Yoga Philosophy: Exploring Patanjali's Yoga Sutras

{"slug":"yoga-philosophy-patanjali","recentPosts":[{"id":"clgc1nu7j1uwk0birznqai3x1","slug":"10-yoga-poses-for-multiple-sclerosis","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"10 Yoga Poses to Enhance Wellness for Multiple Sclerosis Patients","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Learn about Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis and how it can help manage symptoms. Improve your quality of life with these yoga poses.","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Discover yoga for multiple sclerosis - improve your quality of life with these poses.","tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-04-11T09:12:29.35505+00:00","coverUrl":"aydrjq4doquwuaot8kt7.jpg","content":{"text":"Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. It can cause a range of symptoms, including fatigue, muscle weakness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. While there is no cure for MS, practicing yoga can help manage symptoms and improve overall health and well-being. Before starting a yoga practice, it's important to consult with a healthcare provider to ensure safety and effectiveness.\\n\\nBenefits of Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis\\nStress and Fatigue Reduction: Yoga provides a calming and relaxing effect on the body and mind, which can help ease the mental and physical stresses of MS. It can lead to a reduction in fatigue levels and promote a more peaceful state of mind.\\nImproved Balance and Coordination: MS can cause issues with balance and coordination, but yoga can help improve these areas. The practice of yoga involves movements that require balance and coordination, which can improve the function of the nervous system.\\nIncreased Flexibility and Strength: Yoga poses require the use of muscles that may not be utilized in everyday activities. Practicing yoga regularly can lead to increased flexibility and strength, which can improve overall fitness levels.\\nRespiratory Function Improvement: MS can affect respiratory function, but yoga can help improve breathing patterns. Certain yoga practices involve deep breathing exercises that can help increase lung capacity and oxygenation of the body.\\nPain Management: MS can cause pain and discomfort, but yoga can be an effective tool for managing these symptoms. The gentle movements of yoga can help relieve tension and tightness in the muscles, which can reduce pain and improve overall comfort.\\nImproved Overall Health and Well-Being: By providing a range of physical and mental benefits, yoga can improve overall health and well-being for individuals with MS. Regular practice can promote a sense of inner calm and peacefulness, which can positively impact all areas of life.\\n\\nYoga Poses for Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Management\\nSeated or chair yoga poses are ideal for individuals with limited mobility, while standing poses are suitable for those with greater mobility. Focus on poses that improve balance, coordination, and flexibility, such as:\\n\\n1.Child's Pose (Balasana): \\n\\nSit on your heels with your knees apart, and fold your torso forward, resting your forehead on the floor. Stretch your arms forward, palms facing down. Hold for 5-10 deep breaths.\\n\\n2.Cat-Cow (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana): \\n\\nStart on your hands and knees, with your wrists under your shoulders and knees under your hips. Inhale and lift your chest and tailbone towards the ceiling (Cow pose), and exhale, rounding your spine towards the ceiling (Cat pose). Repeat for 5-10 breaths.\\n\\n3.Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II): \\n\\nFrom a standing position, step your left foot back and turn it out 90 degrees. Bend your right knee, keeping it directly over your ankle. Extend your arms out to the sides, and gaze over your right hand. Hold for 5-10 breaths and repeat on the other side.\\n\\n4.Tree Pose (Vrksasana): \\n\\nStand with your feet hip-distance apart, and shift your weight onto your left foot. Place your right foot on your left thigh, and balance here. Place your hands in prayer position at your heart or extend your arms overhead. Hold for 5-10 breaths and repeat on the other side.\\n\\n5.Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana): \\n\\nFrom a tabletop position, walk your hands forward and lift your hips up and back, forming an inverted V-shape with your body. Press your hands and feet into the ground and hold for 5-10 breaths.\\n\\n6.Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I): \\n\\nFrom a standing position, step your left foot back and turn it out 45 degrees. Bend your right knee, keeping it directly over your ankle. Extend your arms overhead and gaze forward. Hold for 5-10 breaths and repeat on the other side.\n\\n7.Sphinx Pose (Salamba Bhujangasana): \\n\\nLie on your stomach with your elbows under your shoulders and forearms on the ground. Press into your forearms and lift your chest up, keeping your shoulders relaxed. Hold for 5-10 breaths.\n\\n8.Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana): \\n\\nLie on your back with your knees bent and feet hip-distance apart. Press into your feet and lift your hips up, keeping your arms and shoulders on the ground. Hold for 5-10 breaths.\\n\\n9.Triangle Pose (Trikonasana): \\n\\nFrom a standing position, step your left foot back and turn it out 90 degrees. Extend your arms out to the sides and reach forward with your right hand, placing it on your shin or a block. Gaze up at your left hand. Hold for 5-10 breaths and repeat on the other side.\\n\\n10.Corpse Pose (Savasana): \\n\\nLie on your back with your arms and legs extended. Close your eyes and focus on your breath, allowing your body to fully relax. Stay here for at least 5-10 minutes.\\n\\nBreathing and Meditation Practices for Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis\\nHere are some breathing and meditation practices that can be incorporated into a yoga practice for multiple sclerosis symptom management:\\n\nDeep Breathing: Sit comfortably and take deep, slow breaths through the nose, filling the lungs completely. Exhale slowly through the nose, releasing all the air. Repeat for several minutes.\\nAlternate Nostril Breathing: Sit comfortably and use the thumb to close one nostril while inhaling through the other. Then, use the ring finger to close the opposite nostril while exhaling through the first. Repeat for several minutes.\\nMindful Breathing: Focus on the sensation of the breath as it enters and leaves the body. If the mind wanders, gently bring the focus back to the breath.\\nBody Scan Meditation: Lie down or sit comfortably and bring attention to each part of the body, starting from the toes and moving up to the head. Notice any sensations or tensions and release them as you move through each part.\\n\\nConclusion\\nPracticing yoga can provide many benefits for individuals with multiple sclerosis, including reduced stress and fatigue, improved balance and coordination, and increased flexibility and strength. Incorporating yoga poses and practices into your routine can help manage symptoms and improve overall health and well-being. Remember to consult with a healthcare provider and find a qualified yoga teacher to begin a safe and effective practice."},"category":["fitness"]},{"id":"clg55sr3657wd0airoeszt66q","slug":"yoga-for-carpal-tunnel-syndrom","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Yoga for Carpal Tunnel: Top 10 Yoga Poses, Benefits, FAQs","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Alleviate carpal tunnel symptoms with yoga! Discover 10 poses to reduce pain and improve wrist and hand health. Learn best practices and protect yourself.","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Relieve carpal tunnel with yoga! 10 poses to manage symptoms and improve wrist and hand health.","tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-04-06T13:33:53.820514+00:00","coverUrl":"fyzezortjqar8ovbd4vf.jpg","content":{"text":"Do you ever experience pain or tingling in your hands and fingers? It could be carpal tunnel syndrome, a common condition that affects many people who use their hands and wrists frequently. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by the compression of the median nerve in the wrist, which can lead to discomfort, numbness, and weakness in the hand and fingers.\\nFortunately, yoga can offer a natural and effective way to manage carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. In this article, we'll explore some yoga poses and practices that can help relieve pain and improve flexibility in the wrists and hands.\n\n\\nBenefits of Yoga for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome\\nYoga has many benefits for overall health and wellness, and it can be particularly helpful for managing carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. Here are just a few of the benefits:\\nReducing pain:\\n Certain yoga poses can help stretch and strengthen the muscles in the wrist and hand, which can reduce pain and discomfort.\\nImproving flexibility: \\nTight muscles and tendons in the wrist and hand can exacerbate carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, but yoga can help improve flexibility and mobility.\\nReducing stress:\\n Stress and tension in the body can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, but yoga can help reduce stress levels and promote relaxation.\n\\n\\nYoga Poses for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Relief\\nYoga poses, or asanas, can be a powerful tool for managing carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. Here are a few poses to try:\\n\n\\n1.Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose): \\n\\nThis pose can help stretch the wrists and forearms, reducing pain and stiffness. To perform this pose, sit on the floor with your legs extended in front of you. Bend your right knee and place your right foot on the floor, outside your left thigh. Bring your left heel toward your right buttock. Cross your left arm over your right arm and bring your palms together. Hold for 5-10 breaths, then switch sides.\\n\n\\n2.Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog Pose): \\n\\nThis pose can help stretch the muscles in the hands, wrists, and arms, improving flexibility and reducing pain. Start on your hands and knees, with your wrists directly under your shoulders and your knees directly under your hips. Lift your hips up and back, straightening your arms and legs. Press your hands into the floor and lengthen through your spine. Hold for 5-10 breaths.\\n\n\\n3.Garudasana (Eagle Pose): \\n\\nThis pose can help strengthen the muscles in the hands and wrists, which can improve grip strength and reduce pain. To perform this pose, stand with your feet hip-width apart and your arms at your sides. Bring your right arm under your left arm, and bend both elbows to bring your palms together. Cross your right thigh over your left thigh. Balance on your left foot and hold for 5-10 breaths, then switch sides.\\n\n\\n4.Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle Pose): \\n\\nThis pose can help stretch the wrists and forearms, promoting flexibility and reducing pain. To perform this pose, stand with your feet about 3-4 feet apart. Turn your right foot out 90 degrees and your left foot in slightly. Reach your right arm forward and hinge at your hip to reach your right hand toward your right shin or the floor. Extend your left arm straight up toward the ceiling. Hold for 5-10 breaths, then switch sides.\\n\n\\n5.Padangusthasana (Big Toe Pose): \\n\\nThis pose can help stretch the muscles in the hands, wrists, and arms, improving flexibility and reducing pain. To perform this pose, stand with your feet hip-width apart. Inhale and lift your arms up overhead. Exhale and fold forward, reaching for your big toes with your hands. Hold for 5-10 breaths.\\n\\n6.Marjariasana (Cat Pose): \\n\\nThis pose can help stretch and mobilize the wrists, reducing stiffness and promoting flexibility. To perform this pose, start on your hands and knees, with your wrists directly under your shoulders and your knees directly under your hips. Inhale and arch your back, lifting your tailbone and dropping your belly. Exhale and round your spine, tucking your chin to your chest. Repeat for several breaths.\n\\n7.Bitilasana (Cow Pose): \\n\\nThis pose can help stretch and mobilize the wrists, reducing stiffness and promoting flexibility. To perform this pose, start on your hands and knees, with your wrists directly under your shoulders and your knees directly under your hips. Inhale and arch your back, lifting your tailbone and dropping your belly. Hold for a breath or two, then return to neutral spine.