04/10/2026
“The eightfold path of Yoga is an inward, rather than upward, journey. The eight facets of Yoga are not steps that the practitioner must ascend. They are more like the petals of a flower arranged in concentric circles, each inner circle subtler and more delicate than the previous one.
A rose looks beautiful in its entirety. At first glance, all of its petals appear similar. However, a closer look reveals that the petals closer to the centre are thinner, smaller and finer than the outermost ones.
The flower of Astanga Yoga is like this metaphoric rose.The new practitioner must first study that which is simpler and more intelligible. The outermost petals are those of yama (social values) and niyama (individual observances). True, these are difficult principles to adhere to all the time. To follow them consistently, we need more than a mere change of circumstances; we require a complete shift in our own nature and mindset. We have to raise our consciousness to a higher level. “
BKS Iyengar Cô Lâm