The Nine Obstacles On The Path Of Yoga (Antarāyāḥ)

In Yoga Sutra 1.30, Patanjali describes nine inner obstacles (antarāyāḥ) that can disrupt our practice and disturb the mind. Surprisingly, these ancient teachings speak directly to the challenges we face today—self-doubt, lack of motivation, distraction, attachment, feeling stuck, and losing momentum.

In this talk, we'll explore each of these nine obstacles in simple, practical language, discovering how they appear not only on the yoga mat but also in our relationships, work, and everyday lives. Rather than seeing them as signs of failure, you'll learn how to recognize them as opportunities for growth, self-awareness, and transformation.

Whether you're new to yoga philosophy or a long-time practitioner, this session will give you timeless insights and practical wisdom to help you continue your journey with greater clarity, compassion, and steadiness.

Transcript

Today's topic on the philosophy, I would like to talk something which is very relevant to the path of yoga. But this aspect, It kind of shows up in all different areas of our life. Because no matter what we are doing, Sometimes, No matter how committed we are, There are always those days when we feel stuck, When we feel confused or when we feel off track. And in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, He has identified nine obstacles. He has identified nine inner roadblocks that can shake our discipline, That can shake our motivation. But the beauty of it is by simply by identifying these roadblocks, We can start to move to them consciously. And today we will explore Very briefly we will explore these nine roadblocks on the path to yoga and also which which show up no matter what we are doing. So when this Sutra is translated, It translates to illness, Apathy, Doubt, Carelessness, Laziness, Sensual indulgence, False perception, Failure to attain stages of practice and instability in maintaining our progress. These distractions of the mind are the obstacles to yoga. Sanskrit word for it is Antadaya. Obstacles to Yoga Illness, Apathy, Doubt, Carelessness, Laziness, Sensual Indulgence, False Perception, Failure to attain the stages of practice and the instability in maintaining progress. These distractions are the obstacles to Yoga and these are described as Chitta Viksepa. Translates to the distractions or the disturbances of the mind that interfere with the practice of yoga. So getting into each one of these. The first is Physical Illness. The Sanskrit term for it is Vyadhi. Physical Illness. Either illness or disease. So when the body is in pain, Whether it's a cold, Whether it's chronic fatigue, Whether it's an injury, At that time, Sitting for meditation or doing our asanas, This can become very challenging. The discomfort it steals our focus. For example, You plan to do pranayama in the morning. But you wake up with a splitting headache or the sore back. And the body pulls all your attention inward but unfortunately not in the way that yoga intends. So caring for the body. Caring for the body is not separate from the path of yoga. It's the foundation. It's the foundation of yoga. It's the foundation of anything that we set out to do. When there's illness or when there's disease, It is very difficult. It becomes very challenging for us to stay focused. So the first one, Vyadhi, Which is physical illness. The second one is Sthiana and Sthiana is mental dullness or apathy. So this is not being physically tired. But this is more like not feeling mentally motivated, Like that spark is not there. It's like. . . You unroll your yoga mat and you just stare at it. Or you read a line of a spiritual text and nothing is clicking in the mind. So it's like pouring tea into a cup that's already full. And when this happens, When we are experiencing this mental dullness or we are experiencing apathy, It's a sign that the mind needs refreshing. It does not need pushing. That's the second one, Styana, Which is mental dullness or apathy. The next roadblock or the next distraction is samshaya, Which is doubt. Doubt in ourselves, Doubt in the practice, Doubt in the teaching. You're sitting and meditating for the month. And suddenly that doubt creeps in. Is this even working? Or am I just sitting here doing nothing? Am I just wasting my time? And doubt, It shakes the roots of consistency. Doubts shake the roots of consistency. The remedy for doubt is Shraddha, Which is faith. And it's not blind belief, But confidence that comes from having a direct experience. So the third distraction, Samsaha, Which is doubt. The fourth one. For the mother. Which is carelessness or inattention. It's It's like negligence. It's like being sloppy when we are practicing yoga or being sloppy with our awareness. It's like you're chanting a mantra. But your mind is thinking about dinner. Oh. Or like doing the asanas like as if you're on autopilot without actually being involved physically and mentally in what you're doing. So yoga is not about being perfect, It's about being present. So that's the fourth one, Brahmada, Which is carelessness or inattention. The next one is Alassia. Which translates to laziness. And this is not laziness because of physical fatigue. This is resistance of the will. It's like you have free time. Your body feels fine. But you tell yourself that I will meditate later. And soon that later becomes tomorrow and then that tomorrow shifts to the next day. And this is simply the ego which is subtly avoiding transformation. Resistance of the will. And the antidote to this is to simply start. One breath, One pose, One moment of stillness, One step at a time. Just start. So that is Alessia which is laziness. The next is Avidhati. Avidhati translates to Sensory Craving. Avirati means being pulled by the senses and when we are pulled by the senses we are pulled outward, We are not able to turn inward. For example, You sit to meditate. But the phone notifications keep distracting you or you keep craving snacks or you want to listen to music or you want to watch television. The world around us constantly offers us this stimulation. But in Yoga we are taught that true joy arises in stillness. So when aviratti comes, When the sensory craving comes, Try to practice drawing your senses back. Like. Turning down the volume on the world. So that's Abhirati Sensory Craving. The next one is Brānti Darsana. Which translates to false understanding. Either mistaking the path or misinterpreting progress. It's like sometimes you meditate and then you get this very Peaceful Feeling. And then you declare to yourself that you are enlightened. Or in chasing spiritual experiences, We lose sight of the real goal which is liberation from the ego, Not the inflation of it. And when this happens, It's always good to remember that humility and guidance from a teacher keeps us grounded. So that is false understanding. The next is Alabdha Bhumi Katya. Which is the inability to reach a certain stage. Or the inability to reach the next level, The frustration that sometimes comes from not being able to reach the next level no matter how hard we try. It's like meditating regularly but we feel like we are going nowhere. The mind simply doesn't quiet down and we feel stuck. Yoga teaches us patience. The fruit ripens when the time is right and we have to keep nurturing the roots. We've got to keep practicing meditation. We've got to keep practicing the asanas and ultimately we will be able to reach to the next level. And the ninth one is Anavasthi Tattva, Which is instability in progress. It's like. . . You have a breakthrough. Maybe it's a deep meditation or you have this profound insight. But the next week you just can't seem to get back to that same place, To that same space. And then you feel like you've lost it. So the instability in progress. And this is normal because in yoga progress is not a straight line. It's a spiral. And what matters is not perfection, But what matters is persistence. So the nine obstacles. Illness apathy, Doubt, Carelessness, Laziness, Sensory craving, False understanding, Feeling stuck, And instability in progress. What's important to the member is that Each one of these, It's a mirror. It is not a mistake. The Yoga Sutras tell us that these are not signs of failure, But these are part of that journey inward. And the tools that The tools that we need to overcome them are built into the practice. It's faith, It's consistent effort, It's self-awareness and most importantly is the courage to begin again. So the next time you notice one of these obstacles. Don't get frustrated, Don't run from it. Greet it with curiosity. Because very often, In yoga and in life. The obstacle is the path. Thank you for listening. Namaste.

Reviews

Always great teaching by you, Leslie. Thank you! 🌺🙏🏻💖