The Path of the Yoga Sutras: A Practical Guide to the Core of Yoga

by Nicolai Bachman

One of the great gifts of the yogic path is that it returns us to a life of simplicity, even as we go about our lives in a world of growing complexity. Through practice, we ultimately find the freedom to be who we really are, and allow others do the same. This was Patañjali's original intention when he penned his legendary sutras. But when a text is over 2,000 years old, important things can get lost in translation. For today's yoga student looking to take their practice “off the mat and into the world,” Nicolai Bachman presents The Path of the Yoga Sutras. By organizing the sutras into 51 core concepts that support the Western student in germinating and blossoming these potent “seed” teachings, Bachman has created a breakthrough tool for integrating yoga philosophy and practice, whatever your level of experience.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Philosophy, Meditation, Psychology

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Amy Boogie King · Rating 5 out of 5]

1/29 - I've gone through 4 chapters and my Sutra class is tonight. This is an excellent easy way to get into the sutras. I've read them in other translations but this is a great intro. It's not following the sutras bit by bit but it's tying it all together. Our teacher is giving us the sutras each chapter pertains to as we go through. Not that I think you have to have that to get an understanding. At the end of each chapter there are "thoughts" that summarize the chapters and exercise for you to do. Going through one chapter a week throughout the year is going to be fabulous in this manner.

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I finished this book with the group and read through once more. Now, I'm through it slowly in conjunction with 2 other yoga sutra books making study notes.

[julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of my training in becoming a certified yoga instructor, and found it to be very helpful on a spiritual, personal level. Further, when people ask me questions about yoga's spiritual aspects, I will be able to provide more thorough answers.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bachman makes the Yoga Sutras easy to understand and bring into your life. A short read explains the Sutra and prepares the practitioner to practice the thoughts and guides that follow.

[Keshia Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Yoga is about opening ourselves to improvement and new ideas, rather than remaining stuck in the closed loops of deep subconscious patterns.”

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, really useful. Read it slowly and it really helped me understand many aspects of my practice, the world and myself. I will be going back to it for sure. I really enjoyed doing the exercises at the end of each chapter.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last one for 2015!

[KAREN · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Hindu recipe for life and I will continue to reread it the rest of my life. It will look different each time I pick it up, depending on where I am.

[Elizabeth Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just excellent. One of the best yoga books I've read. Will refer back to it again and again.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this on audio, which i thought would be best, since surely some would be in s different language. The narrator was super robotic, which was less than to be desired... however I don't think it took away from the book, like sometimes it could. I enjoyed all of the background information and breakdown on what it is to be living a yoga life. Being a yogi i knew some of it, but there was more that I was unaware of! The last hour was all chanting, which is cool bc I know how it should sound, now!

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. I've ingested lots of material and only after reading this did I realize that my knowledge had been so lacking in structure and scaffolding. Nicolai expertly connects all the principles in a very readable form, while preserving the integrity of the Sutras - it's very clear where he is inserting his voice.

[Brylee Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly accessible and helpful look at the yoga sutras. I loved the exercises and thoughts at the end. This book helped improve my yoga practice. It took me a long time to get through it as it proved to be time consuming contemplating the text and completing the homework. I enjoyed the slow pace and think it helped me absorb the material. A great interpretation of the yoga sutras.

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a little too frilly to be a concise introduction to the sutras, yet it doesn't delve deep enough to be interesting. It's very preachy, but I liked some of his breakdowns of the different steps.

[Shaili Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes the yoga sutras really accessible and shows how they are relevant in today's world. I'm reading this as a pre-requisite to yoga teacher training and this book makes me excited to start the training!

[Felicity Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I took notes from every page. I want to practice all these principles in my life moving forward, cultivating inner peace and joy, compassion for all beings, and letting my little light shine.
This book was exactly what I needed at this time in my life.

[Lucinda Winslow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extraordinary how Bachman manages to propel the reader on the path of enlightenment through his simple yet profound descriptions of the key points. Good-hearted, yet one-pointed directions on the Path, on the Way.

[Shaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the voice of the author, really makes the sutras come alive. This is a very nice pairing to The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali book translated by Satchidananda. Highly recommend both for a straightforward, extremely easy to understand translation of the sutras!

[Maddison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful explanations. You truly will learn something about yourself.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written but not too different from similar books

[Julie Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good companion to the yoga sutras of Patanjali.

[Rhonda Lepkan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read and understand. Short explanations with a great summary and exercises to bring the concepts to life.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great breakdown of yoga philosophy.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different take on the yoga sutras - really enjoyed it :)

[Isela · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good intro to the Sutras. Some of it did not make sense but that could have been my headspace. I'm looking for another translation.

[Jessie BT · Rating 5 out of 5]

The yoga sutras truly help you find and create meaning.

[Tara Hupaelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook as I’ve tried reading yoga sutras before.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent teacher training content. Really loved the thoughts and exercises. Definitely happy I have it in paperback.

[Melissa Asay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book for a YTT. Truly helps a student with a western mindset to begin to understand yogic philosophy.

[Rebecca Wireman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every step is explained in a way that is understandable & concise. One can relate and feel the truth in the words. The modern friendliness teaches terminology that is useful in conversation.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[J. Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, modern interpretation

I really enjoyed the practical approach that Bachman gave to the classic sutras. It helps to highlight the timelessness of Patanjali’s teachings.