Yoga sutra 1.30
vyādhi-styāna-saṁśaya pramāda-ālasya-avirati bhrānti-darśana-alabdha-bhūmikatva-anavasthitatvāni citta-vikṣepāḥ te antarāyāḥ
These obstacles are factors of mental distress:
· Disease
· Mental apathy
· Doubt
· Haste
· Laziness
· Extravagance
· Stubbornness
· Stagnation
· Regression
In conclusion to the last section of sutra, Patanjali advises that there are nine obstacles that may cause you to wonder off the spiritual path, as follows:
Dis-ease, i.e. a lack of well-being (vyādhi) can demotivate you to practice yoga.
Mental apathy (styāna); a healthy body needs a heathy mind.
Doubt (saṁśaya); in-depth confusion or doubt
Haste (pramāda); lack of awareness or recklessness
Laziness (ālasya); in body and or mind
Extravagance (avirati); being led by your desires and senses
Stubbornness (bhrāntidarśana); narrow minded point of view
Stagnation (alabdhabhūmikatva); staying in your ‘comfort zone’, lack of patience or perseverance
Regression (anavasthitatvā); taking a backward step and not staying on level due to frustration or disappointment
Our problems are our best teachers in life so learn to befriend all of your emotions when encountering the above.
Damian Cadman-Jones is an authorised teacher of Prana Vashya Yoga™