- Yamas: outward behavioral constraints
- ahimsa (non-harming)
- satya (truthfulness)
- asteya (non-stealing)
- bramacharya (energy mangement)
- aparigraha (non-possessiveness)
- Niyamas: personal observances
- saucha (purity)
- santosha (contentment)
- tapas (self-discipline)
- svadhyaya (self-study)
- Ishvara pranidhana (surrender)
- Asana: yoga postures (for Patanjali, it referred to sitting for meditation)
- Pranayama: yoga breathing techniques
- Pratyahara: withdrawal of the senses
- Dharana: refers to concentration
- Dhyana: the practice of meditation
- Samadhi: the ultimate goal of yoga
We might expect the section on postures to cover a lot of the poses we do in yoga classes, but in fact Patañjali does not describe a single pose — unless you count meditation as a pose. So what does he write about in those 196 sutras? Patañjali provides advice for how to live a meaningful life that aligns the body, mind, and spirit.