In a world increasingly instantaneous, we are are accustomed to immediate feedback, results and reactions. In a world increasingly chaotic, we are continuously assaulted with a barrage of images, please and demands for our attention. The wisdom of the yoga philosophy, however, asks for the opposite: for us to slow down and look internally for wisdom and guidance.
Yoga asks the question, “What if all of this went quiet? What would remain in the listening?”
The feedback is immediate; the experience of moving into Divine Silence and listening to the innate Wisdom of the Soul offers powerful and immediate relief.
Through her writing and her teaching, Lisa Ash Drackert discerns the key teachings of the Yoga Sutras and share them in a way that is accessible and appealing for the modern student. She writes, “Yoga teaches that suffering results from the illusory thought that we are alienated from the Divine. As a yoga and meditation teacher, I see students approach yoga who are yearning to leave behind a fragmented, stressed-out, anxious existence and remember their wholeness. They don’t want someone else to Save them. They want to be empowered to approach their suffering with peace of mind, with a healthy body and with an emboldened Spirit. They want to remember what it feels like to be at Whole.”
The path of yoga (literally: ‘union’) is dependent on personal experimentation and experience. If a practice works for you, then stick with it. If a practice doesn’t work for you, try it a different way. This approach makes sense to rational minds and iPhone users who have the world’s knowledge at their fingertips.
Yoga philosophy is a framework for whole and healthy living that is inspired by thousands of years of collective wisdom. This framework is simple and straightforward: practice non-harming of all sentient beings, meditate on the Divine, hold every single breath and every single movement as sacred. Then, you will experience profound relief, peace and wholeness.
On her blog, Lisa Ash Drackert reflects on key Sanskrit concepts and how they can guide our daily experience. Use these articles as an entry point for your own learning.
Key Learnings from the Yoga Sutras
Citta: Heart-Mind Field of Consciousness explained in
Purusha: Pure Inner Light of Awareness explained in
Drysa/ Prakriti: Ever-Changing Nature
Viveka: Keen Discernment explained in
Abhyasa: Diligent Focused Practice explained in
Vairagya: Non-attachment
how I ended up on a picnic table.
Karma and Samskara: Action and its Imprint explained in “karma can be a friend” 3 part series:
we had a mouse in our house. (karma part 1)
universal piggy bank. (karma part 2)
it’s like a mirror looking back at you. (karma part 3)
Parinama: Transformation explained in
Atha: Now explained in
