September Theme of the Month

Samadhi is the eighth and final limb of the eight-limb yoga path described by Patanjali. It represents the ultimate goal of union with the divine or pure consciousness.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are a source of inspiration in yoga and offer guidance on how to live a balanced and ethical life both on and off the mat. Patanjali’s eight-fold path offers guidelines for a meaningful and purposeful life. Yoga is more than just poses, and through a physical practice we can delve deeper. The practice of yoga prepares us for life, teaching us how to remain steady, even when faced with challenges.

The last few months we have been working with dharana - focus and concentration and dhyana - meditation. When dhyana is achieved, we enter a state of Samadhi in which we merge with the object of the meditation. Samadhi is essentially a “non-practice” because it arises naturally and spontaneously from dhyana. Both dhyana and Samadhi can’t be forced. It all starts from focus and concentration. To attain Samadhi, we need to practice dharana regularly. Dharana may naturally move into dhyana and then into Samadhi in time.

While Samadhi is often associated with seated meditation, asana-yoga poses can be meditative when practiced with full awareness. In rare moments, when the mind is unwavering and the body and breath are fully engaged without effort, we may experience a glimpse of Samadhi—a moment where only the experience remains, and all sense of separation dissolves.

Samadhi comes from Sanskrit: “sam” (together), “a” (towards), and “dhi” (put). Its literal translation would be “put together” or “complete union

Some of the qualities of Samadhi are the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind, a state of pure awareness, the merging of ordinary consciousness with universal consciousness, the realization of the true nature of reality and a state of bliss and joy.

Samadhi is something that unfolds gradually through dedicated practice. It can emerge in the union of body, breath, and mind. We can experience it in the balance of effort and surrender and towards remaining fully present without forcing or resisting.

With continued practice and patience Samadhi may reveal itself - not as a distant goal, but as a state that arises when the conditions are right - not just on the mat but in daily life too. Samadhi is about seeing life and reality for exactly what it is.

Samadhi - Bliss or Enlightenment

Week 1 - Be Present in This Moment
Being present in the moment is the practical foundation for accessing Samadhi, this presence is not about escaping life but realizing the completeness of the current moment. Be in the present moment. Experience your breath, watch your thoughts without judgment. Connecting your breath with movement moves us toward a way to stay in the present moment. We have all the tools necessary within us to exist, to sit in our bodies and observe the present.

Week 2 - Self-realization
Self-realization means getting to know yourself better. It’s about accepting where you are today at this very moment and moving from a place of honesty. It starts at home in our own mind. Self-realization in yoga is defined as the process of understanding and experiencing one’s true nature or self. Self-realization can allow us to connect to our inner essence, core values, beliefs, and emotions, and have a clear understanding of who we are beyond the external roles and labels placed on us in our life.

Week 3 - From Effort to Ease
Finding stability in the body and the mind while practicing asana/postures, meditation, and other yogic practice is what can bring us to balance. The balance between effort and ease is described as “sthira-sukham asanam”, translated as ‘the postures of yoga should embody effort and ease. In our yoga class and living our everyday lives we’re constantly in search of harmony between both strength and stability. Yoga can be a great reminder to bring a combination of strength and gentleness into our practice and into our lives.

Week 4 - Joyful Calm and Bliss
Being joyful and experiencing relaxed openness and peace is our true natural state. Gratitude is a doorway toward joy and contentment. Find the joy in the small things. Joy arises when mental chatter slows down and we focus completely on whatever is happening now, absorbing the feelings and sensations of the present moment. Practicing gratitude, loving-kindness, and serving others cultivates joy. As we practice being grateful and appreciating what we have helps us notice the gifts of life. We start to realize that we aren’t dependent on external things for fulfillment.

Week 5 - Surrender
Surrender in yoga can be a practice of letting go of resistance. practicing non-judgemental awareness and a release of expectations. Allow yourself to surrender to the unfolding experience without attachment to or judgment of outcomes. In yoga we can release what no longer serves us, let go of tension and stress and release the body and mind. Surrender is about trusting ourselves, our bodies, and the flow of the universe. We can apply surrendering to our physical practice but also to ourselves and how we navigate the ebbs and flow of life.

Related Videos

Focus & Concentration
Wind Down, Calm & Meditate
Yoga To Keep You Centred
Restore, Relax
Expand Your Awareness, Awaken Your Heart - Part 1
Expand Your Awareness, Awaken Your Heart - Part 2
Expand Your Awareness, Awaken Your Heart - Part 3
Guided Relaxation for Savasana
Breathe & Relax Deeply

This Month’s Music

Here’s a selection of the music that Vicky has been enjoying this month.

Recommended Books

Autobiography of a Yogi - Paramahansa Yogananda