Eight Limbs of Yoga
Ashtanga, from the Sanskrit “ashta” meaning eight, and “anga” meaning limbs, is somewhat of a yogic practice, instruction manual, and spiritual guidebook that reveals how to live a life of meaning and intention. Written by Patanjali around the second century, each limb illustrates how to more consciously conduct oneself, focusing on meditation, self-discipline, and sensory transcendence in the hope of attaining kaivalya, or enlightenment.
YAMA
The first limb, yama, is all about our moral conduct, ethical imperatives, and core values; in short: our character. This limb deals with our ability to be honest, act with integrity, and practice the Golden Rule. The five yamas are as follows:
Ahimsa: nonviolence
Satya: truthfulness
Asteya: non-stealing
Brahmacharya: continence
Aparigraha: noncovetousnes
NIYAMA
The second of the 8 limbs is called niyama. If you habitually attend religious services, pray or meditate, keep a gratitude journal, or regularly choose the solitude of nature to enter into contemplation, you are practicing niyama. This limb is about how we relate to ourselves, and how we maintain a sense of internal peace, through spiritual self-discipline and aligned action.
The five niyamas are as follows:
Saucha: cleanliness
Samtosa: contentment
Tapas: spiritual austerities/purification
Svadhyaya: study of the sacred scriptures + self-study
Isvara pranidhana: surrender to God
ASANA
Sanskrit for “seat,” asanas were originally poses meant to be done in the seated position. Having evolved to encompass our contemporary practices of yoga, this limb emphasises physical movement and posture, which are key to cultivating the focus and discipline crucial to meditation. Yoga philosophy highlights the importance of balance in all things, meaning that the care we give our spirit, we must also give our bodies.
PRANAYAMA
Yama, as illustrated above, is the ability to regulate certain processes. Pranayama, therefore, is the capacity to control this gift of prana, our breath and life force. The fourth limb describes methods to integrate our pranic awareness with other movements of the mind and body. Pranayama techniques can be done in a variety of ways, from isolated breathwork exercises to incorporating ujjayi breath into a yoga flow. It’s no wonder that Patanjali chose pranayama as the fourth limb, as it forms a perfect link between the more direct practices of the first three limbs and the more intangible following four. As we become more attuned to our habits and behaviors, gaining stronger authority over our emotions and energy, we ready ourselves for the remainder of the 8-limbed journey, and the subtleties of higher consciousness.
PRATYAHARA
Pratyahara, generally translated as “drawing towards” or sensory transcendence, is the fifth of 8 limbs. Unlike a definitive exercise, this stage is more like forming a habit of consciously de-stimulating ourselves and drawing away from the visible, external world. Although pratyahara is distinct to Hinduism, many Eastern theologies and Western gnostic traditions emphasize the importance of periods of intentional solitude, detachment, and thorough introspection for spiritual growth. The focus of this fifth limb is the art of non-reaction, to senses, cravings, and even thoughts. Through such withdrawal, we begin to see ourselves with keen clarity, observing what is still likely to interrupt our improvement and inner sanctification.
DHARANA
Blossoming directly from the mastery of pratyahara comes the practice of extended concentration, or dharana. The sixth limb finds us free of external distraction, creating the perfect setting for liberating ourselves of inner, mental distraction. In developing this kind of focus, all thought processes must slow down, as we learn to concentrate on a sole object: a deity, a chakra, or a mantra. Yet we’ve been learning how to do this all along: in cultivating attention to drishti in asana and pranayama. From the beginning, we have become more self-aware, and as we delve into the experience of dharana, we quietly begin to become wholly aware. This stage marks the point of departure in which we may flow naturally into deep meditation.
DHYANA
The seventh of eight limbs, dhyana, is simply an uninterrupted state of meditation. Through dharana, we learned how to focus attention specifically, on a single object, for extensive periods of time. Dhyana is the logical next stage, in which one is profoundly aware without this individual focal point. During this step, the mind is still and silent; it is the serene fruit of all the hard work established in the previous six limbs. There are very few thoughts, perhaps none, that keep the mind buzzing, in order for the meditator to become a sanctuary for the remainder of this path.
SAMADHI
The final goal of the 8 limbs of Ashtanga, and that of all yogis is samadhi, or awakening. As the yogi merges with the object of meditation, they experience a state of absorption, transcending the Self completely. This is the supreme ecstasy that encompasses the yogi as they realize their fundamental interconnectedness with all living beings, and their otherworldly connection to the Divine. Samadhi is pure bliss, a state of unparalleled peace and rapture at being one with all that is. In this way, the 8 limbed journey reaches its completion.
