The basics of Ashtanga Yoga.
A basic introduction to the Eight Limbs of yoga will then be followed by future blog posts with an in-depth review of each limb.
We already know that Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years across the globe as a path of self-awareness and self-discovery that aims to unite the mind, body, and soul. Let's get into some more details describing the basics, Ashtanga yoga, as described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, includes eight components known as the Eight Limbs of Yoga. Each limb is significant and unique, serves as a guideline, and when practiced together, they create a comprehensive approach to living a harmonious life. In this blog, we will introduce each of the Eight Limbs of Yoga, a progressive set of practices that are designed to help an individual achieve self-realization and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
The 8 limbs
1. Yama: The first limb of yoga is Yama, which means "restraint". This includes five moral principles that practitioners should follow in their daily lives: Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (direction of energy), and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness).
2. Niyama: The second limb of yoga is Niyama, which means "observance". This includes five ethical guidelines that practitioners should follow: Saucha (cleanliness), Santosa (contentment), Tapas (discipline), Svadhyaya (self-study), and Ishvara pranidhana (surrender to a higher power).
3. Asana: The third limb of yoga is Asana, which means "posture". This refers to the physical yoga poses that are practiced to create a healthy body and mind.
4. Pranayama: The fourth limb of yoga is Pranayama, which means "breath control". This includes various breathing exercises that are practiced to regulate and control the flow of prana (life force) in the body.
5. Pratyahara: The fifth limb of yoga is Pratyahara, which means "withdrawal of the senses". This involves the ability to focus inward and detach from external distractions to achieve a state of inner peace and tranquility.
6. Dharana: The sixth limb of yoga is Dharana, which means "concentration". This involves the ability to focus and concentrate the mind on a single object or thought without distraction.
7. Dhyana: The seventh limb of yoga is Dhyana, which means "meditation". This involves the practice of quieting the mind and achieving a state of profound inner stillness and clarity.
8. Samadhi: The eighth and final limb of yoga is Samadhi, which means "enlightenment". This is the ultimate goal of yoga, in which an individual achieves a state of complete absorption and immersion into the divine consciousness, transcending the limitations of the individual self and experiencing a sense of oneness with the universe.
These are the basics...
But each Limb holds heavy in-depth meaning and details on how to achieve the end goal of Samadhi. I will go over these in the future each individually and in depth as they hold so much value in the way we interact with the world and ourselves.
More to come on meditation and the eight limbs.
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