I remember the day I first encountered Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras in my teacher training. He is considered the “Father of Yoga.” Like many, I initially thought the Eight Limbs of Yoga were the be-all and end-all of Yogi wisdom. After all, they’re the cornerstone of most yoga teacher training programs.

While Patanjali’s work provides valuable practices, its techniques are primarily centered on one branch of Yogi philosophy: Raja Yoga, which focuses on mental development. The extensive use of Sanskrit can also be confusing. And there is more to discover beyond Patanjali’s teachings.

The Yogi philosophy is eclectic. It’s not confined to a single school of thought or set of practices. Instead, it draws from various sources, selecting wisdom wherever it can be found. It reconciles all these different teachings. It’s in the very nature of eclecticism itself: taking what resonates and leaving the rest, always keeping an open mind.

This philosophy embraces elements from various Hindu schools of thought, including Vedanta and Sankhya. It even finds common ground with Buddhism and Christianity. Yet it doesn’t blindly accept everything from these systems. Instead, it critically examines each idea, keeping what is reasonable and what aligns with its fundamental principles.

This approach reminds me of a quote from an ancient text, the Rig Veda:

It’s a beautiful encapsulation of the Yogi perspective. There’s truth in all teachings, but no single teaching has all the truth.

Adopting this eclectic approach has transformed my life, and it can transform yours too. It will prevent you from having a narrow perspective and being one-sided. It will teach you to approach every situation with an open mind, to seek wisdom in unexpected places, and to never stop learning.

So when new ideas or teachings are presented to you, you won’t dismiss them outright because they don’t fit your current understanding. Instead, you’ll examine them closely and look for the nuggets of truth that enrich your own path.