Ruth White Yoga Centre
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.