\n\\n8.Matsyasana (Fish Pose):\\n\\nThis pose can help stretch the chest and shoulders, relieving tension in the upper body and reducing carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. To perform this pose, lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Lift your hips and slide your hands, palms down, under your buttocks. Press your forearms and elbows into the floor and lift your chest. Hold for 5-10 breaths.\\n\\n9.Baddha Konasana (Butterfly Pose):\\n \\n\\nThis pose can help stretch the inner thighs, hips, and groin, which can alleviate pressure on the wrists and hands. To perform this pose, sit on the floor with the soles of your feet together and your knees bent out to the sides. Hold your ankles or feet with your hands and gently press your knees down toward the floor. Hold for 5-10 breaths.\n\\n10\\n.\\nUttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)\\n: \\n\\nThis pose can help stretch the muscles in the hands, wrists, and arms, reducing stiffness and promoting flexibility. To perform this pose, stand with your feet hip-width apart. Inhale and lift your arms up overhead. Exhale and fold forward, reaching for the floor with your hands. Hold for 5-10 breaths. If you have difficulty reaching the floor, you can place your hands on blocks or a chair seat.\n\n\\nBreathing and Meditation Practices for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Relief\\nIn addition to yoga poses, breathing exercises and meditation can be helpful for managing carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. Here are a few practices to try:\\nDeep Breathing:\\n Taking slow, deep breaths can help reduce stress and tension in the body, which can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.\\nGuided Meditation:\\n Guided meditations can help promote relaxation and reduce stress, which can in turn reduce carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.\\nVisualization:\\n Visualizing the body healing and repairing itself can help reduce pain and promote healing in the wrists and hands.\n\\n\\nTips for Practicing Yoga with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome\\nWhen practicing yoga with carpal tunnel syndrome, it's important to listen to your body and modify your practice as needed. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:\\nUse Props\\n: Props like blocks or straps can help make poses more accessible and comfortable.\\nModify Poses\\n: If a pose is too painful or uncomfortable, modify it or skip it altogether.\\nBe Mindful\\n: Pay attention to your body and how it feels during your practice. If a certain pose or practice is causing pain or discomfort, stop and modify or skip it.\\n\\nConclusion:\\nManaging carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms can be a challenge, but incorporating yoga into your routine can be a natural and effective way to find relief. By practicing yoga poses, breathing exercises, and meditation regularly, you can improve flexibility, reduce pain, and promote relaxation in your wrists and hands. Give it a try and see how yoga can benefit your carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms today!\n\n\\nFrequently Asked Questions about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome\\n\\nQ1. How can yoga help people with carpal tunnel syndrome?\\nAns: \\nYoga is a great way to manage carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms! Certain yoga poses can help stretch and strengthen the muscles in the wrists, hands, and arms, which can relieve pressure on the median nerve and reduce symptoms like pain, numbness, and tingling. Plus, practicing yoga can help reduce inflammation, increase flexibility, and improve circulation in the affected area.\\n\\nQ2. What yoga poses should you avoid with carpal tunnel?\\nAns:\\n If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, it's important to avoid yoga poses that put too much pressure on the wrists or require excessive bending or flexing of the hands. Poses like Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose), Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog Pose), and Plank Pose can worsen carpal tunnel symptoms and should be avoided. Instead, focus on poses that gently stretch and strengthen the wrists and hands.\n\\nQ3.What are the best practices for carpal tunnel?\\nAns:\\n In addition to practicing yoga, there are several other best practices for managing carpal tunnel syndrome. These include taking frequent breaks from repetitive tasks that strain the wrists and hands, using ergonomic tools and equipment to reduce strain, maintaining good posture, and engaging in regular exercise and stretching to promote overall health and flexibility. It's important to take care of yourself both on and off the mat!\n\\nQ4.How can you protect yourself from carpal tunnel?\\nAns:\\n There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Using ergonomic tools and equipment, taking frequent breaks from repetitive tasks, and maintaining good posture can all help reduce your risk. Engaging in regular exercise and stretching can also help keep your hands and wrists healthy and flexible. Remember to listen to your body and take action if you notice any symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, such as pain, numbness, or tingling in the hands or wrists. A healthcare provider can help diagnose and treat any issues before they become more serious."},"category":["fitness"]},{"id":"clg3manw0c2300bk8q089x7gd","slug":"yoga-for-improved-mobility","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Top 10 Yoga Poses for Improved Mobility: Unlock Your Body's Potential","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Yoga is an incredibly efficient tool for improving your mobility for the better, regardless of your age, background, or ability.","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Learn about the best yoga poses for improving your mobility.\n","tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-04-05T11:40:10.955124+00:00","coverUrl":"mo0n5st8ek3dj2p0m8ib.jpg","content":{"text":"We know that yoga can help elevate your mental and emotional wellbeing, but it’s actually an incredibly efficient tool for improving your mobility for the better, regardless of your age, background, or ability.\\nWhat do we mean by mobility, and why is it important? Mobility refers to the level of ease with which you can move your body. This affects your ability to walk, run, lift, and engage in physical activities like sports, dancing, or just playing in the backyard with your kids or grandkids. Your level of mobility directly translates to your overall well-being, and it can greatly influence whether or not you experience chronic pain.\\n\\nHow Yoga Improves Mobility?\\nA typical yoga practice includes performing a holistic routine of stretches that work to improve your flexibility, balance, and strength — which all directly impact your mobility. Let’s break down how each of those factors work.\\nFlexibility refers to the range of motion between your joints and muscles, and an inflexible body is rigid, stiff, and achy, with a relatively small range of motion. A regular yoga routine can help lengthen and strengthen your muscles, improving your range of motion while preventing injury and reducing your risk for chronic pain. Along with increasing mobility, improving your flexibility also puts less strain on your body overall.\\nBuilding strength is crucial to achieve better mobility, since stronger muscles give you better stability, balance, and control over your movements. Yoga targets muscle groups and makes them stronger, more toned, and more capable of increased movement with more control. Increasing strength also helps prevent injury, improves your sense of balance, and reduces your risk for issues later in life – like osteoporosis.\\nIt may be surprising to learn that yogic breathing can also help improve your mobility. By calming your mind, improving your awareness, and relaxing your body, you can build a greater connection with your physical self and reduce tension. This can lead to an increase in your range of motion and a better understanding of your personal limitations.\\nThe best part about yoga is that it's low impact, and it's approachable for everyone. It doesn’t matter how old you are, or whether or not you’re a beginner. You can start out with slow, gentle movements that can greatly improve your mobility without the risk of injury. You can also practice yoga in the comfort of your own home, by following the sequence below or working with one of the many qualified yoga instructors available here at \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n.\\n\\nYoga Poses for Better Mobility\\nTo get started practicing yoga for improved physical mobility, try performing the poses below several times per week over an extended period of time. \\n1.Sun Salutations\\n\\nStart at the top of your mat in Mountain pose, with your hands in prayer position. With flowing, dynamic movement, progress through the following postures 3 or more times:\\nUpward Salute\\nStanding Half-Forward Bend\\nStanding Forward Fold\\nLow Lunge (left foot forward)\\nPlank\\nFour-Limbed Staff pose\\nUpward Facing Dog or Cobra\\nDownward Facing Dog\\nLow Lunge (right foot forward)\\nStanding Half-Forward Bend\\nStanding Forward Fold\\nUpward Salute\\nReturn to Mountain pose\\nRepeat\\n\\n2. Chair Pose\\n\\nStand in Mountain pose at the top of your mat, with your hands at your sides and feet hip distance apart. As you inhale, raise your hands over your head, with your arms parallel with your ears. As you exhale, hinge slightly at your waist, bend your knees and lower your torso forward as if you were about to sit down in a chair. Keep your core engaged and your spine straight while you hold this posture for several breaths.\\n\\n3. Downward Facing Dog\\n\\nStart in a tabletop position, with your hands and knees on your mat. Push up from your hands and knees, lifting your hips until you are balanced on your hands and feet, with your body resembling an inverted “v.” Keep your head in between your arms, ears balanced over your shoulders, and stay in this pose for several breaths.\\n\\n4. Low Lunge\\n\\nFrom your position in Downward Dog, you can easily transition to Low Lunge by bringing your left foot forward and bending your left leg at the knee. With your right leg behind you, gently kneel on your right knee. Inhale as you reach your arms up over your head, parallel with your ears. Expand your chest, lengthen your spine, keep your chin level and your gaze focused forward in front of you.\\n\\n5. Plank\\n\\nLie face down on your mat, and using your palms to push up from the floor, lift your body until you are balanced on your palms and the toes of your feet. In this pose, your body should be positioned in a straight line, with your gaze directed at the floor in front of you. Hold for a few breaths, or for 30-60 seconds if you are feeling strong in this pose.\\n\\n6. Cobra Pose\\n\\nStart by laying with your stomach facing down on the floor, with your legs straight and your arms folded under your head. Place your palms on the mat parallel to your chest. Slightly lift your head off the mat, keeping your head and back aligned, and press your thighs together. Now, steadily pull your elbows towards your rib cage keeping your hands underneath your shoulders. With a deep inhale, press your hands into the mat, curl your shoulders backward, and lift your upper body off the mat, arching your back. Hold this position for a few breaths and then rest.\\n\\n7. Cat-Cow Pose\\n\\nStart in a tabletop position with your hands and knees on the floor. Inhale and look up, lifting your chin and gently arching your spine. As you exhale, drop your chin and look down toward your naval as you curl your spine forward. Continue this movement 5-10 times.\\n\\n8. Bow Pose\\n\\nLie down on your stomach with your forehead against the mat and your hands resting at your sides. Inhale and engage your core, slightly lifting your torso up, bending your legs and grabbing your ankles with each hand. Open your chest and lift your chin, so that your gaze is facing forward. Maintain a steady breath while holding this pose, allowing your body to gently rock back and forth with each inhale and exhale. Release after 20-30 seconds.\\n\\n9. Bridge Pose\\n\\nStart by lying on your back with your knees bent. On your next exhale, tuck your chin and lift your hips, being careful not to allow your knees to splay outward. Interlace your fingers on the floor underneath you and lift your hips higher, while staying in the pose for 5-10 breaths.