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The Eight Limbs Of Yoga
The practice of yoga is based on a series of ancient writings known as the sutras. The sutras were divided into what is known as the Eight Paths or Limbs of Yoga, each describing a different aspect of the mastery of yoga when practiced together. The popular view of the practice of yoga includes only the asanas, or the physical postures, but complete mastery involves all eight limbs in order to achieve the complete balance that the practice of yoga can offer. Here is a brief description of the Eight Limbs of Yoga and advice on how to integrate them into your life.
Yama
Yama is the ethical or philosophical aspect of yoga which describes how we should aim to live within the world around us and with all living elements in it. It includes the following 5 aspects:
1. Ahima or non-violence and non-killing.
2. Satya or truth, in action and speech.
3. Asteya or non-stealing.
4. Brahmacharya or chastity and non-scattering of sexual energy.
5. Aparigraha or non-hoarding.
Niyama
Like Yama, Niyama relates to the more philosophical aspect of the yoga practice, and prescribes self-action in creating a healthy and balanced mind and body for ourselves. It also includes 5 aspects:
1. Saucha or maintenance of good personal hygiene and a clean environment.
2. Santosa or inner contentment and practice of gratefulness and appreciation.
3. Tapas or the dedication to the development of wisdom and inner strength.
4. Svadhyaya or commitment to continued learning and self development.
5. Isvara Pranidhana or the development and cultivation of a connection to a higher spiritual power.
Asana
This is the practice and mastery of the physical postures of yoga. In addition to the development of a more healthy and fit body, they are also designed to aid the aspiring yogi in the path to the complete balance yoga promises.
Pranayama
A major focus of any yoga practice is the development of proper breathing techniques. These techniques allow us to breathe more efficiently, giving our bodies the ability to better take in oxygen and also to take in and better use prana, the life force around us.
Pratyahara
This practice is the most basic form of meditation in yoga and involves simply the recognition that ignoring the stimuli of the outside world and the effect that our senses have on our awareness of the world around us can allow us to better know ourselves. In its most simple form it involves simply closing one’s eyes and attempting to ignore all the senses and being completely with ourselves and removed from the outside world.
Dharana
This practice is an extension of Pratyahara and involves the ability to be completely inwardly focused and in-tune with ourselves. There are a number of techniques that can be learned to aid in this process including candle gazing and chakra meditations.
Dhyana
This is what is more popularly known as meditation and is another popular practice associated with yoga. The aim of this practice and level of meditation within yoga, and as an extension of the other aspects of yoga, is to achieve the final path or limb of practice.
Samadhi
This is the final path of yoga and is the complete union of your mind, body and spirit to all that is. It is the ultimate aim of yoga, but may never be achieved.
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