In the West, what we commonly mean by yoga actually refers to the asana practice (the physical postures in hatha, vinyasa, ashtanga vinyasa, yin yoga, etc.), when in fact, this practice only represents one of the eight limbs of the ashtanga path described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra.
The yoga sutra is considered one of the primary books of Raja Yoga (royal yoga) and the foundation for most forms of modern yoga. Patanjali’s manual is made up of 196 Sutras in four chapters, and it is believed to have been written as far back as 5000 BC and 300 AD.
In Patanjali’s yoga system, the eightfold path is called ashtanga, which literally means “eight (ashta) limbs (anga)”. These eight steps act as guidelines to help cultivate a meaningful and purposeful life. The first two limbs shown in this illustration, the Yamas and Niyamas combined, are referred to as “dharma mittra”. They serve as a prescription for moral and ethical conduct and self-discipline.
YAMAS · Restraints
They are basically the yogi’s commandments “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”, the moral, ethical and spiritual principles of a person aspiring to reach balance, health, and well-being. They are the social conducts that help create harmony between ourselves and the world, and can be observed in our actions, words and thoughts.
– Ahimsa · Non-violence
This means that we should not harm ourselves, or any other living being, that we should do everything through the eyes of love and compassion.
– Satya · Truthfulness
It’s a commitment to the truth, not telling lies to ourselves, and to those around. Satya is to come from a place of honesty, always.
– Asteya · Non-stealing
This covers all manners of stealing, not just money or possessions from someone. It’s anything which is not freely given to us (time, attention, non-respect of intellectual property, etc.). This yama invites us to feel abundance and gratitude for the things we have instead of trying to take what is not ours.
– Brahmacharya · Sense control
It’s often interpreted as celibacy, abstinence from sex. But what it means is that we should be more aware and conscious of how we direct our energy. For most of us (who are not monks), it means practicing self-control by not overindulging in the senses or letting them pull us one way or another.
– Aparigraha · Non-coveting
It’s to avoid hoarding and greediness, to avoid being possessed by our possessions, and only owning what we really need without wanting more. This is not just about holding on to material things, but also ideas and concepts that we may have about life, about the events in our lives, and about ourselves and our personalities. By accepting the constant flux of life, we can free ourselves.
NIYAMAS · Observances
Niyama means “rule” or “laws” and they are suggestions Patanjali provides for self-discipline, spiritual observance and awareness. They’re guidelines on how we can relate to ourselves, and the “DOs” that can help us reach our potential and enhance the quality of our lives. They pave the path to personal growth.
– Sauca · Cleanliness
Sauca, or purity, is two-fold and interconnected. It applies to both the body and the mind. The physical, outer dimension, can be as simple as our hygiene and diet. The second dimension refers to the inner cleanliness and internal purity of the mind: cleansing the disturbing thoughts and emotions (hatred, anger, lust, greed, pride, etc.) through meditation, journaling, self-reflection.
– Santosha · Contentment
It’s learning to accept and be at peace with what we have and where we are at the moment. It’s about finding happiness and contentment within ourselves as well as others and our surroundings. It’s the practice of gratitude.
– Tapas · Discipline
Tapas is the disciplined use of effort. It’s doing our best to achieve our goals. By putting in the efforts and establishing structure, we also create the foundation for accepting and adjusting ourselves to what is coming into our path.
– Svadhyaya · Self-study
It means to study the sacred scriptures, such as Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, the Vedas, the Bhagavad Gita and even other religious texts to feed our intellect and provide perspective for self-reflection and the intentional study of the self.
– Isvara Pranidhana · Surrender
It’s about giving up what we think should be happening, surrendering to “God” or higher self, which in essence means cultivating a humble, deep and trusting relationship with the universe, and making each action an offering to “the divine” and humanity, “God” representing the collective consciousness (isvara).
We’ll explore each of the 6 following limbs in future blog posts:
3- ASANA · Postures
4- PRANAYAMA · Breathing Techniques
5- PRATYAHARA · Sense Withdrawal
6- DHARANA · Focused Concentration
7- DHYANA · Meditative Absorption
8- SAMADHI · Bliss or Enlightenment
By considering these aspects in our daily practice on and off the yoga mat, all of our decisions and actions come from a more considered, aware, and ‘higher’ place, and this leads us towards being more authentic towards ourselves and others.