Mantra of the Month: Yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ

One of the most beautiful things about yoga is that it goes far beyond the postures. This year, I’ve started integrating mantra chanting into my classes because I believe mantras are a powerful tool to connect body, mind, and spirit.

Each month, we choose a mantra to guide our practice, so that little by little we can take yoga beyond the mat and weave it into our everyday lives.

Chanting mantras has become a fundamental part of my own practice, and it naturally had to find its way into my classes.

My love for mantras began when I discovered Jivamukti Yoga. Its philosophy captivated me from the very first moment — so much so that it gradually became my main practice. I’m now in the process of getting certified in this method (but that’s a story for another day!).

What Does Yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ Mean?

This sutra is one of the most well-known from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and in many ways, it defines what yoga truly is.

Translated, it means:

“Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.”

• Yogaś: Yoga

• Citta: Mind, consciousness

• Vṛtti: Fluctuations, patterns, the thoughts that come and go

• Nirodhaḥ: To stop, to quiet, to still

  
  

When we chant this mantra, we remind ourselves that the purpose of yoga is not just to have a strong or flexible body — it is to still the internal noise, to observe the mind, and to create space for calm, clarity, and presence.

Why I Chose This Mantra for This Month

Many of my students who have been practicing with me for a year or more have made great progress physically, and this year felt like the perfect time to begin exploring the philosophy behind the practice — to see beyond just building good asanas.

This mantra, in particular, helps us understand why we practice yoga — beyond simply coming to the mat to move the body.

We live in a world full of stimuli, to-do lists, notifications, and constant mental noise. I chose this mantra as a reminder that yoga is our opportunity to come back to center, to train the mind to stop running in every direction.

When you walk into class, you step into a space where you don’t have to do anything except be here, breathe, move, and allow your mind to slowly become still.

How We Work With It in Class

In every session, we chant this mantra together at the beginning of the practice.You don’t need to know Sanskrit or “sing well” — what matters is allowing the vibration to do its work.

Each repetition is like a wave, gently calming the surface of a lake until the water becomes so still that we can finally see the bottom.

✨ This month, I invite you to carry this mantra with you: repeat it silently during moments of stress or distraction. Notice what shifts inside you when you give this phrase a little space in your mind.

May yoga continue to be that safe refuge where you return to inner silence.

See you on the mat — and as always, with love,Angiie