Understanding Pratanjali's Eight Limbs of Yoga

When first dipping our toes into yoga, many of us may think of the physical practice, our favourite yoga studio or where to get the most eco friendly yoga mat.

Although, yoga goes much deeper then the physical practice which is one element of the 'Eight Limbs of Yoga'.

Pratanjali is believed to be the author of The Yoga Sutras (written sometime during the first four centuries) which includes 31 verses describing the Eight limbs of yoga.

These are written as a guide to life, not only on the mat but they provide ethics on how to live a purposeful life.

Eight Limbs of Yoga

• YAMA - Restraints / Disciplines

• NIYAMA - Observance

• ASANA - Physical Movement

• PRANAYAMA - Breath

• PRATYAHARA - Withdrawal of senses 

• DHARANA - Concentration

• DHYANA - Meditation

• SAMADI - Union

1. Lets start at the first of the eight limbs, YAMA.

There are 5 YAMAS which we will go through one by one:
Ahimsa - Non harming
Satya - Truthfulness
Asteya - Non stealing
Bramacharya - Non-attachment
Aparigraha - Moderation

Ahimsa - Non harming
Kindness and thoughtful consideration of others and objects. Avoiding any actions towards ourselves or others which may cause harm.

Satya - Truthfulness
Speaking with honesty and truthfulness. However there is consideration that if we are speaking the truth we are whilst not hurting others unnecessarily. Dont lie, even if lies seem pleasing. 

Asteya - Non stealing
To be trusted not to take advantage of a possession or of something someone has told us in confidence. 

Bramacharya - Non-attachment
One of most would say is the hardest to implement in this current day. Letting go of expectations of what should be. Making friends with uncertainty. Directing our energy towards internal rather than external desires. 

Aparigraha - Moderation
Only taking what is necessary and not taking advantage. 

2. Niyama - Observances

The second limb are the five Niyama’s.

The Niyama’s each refer to our positive duties that are directed towards ourselves.

Saucha - Purity, cleanliness, clearness
Santosha - Contentment
Tapas - Inner fire, burning enthusiasm
Svadhyaya - Self study and self reflection
Isvara Pranidhana - Surrendering to a higher power

Saucha - Purity, cleanliness, clearness

This can be interpreted by our own external and internal environments. Externally this could be; self care, such as hygiene, to keeping your space clutter free, or looking inwards, by maintaining clarity of mind and being aware of what we put into our bodies.

Santosha - Contentment

Not to be thought of as sitting back and not taking any actions. This niyama is appreciating what we do have, who we are, and moving forwards from there.

Conserving energy for gratitude, rather than wasting our energy on irrational expectations leading to disappointment.

Tapas - Inner fire, burning enthusiasm
Setting an intention and creating space and time for your passions to cultivate.

Svadhyaya - Self study and self reflection
Checking in and maybe asking, “why is it you are doing what you are doing”?
Noticing and acknowledging to then make possible shifts required.

Isvara Pranidhana - Surrendering and connecting to a higher power that is beyond yourself.
Also interpreted by contemplating or surrendering to the universe or a higher power.
If spiritual beliefs don't resonate, physically step out to the wilderness to feel your connection with nature.

3. Asana - physical movement

Asanas are the physical postures we practice in yoga. This being the most commonly known limb of the eight limbs of yoga in our society.
although there are many different postures listed through historic texts the word asana directly means “seat” which is said to be the seat to meditation. 

Through asanas we learn concentration, discipline, and awareness  of our mind and our bodies movement in space, which are all necessary for meditation. 

4. Pranayama - breath

Prana: vital life energy force
Yama: restrain or control

Pranayama: the practice of utilising control and regulation to perform sequential ratios of patterned breathing.

These sequences utilise the breath which allows us to clear the way for prana, vital energy, to flow through the mind and body to a higher frequency.

There are 5 purposes of pranayama ;
- Balance our vital principle energies
- Bring the mind under volitional control
- Expand or increase ones vital / principle energies
- Direct the vital force through specific channels in the body
- Awakening ourselves to ever increasing subtle dimensions of being.

5. Pratyahara: Withdrawal of the senses.

The practice of gaining mastery over external influences and management of the mind.
Pratyahara is one of the most important factors for mental health, as it calms the mind and slows mental stimulation along with creating awareness of our conscious mind.

The four forms of Pratyahara are;

- Indriya Pratyahara - Control of Senses
- Prana Pratyahara - Control of Prana (Energy)
- Karma Pratyahara - Control of Action
- Manon Pratyahara - Withdrawal of mind

6. Dharana - Total absorption

The state of mental concentration and total absorption, focusing attention on a particular object.
You can practice incorporating dharana (one pointed focus) with your breath, movement or setting and holding an intention.
Dharana can be practiced wherever you are, be that playing or listening to music, painting, or anywhere that you are completely present and focused in your task.
"Binding of consciousness to a (single) spot" - Pratanjali, Sutras

7. Dhyana - Meditation

The uninterrupted stream of consciousness.
Meditation is where thoughts may continue but holding this uninterrupted awareness of the thoughts without judgement or attachment is the practice of meditation.
Meditation is also known as rather than a state of doing, a state of being.

8. Samadhi - Union

A higher state of awareness where only consciousness remains as ego generated thoughts and feelings have dissolved.
This state is undisturbed by desire, anger, shame and other ego related feelings, and held in a state of calm.
Mental clarity and concentration is maintained.
"when we succeed in becoming so absorbed in something that our mind becomes completely one with it, we are in a state of samadhi"
- The Heart of Yoga T.K.V Desikachar

What I love about the Eight Limbs of Yoga is that even a millennium and a half after Pratanjali's recording in the Yoga Sutras, there are many lessons that are still relevant.

Of course there are many positives in our current day and so many things to be grateful for. Some live better than Kings and Queens would have if you just see the abundance of opportunities we have. Although there is always Ying to Yang and as collective we are the most distracted and stressed we’ve ever been, hence why our yoga practice reminds us of the value of deep contemplation, and the importance of consciously removing distractions, which I know you’ll agree is more relevant today than it has ever been.

The Eight Limbs of Yoga continue to offer profound lessons to incorporate alongside our physical practice and throughout our lives.