Atha yoga anushasam  (Chapter 1, v.l) 

     Now the discipline of yoga (is being presented) 

     Far from being a mere introduction along the lines of “Once upon a time”, this is an important verse.  Especially important is the use of the word “now” to begin the sutra.  This “now” implies several things. 

     First, it implies that now the student is ready to hear and now the teacher is available and willing to teach.  It implies additionally that the student has learned a great deal on his/her own before this point and is now willing to undertake the difficult and sometimes very demanding teaching of classical yoga.  Finally it implies that the understanding of now is the most important thing that can be learned from the study of yoga.  In its most simple and pure form, yoga brings one deeply into the present, into the now.  This is at the heart of the teachings of yoga and its profound significance can be found in the very first word of the Yoga Sutras. 

     The word “anusasanam” is an interesting one.  It is variously translated as “exposition” of “discipline”.  It concludes the verse as “now yoga is explained” or “now the discipline of yoga is presented”.  The important point here is to remember that yoga is considered a coherent discipline which requires focus and determination. Therefore Patanjali states clearly in verse one that progress in yoga does not come by accident.