Intro to Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 14-day intensive

Patanjali Yoga Sutras

Here is a great opportunity for you to get introduced to the underlying concepts of yoga! These discussions can help greatly in developing a deeper understanding of your true nature and also eliminate stress and anxiety from your lives. I invite you to join me for this 14-day intensive.

In view of the current situation with the COVID-19 virus, I will be offering this class via live video streaming using the Zoom platform.

As we all know, practice of yoga is known to provide us with a sense of well-being both at physical and mental levels even in trying circumstances. A study of the Yoga Sutras can help us understand how our mind functions and how we can stay calm despite the adversity we are facing.

Understanding the Mind to eliminate Stress

• What: An Introduction to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 14-day intensive
• When: Monday, February 22 – Sunday, March 7, 2021
• Time: 6:00 – 7:30 AM (US East Coast time, GMT -5)
• Access:  Remotely via live video streaming (Zoom); login info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment 
• Fee:
  • $60 – check, Zelle (use subhashmittal@gmail.com) or Venmo (use 9199269717)
  • $65 –  paypal (go to bottom of page)
• Daily Routine: Light stretching, Pranayama and Relaxation (~30 min), Yoga Sutra Discussion (60 min)
• To register: please fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields and submit it online 

Program Outline

In this program, I plan to cover all the sutras in chapters 1 and 2 and about the first 15 sutras in chapter 3. For each sutra:

• We will learn to read the sutra in Sanskrit.
• Learn the meaning of every word in the sutra.
• Learn the meaning of the sutra.
• Discuss the underlying concept of the sutra based on my understanding developed thru a study of commentaries by various authors.
• Understand how these concepts can be applied in day-to-day life.

Topics covered:

• Six systems of Indian philosophy (Shad Darshana): Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimansa, Vedanta
• Brief intro to Samkhya philosophy
• Definition of yoga – How the mind functions – how the ego takes over the intellect
• Abhyasa (practice) and Vairagya (dispassion)
• Concept of Ishvara
• Kleshas (afflictrions)
• Theory of Karma and reincarnation
• Samkhya in the Yoga Sutras
• Eight limbs of yoga
• 5 Yamas and 5 niyamas
• Understand the concept and practice of meditation and samadhi

Why study the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (YSP)?

YSP is not just a manual on yoga philosophy, it is a manual on “life”. A study of this manual will help us understand:

• How to live a life full of peace, harmony and fulfillment
• What is stress, what causes stress and how to manage stress
• How to achieve your maximum potential in life
• What is mind and how to understand its functioning
• What causes suffering and how can we prevent suffering
• How to keep the mind calm and peaceful in the face of adversity
• What is the goal of life and how to achieve that goal
• Does the practice of yoga only involve the practice of asana (physical postures) or is there more to this practice?
• What is self-realization
• … and much more …

Text suggestions

• Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Swami Satchidananda (buy at amazon.com )
• The Science of Yoga by I. K. Taimni (free pdf download here)

Please contact me if you have any questions.