About 2,000 years ago, the Yoga Sutras were compiled, by Patanjali. They are 196 verses (‘sutra’ means ‘thread’) representing, very specifically, the science of yoga. Of course, at that time the yoga sutras would not have been written, but chanted and passed down between master and student. There are many translations. Two that I have studied are referred to in the back of this book in Resources. The key thing that you can observe from these pages is that yoga has more to do with the mind than the body. The only time asana or any physical practice is mentioned in these texts is with the aim of preparing the body to sit comfortably in meditation! The word ‘asana’ means ‘comfortable seat’ and it is believed that our word for our butt - ‘ass’ or ‘arse’ (if you're British) comes from it! “Yoga is the practice of quieting the mind.” ~ Patanjali"

About 2,000 years ago, the Yoga Sutras were compiled, by Patanjali. They are 196 verses (‘sutra’ means ‘thread’) representing, very specifically, the science of yoga. Of course, at that time the yoga sutras would not have been written, but chanted and passed down between master and student. There are many translations. Two that I have studied are referred to in the back of this book in Resources. The key thing that you can observe from these pages is that yoga has more to do with the mind than the body. The only time asana or any physical practice is mentioned in these texts is with the aim of preparing the body to sit comfortably in meditation! The word ‘asana’ means ‘comfortable seat’ and it is believed that our word for our butt - ‘ass’ or ‘arse’ (if you're British) comes from it! “Yoga is the practice of quieting the mind.” ~ Patanjali"