Yoga is far more than a physical exercise! While there is often a focus on the asanas or poses in modern day classes, they are merely the means, with the body and breath as the instruments, that allow us to reach the ultimate goal of yoga – balance, freedom and enlightenment!

The word yoga first appeared in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and was chiefly concerned with purifying the body and mind and achieving enlightenment. In this ancient text, asanas or poses are defined as a steady and comfortable position – to sit for extended periods in meditation. It was Hatha yoga, a branch of yoga that literally means ‘force’ that introduced the physical practice of poses or postures to the world.

According the introduction in Light on Yoga, “The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj meaning to bind, join, attach and yoke, to concentrate one’s attention… It also means union or communion.”

Yoga, is therefore, the yoking or joining of the body, mind and soul…

Prashant Iyengar, who turned 71 this year - is the son of BKS Iyengar. He is the director of Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in Puna, India and an authority on Yoga.

His has an extensive knowledge about the yoga scriptures and the ancient texts and is known for his philosophical and metaphysical approach to classes. Prashant has been offering some wonderful education lessons online throughout COVID_19.

There are 25 sessions available on Youtube ranging in length from 20 minutes to one hour, and covering the philosophy or yoga in detail. Some lessons also include a practical component where you’ll be instructed to perform certain asanas and there are some interesting Q&A sessions too.

We have pulled together the full list of lessons for you below to enjoy:

• lesson 1 - how each asana has a specific effect on the body, breath and mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5XKJ6ZnPPQ

• lesson 2 - yoga is a mirror for understanding oneself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfti3nS8hrE

• lesson 3 - how one evolves from doing a physical posture to doing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XGzicr9-xM

• lesson 4 - on the moral-ethical principles of Yama and Niyama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ubW7D8VHCQ

• lesson 5 - a deeper look at Yama and Niyama, and what is meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAxpyPXTPdE

• lesson 6 - the concept of ahimsa or non-violence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nCNI-FT0O0

• lesson 7 - continuation of Yama and Niyama, concept of ahimsa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ18KIhjH4E

• lesson 8 - a practical lesson on how postures are not yoga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-skKHHgyeh4

• lesson 9 - another practical lesson about the 5 Yamas in yoga practise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VjIqEUdWGE

• lesson 10 - about dynamic mediation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8RJ8bw728E

• lesson 11 - kriya and the body mind breath interaction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_cnnhQSnuk

• lesson 12 - a formal understanding of dhyana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXmYv_3_Kh0

• lesson 13 - more on dhyana, the 7th limb of yoga : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iui_p5Ur78

• lesson 14 - the kinds of dhyana are explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yztV5OazYW0

• lesson 15 - answers to questions from viewers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osIrp828Lik

• lesson 16 - another Q&A session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XJr7cH0RT0

• lesson 17 - the 3 kinds and instruments of karmas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJq2UED1Oak

• lesson 18 - a practical lesson practicing Savasana and more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjDPq9TRkzA

• lesson 19 – the understanding of vacha or speech in yoga practice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ56HvyId8Y

• lesson 20 – understanding the role of the senses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNQoZ5LDgnA

• lesson 21- developing the observation of the senses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM81Bw_VB30

• lesson 22 – the distinction between mind and citta: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZJGC_4jALY

• lesson 23 – the 7th limb of dyhana and the practice of Pranayama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8kELc5VT1w

• lesson 24 – further understanding of Pranayama and it’s instrument the breath: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZlH70B4jh8

• lesson 25 – the significance of the breathe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClKDsE-LaMI

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