The Yoga Sutra: An Exploration - Day One

The Yoga Sutra is the foundational text of classical Raja Yoga (Royal Yoga). Codified by the sage Patanjali around 2,000 years ago, it is a precise distillation of the teachings of yoga and meditation according to this system in 196 very succinct sutras (verses) over four padas (chapters). Also known as Ashtanga Yoga (the Eightfold Path) and Patanjali Yoga (the Yoga According to Patanjali) it offers profound teachings not only on meditation, but also on self-enquiry and daily mindfulness.

Tutor(s): Swami Nishchalananda and Swami Krishnapremananda

An Online Course, comprising three days over three months. Click here for a short introductory video.

In classical yoga, the Yoga Sutra is intended as a natural step after Hatha Yoga for serious practitioners. 

This first day of three will explore the teachings in chapter 1, which is entitled Samadhi Pada (the Chapter on Spiritual Absorption). This will include the classical definition of yoga, the five vrittis (patterns of mind), and other pertinent sutras.    

The Yoga Sutra directly explores the subtlety of the human mind, emphasising the value of one-pointedness as a necessary step towards absorption into its Source. As part of this process the Yoga Sutra presents, among many other teachings, the well-known eight limbs of yoga which comprise: 1. yama (observances to harmonise social interaction), 2. niyama (personal observances to harmonise one's attitudes and feeling), 3. asana (specifically sitting postures), 4. pranayama (breathing practices), 5. pratyahara (sense withdrawal), 6. dharana (concentration), 7. dhyana (meditation) and 8. samadhi (absorption in Consciousness).

The practical teachings on this text will continue in the two following days, in which we will focus on the following areas of the Yoga Sutras:

  • Sunday February 7th 2021 will centre around the 2nd chapter, the Sadhana Pada (the Chapter on Practice), in which we will introduce the Raja Yoga form of Kriya Yoga (Preparatory Yoga) and the five causes of unhappiness (known as kleshas). 

  • Sunday March 7th 2021 will focus on the classical eight-fold path as mentioned above and how they can be applied in our lives to deepen our yoga practice and understanding.

You are very welcome to join us for this online course in order to deepen your understanding of the key teachings of this path of yoga. The course will be delivered over three separate yet interwoven days, each of which can be booked separately. You can book one, two or all three of the days as you wish. 

Further information

The sessions will be delivered via zoom and at the following times during the day:
9.00-10.15am, 10.45-12.15, 12.45-13.15, 14.45-15.30 and 16.00-17.00, all U.K. times.

The course will close for bookings at 5pm the day before the course is due to start. 

Course information

Sunday 10 January 2021, 09:00
Sunday 10 January 2021, 17:00
Swami Nishchalananda and Swami Krishnapremananda
This course is fully booked. Please call the office for availability on 01558685358.