Yoga and Samkhya Philosophy

Samkhya is the theory behind many practices of Yoga. It considers the duality of nature: Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (matter). Samkhya views the universe and its inhabitants as a result of the continuous interweaving of Purusha and Prakriti, or consciousness and matter.

It’s said that every sentient being contains Purusha, that each of us is limitless and unbound by our physical bodies. However, we only are aware of this because we have a physical body, a brain, and an environment to live in — all of which represent Prakriti or physical form.

Our Yoga practice can be described as the management of the interplay of these two realities: the pure consciousness within, which is invisible, and the material body and society in which we live, which is apparent. Both of these realities are true and necessary for life as we know it to take place.

Yoga helps us utilize Prakriti (through Asana, Pranayama, and Meditation) to become aware of the jewel of Purusha so that we can move toward states of awakening.