8 Limbs of Yoga: Meaning, Principles & Practice

Yoga is not one technique that involves taking the body into a certain position or a certain pose. It is also about the way we think, act, breathe, look and live our everyday lives. This is expanded upon with sage Patanjali's 8 limbs of yoga.

The 8 limbs of ashtanga yoga reveal the pathway of good activity towards peace within the inner self. Following the 8 limbs path of yoga will enable one to cultivate a serene mind, a healthy body, positive habits, and increased self knowledge.

So, what exactly does yoga's "eight limbs" have to do with everyday life – which may seem impossible for a beginner to incorporate? Let's examine those one by one simply.

What are the 8 limbs of yoga?

The 8 limbs of yoga are the eight aspects of the purely yogic way. They are NOT a list of yoga exercises! Others regulate our actions and practices, exercise our body and breath, and help us with our minds.

The 8 limbs of yoga are:

• Yama – good behaviour towards others.
• Niyama – good habits and self-discipline
• Asana – steady yoga postures
• Pranayama – control and awareness of breath
• Pratyahara – withdraw from the objective world
• Dharana – focused attention
• Dhyana – meditation
• Samadhi – deep inner absorption

The eight stages help to bring the 8 limb path of yoga to the realm of more than just exercise.

1. Yama – How We Treat Others

The first part of Patanjali's 8 limbs of yoga is Yama. It gives us instructions on what to do and how to act with other people and towards the world.

Five Yamas to Practice

• Ahimsa: Avoiding harm through thoughts, words, and actions.
• Satya: Speak and live the truth.
• Asteya: Not taking what does not belong to us.
• Brahmacharya: Use of energy in a balanced manner.
• Aparigraha: Avoiding unnecessary greed and attachment.

Simple human values are the foundation of the first element of yoga; the eight moving steps. Don't need to use a yoga mat to practise Yama.

For instance, you can put into practice your kindness towards someone, returning what you have borrowed and not being unnecessarily angry would be part and parcel of your practice.

2. Niyama – Building Better Habits

Whereas Yama is about what we do to others, Niyama is more about what we are doing to ourselves. This is the second in the series of 8 limbs of ashtanga yoga.

The Five Niyamas

• Shaucha: Cleanliness of body and mind
• Santosha: Being thankful and content
• Tapas: Self-control and hard work.
• Svadhyaya: Self-study and learning
• Ishvara Pranidhana: Trust and surrender to a higher reality

The practice of yoga is a journey of 8 limbs that will induce that personal growth that should be nurtured on a regular basis. Maintaining small points like keeping your area tidy, reading to yourself beneficial books or seeing your thoughts will help support Niyama.

3. Asana – Training the Body

Asana is the third part of the 8 limbs of yoga. This is the limb that everyone knows when they say "yoga".

The position you get into the body steadily for stability while building awareness is an Asana. But, in Patanjali's system, yoga is not asana. It's only a part of the full route.

What can Asana teach us?

Your regular practice of asana helps to work on:

• Balance
• Body awareness
• Flexibility
• Strength
• Stability
• Steady breathing
• Improving for meditation.

A proper teaching of yoga mudra asana, of course, could also be added to a traditional yoga programme.

The intent isn't necessarily to assert a flawless pose. The ultimate purpose is to be aware of the body and the mind.

4. Pranayama – Working With the Breath

Pranayama is the fourth of the 8 limbs of yoga. It is about the mind, breathing and the connection between breath, energy and mind.

If you're anxious, your breathing might become rapid. Pleasant breathing is frequently softer and slower during a restful body state. This connection is carefully utilised in yoga.

A very simple pranayama practice.

One traditional breathing technique that is used to establish a BH/VE balance is Nadi Shodhan Pranayama.

With the proper practice, Nadi Shodhan Pranayama can be a useful component in a peaceful yoga practice.

For beginners it is advisable to practise the breathing technique slowly and do not push breath!

5. Pratyahara – Taking a Break From Distractions

The fifth of the 8 Limbs of Yoga is pratyahara.

Consider taking rest while the mobile keeps on resonating. While your body remains still, your mind is searching out the next message.

Pratyahara serves as a practice to lower this attraction to the senses and turn our focus on self.

Simple Ways to Practice Pratyahara

• Take a few minutes to sit quietly.
• Do not have your phone at practice.
• Make observations of sounds, but not respond to them.
• Close your eyes and watch your breathing.
• Give yourself quiet time every day.

