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Yoga Philosophy Foundations Self-Assessment — Yoga Teaching Knowledge Standards

Introduction

Quickly assess your knowledge of Yoga Philosophy Foundations, and identify gaps in your education. See below for assessments on these subjects:

  1. Defining Yoga
  2. Foundational Philosophies
  3. Bhagavad Gita Introduction
  4. Yoga Sutras Historical Context
  5. Yoga Sutras Overview & Structure
  6. Kleshas Introduction
  7. Eight Limbs Overview
  8. Yamas & Niyamas Overview

Purpose

Offer a series of free quizzes for yoga teachers to:

  1. Provide an effective way to assess knowledge of each of the Teaching Knowledge Standards.
  2. Make it easy to self-assess privately, on your own time.
  3. Help teachers who identify educational gaps to bolster their knowledge with accessible and practical lessons.

More Self-Assessments

For more self-assessments, see the Standards & Self-Assessment Hub.

Defining Yoga

Teaching Standard

Be aware of the profound depth and potential scope of yoga as a philosophy and practice, and consider multiple perspectives on the purpose of practice.

Assessment

  1. Although the word “yoga” is used in many ways, what is common to the many definitions?
  2. According to scholar Mircea Eliade, why does yoga have so many meanings?
  3. Explain the Sanskrit origins of the word, “yoga.”
  4. Define yoga in terms of its origins.
  5. How has B.K.S. Iyengar translated the second Yoga Sutra to define yoga?
  6. Who translates the definition of yoga from the Yoga Sutras as “the uniting of consciousness in the heart?
  7. How has T.K.V. Desikachar defined yoga as it relates to change?
  8. Share other profound ways that yoga has been defined.
  9. Many mystics, philosophers and lineage holders as well as modern teachers and yogis have expressed what yoga means to them. The result is a wealth of beautiful imagery and perspectives. Considering these various definitions for yourself, how do you wish to define yoga?
  10. While the purpose of yoga is closely related to its definition, the purpose from the meaning, using expert commentary.

Foundational Philosophies

Teaching Standard

Gain an understanding of key assumptions built into the foundational philosophies upon which various branches of yoga are based: Samkhya, Advaita Vedanta and Tantra.

Assessment

Part 1  –  Vocabulary Mix & Match
ADVAITA VEDANTA | Unbound potential, universal intelligence, the formless spirit of the Universe
ATMAN | The law of universal causality
BRAHMAN | Spirit, consciousness, the principle of universal consciousness in us
BRAHMIN | Consciousness that relates back to Brahman (Alan Finger)
GUNAS | A non-dualistic understanding of Vedanta
JIVATMAN | Substance, the force that brings consciousness into manifestation
KARMA | Consciousness that relates to living in the world of the senses (Alan Finger)
MAYA | A philosophy based on The Vedas
PARAMATMAN | Feminine principle
PRAKRTI | A non-dualistic philosophy with practices designed to realize through experience that everything is divine and connected
PURUSHA | The cosmic illusion caused by an error in spiritual perception
SAMKHYA | The Self, consciousness that is an individual expression of universal intelligence
SHAKTI | Masculine principle
SHIVA | Modes of being
TANTRA | A dualistic philosophy teaching discrimination between spirit and substance
VEDANTA | Not to be confused with Brahman, this is a name for one of four castes (varna) in Hinduism
Part 2 – Provide the meaning and significance of the following terms.
  1. Advaita Vedanta
  2. Atman
  3. Brahman
  4. Gunas
  5. Karma
  6. Maya
  7. Prakrti
  8. Purusha
  9. Samkhya
  10. Shakti
  11. Shiva
  12. Tantra
  13. Vedanta
Part 3 – Questions
  1. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras are rooted in what philosophy?
  2. “Samkhya” means discrimination. What does this philosophy discriminate between?
  3. How is Samkhya different from Advaita Vedanta and Tantra?
  4. Succinctly summarize the difference between Tantra and Samkhya.
  5. Describe a way to consider these philosophies as connected and complementary.
  6. What does “tantra” mean?
  7. What is the purpose of tantric practices?

Bhagavad Gita Introduction

Teaching Standard

Understand the Gita’s prominent role in yoga philosophy and establish a foundation for exploring its teachings.

Assessment

  1. Translate the words “Bhagavad Gita.”
  2. From what book is the Gita a part?
  3. How is the Gita structured?
  4. Distinguished scholars describe the Gita as the book on yoga par excellence and the “first full-fledged Yoga scripture”. Expand on the importance and relevance of the Gita to the philosophical teachings of yoga.
  5. What is Arjuna’s “impossible task?”
  6. How does the Gita teach the practice of detachment and renunciation?
  7. How does the Gita describe yoga?

