The ancient sage Patanjali talks of the eight limbs of yoga in one of the key yoga texts, The Yoga Sutras. Yoga posture, also called asana, is just one limb. Read on for a detailed explanation of the other limbs…

Eight limbs of yoga you say…. Asana is only one?! Yes, yes, I found that a bit of a surprise too. I remember wondering why I didn’t know about the other limbs before despite having a regular in-studio practice. As I started to learn about the eight limbs, I realised how much of each is present in a yoga class, even if I hadn’t necessarily realised it before. 

1. Yamas

Yamas are often referred to as ‘restraints’, ‘moral duties’ or the right ways of living. They help guide us to live in unity with the world around us but also relate to how we treat ourselves. There are five yamas, they are:

• Ahimsa – meaning non-violence
• Satya – meaning truthfulness
• Asteya – meaning non-stealing
• Brahmacharya – meaning ‘right use of energy’ or ‘celibacy’
• Aparigraha – meaning non-hoarding or non-greed

We’ll delve into the yamas in more detail in a future blog post.

The yamas are referred to as restraints, but I see them actually as liberating and freeing. When I was first introduced to the yamas, I remember thinking they seemed restrictive and that they’d be tough to follow, but they’ve given me a framework to build my life that is refreshing, joyful and rewarding.

2. Niyamas

The five niyamas follow the yamas. Whereas the yamas are concerned with restraining certain behaviours, the niyamas are often referred to as observences, and I think of them as positive actions, or the ‘do’s’ to the yamas ‘don’ts’. They are:

• Saucha – meaning cleanliness or purity
• Santosha – meaning contentment
• Tapas – meaning discipline, but also referring to heat
• Svadhyaya – meaning self-study (study of the texts)
• Isvara Pranidhana – meaning to surrender to a higher power

I’ll cover the niyamas in more detail in a future blog post.

One thing I enjoy about the continual study of and work on the yamas and niyamas, is how their meaning changes to me as I move through life. Wherever I am, I find some new wisdom in these tenants. It’s a reminder that the work is never really done here. Its lifelong and that is great. They’ll never not be relevant to life.

3. Asana

Asana, or the postures featured in the yoga classes you are probably used to taking in London studios, is the third limb of yoga. In the west, we delve right into stretching, benching, strengthening and in some cases punishing the body, when actually Patanjali suggested studying practicing the yamas and niyamas first. Strange eh?

Asana is actually only gets a fleeting mention in the Yoga Sutras. My favourite of which is in sutra 2.46, ‘Sthira Sukhasanam’ or ‘postures should be practiced with steadiness and ease’. More on this sutra in a future post, but for now, I ask you to consider whether you practice postures with steadiness and ease? Take that with you to your next yoga class and notice if the practice changes.

4. Pranyama

Pranyama is the control of the breath. Prana refers to our life force or energy, which is often intended to mean breath.

Whilst some pranayama techniques such as kapalabhati (or breath of fire), can require some prior experience or technique, I find most of these practices are simple in practice, but can have a huge impact. In fact, I think practicing breath control has had by far the biggest impact on my life off the mat.

Some of my favourite breath techniques include nadi shodhana (alternate nostril breath), square breath (4×4 breath), and breath retention practices.

I’ll go into more detail on breathing techniques at a later date, and some short guided breath videos will follow in due course. Please click here to sign up to receive recordings directly to your inbox.

But for now, just practicing simple breath awareness, bringing your attention to your long slow inhales and exhales through the nose, can be a nourishing and grounding practice.

5. Pratyahara

Pratyahara refers to withdrawal of the senses. Simply, when we close our eyes, stop focusing on the sound of the person fidgeting with their water bottle on the mat next to us, and go inwards.
I like to think of pratyahara as withdrawing from the wide world and going into my world, or ‘dropping inwards’. This simple practice can help me try to connect with the true self, the unchanging self that resides deep within me.

Ever wondered why many yoga classes start with a few minutes to yourself with your eyes closed on the mat? Well that’s pratyahara in action.

6. Dharana

Dharana follows pratyahara closely. To me they are interlinked and one of the same practice. Dharana refers to concentration – focusing your attention on something. Visualisation techniques (ie focusing on a yantra or candle gazing), as well as a focus on your breath are both forms of dharana.

My other favourite is way this is used is when we refer to your drishti in balancing postures. To me that is a form of dharana that most of us can connect with.

7. Dhyana

Dhyana means meditation. After withdrawing the senses and entering pure concentration, meditation can follow.

I know meditation can sometimes feel quite daunting. And the more you try to meditate the more your thoughts can take over. I have a lot to say about this, and again, a separate blog post will follow.

8. Samadhi

The final limb of yoga is Samadhi, meaning enlightenment or a state of bliss. It’s the goal or the final reward for working through all the other limbs.

I have often considered whether this state of bliss exists. When there is an irritating family member or colleague doing their best to de-rail your practice of ahimsa, when you are focusing on concentrating but cannot help but notice the person next to you is sniffling, when you are meditating but have one mind on what’s for dinner, it can be easy to wonder whether Samadhi is ever in reach! Especially in a fast-paced modern world.

But actually, I’ve found my own solace and little moments of bliss. It may not be how Patanjali meant this limb of yoga to play out, but I am also sure he didn’t experience the tube, open plan offices, and shared flats. So I have made this fit my life in a slightly different way.

When I am working, just a little bit each day, on limbs 1-7, I find there are more moments that fit with the bliss of limb 8. Little moments of bliss, happiness and joy in my day. Moments that I think have always been there, but that before yoga, I wasn’t really able to notice or experience fully.

So, that’s my whistle-stop tour of the eight limbs of yoga. How many of these concepts have you encountered before in a yoga class? I’d like to hear from you about it.

I have listed below some further resources on the sutras and the yamas and niyamas.

• Greed, Sex, Intention: Living like a yogi in the 21st Century
• Yamas and Niyamas: Exploring yogas ethical code
• The Path of the Yoga Sutras: A Practical Guide to the Core of Yoga
• The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

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I hope to practice with you on the mat sometime soon.