\\n\\n10. Corpse Pose\\n\\nSit on your yoga mat and lower your body to the floor, relaxing your legs and letting your arms rest on the floor at your sides, palms up. Keep your eyes closed and focus on your breathing. Relax the muscles in your face and neck, and visualize every part of your body letting go of all tension. Hold this pose for 5-7 minutes.\\n"},"category":[]},{"id":"clg0gw3o0ycc30ak0rlfm4ea9","slug":"yoga-for-endometriosis","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Yoga for Endometriosis: 6 Easy Poses to Try at Home","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Yoga can help ease symptoms of endometriosis, and it’s a great option for women who are looking for a low-risk, low impact way to cope with the condition.","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Learn the best yoga poses for endometriosis symptoms.\n","tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-04-03T06:45:34.990165+00:00","coverUrl":"htglzgglkwtr6is6mzmi.jpg","content":{"text":"Endometriosis is a disorder that affects about 190 million women worldwide, causing painful periods, infertility, and other severe symptoms that can significantly reduce the overall quality of their lives. While science is still working to fully understand endometriosis, right now there are a few ways in which women can manage the symptoms of this painful condition, including medication, surgery and various forms of therapy. Yoga can also help ease symptoms, and it’s a great option for women who are looking for a low-risk, low impact way to cope with endometriosis.\\nYoga helps reduce the troubling symptoms of endometriosis in a few different ways. The overall practice of yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for operating the body's relaxation and digestive responses. These responses tell your body to slow down and rest, which are crucial when it comes to reducing the pain, anxiety, and stress that comes with endometriosis.\\nYoga also enhances blood flow to your reproductive organs, which can help reduce inflammation and promote healing. Yoga poses work to stretch the muscles and tissues around your uterus and ovaries, which can help reduce the intensity and duration of menstrual cramps.  Endometriosis commonly causes intense chronic pain in the pelvis, lower back, and hips, which yoga can help alleviate through gentle stretches and movement that help open up and relax the muscles in these areas.\\nEndometriosis can also cause infertility due to scarring around the reproductive organs, but yoga can help offset this issue by increasing blood flow to the area and lowering inflammation. Yoga also works to balance your hormones by reducing cortisol and other stress hormones and regulating your menstrual cycle.\\nIn terms of mental health, yoga is one of the most effective tools in managing anxiety and depression, which are common symptoms of endometriosis. This condition can cause immense chronic pain, which typically results in emotional distress that yoga can help alleviate. Yoga sends signals to your mind and body that encourage both to relax, reducing tension, calming anxious thoughts, and improving your sense of well-being.\\n\\nWhat Types of Yoga are Best for Endometriosis?\\nThere are many different kinds of yoga, but if you’re experiencing symptoms of endometriosis you may want to stick with gentle postures like those you would perform in Hatha, Restorative, Gentle, or Yin yoga. These types of yoga focus on easy, low-impact movement, along with relaxation and stress reduction, and they typically involve some type of yogic breath work – which can also help reduce inflammation and chronic pain.\\nIf you’re considering yoga for managing your symptoms of endometriosis, there are certain precautions you should take in order to avoid making those symptoms worse. While you’re on your period, it’s important to avoid inverted postures that might interrupt or change your body’s natural flow. If a specific posture causes pain or discomfort, exit the pose immediately and take a break. It’s important to listen to your body and avoid any kind of position that doesn’t feel good. If you’re unsure about your alignment or you’d like some guidance on how to practice yoga for endometriosis, you can enroll in an online class or book a private session with one of the instructors here at \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n.\n\\n6 Easy Yoga Poses for Endometriosis\\nIf you’re experiencing the painful symptoms of endometriosis, try the gentle poses below for some relief.\\n1.Child’s Pose\\n\\nStart on your hands and knees and then lower yourself down so that your backside is resting on your heels, and your big toes are touching each other. Move your hands forward, palms down, so that your forehead is resting on the floor. Allow your spine to lengthen and your neck muscles to fully relax. Breathe deeply and mindfully while staying in this pose for 5-6 minutes.\n\\n2. Cat-Cow Pose\\n\\nStart in a tabletop position with your hands and knees on the floor. Inhale and look up, lifting your chin and gently arching your spine. As you exhale, drop your chin and look down toward your naval as you curl your spine forward. Continue this movement 5-10 times.\\n\\n3. Fixed Angle Pose\\n\\nSit on your yoga mat with your knees bent and the soles of your feet pressed against each other. With your spine straight, press your hands behind you and gently open up your chest and tuck in your abdomen. Hold the pose for 1-2 minutes.\\n\\n4. Seated Forward Fold Pose\\n\\nSit in the center of your mat with your legs stretched out in front of you. Take a deep inhale and raise your arms directly over your head. As you exhale, slowly lean forward and place your head and chest on top of your legs, and grab your big toes with both of your hands. Tuck your chin and curl abdomen, relaxing your lower back as you sink into this pose. Hold for one minute.\\n\\n5. Supine Twist Pose\\n\\nLie on the floor with your knees bent and bring them to your chest. Slowly and mindfully drop your left side while extending your arms outward in a “t” shape. Hold this pose for about 30 seconds while breathing mindfully. Bring your knees back to your chest, and then repeat on your right side.\\n\\n6. Legs Up The Wall Pose\\n\\nPlace a folded blanket parallel against a wall. Sit sideways in the middle of the blanket, and turn yourself toward the wall, lifting your legs up and propping them against the wall. Lay back comfortably, rest your head and neck on the floor, and fully straighten your legs. Spread your arms out to your sides with your palms facing up. Allow your chest, abdomen, and pelvis to completely relax. Breathe evenly and mindfully while holding this pose for 5-8 minutes.\\n\\nPranayama for Endometriosis\\nYogic breath work can help ease feelings of stress and anxiety, while giving you tools with which to manage pain. Try these breathing exercises to encourage a sense of calm and relaxation.\\n1.Nadi Sodhana or “Alternate Nostril Breathing”\\nExhale completely, and then place your right index finger onto your right nostril, and breathe deeply in through the left. Alternate and place your thumb over your left nostril, and exhale through your right. Continue alternating, repeating at least 10 times.\\n\\n2. Ujjayi or Ocean’s Breath\\nStart by breathing in through your mouth. As you exhale, pull in your chin in toward your body and so that your throat is partly constricted. Then, breathe in and out through your nose, making a slight sound that is similar to the ocean.\\n"},"category":["yoga_poses"]},{"id":"clg0fojrzxeqr0biq6yvfzdjk","slug":"yoga-for-acid-reflux","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Yoga and Digestion: 8 Poses to Help Ease Acid Reflux Symptoms","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Yoga helps alleviate symptoms of acid reflux and prevent onset by reducing stress and anxiety, activating your digestive system, and improving your posture.","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Learn the best poses for reducing acid reflux.\n","tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-04-03T06:11:42.97583+00:00","coverUrl":"ckauzlgegiwd249grkhg.jpg","content":{"text":"If you experience acid reflux on a regular basis, then you’re already familiar with how it typically unfolds. It often starts with a burning sensation in your chest and the repeated urge to burp and let go of accumulated gas. There are lots of reasons why acid reflux occurs, including a number of lifestyle factors like poor diet and emotional stress. Thankfully, yoga can help manage symptoms and reduce episodes if they are stress-related. \\n\\nHow Yoga Helps with Acid Reflux\\nOne of the ways that yoga helps reduce acid reflux is by reducing stress and anxiety. These are the common culprits for acid reflux, because they cause your body to engage in a cascade of fight/flight/freeze responses that includes increased production of stomach acid. By reducing your stress and anxiety, you can help your body avoid switching on that fight/flight/freeze response.\\nAnother way that yoga can reduce acid reflux is through improving your posture and alignment. Poor posture can contribute to chronic acid reflux by placing too much pressure on your stomach and esophagus. Yoga postures that correct your alignment — like Downward Facing Dog and Standing Forward Fold — help relieve this pressure and prevent the onset of acid reflux. It’s important to note that in order to truly improve your posture, you need to practice these poses regularly and for the long term – over time they can help reduce your risk of developing acid reflux in the first place.\\nYoga can also help regulate your digestive system, which is another factor that contributes to acidity. When food gets stuck in your digestive tract, it can cause gas and bloating, slowing your entire digestive system down, which eventually manifests in your stomach with an acidic reaction. By stimulating your digestive system, you can help your body move and process food smoothly through your digestive tract without gas, bloating, or acidity.\\nOne of the most important ways yoga can help prevent acid reflux is by strengthening your diaphragm, which is the muscle that prevents acid from moving up into your esophagus. When the diaphragm is weak or tense, it can actually allow acid reflux to rise up from your stomach and push its way into your esophagus, which is what causes that uncomfortable burning sensation in your chest. Yoga postures that promote diaphragmatic breathing, such as Seated Forward Fold and Corpse pose can help strengthen this muscle and prevent acid reflux.\n\\n\\n8 Effective Yoga Poses for Acid Reflux\\nIn order to get the most benefit from practicing yoga for acid reflux, it’s recommended that you develop a regular routine that involves performing yoga at least 3-4 times per week for 6-9 months. This isn’t a quick fix, but with a long term commitment you can reduce the onset of acid reflux and improve your overall quality of life.\\nThe poses below are basic, primary yoga poses you can practice in your very own home. If you’re unsure how to practice the postures, or you’d like some professional guidance, try working with one of our certified yoga instructors at \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n.\\n1.Mountain Pose\\n\\nStart by standing at the top of your mat with your feet hip distance apart. Balance your weight evenly on both feet. Keep your arms relaxed at your sides, with your spine straight and your chest lifted. Your gaze should be focused straight ahead of you while you breathe easily and gently. Hold the pose for 1-2 minutes.\n\\n2. Standing Forward Fold\\n\\nStand at the front of your mat, feet hip distance apart. Exhale and bend forward from the waist, with your knees slightly bent and touching your hands to the floor in front of your feet. Inhale and exhale, allowing your torso to extend without rounding your back. Lengthen and soften your neck, and let the muscles of your thighs and lower back open and release any built-up tension. Hold the pose for 1-2 minutes.\\n\\n3. Downward Facing Dog Pose\\n\\nWith your hands and knees on the floor, push your hips upward until you are balancing on your hands and feet, and your body resembles an inverted “v” shape. Reach your heels toward the floor, stretching your hamstrings and activating your thighs. Keep your head between your arms, lengthening your side-body as you stretch. Stay here for several breaths.\\n\\n4. Seated Spinal Twist Pose\\n\\nSitting with your knees bent and your feet tucked in next to your left butt cheek, inhale with your spine straight, lifting your chest. As you exhale, rotate your torso to your right. Position your right hand on the floor just slightly behind you, and rest your left hand on your right knee. On your next breath, rotate a little more as you exhale, turning your head to look over your right shoulder. Hold this pose for 20 to 30 seconds, then repeat on the other side.