It is important for practitioners of Ashtanga Yoga to have an understanding of the philosophical principles that underpin the practice. For this yoga to work, one needs to be applying and practicing the yamas and niyamas in one’s daily life, for a start. Clearly if one does not know what these are, this might pose a problem in one’s journey towards liberation. This practice is more than just gymnastics or stretching and it is important to study. In this class, we will discuss the key concepts presented in the Yoga Sutras of Patañjali and in the Bhagavad Gita, both core texts and excellent places to begin our exploration.