1. What is Yoga? 

We will talk about the very idea of yoga, what does yoga mean nowadays; what is our perception of yoga & how do we apply what we learn from our physical yoga practice into our lives. 

2. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras

'Yoga is the practice of quieting the mind' 

                                                 - Patanjali

In ancient times yoga is first described by Patanjali in his treatise, the Yoga Sutras. The first chapter begins by telling us that yoga is restraining the mind to a state of equanimity so that the mind is not disturbed as it surveys the appearance and to know things as they are.The author also defines an eight-limbed path to yoga: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi. In our class we will look into essential concepts of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and think of their meanings and application in our daily life.

Schedule:

1. Defining the idea of yoga: What is yoga? 

- Discussion: What does yoga mean to you?

2. Yogasūtra of Patañjali 

-Discussion: What did yoga mean for Patañjali during his own historical place and time? How does the model of yoga for Patañjali can be implied in our contemporary ways of living?