\\n\\n5. Cat-Cow Pose\\n\\nStart with your hands and knees on the floor. Inhale and look up, lifting your chin and gently arching your back. As you exhale, drop your chin and look down toward your naval as you curl your spine forward. Continue this movement 5-10 times.\\n\\n6. Child’s pose Pose\\n\\nStart on your hands and knees and then lower yourself down so that your backside is resting on your heels, and your big toes are touching each other. Move your hands forward, palms down, so that your forehead is resting on the floor. Allow your spine to lengthen and your neck muscles to fully relax. Breathe deeply and mindfully while staying in this pose for 5-6 minutes.\n\\n7. Seated Forward Fold Pose\\n\\nStart by sitting on your yoga mat with your legs stretched out in front of you. Come onto your sit bones and inhale with a straight spine. Raise your arms over your head and as you exhale, begin to bend forward by hinging at your waist. Slowly lower your torso toward the tops of your legs, allowing your spine to curve forward as you reach your legs. Hold this pose for 30-60 seconds.\\n\\n8. Corpse Pose\\n\\nSit on your yoga mat and lower your body to the floor, relaxing your legs and letting your arms rest on the floor at your sides, palms up. Keep your eyes closed and focus on your breathing. Relax the muscles in your face and neck, and visualize every part of your body letting go of all tension. Hold this pose for 5-7 minutes."},"category":["yoga_poses"]}],"randomPosts":[{"id":"cle5giv2z9zo40bion528kdaa","slug":"yoga-for-tight-hip-flexors","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"11 Yoga Poses for Tight Hip Flexor (Hip-Opening Sequence)","createdAt":"2023-02-15T09:14:43.542527+00:00","coverUrl":"z6igooqam8eoufxqom5r.jpg","content":{"text":"Are you tired of constantly feeling tight and stiff in your hips? It's time to give them some love and attention! Your hip flexors play a crucial role in your overall movement and mobility, and neglecting them can lead to a whole host of issues. That's where yoga comes in! In this article, we'll dive into the benefits of practicing yoga for your hip flexors, and give you a comprehensive guide to the best hip opening yoga poses.\\n\\nWhat is Hip Flexors?\\nYour hip flexors are a group of muscles located in the front of your hips that control the flexing of your hip joint. These muscles, which include the psoas and iliacus, allow you to move your legs up and toward your torso. And trust us, you use these muscles more often than you might think!\\n\\nThe Importance of Stretching Hip Flexors\\nWe all lead busy lives, and it's easy to ignore the tightness and stiffness in our hips. But, neglecting to stretch your hip flexors can lead to a whole host of issues, including lower back pain, tight hamstrings, and even decreased range of motion. Stretching is crucial for maintaining the health and mobility of your hip flexors.\\n\\n11 Yoga Poses for Tight Hip Flexors :\\n1. Lizard Pose\n⁠2. Cow Face Pose\n3. C⁠at-Cow Stretch Pose\n⁠4. Warrior I Pose\n⁠5. High Lunge Pose\n⁠6. Butterfly Pose\n⁠7. Easy Pose\n⁠8. Low Lunge Pose\n⁠9. Child's Pose\n⁠10. Pigeon Pose\n⁠11. Seated Forward Bend Pose \n⁠\\n\n\\nDid you know that your hip flexors and lower back are interconnected? Tight hip flexors can actually pull on your lower back, leading to discomfort and even pain. That's why incorporating yoga into your routine is a fantastic way to not only stretch and strengthen your hip flexors, but also improve the health of your lower back. Here are some amazing yoga poses to get you started:\\n1. Lizard Pose\\n\\nThis pose is a fantastic hip opener that also strengthens your quadriceps and hamstrings. Begin in a downward facing dog position, and then bring your left knee to the outside of your left hand.\\n\\n2. Cow Face Pose\\n\\nThis pose is a great stretch for your hips, inner thighs, and lower back. Start seated with your knees bent and stack your left knee on top of your right. Slowly lower both knees to the ground, using a block or pillow for support if necessary.\\n\\n3. Cat-Cow Stretch Pose\\n\\nThis simple yet effective stretch is a fantastic way to warm up your hips and spine before practicing other hip opening poses. Begin on your hands and knees, and then alternate between arching your back and rounding it.\\n\\n4. Warrior I Pose\\n\\nThis classic yoga pose is a fantastic way to open up your hips and strengthen your legs. Begin in a lunge position with your left foot forward and your back leg extended behind you.\\n\\n5. High Lunge Pose \\n\\nThis pose is similar to Warrior I, but with your back leg bent. This variation is a great way to focus on opening up your hips without putting too much strain on your legs.\\n\\n6. Butterfly Pose\\n\\nThis pose is simple and effective, making it a great option for beginners. Sit with the soles of your feet touching and gently flutter your knees up and down. This is a great stretch for the hips and inner thighs. You can use your hands to press down on your knees to deepen the stretch. Try to stay in this pose for at least 30 seconds to really feel the stretch in your hips.\\n\\n7. Easy Pose \\n\\nThis pose is a great hip opener that is also easy on the lower back. Simply sit with your legs crossed and try to sit up straight. You can also place your hands on your knees for balance. This pose is a great way to stretch out your hips and lower back after a long day of sitting.\\n\\n8. Low Lunge Pose\\n\\nThis pose is another great stretch for tight hip flexors. Start in a lunge position with your back leg extended behind you and your front knee bent. Place your hands on your front knee, then try to extend your back leg behind you. Stay in this pose for at least 30 seconds to really feel the stretch in your hip flexors.\\n\\n9. Child's Pose\\n\\nThis is a classic yoga pose that provides a gentle stretch for the hips, lower back, and spine. Start on your hands and knees, with your wrists directly under your shoulders and your knees directly under your hips. Sit back on your heels, reaching your arms forward and lowering your forehead to the ground. Hold the pose for several breaths, relaxing your hips and lower back.\\n\\n10. Pigeon Pose\\n\\nThis pose is a deep stretch for the hips and psoas muscle. Start on all fours, and then bring one knee forward, placing it behind your hand. Keep your other leg extended behind you, with the top of your foot on the ground. Hold the pose for several breaths, feeling the stretch in the front of your hip.\\n\\n11. Seated Forward Bend Pose \\n\\nThis pose is a gentle stretch for the hamstrings and hips. Start seated on the ground, with your legs extended in front of you. Reach forward, trying to touch your toes. Hold the pose for several breaths, feeling the stretch in the backs of your legs and hips.\\n\nFAQ about yoga for hip flexors\\nHow Can Yoga Loosen My Hip Flexors?\\nYoga can loosen your hip flexors through a combination of gentle stretching, strengthening, and relaxation techniques\\n. By practicing hip opening poses like Lizard Pose, Pigeon Pose, or Butterfly Pose, you can help improve flexibility and reduce tightness in the hips. In addition, holding these poses for several breaths can also increase blood flow to the area and improve circulation, which can help further loosen up the hips.\\n\\nHow Does Yoga Strengthen my Hip Flexors?\\nYoga can strengthen your hip flexors through a variety of poses that target these muscles, such as Warrior I and King Pigeon Pose. These poses require you to engage and activate the hip flexors, which can help build strength and stability over time. Additionally, practicing balance poses like Tree Pose can also challenge and strengthen the hip flexors as you work to maintain balance.\\n\\nWhat is the Best Yoga For Tight Hips?\\nIf you have tight hips, the best yoga poses to focus on are those that open the hips and stretch the hip flexors, such as \\nLizard Pose, Pigeon Pose, and Butterfly Pose.\\n Practicing these poses regularly can help improve flexibility and reduce tightness in the hips. Additionally, incorporating hip opening exercises like \\nCat-Cow Stretch and Child's Pose\\n can also help loosen up tight hips.\\n\\nDoes Pigeon Pose Stretch Hip Flexors?\\nYes, pigeon pose is an excellent yoga pose for stretching the hip flexors.\\n This pose targets the hip flexors by stretching the muscles in the hips and lower back, which can help relieve tightness and improve flexibility.\\n\\nWill Yoga Help Hip Flexor Pain?\\nYoga can be a helpful tool in managing hip flexor pain\\n, as many yoga poses are designed to stretch and strengthen the hip flexors. However, it's important to listen to your body and avoid pushing yourself too far, especially if you're experiencing pain. Instead, focus on gentle, restorative poses like Child's Pose and Easy Pose that can help release tension and provide relief. If your hip flexor pain persists, it's always a good idea to speak with a medical professional for proper evaluation and treatment."}},{"id":"clb52ie0sp5ba0bk78n0v86hv","slug":"yoga-workshops-for-new-year-2023","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Exciting New Yoga Workshops to Jumpstart Your New Year!","createdAt":"2022-12-01T12:43:19.773552+00:00","coverUrl":"oteegmdl4axpzfhzpsj6.jpg","content":{"text":"Happy New Year!\\nAs each year comes to a close, there is an inevitable sense that the next year will be better. Smoother, less stressful, more joyful. There is \\nhope\\n. \n\\nAnd, there are, of course, resolutions. But what if resolutions were simply called “life changes?” Or better, \\nlifestyle\\n changes.\n\\nWhether your “resolution” this year is to lose weight, get in better shape, practice more selfcare, or improve your mental and emotional health, MyYogaTeacher is here to support you…not just for the year, for life.\n\\nIntroducing our Three New Yoga Workshops :\n\\nWe understand how hard it can be to start and keep a new habit going, even if you’re motivated to do so at the strike of midnight on New Year’s Eve. Somehow, life just gets in the way of progress as the new year passes. And good intentions remain just that. Intentions. \\n\\nThese workshops are designed to give you all the tools you need to support your mental, emotional, and physical New Year’s resolutions in the New Year and beyond! We hope you’ll check them out, register, and join us! \\nEach one is 30 days and begins on January 2, 2023!\\n\n\\n\\nStarting Selfcare in the New Year: A Sustainable Approach\\n\\n\\nMaking time to rest, relax, and reset is vital to our mental, emotional, and physical health. Yoga can play an important role in helping you relax (even during a busy day). A sustainable selfcare routine is a great way to start the New Year and support your whole body health for years to come!\n\\nAt MyYogaTeacher, we are all passionate about this topic and are excited to offer this 30-day workshop which will be led by expert MyYogaTeacher instructors, Preeti and Bodhi! \\nClick the workshop link above to register and learn more about what you can expect at each session of this workshop.\\n\n\\n\\n\n\\n\\nYoga for Weight Loss: Lose Weight & Keep it Off\\n\\n\\nIf you find it hard to start and/or stick to a weight loss routine or don’t know where to begin on your fitness journey, this 30-day workshop is for you! MyYogaTeacher is fortunate to have yoga instructors Anupama and Kanishka leading this workshop, experts in yoga, fitness, and nutrition! \\n\\nTake charge of your health and make it a priority as you learn about a yogic diet, asanas to help you lose weight, and build a fitness routine you will \\nwant\\n to stick with! All of our instructors are there to support you with group and 1-on-1 classes as well once the workshop is over. \\nClick the workshop link above to register and learn more about what you can expect at each session of this workshop!\\n\\n\\n\n\\n\\nGetting Fit for the New Year and Beyond\\n\\n\\nThe wonderful MyYogaTeacher experts leading this workshop, Shweta and Shikha, are dedicated to helping you reach your fitness goals! While this workshop is also excellent for those wanting to lose weight, it is designed for those who want to specifically work on developing more strength, flexibility, and balance!\\n\\nSometimes, we set goals for ourselves in the New Year and don’t have the support we need to reach them. This workshop ends that! Whether you’re already fit and looking to get fitter or you’re not in the shape you’d like to be and want to change that, this workshop will help you reach your goals and continue growing on your fitness journey. \\nClick the workshop link above to register and learn more about what you can expect at each session of this workshop!