The 8 Limbs of Yoga

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Yoga is more than just an hour of performing various asanas on the mat. Asanas are in fact one of the eight limbs of yoga. Derived from the Sanskrit root Yuj meaning to join or to unite, Yoga is a lifestyle for leading a purposeful, and peaceful life. Specific sutras among the 196 sutras in The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali point towards the eight elements/limbs of Yoga, called the ashtanga in Sanskrit. Yoga outlines ways to live a purposeful lifestyle by incorporating this eightfold path. 

The eight limbs of yoga are Yamas (abstinences), Niyama (observances), Asana (yoga postures), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (absorption). These 8 limbs must be practiced in order because each of the limbs lays the foundation for the next.

1. Yamas

Concerned with the moral and ethical codes in life, Yamas is the first limb of the Ashtanga. It is about being aware and considerate towards others and the world around us. Meaning ‘reigning in’ or ‘control’ in Sanskrit, Yamas emphasize the dos and don’ts of conduct with an intent to maintain good relationships with self and the people around. The Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra introduces us to the five types of Yamas, namely Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (celibacy or fidelity), and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness).

1.1 Ahimsa

One of the most important components of Yamas is Ahimsa, the principle of nonviolence. The concept promotes abstention from hostility in all aspects of life. One can incorporate Ahimsa into their yoga practices through the Virabhadrasana asana (which symbolizes the strength and grace of the warrior), Padma mudra (which symbolizes the perseverance of the Lotus flower rising above from the murky waters), and chanting the mantra “Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu” that translates to “May all beings everywhere be happy and free” during the mudra pose or even when you are stuck in the middle of traffic. Sutra 2:35 notes that “In the presence of one firmly established in nonviolence, all hostilities cease.” 

1.2 Satya

Satya is more than just abstaining from lies. Satya is the principle of remaining true to ourselves and the world around us in words, actions, and intentions. 

1.3 Asteya 

The third Yama is Asteya. Translated as ‘non-stealing’, Asteya is a holistic approach that not only promotes respecting others’ physical assets but also lets go of the desire to manipulate or rip off someone else’s achievements, talent, success, time, relationships, or natural resources. Asteya as a philosophy encourages one to appreciate their gifts in life and addresses the root problem of greed, feelings of powerlessness, and comparisons that sow the seeds of ‘stealing’ someone else’s properties or moments to shine. The practice of Asteya becomes easier through meditation because meditation not only calms your mind but allows you to think clearly and help with better perspectives.

1.4 Brahmacharya

Brahmacharya, translating to celibacy is the fourth Yama of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra. Although this concept evokes a lot of disagreements in general, Brahmacharya has a deeper meaning to it. It promotes diverting our energy from excesses and unnecessary worldly pleasures and directing our energy toward long-term goals for wellness in life. One can incorporate Brahmacharya in yoga practices by exercising the Balasana (Child’s pose), Prana Mudra that elicits the vitality within you, and repeating the Mantra Om Somaye Namaha, which symbolizes the rejuvenating nectar (soma) from the Moon that washes away the stress. 

1.5 Aparigraha 

The final Yama of the Yoga Sutra is Aparigraha, meaning non-hoarding or non-attachment. The concept promotes abstaining from greed, possessiveness, or covetousness and encourages one to take only what’s needed because greed begets more greed and only leads to the suffering of humans and nature. 

The philosophy of Aparigraha teaches us the essence of minimalism, the joy of sharing, and the relief of letting go. One can practice Aparigraha through breathwork and meditation. 

More importantly, one should practice the Yamas for the love of bettering oneself and the surroundings. 

2. Niyamas

Niyamas are the second limb of the Ashtanga. While the Yamas are concerned with your relationship with the outside world, Niyamas are concerned with self-care and nurturing your relationship with self. We cannot have a meaningful relationship with others until we connect with ourselves in the first place. Niyamas have five different aspects around it, namely Saucha (cleanliness), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (discipline), Svadhyaya (self-study), and Isvara Pranidhana (surrendering to a higher level).

2.1 Saucha

Our surroundings determine our state of mind. Saucha in its truest essence is all about the saying ‘Cleanliness is next to godliness.’ In addition to physical cleanliness, saucha is also about having a positive attitude towards others and the self, as it can have a big impact on us mentally and spiritually. One can adopt saucha in their homes, yoga practices, diet, and their minds.

2.2 Santosha

The concept of Santhosha conveys the message of being content with ourselves, our surroundings, our achievements, our relationships, and our blessings. Striving for a healthy degree of accomplishment does not do us any harm. But finding ourselves chasing endless lists of the societal definition of success will not make us happy. The Bhagavat Gita teaches us that peace and happiness are within us. You can implement santosha in your lives by appreciating who you are right now and how far you have come. 

