What Is Yoga, Really? A Modern Exploration of Patanjali’s Definition of Yoga (Yoga Sutras 1.2)

"Yogas citta-vritti-nirodhah" – Yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind.
—Patanjali, Yoga Sutras, Chapter 1, Verse 2

So… What Is Yoga, Really?

As a yoga teacher, I often hear questions like:

• “What exactly is yoga?”
  
• “Isn’t yoga just stretching?”
  
• “How is yoga connected to meditation?”
  
• “Is yoga a religion?”
  
  

These are fair questions. In today’s world, “yoga” shows up in so many different ways—hot yoga, power yoga, goat yoga, sound healing, breathwork, spiritual retreats. It’s no wonder there’s confusion around what yoga actually is.

At its root, yoga is both a practice and a state of being. It's a science of self-realization. But in order to understand that more clearly, let’s go to one of the most foundational definitions in the history of yoga: Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.

Why Start with Patanjali?

There are many ancient texts that explore the depths of yoga—The Vedas, The Upanishads, The Bhagavad Gita, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and many more. Some are deeply devotional, offering elaborate theologies about the nature of divinity and different paths to liberation. These texts are beautiful and powerful, but often grounded in specific religious worldviews and traditions.

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, however, take a different approach. While not the oldest of yoga texts, they are arguably the most accessible for modern seekers. They offer a structured, universal roadmap that is not bound to any one god, religion, or sect. They don’t tell you what to believe—they tell you how to practice, so that you can discover your truth for yourself.

And the best place to begin is with one of the most important verses in the entire text—Sutra 1.2:

Yogas citta-vritti-nirodhah
Yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind.

This one verse is Patanjali’s entire definition of what the practice of yoga is.

Yoga as the Practice: Quieting the Mind

Let’s break it down:

• Citta: The mind-field—your thoughts, emotions, memories, and unconscious patterns.
  
• Vritti: Fluctuations—these are the waves or disturbances in the mind (think: anxiety, craving, distraction, overthinking, judgment).
  
• Nirodhah: Restraint, quieting, stilling, or dissolving.
  
  

So, yoga—according to Patanjali—is the process of stilling or calming the mental noise. It's not just about touching your toes or twisting into a pose. It’s about coming into stillness, inward focus, and clarity. And not just temporarily—but cultivating a consistent, intentional practice that helps us move beyond the limitations of the mind and ego.

Yoga as the Result: Union with True Self

Immediately following Sutra 1.2, Patanjali tells us what happens when we succeed in stilling the mind:

Tadā draṣṭuḥ svarūpe 'vasthānam
Then, the Seer abides in their own true nature.
(Yoga Sutras 1.3)

This is the result of yoga.

When the mind is no longer clouding your vision, you see yourself clearly—as you truly are. Not the ego. Not the trauma. Not the stories. Not the conditioning. You recognize yourself as spirit, as atma—the soul or essence that exists beyond body, mind, and identity.

And that’s the real “union” yoga speaks of. Patanjali’s focus is union with the True Self—that unchanging part of you that is aware, wise, loving, and connected to all of life.

Why Is This Important in Modern Life?

In modern times, we’re trained to identify with our roles, titles, thoughts, opinions, and external validations. We often equate our worth with what we do, look like, or accomplish. And in a world filled with overstimulation and endless content, the mind is rarely still.

So most of us are in union—but not with our soul. We’re in union with the ego.

That’s why we often feel exhausted, anxious, reactive, or stuck. Because our minds are racing, our nervous systems are on edge, and we haven’t learned how to step back from the fluctuations to witness who we really are underneath them.

Patanjali is inviting us to break that pattern.

How Do We Achieve Yoga? Practice + Dispassion

Later in Chapter 1, Patanjali lays out two key ingredients for cultivating this inner stillness:

Abhyasa – Consistent practice

Vairagya – Dispassion, or non-attachment

(Yoga Sutras 1.12)

In modern terms:

• Abhyasa is showing up. Practicing presence. Focusing the mind through breath, mantra, meditation, or movement—daily. It’s building the muscle of awareness so we can return to stillness more quickly when we get pulled off-center.
  
• Vairagya is letting go. Not clinging to the highs or resisting the lows. It’s the art of detaching from the drama of the mind and learning to observe rather than react.
  
  

Together, these two qualities help us find balance. Abhyasa grounds us in discipline; Vairagya frees us from attachment.

So Is Yoga a Religion?

Not necessarily. It can be practiced within a religious context, but it doesn't have to be.

Patanjali does reference Ishvara (a special form of divine consciousness) later in the Sutras, but the emphasis is not on dogma. Instead, the focus is on direct experience and internal transformation.

You can be spiritual, religious, atheist, agnostic, or anything in between—and still benefit from yoga.

Patanjali’s teachings transcend religious affiliation. They offer a framework for how to live as a good human, reduce suffering, and uncover our truest nature, regardless of belief system.

Yoga Is More Than a Mat Practice

Modern yoga classes are often centered around asana—the physical postures. While this can be a wonderful entry point, yoga goes much deeper.

Asana, according to Patanjali, is just one of the eight limbs of yoga (introduced in Sutra 2.29). The other limbs include:

• Ethical disciplines (Yamas)
  
• Personal observances (Niyamas)
  
• Breath regulation (Pranayama)
  
• Sense withdrawal (Pratyahara)
  
• Concentration (Dharana)
  
• Meditation (Dhyana)
  
• Absorption or bliss (Samadhi)
  
  

Yoga is a lifestyle. A process. A continual returning to presence, alignment, and truth. It's a lifelong path of becoming more fully yourself.

Yoga Is a Path to Equanimity

Ultimately, what Patanjali is offering is not just inner stillness for its own sake—it’s about creating a foundation of equanimity.

When the mind is clear and the heart is steady, we live from our highest self. We respond instead of react. We listen with compassion. We lead with clarity.

And when more people live this way, the collective consciousness shifts.

Yoga isn’t just about personal liberation—it’s about creating a more peaceful world, one human at a time.

In Summary: Yoga Is…

• A practice of quieting the mind
  
• A pathway to uncover your true self
  
• A non-dogmatic spiritual science
  
• A system for inner peace and ethical living
  
• A method that anyone—regardless of belief—can access
  
  

So next time someone asks, “What is yoga?” you might just say:

“Yoga is the practice of stilling the mind so you can live from your soul.”

And that is a journey worth taking.

Reflection for Your Practice

• Where do you feel most identified with your ego, thoughts, or roles?
  
• What might it look like to begin relating to yourself as soul first?
  
• How can you bring more Abhyasa (discipline) and Vairagya (letting go) into your daily life?
  
  

Join Us on the Path

At Yogalution Movement, we believe yoga is for everyone. Our classes, trainings, and community offerings are rooted in these ancient teachings—with a fresh, heart-centered, and inclusive approach.

Whether you’re brand new or a long-time practitioner, there is a place for you here.

Let’s walk the path together. 🙏