The eight limbs of yoga are a framework for the practice of yoga as described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, an ancient text that outlines the philosophy and practice of yoga. The eight limbs are a path towards self-realization and spiritual growth, with each limb building upon the previous one.
- Yamas – The first limb of yoga, the Yamas, refers to the ethical guidelines for how to interact with the world around us. These guidelines include non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), non-stealing (asteya), moderation (brahmacharya), and non-possessiveness (aparigraha).
- Niyamas – The second limb of yoga, the Niyamas, refers to the ethical guidelines for how to interact with ourselves. These guidelines include cleanliness (saucha), contentment (santosha), discipline (tapas), self-study (svadhyaya), and surrender to a higher power (ishvara pranidhana).
- Asana – The third limb of yoga, Asana, refers to the physical practice of yoga postures. Asanas are designed to improve flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination, and to prepare the body for meditation and spiritual practices.
- Pranayama – The fourth limb of yoga, Pranayama, refers to the practice of controlling the breath. Pranayama exercises are designed to improve the flow of prana (life force energy) in the body, and to calm the mind and nervous system.
- Pratyahara – The fifth limb of yoga, Pratyahara, refers to the withdrawal of the senses from external stimuli. This practice is intended to help quiet the mind and focus inward, preparing the practitioner for deeper states of meditation.
- Dharana – The sixth limb of yoga, Dharana, refers to concentration. This practice involves focusing the mind on a single object, such as the breath, a mantra, or an image, and learning to maintain that focus over time.
- Dhyana – The seventh limb of yoga, Dhyana, refers to meditation. This practice involves maintaining a state of awareness without a specific focus, allowing the mind to become more open and receptive.
- Samadhi – The eighth and final limb of yoga, Samadhi, refers to a state of oneness with the universe. This is the ultimate goal of yoga, and is achieved through a complete merging of the individual consciousness with the universal consciousness.
This comprehensive framework of ethical principles, physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation practices provide a more complete picture of the practice of yoga. Join us for one of our Complete Practice workshops as we dive more deeply into this practice and spend a little more time incorporating the other limbs during our time together.