Yoga is considered to be a solid mental and physical workout. The 8 yoga limbs had first originated in Patanjali’s ‘The Yoga Sutras’ in 250 BC. These are directives to lead a meaningful life. They can rather be termed as set of guidelines. Often, they form the philosophical basis to practice modern yoga. Put together, they are referred to as ‘Raja Yoga’.
Know the 8 limbs of Yoga
- Yama (Ethics): It is the first limb. 5 yamas are considered to be ethical principles that provide guidance on how you behave with others. It includes:
- Satya (honesty)
- Ahimsa (non-violence)
- Aparigraha (not craving for something others have)
- Brahmacharya (sexual restraint / chastity)
- Asteya (not stealing)
- Asana (Poses): It is quite similar to Vinyasa or Hatha yoga and stands for yoga poses, all in seated positions. You need to master ‘sitting still’ to prepare your body to meditate.
- Niyama (Self-discipline): It lays emphasis on how you should behave towards yourself. It revolves mostly around self-discipline goals during yoga practice. 5 Niyamas are:
- Santosa (contentment)
- Saucha (cleanliness)
- Isvara Pranidhana (devotion towards certain higher power)
- Svadhyaya (Spiritual studies)
- Tapas (self-discipline)
- Pranayama (Breath): It means ‘life force extension) and is the principle to incorporate breathing exercises within the regular yoga routine. Gaining control over breath can help live longer.
- Dharana (Focus): The human mind is filled with disruptive thoughts). It allows you focus deeply on a particular task. It includes blocking mental replays especially of those embarrassing moments that you want to forget. It clears your head and freshens your brain.
- Pratyahara (Awareness): It is about self-awareness and lays emphasis on making the effort to experience sensations. It also helps you to not heeding to external distractions. You can keep yourself away from those unwanted obstacles that otherwise might interfere in the self-growth journey.
- Dhyana (Meditation): Dharana requires you to focus more actively while in Dhyana, you enter deep meditation state. Your mind gets completely quiet. This is something that can be achieved only by advanced meditators. Regular practice allows you to be in uninterrupted concentration flow.
- Samadhi (Bliss): It is the last step and refers to a spiritual moment. Performing meditation, you transcend as well as connect yourself with a much higher power. It is during this stage, you get connected with other living beings around you, thus offering you bliss.
Getting to know all the 8 limbs will allow you to become an advanced meditator.