Yoga 101: The Eight Limbs

Some time again, I posted a weblog that sketched out a really primary define of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. In fact, we will’t presumably seize the essence of the sutras in a single weblog submit, or perhaps a collection of them. It’s finest once we digest them over time. And it’s even higher once we think about them within the context of our personal lives. At this time’s submit will define the Eight Limbs of Yoga.

The sutras are divided into 4 padas (chapters). The second pada is the one which yoga lecturers and practitioners most frequently check with. It’s because the second pada contains the Eight Limbs of Yoga. The Eight Limbs present a scaffolding for the entire system of yoga, in accordance with the sutras.

Whereas the sutras record the limbs in a specific order, they aren’t hierarchical. They’re not like a ladder with eight steps. As a substitute, all of the limbs feed into the entire, sort of just like the limbs on a tree. Working towards any one of many limbs helps all of the others.

The Eight Limbs of Yoga

Right here’s a brief synopsis of the limbs:

1. Yama: Yama means “restraint.” The yamas are moral or ethical precepts for dwelling peacefully on the earth. They embody ahimsa (non-harming), satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (sensible use of sexual power), and aparigraha (non-greed).
2. Niyama: The niyamas are private practices that assist us create a wholesome basis for our day by day lives. They embody saucha (cleanliness), santosha (contentment), tapas (power or dedication to apply), svadhyaya (self-study and research of inspiring texts) and isvara pranidhana (dedicating our apply to one thing bigger than ourselves).
3. Asana: That is the limb we most frequently affiliate with yoga—the bodily postures.
4. Pranayama: Pranayama is the apply of controlling and increasing the breath.
5. Pratyahara: The commonest description of this limb is “withdrawal from the senses.” I interpret it as a refinement of our relationship with our senses.
6. Dharana: Dharana is focus. It’s the gathering of the thoughts onto a single object.
7. Dhyana: Dhyana is meditation. It’s the flexibility of thoughts to remain current it doesn’t matter what we’re experiencing via our senses.
8. Samadhi: Samadhi is the utterly settled, expansive thoughts.

That is only a bite-sized description of the framework for yoga apply. Any of the limbs—and even any a part of the limbs, say one of many yamas—may very well be fodder for years of apply.

Should you’re keen on studying extra, my e book Conscious Yoga, Conscious Life: A Information for On a regular basis Observe, outlines the Eight Limbs and goes into element about every one. There are additionally strategies for methods to apply every one.

About Charlotte Bell

Charlotte Bell found yoga in 1982 and started instructing in 1986. Charlotte is the writer of Conscious Yoga, Conscious Life: A Information for On a regular basis Observe and Yoga for Meditators, each printed by Rodmell Press. Her third e book is titled Hip-Wholesome Asana: The Yoga Practitioner’s Information to Defending the Hips and Avoiding SI Joint Ache (Shambhala Publications). She writes a month-to-month column for CATALYST Journal and serves as editor for Yoga U On-line. Charlotte is a founding board member for GreenTREE Yoga, a non-profit that brings yoga to underserved populations. A lifelong musician, Charlotte performs oboe and English horn within the Salt Lake Symphony and folks sextet Purple Rock Rondo, whose DVD received two Emmy awards in 2010.