Yoga Flashcards
The 2nd sutra of Book 1 of the Yoga Sutras:
yogaś-citta-critti-nirodhah
“Yoga is the restraint (or cessation) of the thought waves in the mind.” - It is both a description of the process as well as the result of practicing yoga.
What are the obstacles to meditation as laid out in the Yoga Sutras?
The pancha kleshas
What are the eight limbs of Ashtanga yoga?
Yama (restraints) Niyama (observances) Asana (seat/posture) Pranayama (breath control) Pratyahara (withdrawal) Dharana (concentration) Dhyana (meditation) Samadhi (super consciousness)
List the five yamas:
Ahimsa (non-violence) Satya (truthfulness) Asteya (non-stealing) Brahmacharya (sexual control) Aparigraha (non-hoarding, non-possessiveness)
LIst the five niyamas:
Saucha (cleanliness) Santosha (contentment) Tapas (austerity) Swadhyaya (self-study) Ishwarapranidhana (surrender)
Ahimsa
non-violence: avoiding violent actions, words and thoughts
Satya
truthfulness: speaking (and thinking) only what is true
Asteya
non-stealing: taking only what is offered or belongs to you
Brahmacharya
sexual control: literally “walking with God”, control of sexual urges
Aparigraha
non-hoarding: non-possessiveness
Saucha
cleanliness: purity of body, living space, thoughts, actions
Santosha
contentment: keeping the mind centered and calm
Tapas
austerity: practices to help us learn to control our desires
Swadhyaya
self-study: includes spiritual study and atma vichara (self-study)
Ishwarapranidhana
surrender: surrender to the divine, to God, peace, truth, etc.