\\n\\n\\n\n\\nJoin us and let yoga lead you into the New Year (and a new life)!\\n"}},{"id":"cktel26nk4ypx0b27mkwumqt7","slug":"yoga-for-first-responders","author":{"name":"will","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"Healing for First Responders: How Yoga Helps Them Navigate Life Better","createdAt":"2021-09-10T16:37:50.582066+00:00","coverUrl":"ohsommfkjvr9qdvpagmc.jpg","content":{"text":"First responders deserve all the awards and accolades we could possibly give them.\\nIf we took all the trophies from all the Oscars combined and gave them to first responders, it wouldn’t even begin to represent the respect, love, and support they deserve. And it certainly wouldn’t make up for how often these amazing superhumans are taken for granted.\\nFirefighters, 911 dispatchers, EMT’s, paramedics, and law enforcement officers. They’re all on the frontlines for us. Every day.\\nAn estimated 30% of first responders develop behavioral health conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and depression, compared to 20% for the general population.\\nThe mental health resources needed to help first responders process the trauma they see and experience on a daily basis are almost nonexistent.\\nThis is why a regular yoga practice is so important for these superheroes. \\nIf you haven’t checked out one of our recent posts on \\nHow Yoga Saves Lives\\n, you may want to read about our thoughts on the healthcare worker crisis in America and across the world right now.\\nBecause for first responders to keep doing what they do best, they need resources to help them navigate their life better, similar to healthcare workers.\\nHere’s how yoga can help these specific helpers!\\nYoga helps first responders handle personal turmoil better.\\nThe on-the-job experiences of first responders is largely responsible for their personal turmoil.\\nAs discussed previously, firefighters, EMS personnel, dispatchers, and police officers are all highly susceptible to PTSD, anxiety, depression, and are more likely to have substance abuse problems or commit suicide.\\nAs such, first responders may exhibit erratic behaviors, sudden onset of rage. They may startle more easily than civilians. They may be subject to more nightmares, sleep disturbances, and they may not be able to control their emotions well in their personal lives.\\nYoga for first responders is medicine for their weary souls.\\nHere are some facts about yoga that make it a perfect resource and tool for first responders:\\nIt only takes 3 minutes\\n of mindful breath work to calm the nervous system down after a triggering event, which makes it a perfect tool for first responders to use on the go or when they’re short on time.\\nYoga teaches you how to breathe\\n in a way that helps your body stop the production of cortisol and adrenaline, two things that are very unhealthy in large doses but prevalent in first responders.\\nYoga and meditation has been proven\\n to reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and symptoms of PTSD.\\nStretching with awareness\\n relieves not only physical tension in the body but emotional and mental tension.\\nA first responder’s job often affects their personal life, their relationships with others, and their connection to their inner self. Because first responders tend to compartmentalize their work life and what they see and experience on the job (versus processing it), all of that trauma often overwhelms them.\\nWe definitely recommend regular meditation and breathwork for this group of amazing humans.\\nYoga helps first responders with the physical side effects of their job.\\nAs we’ve discussed in previous posts, this particular group of people use their bodies \\na lot\\n. They are sitting, standing, crawling, running, twisting, lifting, squatting. Often while carrying heavy equipment. \\nTheir job puts a lot of strain on their joints, muscles, and frame.\\nFirefighters, in particular, tend to suffer injury from their job, often in ways people don’t see. Like in their lungs.\\nWhile they do wear masks, firefighters are obviously exposed to smoke and air particle debris more than any other type of first responder, and definitely more than a civilian.\\nA regular yoga practice not only helps first responders stretch, strengthen, and tone their muscles so their bodies can move in all the ways they need it to, the breathwork included in almost every yoga practice helps improve lung function.\\nBecause yoga is so versatile and adaptable, breathwork and meditation (and even some yoga poses) can be done lying down in bed!\\nIn as little as 10 minutes, you can bring more awareness, calm, and harmony to your inner and outer self so that you can function better throughout the day. This kind of convenience  is a huge deal for first responders!\\nStarting out their day in a healthy state of mind with a body that is limber prevents mental and physical injury, whether they’re at work or not. Yoga is just an amazing way to start your day and a regular practice for first responders helps them process their world in a healthier way.\\nWhich means better relationships with others and more inner peace. \\nRegular mindful breathwork also:\\nIncreases stamina\\nImproves shortness of breath\\nBuilds endurance\\nIncreases muscle strength\\nImproves digestion\\nThe healthier first responders can keep their bodies, the better! \\nWhy first responders should seriously consider a regular yoga practice\\nThis sounds like it should be a blog post all it’s own. But we definitely wanted to stress the importance of a regular yoga practice for first responders.\\nAnd many times there are misconceptions about yoga that lead people to believe that it won’t work for them, or rather that yoga “isn’t for them.” \\nThe truth is, yoga is for everyone, but \\nespecially \\nfor people in high risk, adrenaline pumping jobs like first responders. So here are 5 reasons why they should seriously consider integrating a regular yoga practice into their routine.\\nYoga helps people make better gut decisions in intense situations where there may not be a lot of time to consider the pros and cons. Yogis rely on their all-knowing intuition more.\\nYoga increases people’s ability to focus and problem-solve, two important aspects of a first responder’s life!\\nBreathwork and meditation is simple and effective. It can even be performed in between calls, in a car or truck, and makes a huge difference in your mental health.\\nYoga is multifunctional. It doesn’t just strengthen, lengthen, and tone your body. It helps prevent injury, builds resilience, enhances mental and physical performance, and reduces stress.\\nPeople who practice yoga actually experience positive biological changes such as reduced markers for disease, reduced overall inflammation, and reversal of the onset of diseases.\\nHere at MyYogaTeacher, we offer a huge variety of of yoga classes and \\nworkshops\\n for people from all walks of life, all shapes, sizes, and abilities. Not only that, but all our classes are taught live and virtually (and at all times of day and night) so you can experience them from wherever in the world you may be!\\nAdditionally, our classes are taught by experienced expert instructors from the birthplace of yoga, India. And they all truly care about your health and wellbeing. If you haven’t jumped on the My Yoga Teacher bandwagon yet, we would love to have you! \\nGet your 2-week free trial here and join us!\\n"}}],"relatedPosts":[],"blogContent":{"id":"ckn82svwg5yc60b71lx48j6l9","slug":"yoga-philosophy-patanjali","author":{"name":"Sandeep Gupta","teacherMytSlug":"sandeep-1","pictureUrl":"zla3scezkpyagrlmpzfi.png"},"title":"Yoga Philosophy: Exploring Patanjali's Yoga Sutras","createdAt":"2021-04-07T23:21:52.404353+00:00","updatedAt":"2022-10-20T08:02:32.22765+00:00","coverUrl":"ckn82svwg5yc60b71lx48j6l9.png","seoDescription":"What are the eight limbs of yoga? Explore Patanjali's yoga sutras in this article and the philosophy behind why they are important to know for yogis!","content":{"text":"Yoga is a belief system that promotes mindfulness through a mix of movement and meditation. As yoga's popularity has grown around the world, there's been a shift in focus on yoga as simply asanas (poses and movement).\\n\nBut that's not all there is to yoga.\\n\nIn my \\nyoga philosophy class on myYogaTeacher\\n, we'll explore the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. I encourage you to \\nsign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher\\n and join me! In addition to the yoga philosophy class, you'll get access to more than 35 live, online yoga classes with a variety of styles and teachers.\\n\nHere, we'll be taking a brief look at who Patanjali was, what the Yoga Sutras are, and why it's so important to know about this side of yoga.\\n\\nWho Was Patanjali?\\nPatanjali (also known as Gonardiya or Gonikaputra) was the author of the Yoga Sutras. These works first gained prominence in the 2nd century BCE and again in the 5th century CE. In addition to the Yoga Sutras, which we'll look at in this article, Patanjali is also credited as being the author, or one of the authors, of Mahabhashya, a defense of grammarian Panini against his main critic Katyayana.\\n\nWhat Are the Four Yoga Sutras?\\n\\nWritten by Patanjali, the Yoga Sutras is one of the classic yoga texts and introduced Patanjali's understanding of the Eight Limbs of Yoga. It was originally written in Sanskrit and, despite not even covering the asanas we've learned to associate with yoga, is the most popular and well-recognized techniques for training your body and expanding your mind.\\n\nThe entire book is a collection of 196 aphorisms that cover everything from art to science to the philosophy of life. It consists of four chapters:\\nSamadhi: You \\nare\\n a soul; you \\nhave\\n a body\\nSadhana: The actions you should take\\nVibhuti: The mystic powers gained through yoga practice\\nKaivalya: Self-realization\\nEach attempt to learn the meaning of the Yoga Sutras is said to bring you a step closer to true enlightenment.\\nLet's look at each of the four chapters more closely.\\n\\nSamadhi\\nThe first chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Samadhi. It includes 51 sutras and teaches you the foundation of what you need to know about yoga, obstacles to overcome, the importance of abhyasa (constant practice), and vairagya (the detachment from material experiences and worldly pleasures).\\n\\nSamadhi gets into how the mind works as well as how you can bring peace and calm to your mind with an understanding of mental activities such as:\\nPramana: Good thoughts and true knowledge\\nViparyaya: Bad thoughts and wrong understanding\\nVikalpa: Confusion\\nNidra: Sleep while the mind remains active\\nSmriti: Memory or using the senses of smell, touch, sight, taste\\n\\nPatanjali\\n tells us that we can restrict these mental activities through abhyasa and vairagya.\\n\\nSadhana\\n\\nThe second chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Sadhana. In this chapter, Patanjali introduces the principles of Ashtanga yoga, Kriya yoga, and Karma as well as the Eight Limbs of Yoga:\\nYamas: Ethical standards (Ahimsa—non-violence; Satya—truthfulness; Asteya—not stealing; Brahmacharya—celibacy or not over-indulging; and Aparigraha—lack of ego)\\nNiyamas: Self-discipline (Shaucha—purity; Santosha—contentment; Tapa—fortitude; Svadhyaya—study; Ishvara-pranidhana—devotion to God or your own higher self)\\nAsana: Yoga postures\\nPranayama: Breath control\\nPratyahara: Withdrawal\\nDharana: Concentration\\nDhyana: Single focus\\nSamadhi: Total self-collectedness\\nVibhuti\\nThe third chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Vibhuti. In this chapter, Patanjali discusses how Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi are all connected and pays particular attention to Dhyana and Samadhi.\\n\nDharana means fixing your focus on a single object. Then, focusing and concentrating your mind on the object becomes Dhyana. When the object, and only the object, fills your consciousness entirely, that's Samadhi.\\n\nYou'll notice that this sounds a lot like meditation. Many times, Dhyana is misinterpreted as \"meditation,\" but it's not exactly the meditation we're familiar with these days. Dhyana is what happens when you can't separate a sense of self from the act of meditation or really even perceive it.\\n\nDharana is actually closer to what we understand modern meditation to be. Through the practice of Dharana, we can better understand our minds, their patterns, and notice the thoughts that interrupt us.