Embodying the Yoga Sutra by Roy, Ranju -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Page Title Page Copyright Contents Introduction

About the Book

Chapter 1: Following the Path

The meaning of yoga Yoga as relationship: “Taking support” Tradition, teachers and transmission Being present and committed to the truth

Chapter 2: Yoga Is a State of Mind

The word “yoga” revisited Citta, citta vrtti and the nature of mind Citta vrtti and suffering Nirodha: The fundamental goal Citta vrtti nirodha offers the space to connect with ourselves Identifying with our minds is an endless source of suffering Sādhana: Nirodha is both method and goal

Chapter 3: Starting from Where You Are

Viniyoga: Individual and group classes Adapting our practice Four stages of life: brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and samnyāsa Three approaches to practice: srstikrama, sthitikrama and layakrama Three aims in practice: śiksana krama, raksana krama and cikitsā krama Two types of practice: langhana kriyā and brmhana kriyā Four purposes to life: purusārtha Vinyāsa krama of posture Vinyāsa krama of practice Alternative vinyāsa krama

Chapter 4: Yoga and Wellness: A Therapeutic Model

Suffering: Duhkha and its causes What suffering can we avoid? Creating and maintaining our suffering Hāna: The space of liberation Upāya: The means Pūrvānga: Preparation Pratikriyāsana: Counterposture The importance of forward bends as counterposture

Chapter 5: The Essential Method

Defining abhyāsa Defining vairāgya

Chapter 6: Negotiating Obstacles

The first triad: Confusions with support The second triad: Misuse of energy The third triad: Losing clear direction The symptoms of antarāya Nine solutions to antarāya

Chapter 7: The Nature of Things

Incarnation Purusa Prakrti and Guna Polarities within prakrti The tools of transformation: Support, direction and space Support and tamas Direction and rajas Space and sattva Two directions: Bhoga and apavarga

Chapter 8: Kleśa: Avidyā's Different Forms

Understanding the kleśa in more detail Defining avidyā: Specific confusions Asmitā: A false identification with the energy of life Rāga and dvesa: Replaying our past desires and aversions Abhiniveśa: Clinging to life Relationship between kleśa Uprooting the kleśa Understanding and managing the effects of kleśa Samyoga and kleśa Samyoga in the body Samyoga in three polarities Samyoga of the body and breath

Chapter 9: Practicing Āsana

The importance of āsana in modern yoga practice Defining āsana The dynamic relationship between sthira and sukha The essential method The fruit of āsana Breath and spinal position Prāna and apāna vāyu Two types of inhale, two types of exhale Ujjāyī in āsana

Chapter 10: Practicing Prānāyāma

The meaning of prānāyāma Starting to practice prānāyāma The three viewing towers of prānāyāma The three fruits of prānāyāma The first watchtower: Deśa—placing of the attention The support of the throat: Ujjāyī The support of the nostrils: Nostril control breathing Anuloma ujjāyī: Bringing the body into presence Viloma ujjāyī: Allowing the mind to become a support for the body Pratiloma ujjāyī: Giving us a stable presence in the world Nādī śodhana: Giving us an active presence in the world The support of the mouth/tongue Sītkārī: The hissing breath The first watchtower: Summary The second watchtower: Kāla—the length of the breath The third watchtower: Samkhyā—numbering the breath Development of technique (deśa) Development of rhythm (kāla) Development of technique (deśa) and rhythm (kāla)

Chapter 11: Living with Others

Self and other Establishing the basis: ahimsā and satya Keeping a relationship simple and open: asteya and brahmacarya Dancing with life: aparigraha Yama as the “prānāyāma of relationships”

Chapter 12: Living with Ourselves

The basis of a healthy relationship with ourselves Śauca: Cultivating lightness and clarity Being content with what is Taking care in our practice Being kind to ourselves, and the dangers of projection A practice for cultivating samtosa

Chapter 13: Working on Ourselves

Kriyā yoga as a fundamental definition of yoga practice Tapas: Purifying ourselves through external means Tapas and niyama Svādhyāya: Developing our connection to the source Svādhyāya and niyama

Chapter 14: Guarding the Senses

The senses can lead us astray The role of the senses is to serve, not to lead Becoming aware of the senses Engaging the senses Bringing the senses under control Pratyāhāra as the fifth of the eight limbs

Chapter 15: Exploring the Potential of the Mind

Yoga is meditation and meditation is the key to developing wisdom Dhāranā: Stabilizing the link Dhyāna: Deepening the link Samādhi: The connection becomes complete Two levels of samādhi

Chapter 16: Moving Beyond Ourselves—Īśvara in the Yoga Sūtra

Īśvara, God, yoga and religion Īśvara-pranidhāna as a three-part vinyāsa Defining and relating to īśvara Bhāvana Being carried

Glossary

Diacritics Pronunciation Sanskrit roots: The source of everything Why are there so many different forms of the same word? Sanskrit compounds Glossary

Endnotes Select Bibliography

Yoga Sūtra Related Books

Acknowledgments Index About the Authors