The Yoga Sutras (Part 1) ~ The Big Idea: Learn Yoga Philosophy with Rachel

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, What's the main idea of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, and what do you really need to know?

In this video (Part 1 of the series), Rachel distills and shares Patanjali's most important idea, and shows how this understanding can impact your daily life in practical terms. By the end of this video, you'll have a greater sense of why this text is useful, and why it may help you further your happiness, well-being, and self-development. She'll also share her fave translations so that you can find one you like!

Translations:
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Sri Swami Satchidananda (great place to start)
Heart of Yoga, Desikachar (great book with translations in back; life oriented)
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Chip Hartranft
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Edwin Bryant (scholarly)
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, BKS Iyengar
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Salvatore Zamibto (compilation of multiple translations)
How to Know God, The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali (Prabhavanada and Isherwood)

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Live to learn, learn to live. Disclaimer: Yoga is a physical practice and can cause injury. Not all movements/exercises presented here will be suitable for everyone and in no way constitute medical advice. The practitioner assumes all liability for injury, and understands that they practice solely at their own risk

[joelschaefer]

Great primer on the yoga sutras and a focus on the primary purpose of yoga - to quiet the fluctuations of the mind stuff. Thanks for getting us yogis back to the basics and remembering that the practice of yoga is not about achieving the next challenging pose, but about releasing all our internal and external identities, quieting the mind, finding a sense of presence and reacquainting ourselves with our true essence. 🕉🙏💚🙏

[isabellecompton]

I love your videos! I'm currently doing my 200 hour YTT and your videos are helping me so much! Thank you

[aaronwheaton]

Patanjali my man! The yoga sutra is was the beginning of my understanding that my superficial personality is dwarfed by the connection of my physical body to the universe through the disconnection of thinking and the mind. Awesome of you bringing the book into the mix and put in the hamsters back in the shoe box!🙏🕉💜

[rseyedoc]

Very interesting and informative. I'm Buddhist and didn't realize yoga has such a similar goal to Buddhism - calming our wild monkey mind to reveal its underlying Buddha-nature (its true nature) that is inherent in all sentient beings.

[internationalnatureandfore]

I’ve just returned from a week at Yogaville and finally understood what yoga is all about. Thank you for explaining this so well. Got the book too🧘🏽

[matthewnicholson]

Great explanation on the sutras, I am doing my YTT and was having a mini meltdown over all the philosophy stuff, Im very practical and not very academic so I love the way you explain it in such a calm and fun way.
Thankyou for taking the time to share this, I feel much better now X

[sophiefarrar]

Rachel, you are so knowledgable and have helped me in understanding so much. Thanks for your enthusiasm and expertise, you are so clearly passionate and it's fun to learn from you.

[jenp]

Thank you so much Rachel. I'm also in the middle of a YTT, and your videos have given me a foothold in the mountain I'm exploring.

[Meriem]

Hahah it's funny that i've just started studying the first chapter exactly 2 days ago for my Ytt, and then was looking to your channel to find if more details... And video was just uploaded 🤩🤩 that's made me smiiiile from the bottom of heart.. thank youu soo much Rachel, great lecture as usual 🙏🙏🙏

[nathanrichardson]

Thank you for creating this series!! Please keep more great content coming!! I love your teaching style!!

[jakeandkeeliephelps]

Learning more from you than my yoga instructor/teacher! Currently doing my 200 YTT.

[anatzen]

Thank you so much for that, Rachel. You have a wonderful way to make things easy for us. ❤

[Mcgif]

This was great! I was not expecting someone on YouTube to put these teachings so simply yet thoughtfully.

[phuong]

ohh dear you're my savior! I'm doing my YTC in India and I can't understand my teacher bc he has different English accent. You make it so straight and easy to understand though i have no ideas ab philosophy. Thank you so much for these amazing videos!

[kkst]

I like the dances choreography sign language that accompany your thoughts.

[_o.m.yoga_]

This was so extremely helpful! Thank you 💞

[Mcgif]

Speaking on the translation of “restraint” or “cessation”. I think it is important that the understanding for both is allow d and even implied. As we retrain the fluctuations of our mind while involved with daily life (conscious living, living meditation). But in order to reach a deeper state of consciousness, when we have the time, the lower (ruminating and calculating) functions of the mind must cease so that the higher portions of our mind may be expressed or find union with even higher portions above that.

[acalvello]

Straightforward explanation of the Yoga Sutra or Yoga Philosophy

[LVXMagick]

Love the content and how you present it. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with me. Best wishes.🙏💙

[theldsyogi]

This was perfect and just what I was looking for. Thank you so much!