Ashtanga Yoga And The 8 Limbs Of Ashtanga Yoga

What is ashtanga yoga?

Ashtanga yoga also referred to as Ashtangavinyasayoga is a style of yoga which is classified in the Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Ashtanga yoga was introduced by Krishnamacharya and PattabisJois in their book Yoga Sutras. Ashtanga means eight limbs in Sanskrit (ancient Indian language) According to the Yoga Sutras ashtanga yoga is a practice to understand the true meaning of yoga. The eight limbs of ashtanga yoga include Yamas, Niyamas, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi.

The eight limbs of ashtanga yoga

·         Yamas –

Yamas are the ethics of Hinduism. Yamas are basically the principles an individual should follow to lead a peaceful life. There is a total of 5 Yama’s that teaches us how we should interact with the outside world.

§  Ahimsa (non-violence)

§  Satya (truthfulness)

§  Asteya (non-stealing)

§  Brahmacharya (continence)

§  Aparigraha (non-covetousness)

·         Niyamas –

There is a total of 5 Niyamas which helps the individual to find spiritual peace, self-discipline, and spiritual observance. The 5 Niyamas teaches how to interact with oneself.

§  Saucha (cleanliness)

§  Samtosa (continent)

§  Tapas (self-discipline)

§  Svadhyaya (self-study)

§  Isvarapranidhana (surrender to god)

·         Asana –

Asana is the postures which are practised in yoga. The third limb of ashtanga yoga helps to grow spiritually through asanas. The practise of asanas helps to concentrate and focus.

·         Pranayama –

The fourth limb of ashtanga yoga pranayama teaches to control the breath. The limb includes techniques to control and master the respiratory process. Pranayama helps to attain a higher level of consciousness.

·         Pratyahara –

Pratyahara is withdrawing oneself from the external world. Pratyahara is a process of self-extraction from the principles of the external world and understanding our true self. The process helps to seek self-knowledge and experience of one’s inner world. In simple words its self-extraction from the external world and acceptance of one’s inner world.

·         Dharana –

Dharana is the complete control of the subconscious mind by binding the mind to one single object, place or idea.

·         Dhyana –

Dhyana is meditation or contemplation wherein the mind is under the deep flow of concentration without any external or internal disturbance.

·         Samadhi –

Samadhi is the last limb of ashtanga yoga. Samadhi is finding oneness with meditation or contemplation. When the mind loses its identity in the process of meditating is when a person finds Samadhi in his or her thoughts.

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