Yoga Sutras: Chapter 3

Most Yoga practitioners and teachers are familiar with Yoga's most popular tools; which include the postures (asana), breath work (pranayama) and meditation (dhyana). These tools alone are extremely powerful and can be life-changing; however they are in fact part of a much larger holistic healing system designed to assist us in upgrading our unfulfilling habits and manifesting our highest potential in this lifetime. This complete system and methodology is outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali; which offers 195 solutions to create harmony at every layer of our being.

The Yoga Sutras were scribed over 2500 years ago, compiling all previous Yoga-related Vedic texts into one concise Yoga treaty. All ancient Vedic text attempted to answer life’s great questions:

Why are we here? And why do we suffer? What can be done to alleviate suffering?

According to the Sutras, we suffer because of our minds. They are distracted, agitated, prone to misperception and cling to unfulfilling habits. Thus, Yoga is really about the mind and not the body!

The Sutras are considered one of the world’s first comprehensive psychology texts. Offering a framework to understand the nature of the human condition, as well as practical tools to not only alleviate suffering but also positively transform every aspect of life.

• A clear, cohesive understanding of what Yoga really is as well as all the tools in the Yoga Therapy toolbox;
• The ability to integrate these teachings into every aspect of your life: relationships, lifestyle, body, breath, mind, senses and perhaps develop a sincere spiritual practice (if you so choose);
• The ability to reflect upon your own habits and patterns and consciously upgrade them with new, better ones;
• Correct understanding of how Yoga philosophy and practice can be applied to your personal life, enhance your group class teachings or work with private clients;

• The ability to chant the Sutras as they've been passed down for thousands of years;
• The confidence to take your teaching or yoga therapy practice to the next level by becoming a credible authority.

• Curious yoga students looking to learn about the complete system of Yoga that cannot be presented in a group class model;
• Yoga teachers looking to connect the dots between what they've learned in their trainings or mixed messages received from various teachers or the internet;
• Yoga therapists who seek to utilize the Sutras as a key framework for providing Yoga therapy;
• Dedicated students who have studied the Sutras and would like a companion course to reference particular Sutras and learn how to chant them.

The concept of lineage is very important. The wisdom of the Yoga Sutras has been passed down, translated and adapted to meet the needs of the modern human for thousands of years. No living teacher can claim ownership of these teachings, as they simply flow through us and it is a privilege to have access to them.

I've been studying the Sutras with my teacher Robert Birnberg for over a decade, he studied with his teacher, TKV Desikachar, who studied with his teacher T. Krishnamacharya, who studied with his teacher Ramamohana Brahmachari and so on...

What I love most about our lineage is that the Sutras are always translated in the most practical, universal, and user-friendly manner. As my teacher Robert says, "if it's not practical, it's not spiritual." It's really about concrete and specific ways to utilize these practices to make small course corrections in every day life and return to our most joyful, balanced self.

In these videos, I am referencing my handwritten notes received from my teacher Robert Birnberg, the senior teachers at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (as I spent a month there in 2011 studying the Sutras), insight from Amy Wheeler, in addition to referring to my own commentary developed and refined over the years.

I recommend reading the Heart of Yoga by TKV Desikachar; which has the Sutras at the end of the book, as well as Liberating Isolation by Frans Moors; which offers a word by word translation of the Sutras, as companion texts to this course.

This online course is not a substitute for a real-life teacher or community (sangha).

The Sutras have always been studied in groups, as an integral part of the learning process is the dialogue as to how these concepts apply to "real life." I encourage you to find a teacher or develop a Sutras Sangha and use this course as a reference for personal studies or as a jumping off point for greater discussion in group classes, private sessions or sutras study groups.

Studying the Sutras with my teacher and community has changed my life more than any other Yoga practice. In fact, you can't even classify the Sutras as a singular practice because it's really the framework and complete system that encompasses all other Yoga practices!!! Not only have these teachings given me the confidence to take my teaching practices to the next level, but also provided me with the self-reflection tools to understand who I really am, what I want out of life and how I can craft my life in a way that is in accordance with my values and allows me to consciously pursue all of my dreams.

Honestly, this is really powerful stuff and.... is a lifelong study! You may read through books, watch these videos, study with a teacher, but will always go back for more throughout the years to reflect, refine, and gain a new perspective as you continue your personal evolution along this path.

I am so proud of this course and truly hope that the content speaks to you in this online format, so that you can continue to use this as reference as you move forward along your own unique path of self-reflection and self-refinement. Enjoy!!!

Chapter 3: Vibhuti-Pāda

Titled Vibhuti-Pāda, this chapter is written for a seasoned and dedicated student who has mastered the concepts in Chapters 1 and 2. With a clear, stable and focused mind, this student is able to probe deeply into objects and concepts, and as a result is able to develop greater mental capacities or powers (siddhis). Chapter 3 includes the following topics:

• In depth explanation and examples of the last 3 limbs of the 8-Limb path, known as the internal limbs (antarangas);
• Definition and examples of samyama, as the process that occurs when practicing the last 3 limbs;
• The importance of the concept of viniyoga;
• Commentary on the state of the mind and what is possible when the practitioner is able to move the mind from a state of distraction to a state of direction;
• Examples of various objects of meditation mentioned in Chapter 3 and the benefits that can be acquired when the practitioner cultivates the ability to practice samyama;
• Introduction and commentary on the Chakra system as outlined in Sutras 3.29 - 3.34;
• How the mind acquires extraordinary powers (siddhis) when the kleshas have been overcome and the mind is ability to sustain focus;
• Warnings along the path of Yoga and remembrance of the goal of kaivalya;
• Discussion on the concept of mental clarity and its role in achieving kaivalya.

*Chapters 3 and 4 should be completed after key concepts are clearly understood from Chapters 1 or 2.⠀