This is one of the "8 Limbs of Yoga" in which there is a space between you and constant outside stimulation.

6. Dharana – Training Your Attention

Dharana is the sixth 'ashtanga' of yoga, the eight limbs. It refers to being focused or focused upon some desired point of the mind.

This can be very simple for beginners, as it focuses on breathing.

Try This Simple Practice

• Sit down in a comfortable position.
• Relax your shoulders.
• Be aware of your breath.
• Be aware of the drift of the mind.
• Slowly pull back.

Don't feel bad that you're thinking about other things. The reorientation of the attention consists of its return to itself.

7. Dhyana – Moving Into Meditation

Dhyana comes after Dharana and is the seventh part of the 8 limbs of yoga.

Dharana is aiming to remain on one point. Dhyana is a deeper continuous attention that is deeper and stronger.

What Does Dhyana Feel Like?

Don't try to empty the mind by trying not to think. Rather, the intellect is calmed and affected in different ways.

This quiet meditation following Nadi Shodhan Pranayama can help you gain insights into the relationship between breath awareness and mental focus.

Can also work well for stillness and comfortable breathing that can aid the yoga practice of mudra asana with yoga meditation.

8. Samadhi – Deep Inner Absorption

Samadhi is the 8th most deep mind of Patanjali's 8 limbs of yoga.

It refers to a state of great devotion, during which normal distractions and the sharp consciousness of separation between the meditation subject and the content of the meditation are rendered very quiet.

Samadhi is very difficult to achieve for a beginner; it is not something that can be attained in a short term.

Why Is Samadhi Included?

The 8 limbs of yoga gradually lead towards greater self consciousness. Samadhi is the ultimate level of the inward journey.

This is not about acquiring anything new but more about moving into an extremely deep clarity and absorption.

How the 8 Limbs of Yoga Work Together

In this regard, one common error is that the 8 limbs of ashtanga yoga are considered as 8 distinct steps.

They can be thought of as segments of a single route.

For example:

Yama - Niyama - Asana - Pranayama - Pratyahara - Dharana - Dhyana - Samadhi

One can engage in multiple limbs in one day.

Here's a simple daily example!

• Try to be kind as the Yamas.
• Follow healthy habits through Niyama.
• Do yoga mudra asana or any other sitting posture.
• Practice gentle breathing like Nadi Shodhan Pranayama.
• Sit still and focus on minimising outside distractions.
• Focus on the breath through Dharana.
• Enter into meditation at Dhyana.

This demonstrates why the 8 Limb path of yoga can be lived outside of the yoga class and in everyday life.

What Are the 8 Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga Really Teaching?

As you may guess from the simplicity of its name, yoga is a complete system for developing the body, behaviour, breath, senses, attention and inner awareness that is taught by the 8 Lamps of the Ashtanga system.

The 8 limbs of yoga remind us that:

• The beginning of yoga is in our lifestyle.
• The body is in need of stability.
• Our mind is influenced by our breath.
• Constant stimulation should be avoided for the senses.
• The ability to concentrate requires practice.
• With focused concentration, meditation deepens.
• Inner growth takes time and patience.

This is especially beneficial when a person is completely new to yoga and can utilise the 8 limbs of Ashtanga yoga.

Why the 8 Limb Path of Yoga Still Matters Today

Today's life is filled with diversions. Most people are on the phone a lot, are stressed out, have poor sleep and have difficulty sitting down.

Yoga is a practice of slowing down and becoming more aware, with the 8 limb format of yoga.

It is not necessary to practise all things correctly. Make a small change as a start.

Make an effort to talk nicely. Sit quietly for 5 mins. Namaskar to an Awareness Asana. Take slow breaths. Observe your thoughts and don't reach out to them right away.

These little things in time can make the meaning and principles of the 8 limbs of yoga more apparent through experience.

Final Thoughts

The eightfold path of yoga reveals yoga to be a lot more than physical postures. All of these are significant facets of the yogic path that lead from the original base, Yama-Niyama, through meditation and Samadhi.

Patanjali's 8 limbs of yoga can help you realise why yoga is rooted in ethics, discipline, movement, breathing, concentration and meditation!

One of the best ways to learn the relationship of the 8 limbs of yoga is to live the principles of the limbs in everyday life. Practise slowly, be consistent and let practice build up on its own