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Long-form guides and explainers — the history, philosophy and styles of yoga, and the ideas behind the practice. Filter by theme, reading time or author.
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What yoga really means: chitta vritti nirodha
Patanjali defines yoga in a single line — the stilling of the mind's turnings. Start with the definition, and the eight limbs, koshas, kleshas and the rest of this section fall into place.
Start here →- A Brief History of YogaWhere yoga comes from and how it changed — from ancient India to the practice shared around the world today.History & originsUnder 5 min
- Abhyasa & Vairagya: Practice and Letting GoPatanjali gives two wings to still the mind: steady practice, and the art of non-attachment. We need both to fly.5–10 min
- Chitta Vritti Nirodha: What Yoga Really MeansLong before yoga meant poses, Patanjali defined it in a single, luminous line: yoga is the stilling of the mind. Start h…5–10 min
- Common Sun Salutation Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)The handful of errors that show up most in Surya Namaskar — from held breath to a sagging plank — and simple corrections…5–10 min
- Ishvara Pranidhana: The Art of SurrenderAmong all yoga's disciplines, one is offered as a path complete in itself: surrender.5–10 min
- Meditation: A Complete Beginner-to-Practice GuideThe hub for meditation on Yoga & You — what it is, how to start, how long to sit, the main techniques, and links to ever…5–10 min
- Pranayama: The Complete Guide to Yogic BreathingThe hub for breathwork on Yoga & You — what pranayama is, the techniques organised by what they do (calm, cool, energise…5–10 min
- Purusha & Prakriti: The Seer and the SeenAt the heart of yoga philosophy lies a single distinction: between the changing world we observe, and the changeless awa…5–10 min
- Samadhi: The Heights of MeditationThe eight-limbed path leads, at its summit, to samadhi — a state of absorption so complete that the sense of a separate …5–10 min
- Styles of Yoga: A Beginner's Guide to the TraditionsHatha, Vinyasa, Iyengar, Yin and more — what the main styles of yoga are, how they differ, and how to choose one.Styles & traditionsUnder 5 min
- Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation): The Complete GuideThe definitive home for Sun Salutation on Yoga & You — its meaning, the twelve positions with breath, how many rounds to…5–10 min
- The 12 Positions of Surya Namaskar, Step by StepA clear walkthrough of the twelve linked positions that make up one round of Sun Salutation, with the breath for each.Under 5 min
- The Benefits of Surya NamaskarWhat a regular Sun Salutation practice does for the body and mind — mobility, strength, circulation and calm — and what …5–10 min
- The Breath Pattern in Sun SalutationHow to breathe through a round of Surya Namaskar — the simple inhale-to-open, exhale-to-fold rule that turns the sequenc…Under 5 min
- The Eight Limbs of Yoga, ExplainedYoga is an eight-limbed path. Here is what each limb means — from ethical foundations to deep meditative absorption — an…PhilosophyUnder 5 min
- The Four Paths of Yoga: Bhakti, Karma, Jnana and RajaBeyond the postures, yoga describes four classical paths to the same goal — devotion, action, knowledge and meditation.PhilosophyUnder 5 min
- The Kleshas: The Five Causes of SufferingPatanjali names five deep-rooted afflictions that colour the mind and cause our suffering — and yoga is the path to loos…5–10 min
- The Koshas: The Five Layers of BeingYoga sees a human being not as a single thing but as five nested layers, from the physical body to the bliss at the core…5–10 min
- The Niyamas: Practices for Inner GrowthIf the yamas turn us toward the world, the niyamas turn us inward — five personal practices that shape the inner life.5–10 min
- The Yamas: Yoga's Ethics in Daily LifeYoga begins not on the mat but in how we treat others and the world — with the five yamas, its ethical foundation.5–10 min
- The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali: A Simple GuideThe foundational text of classical yoga, in plain language — what the Yoga Sutras are, what they say, and why they still…PhilosophyHistory & originsUnder 5 min
- What is Yoga? A Plain-Language IntroductionYoga is far more than the postures. Here is what the word means, where it comes from, and how its pieces fit together — …PhilosophyHistory & originsUnder 5 min
- Yoga for Beginners: Your Complete Start-Here GuideThe front door for anyone new to yoga — what you need, what to expect, how often to practise, the first poses to learn, …5–10 min
- Yoga for Kids: A Fun, Gentle GuideYoga for children is playful, gentle and confidence-building — simple breathing games and animal-inspired poses that hel…Under 5 min