Understanding the Gunas in Yoga Philosophy, to me, is exactly like the fable of Goldilocks.

I am no academic so the way I make sense and apply philosophy may seem silly or disrespectful to some but I strongly believe in finding an access point that everyone can understand immediately from the get go rather than wrestling unnecessarily.
The Gunas are the epitome of the fairytales teaching, not too much, not too little, just enough. Read on and see what you think.

In yoga philosophy, the gunas are a way to understand the different traits and qualities within us, in our practice and the world around us. The word “guna” means strand, quality, or attribute. (Gunas: ‘goo-nahs’)

There are three gunas—Sattva, Rajas and Tamas which represent forces that govern how we feel ie our physical, mental and emotional states.

Every thought, action and emotion is influenced by a mix of these three qualities. Recognizing how they work helps us reflect on our behavior and better understand ourselves and use yoga practice to achieve a balancing of the scales when one may feel it has become too weighty.

Sattva is clarity, balance and calm. It represents lightness, wisdom and a sense of peace that brings joy and deeper self-awareness.

Rajas is energy, movement, drive and desire. It’s the force behind action, ambition and change, but too much can leave us feeling restless, stressed and always chasing the next thing without satisfaction or even issue hopping to find the next ‘thing’.

Tamas is stillness, heaviness and inertia. It shows up as lack of motivation, stagnation and a feeling of being stuck. While we need tamas for rest and recovery, too much can lead to apathy and even depression.

Mummy bear, Daddy bear, Baby bear…

The gunas are always shifting, they aren’t fixed. This constant change affects how we act, feel and see the world. By becoming aware of this balance, we can make more intentional choices that lead to harmony in our lives. Although these concepts are ancient we can all identify as having periods where one of these feels very dominant.

Recognizing the Gunas in Daily Life:

Developing self-awareness around these states can be transformative. When we can recognize moments where tamas is pulling us down into lethargy or when rajas is driving us toward burnout, we can make adjustments.

Not too hot, not too cold but just right…

This awareness of how the gunas show up in our daily life gives us the power to respond consciously rather than getting swept away by our emotions or habits. Over time, cultivating more Sattva, the quality of clarity and peace, helps us create more balance in our actions and decisions. We can live with more intention, dipping back to a state of inner harmony when we feel we need that self check.
Goldilocks, is that you?

The goal is not to eliminate rajas or tamas but to create a balance where Sattva gradually becomes the guiding force. By tuning into these fluctuations, we can better understand ourselves and make choices that support well-being and growth.