FREE WORKSHOP: Weaving the Yoga Sutras Into Daily Life

Weaving the Yoga Sutras Into Daily Life
A FREE Online Discussion
w/ Shuba Wavikar of Revolution Community Yoga
All Are Welcome!  You must pre-register in order to receive the Zoom link 1 hour before the workshop.
This forum is recorded.

Upcoming Online Sessions
Thursdays @ 7 – 8pm
July 27th {REGISTER}
September 28th
October 26th
November 30th
December 28th

During this monthly conversation, we will talk about how we might interpret and apply this timeless ideology in our daily life – on the mat, and off. This workshop will help us delve deeper together into yogic philosophy, going beyond the physical practice to know yoga as a way of life. We will discuss concepts from the yoga sutras, such as the chitta vrittis, kleshas, gunas, pratipaksha bhavana, Ishvara pranidhana and others. We will share our thoughts, experiences, questions and difficulties. This inquiry will definitely enrich our yoga practice, but even more so, our lives!!

Recommended resources:
“The Heart of Yoga – Developing a Personal Practice” by T. K. V. Desikachar
“The Path of the Yoga Sutras: A Practical Guide to the Core of Yoga” by Nicolai Bachman
“The Wisdom of Yoga” by Stephen Cope
“The Yamas and Niyamas” by Deborah Adele
“The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali” a new translation with commentary by Chip Hartranft
“The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali”, a new edition, translation, and commentary by Edwin Bryant
“History of Yoga Full Film English” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoRwXMLsVis

March 23rd Notes

Hi everyone,

Last month, we started reading some of the yoga sutras together. This month, we will quickly review our previous discussion, and continue to read some selected sutras together.

The first chapter offers a definition of yoga. It gives a description of the vrittis or fluctuations of the mind, and the means to control them. The chapter further describes samadhi, and introduces and describes the concepts of Ishvara and Om. We will explore these two concepts, as described by Sage Patanjali, this month. Distractions or disturbances of the mind, and their accompaniments are explained.  In Sutra 1.33, Sage Patanjali gives us four ways (friendliness, compassion, gladness and indifference) to address four conditions (happiness, unhappiness, virtue, vice), to keep our minds serene. We will talk about these in the context of our modern life.

If you have a book on the yoga sutras, please keep it available. If you don’t, no worries. I will share the relevant sutras through slides.

Before we meet, consider:

What does Ishvara (Lord/ God) mean to you?

Do you chant Om? If yes, why? What does it mean to you?

Do you, or have you, practice/d japa (meditative repetition of a mantra or a divine name)?

What do you notice as distractions for your mind? What can cause the mind to be unfocussed?

Let us observe our minds, our thoughts, our reactions this week before we meet.

Feb. 23rd Notes

Hi everyone,

In January, we initiated reading the yoga sutras together. This month, we will continue to read some selected sutras from the first chapter together. We will look at an overview of the yoga sutras, and their division into the four chapters.

The first chapter offers a definition of yoga. It gives a description of the vrittis or fluctuations of the mind, and the means to control them. The chapter further describes samadhi, and introduces and describes the concepts of Ishvara and Om. Distractions of the mind, and their accompaniments, including ways to steady the mind, are explained.

If you have a book on the yoga sutras, please keep it available. If you don’t, no worries, I will share the relevant sutras through slides.

Before we meet, consider:

• What, according to you, causes fluctuations in our minds?
• How aware are we of our thought patterns and their sources?
• What does detachment mean to you? How might we practice detachment, even as we put in our best effort?
• What does Ishvara (Lord/ God) mean to you? Is this idea unfashionable, uncomfortable, today?
• Do you, or have you, practice/d japa (meditative repetition of a mantra or a divine name)?
• What do you notice as distractions for your mind? What can cause the mind to be unfocussed?
• What causes us suffering? What are the root causes?
• What can we control?

Let us observe our minds, our thoughts this week before we meet.

Observe how we treat our bodies, ourselves.

Jan. 26th Notes

Hi everyone,

Happy New Year! May 2023 bring good health, peace and joy to all!

This month, we will discuss the final two limbs of the eight limbs of yoga in the Patanjali Yoga Sutras – dhyana and samadhi. Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (complete absorption) together are known as Samyama. With these, we enter the innermost quest of yoga. Some consider Samyama the most important aspect of yoga. We will discuss what the sutras – and some commentaries – say about these. While these limbs are said to be known only through experience, we will discuss our understanding of Dhyana and Samadhi, and briefly touch upon the stages, or aspects, of Samadhi.

This month, we will also start to read some selected sutras together. We will look at an overview of the yoga sutras, and their division into the four chapters.

If you have a book on the yoga sutras, please keep it available. If you don’t, no worries, I will share the relevant sutras through slides.

Before we meet, consider:

• What is your understanding of Dhyana and Samadhi?
• Do you have a meditation practice?
• If yes, how has your meditation practice changed your understanding of life?
• Do you meditate with a goal in mind?
• How does Dharana differ from Dhyana in your understanding?
• If you do not try to meditate, why not?

Nov. 20th Notes

Hi everyone,

This month, we will discuss the next two limbs of yoga – pratyahara and dharana. We will discuss what the sutras – and some commentaries – say about these. We will consider how the earlier limbs help our practice of pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses) and dharana (concentration). We will talk about how these practices affect our daily life and awareness. We will discuss our understanding and practice of these limbs.

