EIGHT LIMBS OF YOGA
According to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, there is
an eightfold path leading to liberation, known as the ‘Ashtanga Yoga system’,
or ‘Eight limbs of yoga’. The word ‘Ashta’ means eight and ‘Anga’ means ‘limb’.
These eight limbs of yoga are to secure purity of body, mind and soul.
These eight limbs are
·
· Niyama
· Asana
· Pranayama
·
· Dharana
· Dhyana
· Samadhi
The First four are called BAHIRANGA OR EXTERNAL YOGA. The next four are called ANTHARANGA OR INTERNAL YOGA
YAMA:
[means – Restraints or abstention]
‘Yama’ Refers to moral codes for
self-discipline or self-restrain. It has 5 moral codes,
v Ahimsa (nonviolence) – not to hurt any
creature
v Sathya (truthfulness) – Presentation of matter
as perceived with the help of our sense organs.
v Astheya (non-stealing) – Not to acquire
others’
v Brahmacharya (celibacy, right use of energy) –
It does not mean lifelong celibacy; but moderation in sex between married
couples.
v Aparigraha (non-greed) – Not running after
material wealth, non-possessive.
NIYAMA: [positive duties or observances ]
Refers
to duties directed towards ourselves; or our actions towards the outside world.
There are 5 Niyamas –
vSaucha (cleaniness) – Internal and external
purification
vSathosha (contentment) – State of mind of
being happy and satisfied with what one has.
vTapas (discipline or burning of desires) – Conquering
desires or sensual pleasures by developing purity of thought and actions.
vSwadhyaya (Strengthening one’s knowledge
through self-study or self-reflection.)
vIsvarapranidaha (Dedicate or self-surrender to
the Supreme being or Lord)
ASANAS: [yoga positions or yogic postures]
vAsana is a posture that one can hold for a
period of time, staying relaxed, steady, comfortable and motionless, which
helps to attain mental equilibrium.
PRANAYAMA:(Control of Prana or Life Force by ‘Breath
Expansion’ and ‘Breath Liberation’)
vThe three stages of pranayama are breath
regulation are - Inhalation (Pooraka), Exhalation (Rechaka) and Retention
(Kumbhaka).
PRATYAHARA: (withdrawal of senses)
v‘Pratya’ means to ‘withdraw’ or ‘draw back’. and
the second part ‘ahara’, refers to anything we ‘take in’ by ourselves, such as
various sights, sounds and smells our senses take in continuously.
vThe practice of ‘Pratyahara’ changes our state
of mind so that we become so absorbed in what we are focusing on that the
things outside ourself no longer bother us, and we are able to meditate without
becoming easily distracted.
DHARANA: (Focused to concentration)
v Dharana is the initial state of Dhyana.
Dharana means focusing the concentration of mind on one object and its field.
DHYANA: (Meditative absorption)
v The 7th limb of yoga is meditative
absorption- when we become completely absorbed in the focus of our absorption
and this is when we are really meditating.
v By withdrawing mind from all external objects
and focusing it on one point and meditating on it, a person can control his
mind.
SAMADHI:(Blizz or enlightenment.)
v Samadhi is the final limb of yoga. It
literally means joining, combining with union, harmonious whole trance. This is
the state of Bliss or enlightenment. It is also called realization.
v Samadhi is not about escapism, floating away
on clouds or being abundantly joyful. It is about realizing the very life that
lies in front of us.
v The word samadhi is made up of two parts-
‘Sama’, meaning ‘equal’ and ‘dhi’ meaning ‘to see’ the ability to ‘see equally’
and without disturbance from the mind, without our experience being conditioned
by likes, dislikes or habits without.
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