The 8 limbs of Yoga
Although in the west yoga is often considered just exercise it can be much more than this as it has a deep and rich Indian philosophy which the physical/exercise practice is part of.
The most famous text, which a lot of yoga philosophy still draws upon is a book called the Yoga Sutras which was written by Patanjali around 2000-2300 years ago! Even though this was a long time ago most of it still is relevant today, its broken down into 4 books of chapters, I spoke a lot more about the beginning of chapter 1 HERE but in case you missed that
Book 1 outlines yoga as a state of mind and talks in depth about yogas chitta vrittis nirodha settling of the roaming mind into silence so we can be in our true nature, our essence, our being. He explains how this is essentially nearly always overshadowed by the activity of the mind! This activity of the mind is normal and a part of our nature but it is often causing us suffering and separation from nature. Yoga is essentially a practice of pressing pause on this chattering mind so that we can be more intentional with our thoughts and actions directing them away from suffering and towards union, peace and liberation.
Book 2 outlines yoga as a practice and is called sadhana pada. Sadhana is a devotional daily practice. Within Sadhana Pada Patanjali gives lots of different ways to practice the most well-known or cited in modern yoga is the 8 limbs. 8 ways to practice yoga in our day. This may be with our bodies (asana) our breath (pranayama) our outward actions (yama) our internal actions (niyama) our senses (pratyahara) or even the final 3 more subtle inner limbs of dhyana (one pointed focus) dharana (meditation) and Samadhi (the ultimate fruit! The blissful state we sometimes glimpse!)
The 8 limbs aren’t linear we usually enter through the physical practice of yoga postures which is actually the 3rd limb. Which makes sense when you consider we practice yoga through our physical body (anamayakosha) as this is what we experience our mind (manas) and our lives through. As BKS iyenger eloquently puts it
BKS IYENGAR
quote from his classic ‘Light on Life’
Starting from the 3rd limb helps us connect physically to our bodies. We become more spatially aware, more mentally aware more spiritually aware. We can begin to move; challenge and be present with our bodies. As well as the physical body being a container for learning yoga, for nurturing that inner connection practicing asana and looking after our physical bodies also comes from a deep respect for all life. This practice honours the life within us.
As we often start our journey with the postures I’ve started there too, but from here we will come back to the first 2 limbs which are yama and niyama. They’re often considered ‘do’s and don’ts’ or commandments but Donna Fhari describes the first 2 limbs Yama and Niyama as not a series of commandments but an emphatic declarations of what we are when we are connected to our true nature. These two limbs not only can inform how we approach our yoga practice on the mat but also off the mat too enriching our interactions.
If you want an in depth dive into the 5 yamas you can either
Discover more about the Yama and Niyama
Yama
There are 5 yamas they guide us in our external or worldly actions how we engage with ourselves, our relationships, our communities and even globally. Often in our yoga asana practice in class we can draw on these principles to aid and enhance how we approach the practice.
Ahimsa (non-Harm) Satya (truth) Asteya (non-stealing) Bramacharya (energy management) Aparigraha (non-attachment)
More on the yama here
2. Niyama
There are also 5 niyamas which make up the second limb of Patanjali’s 8 limbed path. These guides us in our personal observances. These niyamas deepen our connection with self through Saucha (purity) santosha (contentment) Svadhyaya (self-study or self-reflective awareness) Tapas (discipline) Ishvara Pranidhana (Trust or Surrender)
More on the niyama here
3. Asana
As we have already touched on the 3rd limb is often where we begin I will keep it brief. Asana or yoga postures help us greatly on this journey at acts as a support or a container for the other limbs to be practiced and understood mind and body.
As BKS Iyengar eloquently puts it
Body is the arrow, Asana the bow and soul the target.
4. Pranayama
Pranayama is the control of the breath the direction of our life force. To draw once again from BKS Iyengar ‘Breath is King of the Mind’ Practicing pranayama we are taking control of the breath. Science has proven what the Indian yogis and sages knew. Many ancient pranayama practices have been studied and show how well they work on soothing our nervous system, our organs, digestion, heart rate variability and many more systems within the body. This control of the breath works on the body and the mind but also allows us once again, and in time, to go deeper into the next limbs.
As with branches on a tree they are not individual and they all come together to inform, sustain and develop each other.
As breathe stills our mind, our energies are free to unhook from the senses and turns inwards.
BKS IYENGAR
5. Pratyahara
These leads us perfectly onto the 5th Limb – Pratyahara which is often translated as sense withdrawal or sense control. In the Raja Yoga book by Swami ….. he describes pratyahara as ‘the art of making the mind introspective or turned inward upon its self.’ To continue drawing upon his words its important to make ‘no violent effort to control the mind but allow it to run along for a while and exhaust its efforts’ Simple ways to practice pratyahara including tuning into our body and breath at the start of class or cultivating the space for this during savasana (final relaxation)
The modern world has a myriad of sensory overloads and pratyahara allows us to disconnect from this, turning inward. The overload of the senses keeps the mind stimulated and keeps the chitta virttis churning. An important part of our yoga practice as this direction of the senses creates a more wholesome, connected and even spiritual practice as this limb is often considered the bridge between the outer limbs and the final three inner limbs.
They’re considered the inner limbs as they are more subtle less externally or physically oriented.
6. Dharana
Through asana, pranayama and pratyahara we find focus and control over ourselves our bodies, breath, mind and senses. Through dharana one pointed focus we direct that focus towards a point perhaps it’s the sound of the breath, a point within the body such as feeling hand on heart, a candle gazing meditation or repetition of a mantra. Give it a go! You’ll find it naturally creates a good state for meditation.
7. Dhyana
Dhyana is the limb of meditation. Asana (yoga postures) prepare the body and the mind for sitting in stillness. When we are restless with to much energy and not enough focus this state is much harder. Asana will bring the mind and body towards this stillness. If you practice meditation with dharana, a one pointed focus you might find even more ability to meditate. Remember the mind does wander and roam but the more we practice the other limbs the more we will nurture the ability not to find complete silence but actually not be disturbed by these fluctuations.
8. Samadhi
This is the 8th and final limb of yoga. There is different levels of samadhi from glimpses to sustained. Sama is the sanskirt word for equal and samadhi is often considered a state of equanimity and bliss beyond the intellect.
In summary when we bring these limbs into our practice our experience of yoga deepens.
When we bring in the niyamas of tapas(discipline) svadhyaya (self-reflection) and Ishvara Pranidhana (trust/devotion) our asana, pranayama and meditation begins to have direction. When direct the senses towards the present moment (pratyahara) we allow ourselves to open our practice up the focus, meditation and bliss.
There is a lot of information within the 8 limbs, the Yama and niyama alone take a lot of time to unpack, and embody. I personally don’t feel its important to remember all of this every time you practice. Just keep showing up with an open mind and heart and trust that the yoga works. When you feel compelled you can check back in, re-read these resources and take from them what resonates with you that day.
Yoga is not an instant practice, a check list, a test to pass. It’s a path and each of ours will look different.
The physical practices whether your drawn to yoga, breathwork or meditation will lead you where you need to go. You’ll come back and draw what you need, when you need it.
I’m always here for questions,
I don’t and won’t pretend to have the answers or even a complete understanding of this deep philosophy but we can certainly mull it over together x
