Yoga: Understanding Patanjali's Famous Definition
Patanjali, an ancient Indian sage, defined yoga in his seminal work, the Yoga Sutras. The phrase "yogas chitta vritti nirodhah" is Sanskrit and can be translated into English as "Yoga is the removal of the fluctuations of the mind". This definition emphasizes that the core essence of yoga is not just physical exercise, but the journey to mental clarity and tranquility. Before practicing actual Yoga, understanding this theory is extremely vital.
Hence, yoga seeks to quiet the distractions and disturbances of the brain, enabling us to tap into our deeper consciousness and achieve a state of peace and stillness.