Before we meet, consider:

1. What does pratyahara mean to you? A means to an end, or the end result of a practice?
2. Considering the sensory overload in today’s world, how do we practice pratyahara? Do our minds crave constant sensory information?
3. How can asana practice help us with pratyahara? According to B. K. S. Iyengar guruji, ‘while performing an asana the intelligence of the body extends outwards, and the senses of perception, mind and intelligence are drawn inwards. It is the same in the performance of pranayama. This is pratyahara.’ Your thoughts?
4. Does Shavasana help us with pratyahara? Does pratyahara help us enter shavasana? If you have a regular yoga practice, observe your mind during shavasana.
5. Can asana be a practice of dharana?
6. What tools do you use for Dharana – to focus your mind, or concentrate?
7. Vyasa’s commentary mentions concentrating the mind on places such as ‘lotus of the heart, the tip of the nose (etc.)… or on an external object.’. Have you tried to concentrate your mind on a certain place or object?
8. What obstacles do you face when trying to concentrate?
9. When your mind wanders, what is your reaction? Are you compassionate?
10. When we say we are meditating, are we really only concentrating?

To try: 

1. Try to sit with silence for a few minutes, and /or try to be without media for a day…or a few hours. (Try not to check email, social media etc.)
2. Next time you are on a walk in nature, try to focus on one sense mainly – see every little detail around you, or hear every little sound…
3. If you practice yoga nidra, notice if you practice pratyahara.
4. Observe how sense gratification might distract you during your day.

Oct. 30th Notes

This month, we will discuss the next two limbs of yoga – asana and pranayama. We will discuss what the sutras – and some commentaries – say about asana and pranayama. We will consider how the yamas and niyamas flow into the practice of these limbs. We will talk about how these practices change our daily life and awareness.

Sage Patanjali devotes only three sutras to Asana. No names of asanas are given. However Vyasa, an early commentator on the Sutras, mentions 12 names followed by ‘etc’. We will talk a little more about this. Sage Patanjali writes about aspects of pranayama, and how pranayama prepares the mind for concentration. We will discuss our understanding and practice of pranayama.

Before we meet, consider

• Do you think contemporary yoga classes should explain the yamas and niyamas before asana, or alongside asana, as many do? Do you – consciously or subconsciously – weave the yamas and niyamas into your asana practice?
• Do you have a regular asana practice? How is asana practice different for you, than say, going to the gym?
• How does asana practice affect your body and mind? Has it helped you to tune into your body intelligence?
• How do the first three limbs prepare us for pranayama?
• Do you practice pranayama regularly?
• Have you experienced the effect of pranayama on your state of mind/ body? ‘By regulating the prana, we regulate our minds’ – do you agree?
• Does pranayama – a powerful practice – need to be better understood in today’s yoga environment?
• Let’s talk about current scientific understanding about the power of breath. How does this relate to yogic pranayama teachings?
• Recommendations you might have for books on asana and pranayama

March 27th:
Discussion of the Yamas, Niyamas, and Asana

We had a fabulous first session in February, with great, interesting conversation. Thank you to all who attended, and shared your thoughts!

This month, we will discuss the first three limbs of yoga – yamas, niyamas and asana, sometimes called the bahiranga or outward quests. We will consider the application of each of the 5 yamas (non harming, truthfulness, non stealing, non hoarding, moderation) and 5 niyamas (cleanliness, contentment, self study, self discipline, surrender) in our daily life. We will discuss what the sutras say about the yamas, niyamas, asana and how the yamas and niyamas flow into our asana practice. We will talk about how asana practice weaves into our daily life and awareness, and prepares us for pranayama.

Questions to ponder:

1. The big question – What does ahimsa mean in our world today? How do we reconcile what is happening with yoga’s yama of ahimsa?
2. Between Ahimsa and Satya, truthfulness bows to nonviolence, do you agree? Satya in this age of social media – are we honest?
3. Do we covet what others have? How do we learn contentment/ gratitude?
4. How do we let go of attachment -”mine” – to the body, to objects?
5. How do we cleanse our minds?
6. Do you believe there is a power beyond the understanding of our intellect? What makes asana practice different from, say, going to the gym?
7. Should there be an introduction to the yamas and niyamas before starting an asana practice?

For this week, before we meet:
Observe, how often do we lie – white lies, little lies? Can we observe ourselves this week? Can we practice satya with ahimsa?

Observe yourself this week – your thoughts, emotions, the body. Get to know yourself.

This week, try to break a habit (practice tapas). Observe the effort it might take.

April 24th:
Asana and Pranayama – what do the sutras say, discuss how asana and pranayama practice changes us. What gets in the way of our practice, linking back to our discussion in Feb. Talk about breath awareness, and about how the first four limbs prepare us for the next four.

May 22nd:
Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi – talk about sensory overload in modern times – is Pratyahara more challenging, difference between Dharana and Dhyana, what might Samadhi mean in our modern life.

Past Sessions:
Introduction to Patanjali Yoga Sutras and the eight limbs of yoga, discussion of a few key sutras. Discussion of mental fluctuations… mental chatter 🙂 and distractions or obstacles, application in daily life.