\\n\nKaivalya\\nThe final chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Kaivalya. In this chapter, Patanjali reflects on the mind's achievements and prepares you for moksha (complete liberation). This liberation comes from the separation of the soul (Purusha) from the source (Prakriti). While separation is often seen as a bad or scary thing, in this case, the soul no longer experiences the misery that comes from this connection.\\n\nWhy Bother With Yoga Philosophy?\\nNow you know a bit more about yoga philosophy and you may be wondering if it really matters? Does \\nknowing more about yoga philosophy\\n really make a difference to your practice?\\n\nThe answer, as with most things, is \"it depends.\"\\n\nHere are three key reasons I think it's important to study Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.\\nConnect to Your Yoga Roots:\\n If you practice yoga, you're part of a yoga lineage. Your yoga teacher learned from a teacher who learned from a teacher, and so on. These lineages can be traced back centuries. Studying texts like the Yoga Sutras can help you stay connected to your yoga lineage and achieve a deeper, more authentic practice.\\nFigure Out What's Holding You Back:\\n Through the Yoga Sutras, you can better understand how your thoughts hold you back and keep you from living your best, most satisfying life.\\nLet Go of Suffering:\\n While asanas have many health benefits, a complete yoga practice can do so much more for you. According to Patanjali, \\nyoga chitta vritti nirodhah\\n, \"yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind.\" Through discovering and understanding that you are complete as you are, you can start to let go of your suffering.\\nBuild a Practice You Believe In With Yoga Philosophy\\nIn Western culture, yoga has been distilled into a simple practice of poses and meditation, but yoga is so much more than that.  When you learn about the roots of yoga, you can develop a more authentic practice that will not only improve your physical, mental, and emotional health but can transform your life.\\n\nI hope you enjoyed this quick look at Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. Don't forget to \\nsign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher\\n to join me for the next \\nyoga philosophy class\\n or, if you're interested in what else we have to offer, check out 35+ live, online yoga classes every single day.\\n","html":"<p>Yoga is a belief system that promotes mindfulness through a mix of movement and meditation. As yoga&#39;s popularity has grown around the world, there&#39;s been a shift in focus on yoga as simply asanas (poses and movement).</p><p><br>But that&#39;s not all there is to yoga.</p><p><br>In my <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\">yoga philosophy class on myYogaTeacher</a>, we&#39;ll explore the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. I encourage you to <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\">sign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher</a> and join me! In addition to the yoga philosophy class, you&#39;ll get access to more than 35 live, online yoga classes with a variety of styles and teachers.</p><p><br>Here, we&#39;ll be taking a brief look at who Patanjali was, what the Yoga Sutras are, and why it&#39;s so important to know about this side of yoga.</p><p></p><h3>Who Was Patanjali?</h3><p>Patanjali (also known as Gonardiya or Gonikaputra) was the author of the Yoga Sutras. These works first gained prominence in the 2nd century BCE and again in the 5th century CE. In addition to the Yoga Sutras, which we&#39;ll look at in this article, Patanjali is also credited as being the author, or one of the authors, of Mahabhashya, a defense of grammarian Panini against his main critic Katyayana.</p><h3><br>What Are the Four Yoga Sutras?</h3><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=width:800,height:450/t2HPfsEASpaKxjngC0wi\" alt=\"List of Four Yoga Sutras\" title=\"four-yoga-sutras.png\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" /><p>Written by Patanjali, the Yoga Sutras is one of the classic yoga texts and introduced Patanjali&#39;s understanding of the Eight Limbs of Yoga. It was originally written in Sanskrit and, despite not even covering the asanas we&#39;ve learned to associate with yoga, is the most popular and well-recognized techniques for training your body and expanding your mind.</p><p><br>The entire book is a collection of 196 aphorisms that cover everything from art to science to the philosophy of life. It consists of four chapters:</p><ul><li><div>Samadhi: You <strong>are</strong> a soul; you <strong>have</strong> a body</div></li><li><div>Sadhana: The actions you should take</div></li><li><div>Vibhuti: The mystic powers gained through yoga practice</div></li><li><div>Kaivalya: Self-realization</div></li></ul><p>Each attempt to learn the meaning of the Yoga Sutras is said to bring you a step closer to true enlightenment.</p><p>Let&#39;s look at each of the four chapters more closely.</p><p></p><h4>Samadhi</h4><p>The first chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Samadhi. It includes 51 sutras and teaches you the foundation of what you need to know about yoga, obstacles to overcome, the importance of abhyasa (constant practice), and vairagya (the detachment from material experiences and worldly pleasures).</p><p></p><p>Samadhi gets into how the mind works as well as how you can bring peace and calm to your mind with an understanding of mental activities such as:</p><ul><li><div>Pramana: Good thoughts and true knowledge</div></li><li><div>Viparyaya: Bad thoughts and wrong understanding</div></li><li><div>Vikalpa: Confusion</div></li><li><div>Nidra: Sleep while the mind remains active</div></li><li><div>Smriti: Memory or using the senses of smell, touch, sight, taste</div></li></ul><p><a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/workshops/patanjali-yoga-sutras-chapter-1-samadhi-pada\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/workshops/patanjali-yoga-sutras-chapter-1-samadhi-pada\">Patanjali</a> tells us that we can restrict these mental activities through abhyasa and vairagya.</p><p></p><h4>Sadhana</h4><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=width:800,height:450/E4XFHdjUQqC9b7XrNt65\" alt=\"The Eight Limbs of Yoga\" title=\"eight-limbs-of-yoga.png\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" /><p>The second chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Sadhana. In this chapter, Patanjali introduces the principles of Ashtanga yoga, Kriya yoga, and Karma as well as the Eight Limbs of Yoga:</p><ul><li><div>Yamas: Ethical standards (Ahimsa—non-violence; Satya—truthfulness; Asteya—not stealing; Brahmacharya—celibacy or not over-indulging; and Aparigraha—lack of ego)</div></li><li><div>Niyamas: Self-discipline (Shaucha—purity; Santosha—contentment; Tapa—fortitude; Svadhyaya—study; Ishvara-pranidhana—devotion to God or your own higher self)</div></li><li><div>Asana: Yoga postures</div></li><li><div>Pranayama: Breath control</div></li><li><div>Pratyahara: Withdrawal</div></li><li><div>Dharana: Concentration</div></li><li><div>Dhyana: Single focus</div></li><li><div>Samadhi: Total self-collectedness</div></li></ul><h4>Vibhuti</h4><p>The third chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Vibhuti. In this chapter, Patanjali discusses how Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi are all connected and pays particular attention to Dhyana and Samadhi.</p><p><br>Dharana means fixing your focus on a single object. Then, focusing and concentrating your mind on the object becomes Dhyana. When the object, and only the object, fills your consciousness entirely, that&#39;s Samadhi.</p><p><br>You&#39;ll notice that this sounds a lot like meditation. Many times, Dhyana is misinterpreted as &quot;meditation,&quot; but it&#39;s not exactly the meditation we&#39;re familiar with these days. Dhyana is what happens when you can&#39;t separate a sense of self from the act of meditation or really even perceive it.</p><p><br>Dharana is actually closer to what we understand modern meditation to be. Through the practice of Dharana, we can better understand our minds, their patterns, and notice the thoughts that interrupt us.</p><h4><br>Kaivalya</h4><p>The final chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Kaivalya. In this chapter, Patanjali reflects on the mind&#39;s achievements and prepares you for moksha (complete liberation). This liberation comes from the separation of the soul (Purusha) from the source (Prakriti). While separation is often seen as a bad or scary thing, in this case, the soul no longer experiences the misery that comes from this connection.</p><h3><br>Why Bother With Yoga Philosophy?</h3><p>Now you know a bit more about yoga philosophy and you may be wondering if it really matters? Does <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\">knowing more about yoga philosophy</a> really make a difference to your practice?</p><p><br>The answer, as with most things, is &quot;it depends.&quot;</p><p><br>Here are three key reasons I think it&#39;s important to study Patanjali&#39;s Yoga Sutras.</p><ul><li><div><strong>Connect to Your Yoga Roots:</strong> If you practice yoga, you&#39;re part of a yoga lineage. Your yoga teacher learned from a teacher who learned from a teacher, and so on. These lineages can be traced back centuries. Studying texts like the Yoga Sutras can help you stay connected to your yoga lineage and achieve a deeper, more authentic practice.</div></li><li><div><strong>Figure Out What&#39;s Holding You Back:</strong> Through the Yoga Sutras, you can better understand how your thoughts hold you back and keep you from living your best, most satisfying life.</div></li><li><div><strong>Let Go of Suffering:</strong> While asanas have many health benefits, a complete yoga practice can do so much more for you. According to Patanjali, <em>yoga chitta vritti nirodhah</em>, &quot;yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind.&quot; Through discovering and understanding that you are complete as you are, you can start to let go of your suffering.</div></li></ul><h3>Build a Practice You Believe In With Yoga Philosophy</h3><p>In Western culture, yoga has been distilled into a simple practice of poses and meditation, but yoga is so much more than that.  When you learn about the roots of yoga, you can develop a more authentic practice that will not only improve your physical, mental, and emotional health but can transform your life.</p><p><br>I hope you enjoyed this quick look at Patanjali&#39;s Yoga Sutras. Don&#39;t forget to <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\">sign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher</a> to join me for the next <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\">yoga philosophy class</a> or, if you&#39;re interested in what else we have to offer, check out 35+ live, online yoga classes every single day.</p><p></p>"},"category":["yoga","yoga_teacher_training"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"loading":false,"blog_content":[{"type":"HTML","value":"<p>Yoga is a belief system that promotes mindfulness through a mix of movement and meditation. As yoga&#39;s popularity has grown around the world, there&#39;s been a shift in focus on yoga as simply asanas (poses and movement).</p><p><br>But that&#39;s not all there is to yoga.</p><p><br>In my <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\">yoga philosophy class on myYogaTeacher</a>, we&#39;ll explore the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. I encourage you to <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\">sign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher</a> and join me! In addition to the yoga philosophy class, you&#39;ll get access to more than 35 live, online yoga classes with a variety of styles and teachers.</p><p><br>Here, we&#39;ll be taking a brief look at who Patanjali was, what the Yoga Sutras are, and why it&#39;s so important to know about this side of yoga.</p><p></p><h3>Who Was Patanjali?</h3><p>Patanjali (also known as Gonardiya or Gonikaputra) was the author of the Yoga Sutras. These works first gained prominence in the 2nd century BCE and again in the 5th century CE. In addition to the Yoga Sutras, which we&#39;ll look at in this article, Patanjali is also credited as being the author, or one of the authors, of Mahabhashya, a defense of grammarian Panini against his main critic Katyayana.</p><h3><br>What Are the Four Yoga Sutras?