Table 2.

Yoga philosophy concepts by class

Class	Concept	Explanation
1	Witness consciousness and ahimsā (nonviolence); Sūtra 2.35	Practicing “being with” challenging experiences without pushing them away or clinging to personal narratives. Practicing in a way that is safe and supportive. Doing without over- or underdoing. Using the right amount of effort for growth.
2	Abhyāsa (repeated practice); Sūtra 1.12	The important of repeating practice to yield benefits in the mind and body.
3	Satya (truthfulness); Sūtra 2.36	Honestly examining one’s experience to better understand one’s “starting point” and using yoga practice as a springboard for positive change.
4	Concept review: ahimsā, abhyāsa, satya; Sūtras 1.12, 2.35, 2.36	Review and integration of preliminary concepts and emphasis of self as a friend and the use of compassion in practice.
5	Breath awareness to balance the nervous system and calm the mind; Sūtra 1.34	Pain management through relaxation, training the attention to see tension patterns in the body, using imagery and visualization.
6	Sthira sukham āsanam; Sūtra 2.46	Finding a balance between steadiness/stability/effort with ease/joy/relaxation. Link to teaching on ahimsā and dosing of effort in activity and rest.
7	Ekā gra (one pointed concentration); Sūtra 1.32	Training attention and concentration by returning to a point of focus repeatedly, with a calming effect on the mind.
8	Meditation for relaxation, contemplation on the heart; Sūtra 1.36	The heart as a resource, refuge, and source of inner luminosity.
9	Review of Ekā gra and breath as nourishment; Sūtras 1.32, 1.34	Tying together concepts from previous classes regarding one pointed focus and the breath as calming and revitalizing. Training attention to return to the breath repeatedly, as a way to regulate the body–mind.
10	Aparigraha and santoṣa; Sūtras 2.39, 2.42	Effort to make positive change in the body can be helpful to move toward health, but care is needed to prevent agitation in striving/grasping. Importance of cultivating contentment (santoṣa) with current abilities/body.
11	Śodhana, śoṣana, śobhāna, śamana; Iyengar’s teaching on the four elements of practice	Śodhana, purification through active āsana to lift heavy states of body–mind; śoṣana, integration of practice, doing one’s best, which changes over time; śobhāna, excellence and auspiciousness, good intention to do practice with care and good effort, śamana, practice as a vehicle for relaxation and calmness; one should feel better after practicing.
12	Śodhana, śoṣana, śobhāna, śamana; Iyengar’s teaching on the four elements of practice and taking the practice to life	Repetition of previous class content and explaining how to work with these elements of practice individually, should participants want to keep practicing after the program is completed.