened and opened by visiting the requisite shape and effort in preparatory postures so that our destination posture each month begins to feel more and more accessible over the 4/5 weeks of practice.
Book your first discounted class now! Use the code AUM
Mantra of the month
Invocation to Patanjali
Yogena cittasya padena vacam malam sarirasya ca vaidyakena yopakarottam pravaram muninam patanjalim pranajaliranato’smi abahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi dharinam sahasra sirasam svetam pranamami patanjalim.
Let us bow before the noblest of sages Patanjali, who gave yoga for serenity and sanctity of mind, grammar for clarity and purity of speech and medicine for perfection of health. Let us prostrate before Patanjali, an incarnation of Adisesa, whose upper body has a human form, whose arms hold a conch and a disc, and who is crowned by a thousand-headed cobra.