Yoga Sutras Historical Context

Teaching Standard

Gain a basic understanding of the historical context of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and build a foundation for exploring the teachings.

Assessment

  1. Who was Patanjali?
  2. Translate and describe “sutra.”
  3. Why were these yoga teachings documented in the sutra style?
  4. Why is Sanskrit well-suited for communicating the Yoga Sutras?
  5. What is an issue related to translating the Yoga Sutras into English?
  6. From which branch of yoga do we find the Yoga Sutras?
  7. When comparing Buddhist philosophy to The Yoga Sutras, what do students tend to find?

Yoga Sutras Overview & Structure

Teaching Standard

Become familiar with the scope and content of the Yoga Sutras.

Assessment

Vocabulary Mix-and-Match
KAIVALYA PADA | Summaries of teachings
PATANJALI | Philosophy of Yoga and “to see the invisible”
SADHANA PADA | A philosophy of yoga codified by Patanjali
SAMADHI PADA | Book 1 of The Yoga Sutras, On Absorption
SANSKRIT | Book 4 of The Yoga Sutras, On Absoluteness
SUTRA | Book 3 of The Yoga Sutras, On Accomplishments
VIBHUTI PADA | Book 2 of The Yoga Sutras, On Practice
YOGA DARSHANA | Codifier of The Yoga Sutras
YOGA SUTRAS | A sacred language designed to convey subtlety and communicate spiritual insights
Provide the meaning and significance of the following terms.
  1. Kaivalya Pada
  2. Patanjali
  3. Sadhana Pada
  4. Samadhi Pada
  5. Sanskrit
  6. Sutra
  7. Vibhuti Pada
  8. Yoga Darshana
  9. Yoga Sutras
Questions
  1. What is the subject of the Yoga Sutras?
  2. The Yoga Sutras are also known as Yoga Darshana. What does this mean?
  3. How many sutras are in the Yoga Sutras and how are they structured?
  4. What is the name and subject matter of each of the four books?
  5. What are the primary topic categories within Book 2, Sadhana Pada?
  6. What are the primary topic categories within Book 3, Vibhuti Pada?
  7. Does the structure of the Yoga Sutras match the structure of the process it describes?

Kleshas Introduction

Teaching Standard

Become grounded in the teachings of kleshas, a foundation of yoga philosophy.

Assessment

  1. Provide four translations for the word, “kleshas.”
  2. What is a more specific definition for avidya than “ignorance?”
  3. Define asmita.
  4. What is the meaning of raga and dvesha?
  5. What is abhinivesha?
  6. What “initial and pertinent question” is answered by the philosophy of kleshas?
  7. How are kleshas related to pain?
  8. For what reason are people often unaware of kleshas in their life?
  9. According to B.K.S. Iyengar, which of the kleshas are intellectual obstacles? Which are emotional? And which is instinctive?
  10. What is a reason that the veils thicken over our innate wisdom?
  11. Why does Swami Satyananda Saraswati say that kleshas must be viewed from the point of view of depth psychology?

Eight Limbs Overview

Teaching Standard

Gain an understanding of the intention, teachings and tools of the Eight Limbs of Yoga.

Assessment

  1. The “eight limbs” are practices from which branch of yoga?
  2. Which of the limbs are external aspects?
  3. What is the purpose of the external aspects?
  4. Which of the limbs are internal aspects? What term encompasses all of them?
  5. Why are the last three limbs in a different chapter of The Yoga Sutras than the first five?
  6. How is attention related to the last three limbs?
  7. What are the yamas?
  8. Describe the reasoning behind the position that the yamas are the most important limb.
  9. What are the niyamas?

Yamas & Niyamas Overview

Teaching Standard

Become familiar with the general subject matter of the yamas (restraints) and niyamas (observances) as a whole and individually.

Assessment

  1. How do the yamas and niyamas relate to the Yoga Sutras?
  2. Define yama. In general, what do the yamas describe?
  3. Define niyama? In general, what do the niyamas describe?
  4. Speak to the internal effects of the yamas and niyamas and how this compares to discussions of ethics or morality.
  5. Which sutras describe the yamas and niyamas?
  6. Define and succinctly describe each yama.
  7. Define and succinctly describe each niyama.
  8. What are some considerations for teaching yoga philosophy in general, and the yamas and niyamas in particular?

Next Steps

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This is an hour well-spent!

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