Classification
Modern Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga): Eight Limbs
This is a style in Yoga which we are going to discuss further in our site. This style of Yoga is the most easy to understand and practice. It consists of eight limbs which
form the skeleton of our approach towards life.
Click on one of the limbs to get more information.
Self restraint:
(Yama) |
The Yamas refer to an individual's ethical standards and way of behaving. The Yamas have five areas of focus: |
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Non violence:
(Ahimsa) |
Non-violence against oneself or others, in actions or thoughts. |
Truth:
(Satya) |
Truthfulness in all dealings with the self and others. |
Non stealing:
(Asteya) |
Non-stealing, thoughtful in what is yours, not taking advantage of one's trust. |
Continence:
(Brahmacharya) |
Continence, abstinence, restraint, responsible behavior. |
Non covetousness:
(Aparigraha) |
Non-covetousness, non-grasping, taking only what is necessary. |
Observances:
(Niyama) |
The Niyamas refer to a more internal view of ourselves; to behaviors and observances. The Niyamas have five areas of focus: |
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Purity:
(Shoucha) |
Cleanliness, purity of the body and thoughts. |
Contentment:
(Santosha) |
Contentment and modesty, accepting what happens. |
Austerity:
(Tapas) |
Heat; spiritual austerities, respect for your personal being, keeping the body fit. |
Self study:
(Swadhyaya) |
The study of sacred texts, to study oneself through reflection. |
Surrender to omniscient:
(Ishvara Pranidhanam) |
Surrender to God, realizing one is not in control of one's existence. |
Postures:
(Asanas) |
The most common discipline taught in contemporary Yoga classes are the postures and movement between postures. Practicing Asana helps prepare us for deeper
meditation. By maintaining a healthy and open physical body, we are able to come to deeper meditation, enabling us to experience Samadhi. From a Yoga perspective, this is
the primary reason for practicing Asana. |
Regulation of Breath:
(Pranayama) |
Prana translates as 'breath' or 'life force'. Yama translates as 'control'. Thus Pranayama means control of the breath. Through Pranayama practice, we
learn to control the body and mind by controlling the breath. We can strengthen the energy within as well as making the energy more peaceful. Pranayama increases our lung
capacity, decreases stress, helps us focus, and brings a sense of balance of the inner self with the world around us. If practiced correctly, the body and mind become
healthier. |
Practicing the first four limbs of yoga (Yama, Niyama, Asana and Pranayama) help us to more thoroughly experience the next four limbs (Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and
Samadhi) which focus more on the spiritual self.
Abstraction of Senses:
(Pratyahara) |
Pratyahara means withdrawing from the senses. More accurately, it means to transcend the senses so they don't influence us in a way that prevents us from reaching
Samadhi, or enlightenment. By transcending the senses, we move our awareness away from the outer world and toward the inner self. Here, without outside influence, we are
able to view our selves in a deeper, more intimate way, ultimately finding the true self. |
Concentration:
(Dharana) |
With the help of Pratyahara, Dharana enables us to concentrate more fully, bringing a richer awareness of the mind. This step is essential to meditation.
Here, we use all the previously mentioned limbs to bring our selves to a place of such peacefulness and balance, every thought or influence is met with a totally open
mind, body and spirit. There is no preconception, prejudgment, conditioning, fear, anxiety, joy or sorrow to influence our meeting with each event. We meet every moment
with our true selves. |
Meditation:
(Dhyana) |
Dhyana is meditation. In Dhyana, or meditation, we move beyond Dharana (concentration) into a state of total awareness. We are able to concentrate on a
focus point, while still being aware of everything else around and within us. This is a much more difficult task than might be thought. All the previously mentioned limbs
are engaged when we come to this state. The mind and body must be totally quiet and open. |
Super Consciousness:
(Samadhi) |
Samadhi is the state of transcendence of the self, a state of ecstasy. It is the joining or union (the meaning of Yoga) with all living things, with the
universe, with the devine. Here, we are in a state of bliss, beyond the place of knowledge, beyond the place of worldly things, to a realization that everything is of the
same substance and that all is connected - Yoga! |
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