The Eight Limbs of Yoga

The great systematiser and theoretician of yoga was an ancient Indian sage and seer by the name of Patanjali. He divided the path of yoga into eight 'limbs', steps or aspects.

For more information on the Eight Limbs of Yoga please click on the headings below:

YAMA: - The moral commandments

NIYAMA: - The voluntary vows

ASANA: - Physical postures

PRANAYAMA: - Breath control

PRATYHARA: - Sense withdrawal from the external world into the interior self

DHARANA: - Concentration of mind on a particular point or object

DHYANA: - Meditation

SAMADHI: - Self-realisation

 

1. YAMA: The moral commandments

(Non violence, truthfulness, non stealing, restraint and religious study, and non covetousness.)

2. NIYAMA: The voluntary vows

(Purity, contentment, fortitude, willingness to learn and devotion to one's self to achieve 'yoga' or union).

3. ASANA: Physical postures

A scientific system of exercise and physical discipline that promotes physical and mental well-being.

4. PRANAYAMA: Breath control

Breathing practises that promote a balanced, less stressed frame of mind.

5. PRATYHARA: Sense withdrawal from the external world into the interior self

The control of mental energy to preserve personal energy.

6. DHARANA: Concentration of mind on a particular point or object

Development of the concentration.

7. DHYANA: Meditation

An uninterrupted flow of concentration, thus correct concentration leads inevitably to meditation.

8. SAMADHI: Self-realisation

Samadhi is the end result of dhyana; when the yogi becomes at one with the universal.

All the information is supplied by the Ruth White Yoga Centre. To learn more about yoga, click here to go to the Ruth White Yoga Centre website.

 

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