</h3>\n            <picture>\n              <source \n                type=\"image/webp\"\n                srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:webp/compress/resize=width:800,height:450/t2HPfsEASpaKxjngC0wi\" \n                alt=\"List of Four Yoga Sutras\"\n                title=\"List of Four Yoga Sutras\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <source \n                type=\"image/jpg\"\n                srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/resize=width:800,height:450/t2HPfsEASpaKxjngC0wi\"\n                alt=\"List of Four Yoga Sutras\"\n                title=\"List of Four Yoga Sutras\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <img \n                srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/resize=width:800,height:450/t2HPfsEASpaKxjngC0wi\"\n                alt=\"List of Four Yoga Sutras\"\n                title=\"List of Four Yoga Sutras\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n          </picture>\n        <p>Written by Patanjali, the Yoga Sutras is one of the classic yoga texts and introduced Patanjali&#39;s understanding of the Eight Limbs of Yoga. It was originally written in Sanskrit and, despite not even covering the asanas we&#39;ve learned to associate with yoga, is the most popular and well-recognized techniques for training your body and expanding your mind.</p><p><br>The entire book is a collection of 196 aphorisms that cover everything from art to science to the philosophy of life. It consists of four chapters:</p><ul><li><div>Samadhi: You <strong>are</strong> a soul; you <strong>have</strong> a body</div></li><li><div>Sadhana: The actions you should take</div></li><li><div>Vibhuti: The mystic powers gained through yoga practice</div></li><li><div>Kaivalya: Self-realization</div></li></ul><p>Each attempt to learn the meaning of the Yoga Sutras is said to bring you a step closer to true enlightenment.</p><p>Let&#39;s look at each of the four chapters more closely.</p><p></p><h4>Samadhi</h4><p>The first chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Samadhi. It includes 51 sutras and teaches you the foundation of what you need to know about yoga, obstacles to overcome, the importance of abhyasa (constant practice), and vairagya (the detachment from material experiences and worldly pleasures).</p><p></p><p>Samadhi gets into how the mind works as well as how you can bring peace and calm to your mind with an understanding of mental activities such as:</p><ul><li><div>Pramana: Good thoughts and true knowledge</div></li><li><div>Viparyaya: Bad thoughts and wrong understanding</div></li><li><div>Vikalpa: Confusion</div></li><li><div>Nidra: Sleep while the mind remains active</div></li><li><div>Smriti: Memory or using the senses of smell, touch, sight, taste</div></li></ul><p><a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/workshops/patanjali-yoga-sutras-chapter-1-samadhi-pada\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/workshops/patanjali-yoga-sutras-chapter-1-samadhi-pada\">Patanjali</a> tells us that we can restrict these mental activities through abhyasa and vairagya.</p><p></p><h4>Sadhana</h4>\n            <picture>\n              <source \n                type=\"image/webp\"\n                srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:webp/compress/resize=width:800,height:450/E4XFHdjUQqC9b7XrNt65\" \n                alt=\"The Eight Limbs of Yoga\"\n                title=\"The Eight Limbs of Yoga\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <source \n                type=\"image/jpg\"\n                srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/resize=width:800,height:450/E4XFHdjUQqC9b7XrNt65\"\n                alt=\"The Eight Limbs of Yoga\"\n                title=\"The Eight Limbs of Yoga\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <img \n                srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/resize=width:800,height:450/E4XFHdjUQqC9b7XrNt65\"\n                alt=\"The Eight Limbs of Yoga\"\n                title=\"The Eight Limbs of Yoga\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n          </picture>\n        <p>The second chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Sadhana. In this chapter, Patanjali introduces the principles of Ashtanga yoga, Kriya yoga, and Karma as well as the Eight Limbs of Yoga:</p><ul><li><div>Yamas: Ethical standards (Ahimsa—non-violence; Satya—truthfulness; Asteya—not stealing; Brahmacharya—celibacy or not over-indulging; and Aparigraha—lack of ego)</div></li><li><div>Niyamas: Self-discipline (Shaucha—purity; Santosha—contentment; Tapa—fortitude; Svadhyaya—study; Ishvara-pranidhana—devotion to God or your own higher self)</div></li><li><div>Asana: Yoga postures</div></li><li><div>Pranayama: Breath control</div></li><li><div>Pratyahara: Withdrawal</div></li><li><div>Dharana: Concentration</div></li><li><div>Dhyana: Single focus</div></li><li><div>Samadhi: Total self-collectedness</div></li></ul><h4>Vibhuti</h4><p>The third chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Vibhuti. In this chapter, Patanjali discusses how Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi are all connected and pays particular attention to Dhyana and Samadhi.</p><p><br>Dharana means fixing your focus on a single object. Then, focusing and concentrating your mind on the object becomes Dhyana. When the object, and only the object, fills your consciousness entirely, that&#39;s Samadhi.</p><p><br>You&#39;ll notice that this sounds a lot like meditation. Many times, Dhyana is misinterpreted as &quot;meditation,&quot; but it&#39;s not exactly the meditation we&#39;re familiar with these days. Dhyana is what happens when you can&#39;t separate a sense of self from the act of meditation or really even perceive it.</p><p><br>Dharana is actually closer to what we understand modern meditation to be. Through the practice of Dharana, we can better understand our minds, their patterns, and notice the thoughts that interrupt us.</p><h4><br>Kaivalya</h4><p>The final chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Kaivalya. In this chapter, Patanjali reflects on the mind&#39;s achievements and prepares you for moksha (complete liberation). This liberation comes from the separation of the soul (Purusha) from the source (Prakriti). While separation is often seen as a bad or scary thing, in this case, the soul no longer experiences the misery that comes from this connection.</p><h3><br>Why Bother With Yoga Philosophy?</h3><p>Now you know a bit more about yoga philosophy and you may be wondering if it really matters? Does <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\">knowing more about yoga philosophy</a> really make a difference to your practice?</p><p><br>The answer, as with most things, is &quot;it depends.&quot;</p><p><br>Here are three key reasons I think it&#39;s important to study Patanjali&#39;s Yoga Sutras.</p><ul><li><div><strong>Connect to Your Yoga Roots:</strong> If you practice yoga, you&#39;re part of a yoga lineage. Your yoga teacher learned from a teacher who learned from a teacher, and so on. These lineages can be traced back centuries. Studying texts like the Yoga Sutras can help you stay connected to your yoga lineage and achieve a deeper, more authentic practice.</div></li><li><div><strong>Figure Out What&#39;s Holding You Back:</strong> Through the Yoga Sutras, you can better understand how your thoughts hold you back and keep you from living your best, most satisfying life.</div></li><li><div><strong>Let Go of Suffering:</strong> While asanas have many health benefits, a complete yoga practice can do so much more for you. According to Patanjali, <em>yoga chitta vritti nirodhah</em>, &quot;yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind.&quot; Through discovering and understanding that you are complete as you are, you can start to let go of your suffering.</div></li></ul><h3>Build a Practice You Believe In With Yoga Philosophy</h3><p>In Western culture, yoga has been distilled into a simple practice of poses and meditation, but yoga is so much more than that.  When you learn about the roots of yoga, you can develop a more authentic practice that will not only improve your physical, mental, and emotional health but can transform your life.</p><p><br>I hope you enjoyed this quick look at Patanjali&#39;s Yoga Sutras. Don&#39;t forget to <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\">sign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher</a> to join me for the next <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\">yoga philosophy class</a> or, if you&#39;re interested in what else we have to offer, check out 35+ live, online yoga classes every single day.</p><p></p>"},{"type":"CTA","value":"[CTA-DEFAULT]"}],"isSlugACategory":false,"searchCategory":"yoga-philosophy-patanjali","showPopUp":false,"popUpType":null,"showedPopup":false,"windowWidth":null,"ctaPath":"signup","redirectURL":"#","current_url":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-philosophy-patanjali","student_details":"","facebookUrl":"","twitterUrl":"","copyUrl":"","emailUrl":"","ctaContent":[{"id":"ckxrz2i14tov40c25g1dpicsg","name":"[CTA-DEFAULT]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong> with authentic yoga teachers. 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No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Practice with Authentic Indian Yoga Teachers</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckxrz6nq0tqdr0c258titvagg","name":"[CTA-REVIEWS]","description":{"html":"<p>Find out what all the hype is about! <strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong> with authentic yoga teachers. 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Explore Patanjali's yoga sutras in this article and the philosophy behind why they are important to know for yogis!","content":{"text":"Yoga is a belief system that promotes mindfulness through a mix of movement and meditation. As yoga's popularity has grown around the world, there's been a shift in focus on yoga as simply asanas (poses and movement).\\n\nBut that's not all there is to yoga.\\n\nIn my \\nyoga philosophy class on myYogaTeacher\\n, we'll explore the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. I encourage you to \\nsign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher\\n and join me! In addition to the yoga philosophy class, you'll get access to more than 35 live, online yoga classes with a variety of styles and teachers.\\n\nHere, we'll be taking a brief look at who Patanjali was, what the Yoga Sutras are, and why it's so important to know about this side of yoga.\\n\\nWho Was Patanjali?\\nPatanjali (also known as Gonardiya or Gonikaputra) was the author of the Yoga Sutras. These works first gained prominence in the 2nd century BCE and again in the 5th century CE. In addition to the Yoga Sutras, which we'll look at in this article, Patanjali is also credited as being the author, or one of the authors, of Mahabhashya, a defense of grammarian Panini against his main critic Katyayana.\\n\nWhat Are the Four Yoga Sutras?\\n\\nWritten by Patanjali, the Yoga Sutras is one of the classic yoga texts and introduced Patanjali's understanding of the Eight Limbs of Yoga. It was originally written in Sanskrit and, despite not even covering the asanas we've learned to associate with yoga, is the most popular and well-recognized techniques for training your body and expanding your mind.\\n\nThe entire book is a collection of 196 aphorisms that cover everything from art to science to the philosophy of life. It consists of four chapters:\\nSamadhi: You \\nare\\n a soul; you \\nhave\\n a body\\nSadhana: The actions you should take\\nVibhuti: The mystic powers gained through yoga practice\\nKaivalya: Self-realization\\nEach attempt to learn the meaning of the Yoga Sutras is said to bring you a step closer to true enlightenment.\\nLet's look at each of the four chapters more closely.\\n\\nSamadhi\\nThe first chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Samadhi. It includes 51 sutras and teaches you the foundation of what you need to know about yoga, obstacles to overcome, the importance of abhyasa (constant practice), and vairagya (the detachment from material experiences and worldly pleasures).\\n\\nSamadhi gets into how the mind works as well as how you can bring peace and calm to your mind with an understanding of mental activities such as:\\nPramana: Good thoughts and true knowledge\\nViparyaya: Bad thoughts and wrong understanding\\nVikalpa: Confusion\\nNidra: Sleep while the mind remains active\\nSmriti: Memory or using the senses of smell, touch, sight, taste\\n\\nPatanjali\\n tells us that we can restrict these mental activities through abhyasa and vairagya.