Obstacles in the Path of Yoga (Chapter 38 — Shiva Purāṇa) Yoga is not merely a posture or practice — it is a journey toward the union of the Self with Śiva, the pure Consciousness. Yet ten subtle enemies guard that gate: idleness that weakens effort, ailments born of imbalance and past karma, blunders of ignorance, and doubts that divide perception. The mind wavers, faith fades, illusion thickens, miseries weigh heavy, desires frustrate, and the senses pull one outward. Each of these is a veil between seeker and stillness. When they subside through discipline, devotion, and detachment, the Yogin enters a natural silence — where divine signs begin to bloom from within. True Yoga begins not when the body bends, but when the mind no longer wavers. 🕊️