2.3 Tapas

The base of Tapas, Tap means to give out warmth or heat, and Tapas translates to austerity or discipline. The concept of Tapas revolves around displaying passion, courage, and determination and fighting the good fight against all odds to pave the way for the best versions of ourselves. On the mat, one can practice tapas by trying out poses that are different or difficult from the usuals, and off the mat, one can try to move past negative thoughts or ideas that let them down. Although one needs to remind themselves that as one strives to do their best, one also needs to be content (Santosha) with what they have and live in the moment. 

2.4 Svadhyaya

Svadhyaya means self-study. This fourth niyama indulges in studying and deepening our knowledge of the self to realize who we are, what harms us, what serves us, and what helps us to get closer to our true selves. We can exercise svadhyaya in our lives through physical yoga practices. Noticing your breathing patterns can also help you to understand the thoughts and emotions you are going through. Apart from such activities, reading is often encouraged. Paying attention to your thoughts and actions can also give a better perspective of what you are doing and why you are behaving in a certain way or having a particular habit. 

2.5 Isvara pranidhana

Isvara pranidhana is the orientation towards self-awareness and surrendering to universal power. 

3. Asana

Most of us got introduced to yoga through the third limb of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra. Commonly known as yoga poses or yoga postures, the sutras define asana as a position that is steady and comfortable. In the context of asanas, yoga resembles physical practices, movements, poses, and postures combined with breath (inhaling and exhaling). The sutras 2.46, 2.47, and 2.48 associate asanas with Sthira (steady) and Sukha (comfortable) – bringing ease to the body and quietude to the mind, the practice of asanas involves mastering steady physical postures while the effort is relaxed and the mind is calm and present. In its form, asana is an exploration of aligning the physical, energetic, and mental layers of your body. So the next time you practice the third limb on your mat, ask yourself whether you are practicing asanas, or whether they are just postures. 

4. Pranayama

The sutras define Pranayama as an exercise to achieve a concentration of the mind. Pranayamas are breathing techniques following a specific sequence of inhaling, exhaling, and holding the breath. There are many types of techniques like alternate nostril breathing (nadishodham), victory breathing (ujjayi), female honeybee humming breathing (bramari), and bellows breathing (bastrika). These techniques are often practiced while performing different asanas and dhyanas. There are many benefits to this art of breath control. Modern studies have shown pranayama’s significant positive effect on anxiety. They are also practiced to increase mindfulness, improve sleep quality, enhance cognitive performance, strengthen lung functioning, and reduce high blood pressure. 

5. Pratyahara

Translated as the ‘withdrawal of senses,’ the fifth limb of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra enlightens us to detach from the deafening noises of the outside and the inside world to attain ultimate peacefulness. It is all about ignoring external and internal disturbances while learning to control your reactions to them. Although inculcating pratyahara might seem challenging, practicing pratyahara in asanas (like Savasana) helps. There are four types of pratyahara one needs to be aware of to fully benefit from the practice.

5.1 Indriya pratyahara or the control of the senses focus on withdrawing from the constant barrage of sensory impressions from our five sense: eyesight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. To divert your attention in a mass-media-oriented culture and help you work towards higher goals in life, indriya pratyahara promotes concentrating on your natural breathing pattern. 

5.2 Controlling of the senses does not hold water without prana pratyahara. Prana pratyahara is the control of the life force (prana) that is gathered together through pranayama practices, which is about taking control of your mind by regulating your breath. 

5.3 Impulses coming from our senses can lead to actions. And this is why karma pratyahara is complimentary to indriya pratyahara. Practiced through karma yoga, it promotes controlling our deeds and performing only those actions necessary to live.  

5.4 Mano pratyahara is the withdrawal and control of our wavering minds from various sensory inputs. Mano pratyahara is a way to slowly withdraw from external stimuli and desires by controlling your reactions and redirecting your attention to the necessary.

6. Dharana 

With so many distractions like social media and other communication platforms, people are easily distracted and their focus tends to drift. And that’s exactly why the sixth limb of dharana seems relevant even today. Dharana, translating to ‘concentration’ is the practice of focusing on a particular object, place, or idea around you. While pratyahara encourages one to focus on the inwards, dharana intends to fixate on this inward focus, but on a single thing alone (which could be predetermined). This might seem overwhelming for a beginner, but discipline and patience are the way around. One can practice dharana by learning pratyahara, finding a serene and comfortable place to sit, predetermining an object/mantra/breath to focus on, concentrating around the point of focus, and finally practicing this exercise on a regular basis. In simple words, dharana is the practice of focusing on the task at hand.

7. Dhyana

While dharana sharpens your mind to find focus on a single thing, dhyana is the next stage of Ashtanga yoga. Tapping into one’s consciousness, dhyana is a state of abiding calm. 

Translating to contemplation and meditation, one can practice dhyana by combining pranayama, pratyahara, and dharana in unison. 

8. Samadhi

The eighth and final limb of yoga mentioned in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra is samadhi. Samadhi means ‘to bring together,’ the mind, the object of medication, and the process of meditation itself. It is s considered the highest goal of practicing yoga. 

Truly, yoga extends beyond the mat. Only that change doesn’t have to be big.

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