I.30 Vyādhi Styāna Samśaya Pramāda Ālasya Avirati Bhrāntidarśana Alabdha Bhūmikatva Anavasthitatvāni Citta Vikșepāh te Antarāyāh
In Chapter 1, Sutra 30 of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali outlines the nine Antarāyas—the natural obstacles on the yogic path: Vyādhi (illness/physical distress), Styāna (mental stagnation), Samśaya (doubts), Pramāda (lack of foresight), Ālasya (fatigue), Avirati (worldliness/over-indulgence), Bhrānti-darśana (illusions over one’s true state of mind), Alabdha-bhūmikatva (lack of perseverence), and Anavasthitatvā (regression).
These obstacles are not failures or signs that we aren’t “good” at yoga; they are simply part of the human experience. As spring arrives, we zoom into the very first obstacle, Vyādhi—physical discomfort, illness, or fatigue. After the heavy, quiet months of winter, our bodies often carry stiffness, seasonal ailments, or low energy, making the daily physical demands of Ashtanga feel daunting.
Vyadhi reminds us that practice is not about pushing through pain, but about learning to listen deeply to what the body needs today. Spring is a time of gentle transition, and meeting Vyādhi with warmth and patience transforms our mat into a space of healing rather than struggle. By honoring our body’s current state—adjusting our postures, resting when needed, and leaning on the breath—we practice the true heart of yoga. This month at North Sydney Yoga, let us meet every physical hurdle with compassion, trusting that every soft breath is a step toward vitality and steady renewal.
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