In Sanskrit “Antaraya” means obstacles / hindrances that stands in a way.
Maharshi Patanjali has described NINE such anatarayas in the practice of Yoga. These are mentioned in the Yoga Sutra Chapter 1, verse 30.
व्याधिस्त्यानसंशयप्रमादालस्याविरतिभ्रान्तिदर्शनालब्धभूमिकत्वानवस्थितत्वानि चित्तविक्षेपास्तेऽन्तरायाः ॥३०॥
vyādhi-styāna-saṃśaya-pramāda-ālasya-avirati-bhrānti-darśana-alabdha-bhūmikatva-anavasthitatvāni citta-vikṣepāḥ te-antarāyāḥ ||30||
These interventions which distract the Chitta are:
disorder, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, over-indulgence,
fallacious views, non-attainment of a stage and losing stability.
Everyone starts the journey of Yoga by seeing others / social media/ by any other source but most of them donot make it a part of life. Many students always gets distracted in midway. Sage Patanjali has very beautifully mentioned these obstacles.
1. Vyadhi: Disease /illness/ sickness:
Imbalance of the constituents of the human body as well as of the nourishment provided to the body i.e. food , results in weakening the body and is the same as disease. Every Physical symptoms has its cause in the soul and spirit. In Hatha Yoga , one strives to take precautions not to let the disease manifest themselves in the first place. This Physical body is the only vehicle or medium through which one can connect to Yoga. Any fault in the vehicle can result in the complete stoppage of the travel/trip. As mentioned in the Gerand Samhita, this physical body is the Ghata means earthen pot and this need to be strong and it will only be strong by fire and this fire is the fire of Yoga.
2. Styana/ Languor/ Mental Lethargy:
It is the incapability of the mind to carry on work or a lack of desire to work. It is the tiredness that makes it difficult to experience the present. It keeps us away from living and practicing Yoga. As one can observe that whenever you are in a pleasant mood your efficiency increases , you feel you can do more whether work , practicing Yoga or being with the people. But when you are tired mentally , the opposite happens.
3. Samsaya/ Doubt / Indecision:
Doubt is a major obstacle as it reinforces thinking too. The main reason for doubt is great uncertainty and fear or believing wrong things. To be completely involved in the path of Yoga is to have complete faith. Doubt cant lead you to anywhere.
4. Pramada/ Carelessness/ Negligence:
The careless actions without reflection/ foresight or concentration / lack of enthusiasm makes you not go in the path of Yoga. Here discipline and perseverance are the key to move in the path of yoga.
5. Alasya / Laziness:
The step towards achieving success is developing bodily fitness and without movement of body in today’s inactive life style, is not going to happen. And now a days, laziness is like a disease and it is a main factor that obstructs your growth in Yoga. Yoga is participation of you with the life around you. It is not only for some moments, it is a 24*7 involvement. When one becomes lazy, he looses the interest.
6. Avirati/ sensuality/ cravings:
It is the desire for sensory pleasure. We are dependent so much on our sensory pleasures that we are unable to focus on our inner self. Our all senses are projected outwards. So, how can we focus on what is happening inside us. As per Maharshi Patanjali we need to divert our senses to inwards i.e. Pratyahara , the withdrawal of senses to connect with ourself and proceed in the path of yoga.
7. Bhrantidarshana/ Wrong perception:
It is wrong perception which is a kind of Avidya (ignorance). People do not perceive the things/ situations/ people as they are, and they see and analyse them as their Buddhi/ memory/ based on past experiences. And in that way, they miss the present . Yoga is being in the very present moment, experiencing the present and living in the present.
8. Alabdha-bhumikatva:
In Sanskrit, alabdha means “unobtained”; bhum means “earth,” suggesting grounded-ness and stability; and katva means “bed,” suggesting a sense of comfort and stability. It is not being able to reach the high state of consciousness . sometimes it happens one has done so much in Yoga still unable to get the desired result. In yoga there may be many reasons why it happens to someone. One easily becomes demotivated as this happens but it needs to be understood that not even a moment of practice goes to waste, though it might not be seen but; that which is unseen, never think does not exist. So keep going.
9. Anavasthitatvan:
Inability to hold on the good state permanently. As the Samadhi state is not reached so many though proceeding in the path of Yoga still could not hold the state. Many a times it happens that we know its best for us still cant maintain it forever. Here one needs to develop faith more on Ishwara and his practices. Sometimes after a certain point the growth becomes steady or neutral. And this is the real test for the Sadhaka.
Not to forget what accompanies these nine obstacles are, despair, pain, irregular breathing, frustration. Do not fall in the trap, keep moving.
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