Yoga Journal USA — February 2018

FEBRUARY 2018 / 33 / YOGAJOURNAL.COM

AL

EXAN

DER

GR

ABCHI

LE

V/STOC

KSY

PRACTICE

well

Embodying

the sutra

THIS SUTRA ASKS YOU

to take a close look at

the kleshas (personal

obstacles) that shape your

intentions—and eventu-

ally your karma. It asks

you to look at the driving

force of your actions. The

five kleshas are avidya

(ignorance), asmita (over-

identifying with your ego),

raga (desire, or attach-

ment to pleasure), dvesha

(avoidance), and abhini-

vesha (attachment and

fear). Once you begin

to identify your kleshas

through a mindful yoga

practice, you’ll be able to

set better intentions and

reset your karmic path.

As interpreted

by Olivia Hsu

READ MORE about

how to use your yoga

practice to improve self-

awareness on page 36.

“Obstacles (kleshas) are the breeding ground

for tendencies (samskaras) that give rise to actions

and the consequences (karma) thereof. Such obstacles

are experienced as visible or invisible obstacles.”

YOGA SUTRA 2.12