Shows / Sutra Squad
Sutra Squad
Sutra Squad is a weekly study of the Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali. Each week Seth Barron, Sara Page Hall, and Sally Mohr discuss a verse of the text to examine its meaning & how we can embody this wisdom on and off the yoga mat. We believe the Yoga Sūtra are for EVERYONE - and this study can be a way to gain understanding of yoga philosophy in an approachable, accessible, and embodied practice of study.
Episodes
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 36 Sutra 2.43 on the Third Niyama - Tapas or Heat
This week we explore a foundational concept for many modern yoga ãsana practices and the third of the Niyamas - tapas. The root word in Sanskrit is tap meaning…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 35 Sutra 2.42 on the Second Niyama - Samtosa or Contentment
Our journey through the limbs of yoga continues this week with the second principle of niyama - samtoṣa or contentment. The verse teaches that by contentment…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 34 Sutra 2.40-41 on the First Niyama - Sauca or Cleanliness
This week we climb the limbs of the path of yoga to the Niyamas, the personal practices of the yogi. The first niyama is sauca (pronounced like “shaucha”)…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 33 Sutra 2.39 on the Fifth Yama - Aparigraha or Non-Covetousness
This week we study the 5th yama, aparigraha, and complete our journey through the yamas - the first limb on the 8-limbed path of Yoga. Aparigraha is often…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 32 Sutra 2.38 on the Fourth Yama - Brahmacarya or Continence
This week our study brings us to the fourth of the yamas, and perhaps one of the most challenging to understand for western practitioners - brahmacarya -…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 31 Sutra 2.37 On the Third Yama - Asteya or Non-Stealing
This week we continue to explore the wisdom of the yamas with the principle of asteya or non-stealing, not taking what is not ours. There is a literal, surface…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 30 Sutra 2.36 On the Second of the Yamas - Satya or Truth
This week we continue our journey through the yamas to the foundational principle of Satya or truth / truthfulness. The verse teaches that when one is firmly…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 29 Sutra 2.35 On the First of the Yamas - Ahimsa or Nonviolence / Non-Harming
This week we begin our exploration of the yamas with the first, most fundamental - the principle of ahimsa - not causing harm or nonviolence. The verse teaches…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 25v2 Sutra 2.17 On the Confusion of the Self and Seer
Hi Sutra Squad family - we're repubilshing this episode due to an audio issue, so while slightly out of order hopefully still meaningful! Thanks for listening!…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 28 Sutra 2.32-34 On the Niyamas, Personal Practices of Yoga, and Discernment
We continue our deep exploration of the foundational frameworks of living yoga - now with the the niyamas, or the personal practices of the yogi - sauca…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 27 Sutra 2.30-31 On the Yamas and Moral Observances of Yoga
Now we begin our deep exploration of the foundational frameworks of living yoga - the yamas, or the moral observations of yoga - ahimsa (non-harming or…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 26 Sutra 2.29 On the Eight Limbs of Yoga
This week brings us to the beating heart of embodied yoga practice - the sūtra that outlines the Ashtanga system, the 8 limbs or steps in the path of Yoga…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 25 Sutra 2.17 On the Confusion of Self and Seer
We continue our exploration of suffering and how it can be avoided by reading this next verse closely - that the ultimate cause of that suffering is the…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 24 Sutra 2.16 On the Suffering that Can Be Avoided
This week we examine a short, simple, profound statement that the suffering that can be avoided should be avoided. It is a fundamental tenet that we all face…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 23 Sutra 2.3 On the Obstacles to Yoga
This week we explore the fundamental obstacles to yoga, as defined in this verse - ignorance or misunderstanding, egoism or “I-am” ness, pleasure, pain or…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 22 Sutra 2.1 on the Sādhana Pāda and Kriya Yoga
On this week’s episode we begin our exploration of the second chapter of the Yoga Sūtra, the Sādhana Pāda - the chapter on Practice. The first verse in this…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 21 - Sutra 1.36 On the Effulgent Light Within
This week we look at one of the suggested points of focused attention that can bring clarity & peace of mind - the effulgent inner light within each & every…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 20 - Sutra 1.33 On the Locks and the Keys
