Ever feel like you’re doing all the yoga, but still getting stuck in stress, anxiety, or that annoying mental spiral at 2AM?
You might be dealing with the Kleshas — the hidden blockers in your brain that yoga philosophy has been calling out for thousands of years (long before your therapist said, “Let’s unpack that”).
In this guide, we’re breaking down the 5 Kleshas in a way that feels modern, relatable, and totally TikTok-worthy — with zero Sanskrit degree required.
“What are the Kleshas in yoga?”
The Kleshas are five mental obstacles or afflictions in yoga philosophy that cause suffering and keep us stuck in negative patterns. They are: ignorance (Avidya), ego (Asmita), attachment (Raga), aversion (Dvesha), and fear of death (Abhinivesha).
Why Should You Even Care About the Kleshas?
Because these mental patterns are the root cause of your stress, bad habits, relationship drama, and endless doom-scrolling.
Yoga says: “Hey, it’s not your ex, your boss, or Mercury in retrograde… it’s your own mind playing tricks on you.”
Understanding the Kleshas is like unlocking yogic cheat codes to:
- Understand yourself better
- Stop self-sabotaging
- Feel more grounded (even off the mat)
- Level up in your spiritual (or mental health) journey
Meet the 5 Kleshas (And Your Inner Saboteurs)
1. Avidya (Ignorance)
The root of all suffering: not seeing things clearly.
This isn’t “oops I forgot my keys” ignorance. Avidya is deeper — it’s mistaking temporary things for permanent ones, or thinking your thoughts = truth.
In real life?
- You think success = happiness
- You believe you are your anxiety
- You chase perfection like it’s a finish line
Yogic Fix: Practice Viveka (discernment) and mindfulness. Start noticing when your brain is spinning stories that might not be the whole truth.
2. Asmita (Ego or False Identity)
“I am what I own, what I do, or how many followers I have.”
Asmita is when your sense of “I” gets tangled up with stuff that’s not really you — job titles, body image, your astrology sign, that green juice habit…
In real life?
- Your self-worth crashes with your WiFi signal
- You need validation like it’s coffee
- You fear failure because it feels like identity death
Yogic Fix: Remember: You’re the witness, not the role. Try meditating on “Who am I when I’m not performing?”
3. Raga (Attachment)
“I need this to be happy.”
Raga is that sticky craving for things, people, experiences, or vibes that make us feel good — but the clinginess keeps us in a loop of desire → disappointment → repeat.
In real life?
- Can’t put down your phone
- Obsessed with that one person who ghosted you
- Shopping “therapy” that ends in guilt
Yogic Fix: Practice contentment (Santosha) and detachment (Vairagya). You can enjoy without attaching.
4. Dvesha (Aversion)
“Nope, I’ll do anything to avoid that.”
Dvesha is the flip side of Raga: intense avoidance of things that hurt, scare, or discomfort us. It’s the reason you ghost hard conversations or skip yoga when you’re “not in the mood.”
In real life?
- Avoiding failure so you don’t try
- Can’t forgive because it still stings
- Scared to face your shadow side
Yogic Fix: Try leaning into discomfort gently. Growth lives just outside your comfort zone.
5. Abhinivesha (Fear of Death)
“But what if everything falls apart?”
This isn’t just fear of dying literally — it’s fear of change, endings, and the unknown. It’s the root of control issues, anxiety, and attachment to routines that no longer serve.
In real life?
- Paralyzed by change
- Hyper-controlling routines and relationships
- Fear of losing your youth, your success, your anything
Yogic Fix: Practice Savasana like it’s sacred (it is). Surrender is your superpower.
So… How Do You Overcome the Kleshas?
Yoga doesn’t say “just stop overthinking” — it gives you a full system to rewire your inner world:
- Asana (movement) to release tension
- Pranayama (breathwork) to calm the mind
- Meditation to observe and untangle patterns
- Svadhyaya (self-study) to catch your ego in action
- Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender) to let go of control
TL;DR: The Kleshas Are Mental Glitches You Can Hack
| Klesha | Translation | Modern Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Avidya | Ignorance | Mistaking Netflix for inner peace |
| Asmita | Ego | Over-identifying with your LinkedIn |
| Raga | Attachment | Addicted to good vibes only |
| Dvesha | Aversion | Fear of failure, discomfort, pain |
| Abhinivesha | Fear of Death | Anxiety about change or losing control |
What’s The Meaning of Kleshas in Yoga?
“They’re five mental habits — ignorance, ego, attachment, aversion, and fear — that cause suffering and keep us from experiencing true peace. Yoga helps us recognize and overcome them.”
You don’t have to become a monk or move to the Himalayas to outsmart your Kleshas. Start with awareness. Start small. Your peace is already underneath all that mental noise — yoga just hands you the remote. And, if you want to deepen your studies on yoga philosophy, enroll in our completely online course.
