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The misconception that yogis do not have wives is based on one of the moral principles of yoga (or rather Hinduism), which is called “brahmacharya”. Its essence is abstinence and … then nothing is clear. There are still discussions about how to understand this principle.
The most common interpretation of “brahmacharya” is sexual abstinence. But how can a person achieve spiritual development if he has not experienced the ordinary earthly joys, including family and sexual life? And even if you move away from high words and switch to a simple language, just imagine an ordinary person who constantly suppresses the desire for sex (if any). Is it worth talking about his inability to concentrate and the inability to simply relax?
One of the other interpretations of this principle is self-discipline and maintaining sanity in matters of sex and other ways of obtaining pleasure, such as food, bragging, and so on. It is this understanding of the principle that most yogis now adhere to.
But if you need specific information about wives, then you can formulate the answer as follows. If you mean exactly the famous or legendary Indian yogis, then the answer is yes – they had wives. Only about these wives almost nothing is known, except for the names (although they are often unknown) and some facts about their lives. This is most likely due to the position of women in Indian society. If we talk about modern yoga, then in the West, and in India itself, yogis still have wives.
There are 2 ways: yogi monks (for example, monks of the Saraswati order, who are at the head of the ashrams of the Sivananda yoga tradition) and those who practice yoga and combine it with family life. The latter can also teach it and achieve very good results in practice. I note that the second way is considered more difficult.
In the beginning, we will deal with the terms.
First, “yoga” is translated as “connection” – a connection with God.
It is achieved in a variety of ways, which are described in a huge number of sacred scriptures. Main directions: Bhakti yoga (yoga of love), Jnana yoga (yoga of knowledge), Karma yoga (yoga of fulfilling one's duties, dharma), Ashtanga (Hatha) yoga (path of meditation and austerities, beyond ability).
In Western countries, most often yoga is understood as Ashtanga yoga and as part of it hatha yoga (physical exercises).
Also, you need to know that according to the Vedas, a yogi from birth to death passes 4 ashrams (literally Temples) and at the end reaches the Supreme i.e. God.
from 5 to 25 years of Brahmachari ashram (celibacy) during this period, the yogi is engaged in teaching, serving his teacher and family.
From 25 to 50, a Grihasha ashram yogi starts a family and performs the duties of a husband.
from 50 to 75 Vanaprastha Ashram. The yogi withdraws from family affairs, transfers business to his sons, and he is engaged in studying the scriptures and teaching, and his grown-up sons support him.
75 to the end, Sannyas ashram . The yogi renounces the material world, leaves his family, and devotes the rest of his life to God-knowledge and preaching.
However, the yogi, if he has no special material attachments, can stay in the brahmachari ashram, i.e. keep a vow of celibacy for life. Since sexual relations are allowed only in the Grihastha ashram.
So the answer to the question is this. A yogi may or may not have a wife, it all depends on which ashram he chose.
The Yogi's wife usually helps him in his yoga practices. And the scriptures (for example, the Mahabharata) tell about great kings, wars, ascetics who were yogis and developed their connection with God, while their wives did not interfere with them at all.