\\n\\nSadhana\\n\\nThe second chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Sadhana. In this chapter, Patanjali introduces the principles of Ashtanga yoga, Kriya yoga, and Karma as well as the Eight Limbs of Yoga:\\nYamas: Ethical standards (Ahimsa—non-violence; Satya—truthfulness; Asteya—not stealing; Brahmacharya—celibacy or not over-indulging; and Aparigraha—lack of ego)\\nNiyamas: Self-discipline (Shaucha—purity; Santosha—contentment; Tapa—fortitude; Svadhyaya—study; Ishvara-pranidhana—devotion to God or your own higher self)\\nAsana: Yoga postures\\nPranayama: Breath control\\nPratyahara: Withdrawal\\nDharana: Concentration\\nDhyana: Single focus\\nSamadhi: Total self-collectedness\\nVibhuti\\nThe third chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Vibhuti. In this chapter, Patanjali discusses how Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi are all connected and pays particular attention to Dhyana and Samadhi.\\n\nDharana means fixing your focus on a single object. Then, focusing and concentrating your mind on the object becomes Dhyana. When the object, and only the object, fills your consciousness entirely, that's Samadhi.\\n\nYou'll notice that this sounds a lot like meditation. Many times, Dhyana is misinterpreted as \"meditation,\" but it's not exactly the meditation we're familiar with these days. Dhyana is what happens when you can't separate a sense of self from the act of meditation or really even perceive it.\\n\nDharana is actually closer to what we understand modern meditation to be. Through the practice of Dharana, we can better understand our minds, their patterns, and notice the thoughts that interrupt us.\\n\nKaivalya\\nThe final chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Kaivalya. In this chapter, Patanjali reflects on the mind's achievements and prepares you for moksha (complete liberation). This liberation comes from the separation of the soul (Purusha) from the source (Prakriti). While separation is often seen as a bad or scary thing, in this case, the soul no longer experiences the misery that comes from this connection.\\n\nWhy Bother With Yoga Philosophy?\\nNow you know a bit more about yoga philosophy and you may be wondering if it really matters? Does \\nknowing more about yoga philosophy\\n really make a difference to your practice?\\n\nThe answer, as with most things, is \"it depends.\"\\n\nHere are three key reasons I think it's important to study Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.\\nConnect to Your Yoga Roots:\\n If you practice yoga, you're part of a yoga lineage. Your yoga teacher learned from a teacher who learned from a teacher, and so on. These lineages can be traced back centuries. Studying texts like the Yoga Sutras can help you stay connected to your yoga lineage and achieve a deeper, more authentic practice.\\nFigure Out What's Holding You Back:\\n Through the Yoga Sutras, you can better understand how your thoughts hold you back and keep you from living your best, most satisfying life.\\nLet Go of Suffering:\\n While asanas have many health benefits, a complete yoga practice can do so much more for you. According to Patanjali, \\nyoga chitta vritti nirodhah\\n, \"yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind.\" Through discovering and understanding that you are complete as you are, you can start to let go of your suffering.\\nBuild a Practice You Believe In With Yoga Philosophy\\nIn Western culture, yoga has been distilled into a simple practice of poses and meditation, but yoga is so much more than that.  When you learn about the roots of yoga, you can develop a more authentic practice that will not only improve your physical, mental, and emotional health but can transform your life.\\n\nI hope you enjoyed this quick look at Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. Don't forget to \\nsign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher\\n to join me for the next \\nyoga philosophy class\\n or, if you're interested in what else we have to offer, check out 35+ live, online yoga classes every single day.\\n","html":"<p>Yoga is a belief system that promotes mindfulness through a mix of movement and meditation. As yoga&#39;s popularity has grown around the world, there&#39;s been a shift in focus on yoga as simply asanas (poses and movement).</p><p><br>But that&#39;s not all there is to yoga.</p><p><br>In my <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\">yoga philosophy class on myYogaTeacher</a>, we&#39;ll explore the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. I encourage you to <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\">sign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher</a> and join me! In addition to the yoga philosophy class, you&#39;ll get access to more than 35 live, online yoga classes with a variety of styles and teachers.</p><p><br>Here, we&#39;ll be taking a brief look at who Patanjali was, what the Yoga Sutras are, and why it&#39;s so important to know about this side of yoga.</p><p></p><h3>Who Was Patanjali?</h3><p>Patanjali (also known as Gonardiya or Gonikaputra) was the author of the Yoga Sutras. These works first gained prominence in the 2nd century BCE and again in the 5th century CE. In addition to the Yoga Sutras, which we&#39;ll look at in this article, Patanjali is also credited as being the author, or one of the authors, of Mahabhashya, a defense of grammarian Panini against his main critic Katyayana.</p><h3><br>What Are the Four Yoga Sutras?</h3><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=width:800,height:450/t2HPfsEASpaKxjngC0wi\" alt=\"List of Four Yoga Sutras\" title=\"four-yoga-sutras.png\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" /><p>Written by Patanjali, the Yoga Sutras is one of the classic yoga texts and introduced Patanjali&#39;s understanding of the Eight Limbs of Yoga. It was originally written in Sanskrit and, despite not even covering the asanas we&#39;ve learned to associate with yoga, is the most popular and well-recognized techniques for training your body and expanding your mind.</p><p><br>The entire book is a collection of 196 aphorisms that cover everything from art to science to the philosophy of life. It consists of four chapters:</p><ul><li><div>Samadhi: You <strong>are</strong> a soul; you <strong>have</strong> a body</div></li><li><div>Sadhana: The actions you should take</div></li><li><div>Vibhuti: The mystic powers gained through yoga practice</div></li><li><div>Kaivalya: Self-realization</div></li></ul><p>Each attempt to learn the meaning of the Yoga Sutras is said to bring you a step closer to true enlightenment.</p><p>Let&#39;s look at each of the four chapters more closely.</p><p></p><h4>Samadhi</h4><p>The first chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Samadhi. It includes 51 sutras and teaches you the foundation of what you need to know about yoga, obstacles to overcome, the importance of abhyasa (constant practice), and vairagya (the detachment from material experiences and worldly pleasures).</p><p></p><p>Samadhi gets into how the mind works as well as how you can bring peace and calm to your mind with an understanding of mental activities such as:</p><ul><li><div>Pramana: Good thoughts and true knowledge</div></li><li><div>Viparyaya: Bad thoughts and wrong understanding</div></li><li><div>Vikalpa: Confusion</div></li><li><div>Nidra: Sleep while the mind remains active</div></li><li><div>Smriti: Memory or using the senses of smell, touch, sight, taste</div></li></ul><p><a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/workshops/patanjali-yoga-sutras-chapter-1-samadhi-pada\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/workshops/patanjali-yoga-sutras-chapter-1-samadhi-pada\">Patanjali</a> tells us that we can restrict these mental activities through abhyasa and vairagya.</p><p></p><h4>Sadhana</h4><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=width:800,height:450/E4XFHdjUQqC9b7XrNt65\" alt=\"The Eight Limbs of Yoga\" title=\"eight-limbs-of-yoga.png\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" /><p>The second chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Sadhana. In this chapter, Patanjali introduces the principles of Ashtanga yoga, Kriya yoga, and Karma as well as the Eight Limbs of Yoga:</p><ul><li><div>Yamas: Ethical standards (Ahimsa—non-violence; Satya—truthfulness; Asteya—not stealing; Brahmacharya—celibacy or not over-indulging; and Aparigraha—lack of ego)</div></li><li><div>Niyamas: Self-discipline (Shaucha—purity; Santosha—contentment; Tapa—fortitude; Svadhyaya—study; Ishvara-pranidhana—devotion to God or your own higher self)</div></li><li><div>Asana: Yoga postures</div></li><li><div>Pranayama: Breath control</div></li><li><div>Pratyahara: Withdrawal</div></li><li><div>Dharana: Concentration</div></li><li><div>Dhyana: Single focus</div></li><li><div>Samadhi: Total self-collectedness</div></li></ul><h4>Vibhuti</h4><p>The third chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Vibhuti. In this chapter, Patanjali discusses how Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi are all connected and pays particular attention to Dhyana and Samadhi.</p><p><br>Dharana means fixing your focus on a single object. Then, focusing and concentrating your mind on the object becomes Dhyana. When the object, and only the object, fills your consciousness entirely, that&#39;s Samadhi.</p><p><br>You&#39;ll notice that this sounds a lot like meditation. Many times, Dhyana is misinterpreted as &quot;meditation,&quot; but it&#39;s not exactly the meditation we&#39;re familiar with these days. Dhyana is what happens when you can&#39;t separate a sense of self from the act of meditation or really even perceive it.</p><p><br>Dharana is actually closer to what we understand modern meditation to be. Through the practice of Dharana, we can better understand our minds, their patterns, and notice the thoughts that interrupt us.</p><h4><br>Kaivalya</h4><p>The final chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Kaivalya. In this chapter, Patanjali reflects on the mind&#39;s achievements and prepares you for moksha (complete liberation). This liberation comes from the separation of the soul (Purusha) from the source (Prakriti). While separation is often seen as a bad or scary thing, in this case, the soul no longer experiences the misery that comes from this connection.</p><h3><br>Why Bother With Yoga Philosophy?</h3><p>Now you know a bit more about yoga philosophy and you may be wondering if it really matters? Does <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\">knowing more about yoga philosophy</a> really make a difference to your practice?</p><p><br>The answer, as with most things, is &quot;it depends.&quot;</p><p><br>Here are three key reasons I think it&#39;s important to study Patanjali&#39;s Yoga Sutras.</p><ul><li><div><strong>Connect to Your Yoga Roots:</strong> If you practice yoga, you&#39;re part of a yoga lineage. Your yoga teacher learned from a teacher who learned from a teacher, and so on. These lineages can be traced back centuries. Studying texts like the Yoga Sutras can help you stay connected to your yoga lineage and achieve a deeper, more authentic practice.</div></li><li><div><strong>Figure Out What&#39;s Holding You Back:</strong> Through the Yoga Sutras, you can better understand how your thoughts hold you back and keep you from living your best, most satisfying life.</div></li><li><div><strong>Let Go of Suffering:</strong> While asanas have many health benefits, a complete yoga practice can do so much more for you. According to Patanjali, <em>yoga chitta vritti nirodhah</em>, &quot;yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind.&quot; Through discovering and understanding that you are complete as you are, you can start to let go of your suffering.</div></li></ul><h3>Build a Practice You Believe In With Yoga Philosophy</h3><p>In Western culture, yoga has been distilled into a simple practice of poses and meditation, but yoga is so much more than that.  When you learn about the roots of yoga, you can develop a more authentic practice that will not only improve your physical, mental, and emotional health but can transform your life.</p><p><br>I hope you enjoyed this quick look at Patanjali&#39;s Yoga Sutras. Don&#39;t forget to <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\">sign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher</a> to join me for the next <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-philosophy-by-sandeep\">yoga philosophy class</a> or, if you&#39;re interested in what else we have to offer, check out 35+ live, online yoga classes every single day.</p><p></p>"},"category":["yoga","yoga_teacher_training"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"recommendations_group_class":null}