Astanga opening + closing mantras

Both the opening and closing mantra help tie us into the treasured history of yoga while helping us break free from being self-centred.

Opening mantra
वन्दे गुरूणां चरणारविन्दे सन्दर्शितस्वात्मसुखावबोधे ।
निःश्रेयसे जाङ्गलिकायमाने संसारहालाहलमोहशान्त्यै ॥

Oṃ
vande gurūnāṃ caraṇāravinde sandarśita-svātma-sukhāvabodhe |
niḥśreyase jāṅgalikāyamāne saṃsāra-hālāhala-moha-śāntyai ||
ābāhu-puruṣākāraṃ śaṅkha-cakrāsi-dhāriṇam |
sahasra-śirasaṃ śvetaṃ praṇamāmi patañjalim ||
 
I bow to the two lotus feet of the gurus,
Through which the understanding of the happiness in my own Soul has been revealed.
My ultimate refuge, acting like a snake doctor,
For the pacifying of the delusions caused by the poison of cyclic existence.

Who has the form of a human up to the arms,
Bearing a conch, a discus and a sword.
White, with a thousand heads,
I bow to Patañjali.

– translated by Zoë Slatoff

Closing mantra
ॐ
स्वस्ति प्रजाभ्यः परिपालयन्तां न्यायेन मार्गेण महीं महीशाः ।
गोब्राह्मणेभ्यः शुभमस्तु नित्यं लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ।

Oṃ
svasti prajābhyaḥ paripālayantāṃ nyāyena mārgeṇa mahīṃ mahīśāḥ |
go-brāhmanebhyaḥ śubham astu nityaṃ lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantu ||
Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ |

May the rulers of the earth protect the well-being of the people,
With justice, by means of the right path.
May there always be good fortune for cows, Brahmins and all living beings,
May the inhabitants of all the worlds be full of happiness.
Oṃ Peace, Peace, Peace!

– translated by Zoë Slatoff

The eight limbs of yoga

The ‘eight limbs’ are a complete practice encompassing four practical outer limbs and four mental internal limbs. It is a reference to the yoga philosophy of Patanjali from about 2000 years ago.

The eight limbs
यम​ yama restraints
नियम​ niyama observances
आसन​ āsana posture
प्राणायाम​ prāṇāyāma breath/prana control
प्रत्याहार​ pratyāhāra sense withdrawal
धारणा dhāraṇā concentration
ध्यान​ dhyāna meditation
समाधि samādhi enlightenment

Yamas + niyamas

A lot can be said of the yamas and niyamas as they are the foundation of good yoga. We should aim towards them. They are eco-yoga, they help save our energy. They all stem from the first, ahimsa, non-violence. and lead to the last, Ishvara pranidhana. We should keep them in mind as much as possible. They should affect our lives and the choices we make. Patanjali also describes why we suffer, the misidentification of soul, purusha, with matter, prakriti. And that we suffer because we want permanence in an impermanent world. ‘All is suffering to the wise’ 2.15

From Hamish’s book, Yoga Dharma

Yamas
अहिंसा ahiṃsā non-violence
सत्य​ satya truthfulness
अस्तेय asteya non-stealing​
ब्रह्मचर्य​ brahmacarya sexual control
अपरिग्रह​ aparigraha non-greed

Niyamas
शौच​ śauca
सन्तोष​ santoṣa
तपस् tapas
स्वाध्याय​ svādhyāya
ईश्वरप्रणिधान​ īśvara-praṇidhāna

Two essential yoga books

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Swami Satchidananda
This is a complete yoga sutras book in that it covers word for word translation, transliteration and Sanskrit. But, most importantly, it brings the yoga sutras into the everyday as a map to live a spiritually fulfilling life.

The Gita for Children by Roopa Pai
The Bhagavad Gita takes many readings to understand but Roopa Pai’s retelling makes it very accessible and relevant to modern life.

Some practice tips

1. Any yoga is better than no yoga
2. Start slowly gradually increasing your awareness
3. Listen to your breath and let that be your guide
4. What you learn on the mat try and use in everyday life

I made a couple of videos of practice tips during lockdown when I couldn’t teach in person. You can watch them here

Simple Ramayana

A poem by Hamish Hendry

In fair Ayodhya where we lay our scene 
Prince Rama the OG of wisdom, so keen
Banished to the woods to abide
With beautiful Sita and Lakshman by his side

Troubled by demons, the sages call
Come to our aid and protect us all
The brothers the manxome foe they slay
No frumious bandersnatch for you today

But Ravana the ten headed ego of fear
Tricks Sita with a Balenciaga golden deer
And abducts her away from dharma 
To the isle of Lanka the home of, adharma 

No resting for Rama at the tum tum tree
The little prince lost till he meets Hanumanji
They search high and low till they reach the sea
But how to cross and rescue Sitaji?

Jambhavan the guru bear
Shouts out I do declare 
You, can do more than you think
Make yoga a priority stay in sync 

A giant leap Hanuman takes to the distant isle
And search’s for Sita for mile after mile 
Finding her hidden in the tulgey wood
He presents Rama’s ring, so he’s understood

Rama’s army builds a bridge of stone 
Each carved with his name, become light as foam
A terrible battle ensues tween dark and light 
Ravana’s spells cause a terrible sight

But Hanuman flies with a mountain of plants
Rescues our friends to fight and sing chants
Ravana is killed with an arrow and a prayer 
Rama and Sita return bla de bla

For never was a story of such dharma 
Than this of Sita and her Rama