Simply stated, Yoga is a philosophy of living. It goes beyond a purely physical practice, and becomes a way to integrate our body, mind, and spirit; transcend our personal limitations; and eventually understand our own true nature.
The eight limbs are:
- Yama - Rules of Social Conduct
- Niyama - Rules of Personal Behaviour
- Aasana - Physical Postures
- Praanaayaama - Control of Vital Force
- Pratyaahaara - Control of the Senses
- Dhaarana - Right Attention or Concentration
- Dhyaana - Meditation
- Samaadhi - Absorption
Yama
The five Yamas or the dharmic principles of social behaviour are:
- Ahimsa - nonviolence
- Satya - truthfulness
- Asteya - non-stealing
- Brahmacharya - abstinence or control of Sexual energy
- Anabhinivesa - non-clinging or detachment
Niyama
The five Niyamas or the dharmic principles of personal behaviour are:
- Santosha - contenment
- Saucha - purity
- Svaadhyaaya - self-study
- Tapas - self-discipline
- Iswara pranidhaana - surrender to God
Aasana
Aasana means right posture or the posture in harmony with our inner consciousness. Aasanas bring harmony to the physical body, particularly the musculoskeletal system that is the support of the body.
Praanaayaama
Praana means life force and Aayama means extension or expansion. Praanaayaama is not simply breath control but the controlled expansion of the life force. It consists of deepening and extending the Praana until it leads to a condition of Peace. When Praana is at peace, the life force the senses, emotions and mind are out to rest.
Pratyaahaara
Prati means counteracting or controlling and Aahaara means bringing near or fetching. Here Aahaara is to be taken as our sensory organs. Pratyaahaara is the right management of the senses to put them to rest. The techniques involved in Pratyaahaara either shut off the senses, like closing the eyes or ears, or using our senses with attention and concentration rather than distraction. This includes the various forms of Mantras or visualizations or listening to our inner sounds (naada).
Dhaarana
Dhaarana means holding or controlling. It involves developing and extending our power of attention. The techniques involve various ways of directing our attention like concentrating on the six chakras, Ishta devata, and the like.
Dhyaana
Dhyaana means contemplating, meditating. Meditation is the natural state of awareness. Meditation helps us to realize our own self. The object of meditation may be an external object like the ocean, sky, space, Ishta devata or an idea or a principle. It may be with a form (Saguna) or totally formless (nirguna).
Samaadhi
Samaadhi is but becoming one with the object of our perception. It is the absorption of ourselves into the consciousness that shows joy and fulfillment in life. It brings us to the underlying Divine nature in all the things. It is the natural outcome of true meditation.