Yoga Sutra Teacher Training Certification Course

Yoga Sutra Course Curriculum: 40 Live Lessons

Part 1 — Samadhi Pada: The Nature and Purpose of Yoga (Lessons 1–10)

1. Introduction to Patanjali and the Yoga Sutras. Who Patanjali was, the historical context, the meaning of “yoga”, and how to approach sutra study.
2. Structure of the Yoga Sutras. The four Padas, how sutra literature works, Sanskrit and translation, and how single sutras connect to the whole.
3. YS 1.1–1.4: The Definition of Yoga. Atha Yoga-anushasanam, Yogas chitta-vritti-nirodhah, and the Seer resting in its own nature. Practice: witnessing the fluctuations of the mind.
4. YS 1.5–1.11: The Five Vrittis. Pramana, Viparyaya, Vikalpa, Nidra and Smriti, and how they shape perception. Practice: Vritti observation meditation.
5. YS 1.12–1.16: Abhyasa and Vairagya. Sustained practice and non-attachment, the levels of Vairagya, and practice without rigid expectation. Practice: Abhyasa–Vairagya meditation.
6. YS 1.17–1.18: Types of Samadhi. Samprajnata (with Vitarka, Vichara, Ananda, Asmita) and Asamprajnata Samadhi. Practice: concentration and absorption.
7. YS 1.19–1.22: Faith, Practice and Intensity. Shraddha, Virya, Smriti, Samadhi and Prajna, and how the intensity of practice shapes progress.
8. YS 1.23–1.29: Ishvara and Om. Ishvara as a special Purusha, Ishvara Pranidhana, Pranava, and japa. Practice: Om meditation.
9. YS 1.30–1.32: Obstacles to Yoga Practice. The nine Antarayas, the accompanying disturbances, and how to keep Sadhana consistent.
10. YS 1.33–1.51: Cultivating a Stable Mind. Maitri, Karuna, Mudita, Upeksha, breath awareness, one-pointedness and deeper Samadhi. Practice: guided stable-mind meditation.

Part 2 — Sadhana Pada: The Path of Practice (Lessons 11–20)

1. YS 2.1–2.2: Kriya Yoga. Tapas, Svadhyaya and Ishvara Pranidhana as practical discipline for reducing afflictions.
2. YS 2.3–2.9: The Five Kleshas. Avidya, Asmita, Raga, Dvesha and Abhinivesha in daily life. Practice: Klesha self-observation.
3. YS 2.10–2.16: Kleshas, Karma and Suffering. Subtle and active Kleshas, Samskaras, habitual patterns, and awareness before reaction.
4. YS 2.17–2.25: The Seer and the Seen. Drashta and Drishya, Purusha and Prakriti, identification and bondage. Practice: Drashta–Drishya meditation.
5. YS 2.26–2.28: Viveka and Discriminative Knowledge. Viveka Khyati, the stages of higher knowledge, and moving from intellectual to lived understanding.
6. YS 2.29–2.32: The Eight Limbs of Yoga. Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi as one integrated path.
7. YS 2.33–2.34: Pratipaksha Bhavana. Transforming disturbing thoughts through constructive attitudes. Practice: thought transformation meditation.
8. YS 2.35–2.39: The Five Yamas. Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, Aparigraha as living practices, not only moral rules.
9. YS 2.40–2.45: The Five Niyamas. Shaucha, Santosha, Tapas, Svadhyaya, Ishvara Pranidhana and their psychological depth.
10. YS 2.46–2.55: Asana, Pranayama and Pratyahara. Sthira Sukham Asanam, breath regulation and turning awareness inward. Practice: asana, breath awareness and pratyahara.

Part 3 — Vibhuti Pada: Samyama, Transformation and Siddhis (Lessons 21–30)

1. YS 3.1–3.3: Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. Definitions, differences and the progression from attention to absorption.
2. YS 3.4–3.6: Samyama. The three inner limbs working as one process, and the ethics of advanced practice.
3. YS 3.7–3.12: The Inner Limbs and One-Pointedness. Ekagrata Parinama and continuity of awareness. Practice: one-pointed awareness meditation.
4. YS 3.13–3.16: Transformation (Parinama). Change in characteristics, states and time, and how Samskara drives change.
5. YS 3.17–3.22: Knowledge Through Samyama. Word, meaning and concept; reading mental tendencies; responsibility in advanced practice.
6. YS 3.23–3.29: Extraordinary Knowledge and Siddhis. Traditional Siddhi teachings within the philosophical framework, and discernment towards extraordinary claims.
7. YS 3.30–3.37: Further Siddhis and Yogic Powers. Symbolic and philosophical dimensions, mastery and responsibility.
8. YS 3.38–3.43: Siddhis as Potential Distractions. Fascination versus progress, and keeping Vairagya. Practice: non-attachment meditation.
9. YS 3.44–3.49: Subtle Knowledge and Mastery. Samyama on subtle elements, and moving beyond extraordinary experience towards discriminative knowledge.
10. YS 3.50–3.56: Viveka, Purity and Kaivalya. Purity of Sattva, freedom from identification, and the bridge to the final Pada. Practice: Viveka meditation.

Part 4 — Kaivalya Pada: Liberation (Lessons 31–36)

1. YS 4.1–4.6: Samadhi and Transformation. Sources of Siddhis, the refined mind and intentional practice.
2. YS 4.7–4.11: Karma, Samskara and Vasana. How conditioning forms, continues and can be loosened.
3. YS 4.12–4.17: Time, Objects and Perception. How the mind knows objects, and why different minds experience the same object differently.
4. YS 4.18–4.23: Chitta and Consciousness. Mind as an object of awareness, and the distinction between Purusha and Chitta. Practice: witness consciousness meditation.
5. YS 4.24–4.27: Mind, Discernment and Remaining Tendencies. The purpose of Chitta, remaining impressions and continued vigilance.
6. YS 4.28–4.34: Dharma-Megha Samadhi and Kaivalya. The removal of Kleshas and Karma, and the culmination of yoga. Practice: Kaivalya contemplation.

Part 5 — Integration and Teacher Training (Lessons 37–40)

1. The Eight Limbs: An Integrated Path. How the limbs support one another, and designing an integrated personal practice.
2. Klesha, Vritti, Samskara and Karma: The Cycle of the Mind. How these concepts interact and how Abhyasa, Vairagya and Viveka interrupt the cycle. Practice: mind-cycle observation meditation.
3. Abhyasa, Vairagya, Viveka and the Path to Liberation. Building a lifelong Sadhana and learning how to guide students through the philosophical path. Practice: integrated Yoga Sutra meditation.
4. Course Review, Teaching Practicum and Assessment. Complete review of all four Padas, discussion, final teaching practicum, course assessment and personal Sadhana presentation.