Body and Soul Yoga Club - Worksheet 6

Body and Soul Yoga Club - Worksheet 6

Chapters 1 – 6 Sutras:
Things that cannot last seem to us as if they will. II.5A
And they realise that the body itself is a prison. III.39B
The poses bring a feeling of well-being which stays with you. II.46
Your practice must be steady, without gaps. 1.14B
And the fifth of the obstacles is laziness. 1.30E
And if you wish to stop these obstacles, there is one, and only one, crucial practice for doing so. You must use compassion. 1.32-33B
Learn to keep your feelings in balance, whether something feels good, or whether it hurts. 1.33D
Our practice must be done correctly, for then a firm foundation is laid. 1.14C
And there will come a time when differences no longer harass you. 2.48C
You must cultivate your practice over an extended period of time. 1.14A

Lesson 1 (2017 Course) – An Introduction to Yoga for Beginners

According to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali there are eight limbs of yoga which are often described as branches of a tree rather than steps on a ladder. All are equally important and can be approached in whichever order feels right to the individual. However, Patanjali advised starting with the first two limbs: Yamas and Niyamas, principles of ethical behaviour and personal observances, before moving on to the physical practice of asana and pranayama (breath control).

Consider the following in the context of our study book, “How Yoga Works”. How do the sutras in Chapters 1-6 (listed above) relate to the Yamas and Niyamas?

Yamas (Ethical behaviours – to contain/to control)

· Ahimsa – non-hurting/non-violence – respecting one’s own body and extending this to all other beings in the world.

· Satya – being honest with ourselves and others (in the context of non-hurting).

· Asteya – not stealing from others, including not taking more than you need or accepting wealth or credit you have not earned.

· Brahmacharya – right use of energy, sometimes interpreted as sexual abstinence but more to do with self-restraint.

· Aparigraha – non-covetousness, not being greedy or envious. Give without expecting reward.

Niyamas (Personal observances)

· Saucha – purity of body and mind, treating your body like a temple, detoxifying.

· Santosa – contentment and self-acceptance.

· Tapas – Living in the moment and directing all our energy to the task in hand mindfully.

· Svadhyaya – Self-study as a spiritual being. Welcoming and accepting our limitations while staying centred in the truth.

· Ishvarapranidhana – Letting go of the ego. Surrendering ourselves to a higher being however we want to interpret that.