Ashtanga Yoga

“ 8 limbs of yoga” By : “Patanjali Yoga Sutra” Article is written By : Dr. Aniket Banvi

Yama — self Control/Discipline, Niyama — Self regulation, Asana — Yoga poses, Pranayama — Breath control, Pratyahara — sense withdrawal, Dharana — concentration, Dhyana — meditation and Samadhi — self-realization are 8 steps to yoga

1. Yamas (Self control)

2. Niyama (Self regulation)

3. Asana (Yogic Postures/A position that is steady and comfortable/Physical Activity)

4. Pranayama (Breath-work)

5. Pratyahara (controlled senses)

6. Dharana (concentration)

7. Dhyana (meditation)

8. Samadhi (Enlightenment)

1. Yama —
   🙂Ahimsa : Non-Violence.
   🙃Satya : Truthfulness.
   🧐Asteya : Non-Stealing.
   🤓Brahmacharya : Moderation.
   😎Aparigraha : Non-Hoarding.
2. Niyama -
   🛀🏽 Saucha : Cleanliness (Physical & mentally)
   😇Santosha : Contentment
   🙂Tapas : Self Discipline
   🙇🏻‍♂️Svadhyaya : Self Study
   🌊Isvara-pranidhana : Surrender
3. Asana : Physical poses / physical activity,when asana is performed it should be done with a feeling of firmness, steadiness and endurance in the body.
4. Pranayama : pranayama is the regulation of the incoming and outgoing flow of breath with (Kumbhaka) retention.
5. Pratyahara : It is a process of retracting the sensory experience from external objects. It is a step of self extraction and abstraction , it is consciously closing one’s mind processes to the sensory world.
6. Dharana : means concentration, introspective focus and one-pointedness of mind

The mind is fixed on a mantra/one’s breath/any place/an object one wants to observe/concept/idea in one’s mind.

Fixing the mind means one-pointed focus.

without jumping from one topic to another.

7. Dhyana : Mediation with interrupted train of thought with the acceptance of being aware of them and accepting as they bombard our state of mind.

Dharana is a state of mind,
Dhyana the process of mind.

8. Samadhi : means “putting together, joining, union, harmonious whole, trance”.

Samadhi is that spiritual state when one’s mind is so absorbed in whatever it is contemplating on, that the mind loses the sense of its own identity and there is only oneness.

These are the 8 Limbs of Yoga called as Astanga Yoga (8 Limbs of yoga) these 8 steps which helps in overcome various hurdles in life.

Article written By : Dr. Aniket Banvi