The 8 Limbs

ByAaron Fleming

This week in class we were discussing the 8 limbs of yoga, as laid out by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. The 8 limbs are steps to help guide the yoga practitioner (sadhaka) in their Sadhana (practice). They are in a progressive order for learning but are all interrelated. They are:

Yama: moral injunctions
Niyama: fix observances
Asana: posture
Pranayama: regulation of breath
Pratyahara: internalization of the senses
Dharana: concentration
Dhyana: meditation
Samadhi: absorption

Although asana is not the first step out of the 8, it can be a place to start because the physical body grabs our attention. Once the body has brought you to attention the other limbs are introduced and learned.

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