In 400 CE, Maharishi Patanjali, a sage scientist from India, wrote 196 aphorisms on yoga, popularly known as Maharishi Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra. The word sutra means “to thread or weave” just as the English word suture means “to stitch together.” These sutras are so clear, accurate, full of precious wisdom to prevent, overcome and transcend the human miseries and suffering even in modern times.
The Sutras (or writings) of Patanjali are divided into four sections or padas. The practice of the eight-fold path of yoga comes from section two called the Sadhana Pada. In this chapter, Sage Patanjali mentions this eight-fold path as “ashtanga yoga” in sutra 29 (aphorism 2.29). He created this path to help us transcend human sufferings and to reach self-realization and ultimate freedom. In simple words, this way of living promotes the harmonious collaboration of body, mind, and spirit and complete health and wellbeing.
यमनियमासनप्राणायामप्रत्याहारधारणाध्यानसमाधयोऽष्टावङ्गानि ॥ २.२९॥
“Yama niyama asana pranayama pratyahara dharana dhyana samadhi ashtau angani”. (2.29)
Yama, Niyama, Āsana, Prānāyāma, Pratyāhāra, Dhāranā, Dhyāna, and Samādhi are the eight limbs of Yoga.
Ashta means eight, anga means limbs. These eight limbs are:
- Set of 5 social ethics: Yama
- Set of 5 personal ethics: Niyama
- Poses or Postures: Asana
- Breathing exercises / Breathing techniques/ Breathwork: Pranayama
- Withdrawing the senses inward: Pratyahara
- Art of effortless concentration: Dharana
- Meditation: Dhyana
- Complete harmony with universal consciousness: Samadhi
In Samadhi Pada–the first chapter of yoga sutras, Sage Patanjali defines yoga as:
Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah: Yoga is stilling the fluctuations of the mind. (1.2)
Tada drastuh svarupe vasthanam: Yoga is abiding in the nature of the seer. (1.3)
Thus the 1st chapter clarifies the goal of yoga while the 2nd chapter suggests a path to achieve that goal.
Overview of the 8 limbs of yoga
Social and personal ethics of yoga: yamas and niyamas
Yama and Niyama are the first two limbs of ashtanga yoga. Understanding them will help you learn how to practice yoga in your daily life. This can transform you and your yoga practice.
Yamas are universal morality, attitudes towards society and how you treat others and the world around you. The set of 5 yamas are:
Ahimsa: Non – Violence / Non – Harming / Kindness / Compassion
Satya: Non-Deception / Truthfulness
Asteya: Non-Stealing / Honesty /Abundance
Brahmacharya: Celibacy / Moderation of the Senses / Self – Restraint
Aparigraha: Non-Greed / Security / Self-reliance / Non – possessiveness / Non-accumulating
Niyamas are Personal observances, Attitudes towards ourselves and inner discipline and responsibility. There are 5 Niyamas:
Shoucha: Purity
Santosha: Contentment / Happiness
Tapas: Self – Discipline / Austerity / Penance
Swadhyaya: Self Examination / Self Study
Ishvarapranidhana: Self – surrender to the divine / Spiritual Attunement
For better understanding and how to integrate these in daily living, download our free ebook: Decoding Yamas and Niyamas for the Modern Yogis
Yoga poses: asana
Today, most people practicing yoga focus on the practice of the third limb, Asana, or yoga postures. Yoga poses are a discipline of physical postures designed to purify the body and provide physical stability, stamina, and strength. Many people only know yoga as the practice of physical yoga postures. It is definitely a good starting point. In ancient times, asana practice was meant more for cultivating the physical and mental stability and easiness that is required for the practice of meditation (the seventh limb). The literal meaning of asana is “a seat”.
Asanas include the dual qualities of alertness (steadiness) and relaxation (easeness). Asanas give us an opportunity to study and explore the physical realm of our existence. More than flexibility of muscles and alignments, they are about connecting physical steadiness to stillness and happiness of mind.
Asanas involve increased awareness of various physical and physiological processes influenced by controlled stretching, contraction, relaxation, and coordination of various muscles, and in balancing and maintenance of posture.
At a deeper level, asana means full expression of mind-body integration, in which one becomes consciously aware of the flow of life energy in the body. Performing asanas with awareness is practice for performing every action in life with awareness.
It is believed that there are more than 84,000 different yoga poses. Don’t get intrigued by this huge number! You don’t have to learn that many poses! Just a handful of them will be great. As you progress you may add some more challenging advanced poses.
Breathing practices: pranayama
Pranayama consists of two Sanskrit words—Prana (life force) and Ayama (control). So, pranayama means the regulation of the flow of life force. It is the science of breathing. Breath is the physical expression of life-force energy. In recent years, the term breathwork has been coined to describe breathing exercises or breathing techniques.
We breathe every single minute. We take approximately 21, 600 breaths every day!
Breath is a bridge between our body, mind and spirit. Changes in our mind affect our breathing and vice-versa. Every emotion has a corresponding rhythm of the breath, and the way we breathe can influence the way we feel.
Breathing is also a bridge between our sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
Practice of pranayama helps us to harness the power of breath for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.