Who is Patanjali:
Patanjali is the ancient sage traditionally credited with compiling the Yoga Sūtras, one of the most influential texts in the history of yoga. Although he is central to yoga philosophy, very little is known about his actual life.
Even though modern yoga today often looks like a fitness‑based, posture‑heavy practice, much of its philosophical backbone still comes from Patanjali’s Yoga Sūtras. The search results describe him as the “father of modern yoga” because he synthesized earlier yogic ideas into a coherent system that continues to shape how yoga is taught worldwide.
Whether it’s Vinyasa, Iyengar, or Yin, most lineages reference Patanjali’s teachings as their philosophical root.
Modern yoga often emphasizes movement, but Patanjali’s work provides the why behind the practice:
- Why breath matters
- Why concentration matters
- Why yoga is more than stretching
- Why inner transformation is the real aim
His sutras remain the most widely studied text in teacher trainings around the world.
Patanjali’s 8‑limb path is a holistic framework for living with clarity, discipline, and inner freedom. It moves from the outer world (ethics, behavior, body) toward the inner world (breath, senses, mind, consciousness).
It’s not a ladder you climb once—it’s a set of practices that weave together over time.
The 8 Limbs of Yoga
- Yama — ethical restraints that guide how we relate to others
- Niyama — personal observances that shape inner discipline
- Asana — physical postures that cultivate steadiness and ease
- Pranayama — breath regulation that influences energy and mind
- Pratyahara — withdrawal of the senses to turn attention inward
- Dharana — concentration practices that steady the mind
- Dhyana — meditation as continuous, effortless awareness
- Samadhi — deep absorption or union, the culmination of the path
