1. Yama

The first of the 8 limbs of yoga, yama,

deals with one’s ethical standards

and sense of integrity, focusing

on our behavior and how we conduct

ourselves in life. Yamas are universal

practices that relate best to what we

know as the Golden Rule,

“Do unto others as you

would have them do unto you.”

 

The five yamas are:

Ahimsa: nonviolence

Satya: truthfulness

Asteya: nonstealing

Brahmacharya: continence

Aparigraha: noncovetousness

 

 

 

2. Niyama

Niyama, the second limb, has to

do with self-discipline and spiritual

observances. Regularly attending

temple or church services, saying

grace before meals, developing your own

personal meditation practices, or

making a habit of taking contemplative

walks alone are all examples of niyamas in practice.

 

The five niyamas are:

Saucha: cleanliness

Samtosa: contentment

Tapas: heat; spiritual austerities

Svadhyaya: study of the sacred scriptures and of one’s self

Isvara pranidhana: surrender to God

 

3. Asana

Asanas, the postures practiced in yoga,

comprise the third of the 8 limb

s of yoga. In the yogic view, the body

is a temple of spirit, the care of which

is an important stage of our spiritual

growth. Through the practice of asanas,

we develop the habit of discipline and

the ability to concentrate, both of

which are necessary for meditation.

 

 

4. Pranayama

Generally translated as “breath control,”

this fourth stage consists of techniques

designed to gain mastery over the

respiratory process while recognizing

the connection between the breath,

the mind, and the emotions.

As implied by the literal translation

of pranayama, “life force extension,”

yogis believe that it not only rejuvenates

the body but actually extends life itself.

You can practice pranayama as an

isolated technique (i.e., simply sitting

and performing a number of

breathing exercises), or integrate

it into your daily hatha yoga routine.

These first four stages of Patanjali’s

ashtanga yoga concentrate on refining

our personalities, gaining mastery over

the body, and developing an energetic

awareness of ourselves, all of which

prepares us for the second half of this

journey, which deals with the senses,

the mind, and attaining a

higher state of consciousness.

 

 

5. Pratyahara

Pratyahara, the fifth of the 8 limbs

of yoga, means withdrawal or sensory

transcendence. It is during this stage

that we make the conscious effort to

draw our awareness away from the

external world and outside stimuli.

Keenly aware of, yet cultivating a

detachment from, our senses, we direct

our attention internally. The practice

of pratyahara provides us with an

opportunity to step back and take a

look at ourselves. This withdrawal

allows us to objectively observe

our cravings: habits that are perhaps

detrimental to our health and which

likely interfere with our inner growth.

 

6. Dharana

As each stage prepares us for the next,

the practice of pratyahara creates the

setting for dharana, or concentration.

Having relieved ourselves of outside

distractions, we can now deal with the

distractions of the mind itself.

No easy task! In the practice of

concentration, which precedes

meditation, we learn how to slow down

the thinking process by concentrating

on a single mental object: a specific

energetic center in the body, an image

of a deity, or the silent repetition

of a sound. We, of course, have

already begun to develop our powers

of concentration in the previous three

stages of posture, breath control,

and withdrawal of the senses.

In asana and pranayama, although

we pay attention to our actions,

our attention travels. Our focus

constantly shifts as we fine-tune

the many nuances of any particular

posture or breathing technique.

In pratyahara we become self-observant;

now, in dharana, we focus our

attention on a single point. Extended

periods of concentration

naturally lead to meditation.

 

7. Dhyana

Meditation or contemplation,

the seventh stage of ashtanga, is

the uninterrupted flow of concentration.

Although concentration (dharana) and

meditation (dhyana) may appear

to be one and the same, a fine line

of distinction exists between these

two stages. Where dharana practices

one-pointed attention, dhyana is

ultimately a state of being keenly aware

without focus. At this stage, the mind

has been quieted, and in the stillness

, it produces few or no thoughts at all.

The strength and stamina it takes

to reach this state of stillness is quite

impressive. But don’t give up.

While this may seem like a difficult,

if not impossible task, remember

that yoga is a process. Even though

we may not attain the

“picture perfect” pose, or the ideal state

of consciousness, we benefit

at every stage of our progress.

 

8. Samadhi

Patanjali describes this eighth

and final stage of ashtanga, samadhi, as

a state of ecstasy. At this stage, the

meditator merges with his or her

point of focus and transcends the

Self altogether. The meditator

comes to realize a profound connection

to the Divine, an interconnectedness

with all living things. With this

realization comes the

“peace that passeth all understanding”;

the experience of bliss and being

at one with the Universe.

On the surface, this may seem

to be a rather lofty,

“holier than thou” kind of goal.

However, if we pause to examine

what we really want to get out of life,

would not joy, fulfillment, and freedom

somehow find their way onto our list

of hopes, wishes, and desires?

What Patanjali has described as the

completion of the yogic path is what,

deep down, all human beings aspire to

: peace. We also might give some thought

to the fact that this ultimate stage of yoga

—enlightenment—can neither be

bought nor possessed. It can only be

experienced, the price of which is the

continual devotion of the aspirant.

Thanks to YOGA JOURNAL for this accurate information.