This week we come home to exploring the “Locks & Keys”, the attributes that we cultivate to preserve the innate or natural serenity of the yogi’s mind in the…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 19 - Sutras 1.27-29 On the Nature & Meaning of the Sacred Sound OM
This week we explore the nature and meaning of OM, the sacred sound of sound. OM is spoken, chanted, or recited in many contexts - yoga ãsana classes…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 18 - Sutra 1.23 On the Only Shortcut in Yoga
This week we explore the only “shortcut” offered in the Yoga Sūtra - that by offering full surrender to the divine of our understanding we may accelerate or…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 17 - Sutras 1.15-16 On the Nature of Detachment
This week we explore the other side of the “formula” by which we achieve yoga & look at the second component - vairagya - detachment. We explore what it means…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 16 - Sutras 1.13-14 on the Nature of Practice
This week we go deeper into the essential formula by which we achieve yoga & look at the first component - abhyāsa - practice. We explore what it means to be…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 15 - Sutra 1.12 On Practice and Detachment
This week we look at the core of our practice to achieve the state of yoga - practice & detachment. We are called to cultivate a deep, lifelong, uninterrupted…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 14 - Sutra 1.3 On the True Self Shining Forth
This week we complete the powerful trilogy of the opening of the Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali with sutra 1.3 that describes the outcome & end result of yoga. We…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 13 - Sutra 1.2 On the Definition of Yoga
We continue our journey exploring the opening triptych of the Yoga Sutra with 1.2, the essential definition of yoga as presented by Master Patañjali. We will…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 12 - Sutra 1.1 On the Magic, Eternal, Ephemeral Power of NOW
We begin again! The time is now, it is always now, and now is where we meet Yoga - at the beginning with the purity and auspicious, ephemeral and eternal…
- Sutra Squad
Ep.11 - Sutra 4.33-34 On the Nature of our Final Liberation
As we end the "greatest hits" series we come to the final verses of the text that describe the full transcendence of the soul. This week we will explore the…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 10 - Sutra 4.28 On the Obstacles of our Preferences
As we get close to the end of the text & resolution of the Yoga Sutra, Master Patañjali offers this simple and powerful reminder as to how our preferences…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 9 - Sutra 4.15 On the Subjective Nature of Perception
Our “greatest hits” continues with an essential teaching on the fundamentally subjective nature of perception. Sutra 4.15 is a reminder that even the ancients…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 8 - Sutra 3.24 On the Power of Friendship & Lovingkindness
As we continue our “greatest hits” of the Yoga Sūtra we take a moment to focus on one of the most significant and accessible siddhis (yogic powers) listed in…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 7 - Sutra 2.29 On the Eight Limbs of Yoga
This week we explore the essential 8 limbs or practices of Yoga - Yama, Niyama, Āsana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dhārna, Dhyāna, Samādhi. This path, science…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 6 - Sutra 1.33 On the Locks & Keys, the Immeasurable Highest Attributes of the Yogi
This week we explore the “Locks & Keys”, the attributes of mind that we cultivate to preserve the innate or natural serenity of the yogi’s mind in the face of…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 5 - Sutra 1.23 On the Nature of Iśvara, Surrender, and the Spirituality of Yoga
In this week’s episode we explore the concept of and devotion to Iśvara - as the most direct path to yoga (1.23), and then the attributes of Iśvara to more…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 4 - Sutra 1.3 On the Essence of the True Self
This episode we complete the powerful trilogy of the opening of the Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali with sutra 1.3 that describes the outcome, or objective, or end…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 3 - Sutra 1.2 On the Essential Definition of Yoga
We continue our journey exploring the opening triptych of the Yoga Sutra with 1.2, the essential definition of yoga as presented by Master Patañjali. We will…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 2 - Sutra 1.1 On the Eternal NOW of Yoga
We begin at the beginning with the purity and auspicious, ephemeral and eternal exploration of NOW. This week we explore the first words of the first verse of…
- Sutra Squad
Ep. 1 - Welcome & Introductions
Welcome to the Sutra Squad podcast! In this episode Seth, Sara Page, and Sally welcome & give an overview of our approach to study this ancient wisdom.