The factor which determines the rate of the yogi’s progress is the nature of the means he adopts in the pursuit of his aim, Ashtanga yoga of Maharishi Patanjali points out only the broad principles of the general method which has to be followed in liberating human consciousness from the limitations of ignorance and gaining self realization. It is true that in this system well defined technique has been laid down for achieving this end but the different parts of this technique are not rigid in their nature but sufficiently elastic to allow the aspirant to adapt them to his personal needs, temperament and convenience. A system which is meant to sub serves the spiritual needs of different potentialities and capacities could never prove very useful and could not withstand the ravages of time if it demanded adherence to a rigid and uniform course of discipline. The value of Patanjali system of yoga lies in its elasticity and the capacity to subserve the needs of different types of individua
