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By Hanne
In this post, I will share some details with you about yoga philosophy. What does it include? This is going to be an introductory kind of dive into the world of yoga philosophy. This writing is like a glimpse into the philosophy of yoga. Let’s get into it then, yoga philosophy: what is it all about?
Yoga Philosophy: What is it all about?
Yoga Sutra is a classical philosophical text and an essential text for learning and teaching yoga. Yoga Sutra is a text which is written by a person called Patanjali. The work contains 196 aphorisms or thoughts on what yoga is. And it goes through how yoga can help you stay healthy and how meditation can help you achieve peace of mind and happiness. Each of the aphorisms is short and concise.
Yoga philosophy is an integral part of practicing yoga. Every time we step on the mat to exercise, it is present during breathwork, meditation, or asana exercise. From yoga’s philosophy, we can find guidelines for our practice, and it allows for a more in-depth experience with yoga. Yoga philosophy should be present in every exercise regardless of level. The philosophical background of yoga adds a new dimension to the practice.
Manuscript for Yoga practice
When talking about Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, one talks specifically about Astanga Yoga’s philosophy, but almost all different yoga types are based on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra. In the yoga sutra, we can find a script for yoga.
The eight limbs of yoga:
1. Yama – ethical guidelines:
- Ahiṃsā: non-violence
Stephen Cope sums up Ahimsa as follows:
Non-violence is not just the absence of violence but the presence of justice and love. - Satya: truthfulness
Satya is necessary to keep the universe in balance. In the presence of truth, the universe functions as it should. - Asteya: non-stealing
With yoga practice, self-confidence grows, and it creates a sense of wholeness; you don’t feel deprived or feel less or worse than others. Stealing is a sign of deficiency/lack, and stealing from others is more about filling the void of one’s own experience of lack. It is how Sharon Gannon describes Asteya. - Brahmacarya: chastity
Brahmacarya is often translated as celibacy and is therefore not the most popular of the Yamas. However, it can be considered as the right use of energy or energy allocation in a certain way. Our energies are often directed on something outside, or are we looking for peace and happiness within us? - Aparigraha: not being greedy
Aparigraha can also be understood through letting go. When we let go of all kinds of comparison, competition, blame, anger, bitterness, and fear, we are free.
Sutra I-2 yogaś-Citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ
2. Niyama – virtuous habits, behaviors towards oneself:
- Shaucha: purity. The purity of mind, body, and intentions.
- Santosha: contentment and self-acceptance
Satisfaction and acceptance of how things are and what life is like. And one being happy about all this. - Tapas: persistence, perseverance, austerity
Through self-discipline, we have the opportunity to purify ourselves from physical, mental, and emotional impurities, and this is the path toward something more significant. - Svadhyaya: self-study, self-awareness
The self-study provides an opportunity to become conscious of one’s own actions, for at the same moment as they occur. - Ishvarapranidhana: letting go of the ego.
When we can surrender to what is in our daily lives, we are on the verge of experiencing life, just as it unfolds to us moment by moment. It takes confidence in ourselves, intuition, and the courage to express ourselves just as we are, our shortcomings, and that ultimately leads to our freedom.
3. Āsana – asana practice
4. Prānāyāma – breath control
5. Pratyāhāra – drawing senses inward
6. Dhāraṇā – focused concentration
7. Dhyāna – meditation
8. Samādhi – staying with the state of concentration, meditation
You are probably familiar with some of these eight limbs already. However, as said, I will keep this short for now.
Since I am now talking about the philosophy and the eight limbs of yoga, I want share one of the sutra here in the end.
Sutra I-2 yogaś-Citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ
Yoga is the restriction or restraint of thought.
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Hanne Nousiainen
Yoga teacher • Personal Trainer
Hanne Nousiainen
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