Ashtanga means "eight limbs" (ashta=eight, anga=limb) in Sanskrit. Practitioners of yoga follow these eight guidelines to live a more meaningful and purposeful life. The goal in Yoga is not to perfect a pose but to get out of our own way so we can sit in meditation. The eight limbs are not a hierarchy but an evolution.
For students interested in deepening their practice, DARE Daily today yoga will guide you on a path of integrating these eight principles into your life.
1. Yama - BEHAVIOR “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The first limb, yama is the Golden Rule of Yoga and focuses on our behavior and how we conduct ourselves. The five yamas are: Ahimsa: nonviolence Satya: truthfulness Asteya: nonstealing Brahmacharya: continence Aparigraha: noncovetousness
2. Niyama - SPIRIT, The second limb focuses on self-discipline and spiritual observances. Believe in God, the Universe, something bigger than yourself. Meditate and practice that belief regularly.
The five niyamas are:
- Saucha - cleanliness;
- Samtosa - contentment; Tapas - heat, spiritual austerities;
- Svadhyaya - study of the sacred
- scriptures and of one's self
- Isvara pranidhana - surrender to God
3. Asana - the postures practiced in yoga are the third limb. By practicing asana, we develop the habit of discipline and the ability to concentrate, both which are necessary for meditation.
4. Pranayama - Breath control and the connection between the breath, the mind, and the emotions makes up the fourth limb. The literal translation of pranayama is "life force extension." Yogis believe that pranayama rejuvenates the body and extends life.
5. Pratyahara - The fifth limb, means withdrawal or sensory transcendence. Here we make the conscious effort to draw our awareness away from the external world and focus our attention internally. The practice of pratyahara allows us to observe unhealthy habits and open our minds to other opportunities.
6. Dharana - As each stage prepares us for the next, the practice of pratyahara creates the setting for dharana, or concentration. In the practice of concentration, which precedes meditation, we learn how to slow down the thinking process by concentrating on a single mental object. In pratyahara we become self-observant; now, in dharana, we focus our attention on a single point. Extended periods of concentration naturally lead to meditation.
7. Dhyana - Meditation or contemplation, the seventh stage of ashtanga, is the uninterrupted flow of concentration. Although concentration (dharana) and meditation (dhyana) may appear to be one and the same, a fine line of distinction exists between these two stages. Where dharana practices one-pointed attention, dhyana is ultimately a state of being keenly aware without focus.
8. Samadhi - At this stage, the meditator merges with his or her point of focus and transcends the Self altogether. The meditator comes to realize a profound connection to the Divine, an interconnectedness with all living things. With this realization comes the "peace that passeth all understanding"; the experience of bliss and being at one with the Universe.
These first four stages concentrate on refining our personalities, gaining mastery over the body, and developing an energetic awareness of ourselves - all of which prepares us for the second half of this journey which deals with the senses, the mind, and attaining a higher state of consciousness.