The Eight Limbs of Yoga

March 23rd, 2007 | admin

Ashtam means eight and anga means a bodily organ. Asthanga yoga therefore translates into means yoga with eight branches, organs or limbs. Ashtanga Yoga is actually the directions of yoga acharya Patanjali. It forms the core of all Yogas.

The eight organs of yoga as put forth by Pathanjali are

1. Yama – includes five abstentions, which are
  Ahimsa (not killing or hurting other people and living things by thought, words or action)
Satya (keeping away from lies. truth – words, thoughts and action based on truth)
Astheya (not stealing)
Brahmacharya (abstaining from sex, now it is diluted to illicit sex)
Aparigraha (freedom from material possessions or avoiding all that items that are not necessary for our survival and growth)

The Yamas lead a person in path of truth and morality.

2. Niyama includes five practices we must follow, they are
 Shaucha (purity)
 Contentment
 Tapa (Austerity)
 Swadhaya (Educating mind with the right knowledge) and
 Iswara pranidhana – (Surrendering completely to God)

Following the Niyamas is really personal and is an indication of the general attitude of the person towards his or her life. It is also about the kind of life we create for ourselves.

3. Asana – is a sitting position, posture or pose.
All the postures yoga followers practice is included in asana. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra gives clear guidance to practicing asanas. These asanas give flexibility and strength to all parts of body.

4. Pranayama – or control of breath
It is a means of controlling the vital life energy called prana.

5. Dharana – knowing what some really is (the goal) and concentration on that goal.

6. Pratyahara – an abstraction or remaining untouched by external happenings

7. Dhyana – Meditation

8. Samadhi – The result of deep meditation, where the mind rises to a super-conscious state of knowledge or enlightenment. This is also the state, where yogis experience divine union.

Those are the eight organs of asthanga yoga. These steps occur in the given order only.