|
Iyengar Certified
Only the world's most knowledgeable, rigorously-trained teachers earn the
Iyengar Yoga Certification Mark.
| |
The Philosophy of Yoga
At Susquehanna Yoga, we believe that
understanding and studying the ancient philosophy behind the practice of
Yoga helps our students get the most benefit out of their class time. For
this reason, we include the ‘Philosophy of Yoga’ Lessons in
sequential order in our newsletter. All lessons are also
archived for reference and are
available on this page.
This lesson is primarily instructing a student on how to get to center, or
soul. Yoga is prescriptive - IF you do this, then that will happen.
Yoga teachers sometimes describe to their students how certain poses should
feel, or what happens to their body in a particular posture. But students
must learn to listen to their own body and find their own way.
Classic Yoga instruction takes out the descriptive and is solely
prescriptive, and is therefore the most direct route to the center.
|
Joe Van Arsdale in Nirlambasana (Intense focus
and energy) |
The Philosophy of Yoga (Yoga
Sutra 1.21 & 1.22)These two lessons explain how near the
goal of Samadhi (profound meditation) is for those students who
are focused and energetic. They then go on to explain the
differences between those students who are mild, average and keen in their
practices.
Yoga Sutra 1.21
“Tivrasamvegānām Āsannah”
Samadhi is within reach for those who are honest and pure
at heart, enthusiastic, intense and supremely energetic.
The student quickly reaches the highest goal of Yoga, aided also by his residual
accumulated virtues. Guard against becoming mild or average, slow or
moderate in your practice.
In chapter V. 16 of the Yoga Sutras, students are categorized as feeble
moderate, sharp in understanding and vigorous, and having
colossal energy and supreme enthusiasm.
|
Yoga Sutra 1.22
“Mrdu Madhya Adhimātratvāt Tatahapi Viśesah”
Students are of different levels of eagerness and intensity. For
them, the goal is time-bound, depending on their level of eagerness and
effort. These levels of mild, average or keen can be subdivided,
for example, a keen student can be feebly, moderately or intensely keen.
If sutras 1.14 – 22 are examined as a group, it is clear that they refer
to nine (9) types of yogis who are highly evolved and whose standards of
intelligence are far above ordinary human standards. Table three of this sutra
shows the levels in ascending order of intensity.
The highest level of aspirant demonstrates supreme detachment (paravairāgya).
These students are clear of head, pure of heart, heroic and supremely energetic.
Paraphrased from:
Light on the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali
By B.K.S Iyengar |
Philosophy of Yoga Archives:
Invocation Chant
Yoga Sutra 1.13
Yoga Sutra 1.15
Yoga Sutra 1.16
Yoga Sutra 1.17
Yoga Sutra 1.18
Yoga Sutra 1.19
Yoga Sutra 1.21 & 1.22
Yoga Sutra 1.23 - 1.26
Yoga Sutra 1.27
Yoga Sutra 1.28
Yoga Sutra 1.29 & 1.30
Yoga Sutra 1.31
Yoga Sutra 1.33
Yoga Sutra 1.35 & 1.36
Yoga Sutra 1.37
Yoga Sutra 1.39
Yoga Sutra 1.40
Yoga Sutra 1.41 & 1.42
Yoga Sutra 1.43
Yoga Sutra 1.44
Yoga Sutra 1.45
Yoga Sutra 1.46
Current Yoga Sutra
|
