Coping with COVID-19: What can we learn from patanjali yoga sutras?

Abstract

Patanjali Yoga Sutra (PYS) is considered as the most comprehensive compendium of human psychology from the ancient yoga perspective. The text fundamentally focuses on providing a systematic model for the application of yoga as a tool to reduce agitations of the mind (Chitta vritti nirodhaha). Apart from the systematic description of the eight limbs of yoga (Ashtanga Yoga), the text also provides several useful psychological concepts and mind-body techniques to overcome grief, suffering, and pain. These techniques may serve as useful coping strategies as an add-on to conventional psychotherapy in facing the challenge of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The current paper provides the details of these techniques and calls for more research in future to explore the psychotherapeutic potential of PYS.