 The Eight Limbs of YogaThe eight limbs of yoga were expounded by Patanjali in his yoga sutras, which are said to date back to around 200 AD. The limbs are essential elements of a yoga practice, and in each religion can be found the same central themes and rules. The Eight Limbs of Yoga:
These eight steps offer each being a guide to pursuing the Supreme Self. Nowadays, most people are introduced to yoga through Hatha Yoga, which consists of the Asanas (limb #3). Both Asana and Pranayama (#4) bring health and clarity to the mind and body. After practice of these limbs, those looking to grow their spiritual practice will turn to the other limbs of yoga. The first limb of yoga is Yama. Without following these observances, will not achieve union with the Supreme Self. These guidelines apply to every aspect of daily life. With continued practice, the student will find both clarity of mind and notice growth in every other aspect of his or her practice. The five yamas are:
Ahimsa - non-violence, non-harming, compassion. Having ahimsa means having an open heart and not committing violence. Not only does this cover physical violence or harm, but emotional and spiritual harm as well. Holding negative thoughts and attitudes towards one’s self and others committing violence and is a barrier to spiritual growth. Also, practicing ahimsa means bringing compassion and abstaining from cruelty in all areas of life. When one eats dead animals, one is participating in some form of cruelty. Therefore, the practice of ahimsa naturally leads one to adopt a vegetarian diet. Assuming this practice will allow the student to experience higher levels of spiritual clarity, compassion, and awareness. In addition, a vegetarian diet has been shown to prevent against illness and disease, translating to longevity and a healthier, more joyful quality of life. Regardless of one’s situation, the practice of ahimsa consists of adopting a loving and compassionate attitude in every situation. Satya - truthfulness. In being committed to truthfulness, we should speak the truth when possible, but also remain conscious of ahimsa (non-harming). If the truth will cause harm, it is best to say nothing at all. Being truthful should not conflict with ahimsa, in fact they should complement each other. Our job is to express the highest truth through love and compassion in our daily lives. Honest and sincere communication will form a strong foundation in a relationship, in a community, in an organization and in government. Exaggeration, disception, misleading, and deliberate evasion of the truth all go against the basis of satya. Asteya - non-stealing. The practice of asteya means taking nothing that does not belong to us. Besides the obvious stealing of material items, we should not take what is not given or misuse what is entrusted to us. For example, we should not betray someone’s trust, take something without permission, or even use something for a purpose other than which it is intended. Demanding others’ time or attention or demanding things that are not freely given is in fact, stealing. Brachmacharya - abstinence, restraint and control of the senses. This yama refers to abstinence and moderation in sexual conduct. To completely devote ourself to spiritual growth, abstinence should be practiced for a time. Later, celibacy is not neccessary but brachmacharya should be practiced, which mean that our sexual energies should be engaged in order to connect with the Supreme Self and our relationships should bring us closer to union with the Highest Self. Our energies should be devoted to God and not used to shame, put down, hurt, or abuse others. Aparigraha - non-hoarding. By practicing aparigraha, we release our attachment to gains of wealth, fame, or other wordly objects. We let go of the desire to collect, take, and keep and instead give everything with an open heart. We should not take advantage of others or a situation and we should not accept gifts that are not freely given. Practicing non-hoarding also means not taking more than what is needed, for doing will cause harm. Aparigraha is letting go of the desire to have anything and putting pure trust in God to provide everything. Through this understanding, one comes to accept change and fluctuations as part of God’s plan. One remains unattached and devoted to God regardless of outside circumstances. The second limb of Yoga is Niyama. The Niyamas can be viewed as a code for personal conduct. While the yamas describe our relationship with others, the niyamas are guides to forming a healthy attitude and relationship with ourselves. Sauca - purity, cleanliness. Saucha encourages us to become pure and clean, both inwardly and outwardly. Outward cleanliness includes regular washing and regard for personal hygiene. Inward cleanliness can be achieved through certain cleansing practices known as kriyas, as well as keeping the body and energy pure through exercise (asana), breathing (pranayama), mediation, and awareness. Purity of thought/mind and body are connected, and so saucha encourages us to release negative thoughts, habits and emotions and instead cleanse ourselves of impurities so we can move closer to union with the Highest Self. Santosa - contentment. Being in the moment, being grateful, and being content are all elements of santosa. We cannot be at peace if we are thinking about what we want or what we should have, if we are worrying about what happened yesterday or what might happen tomorrow. Living simply and harmoniously in whatever circumstance we find ourselves can be called santosa. Developing santosa will bring a peace of mind, clarity, and acceptance to all things that occur in our lives. One ancient yoga text tells the reader to always have an attitude of appreciation, because by the grace of God, in reality we only experience a fraction of the suffering we would otherwise deserve. Tapas - austerity. Tapas refers to the burning desire for God that should be cultivated in our hearts. Through our suffering, through toil and sweat, we burn away impurities that stand in the way of oneness with the Self. With tapas, we should cultivate enthusiasm and desire to connect with God, and we should use our energies in a way that reflects our goals. We should also discipline our minds by paying attention and being mindful - of our habits, of what we eat, of how we act, etc. After we come aware, tapas become the energy of discipline and austerity to enact the change within ourself. Svadhyaya - self-study, self-inquiry. Practicing svadhyaya means creating a mindset of inquiry into our selves, in order to discover truth and reality. Taking time to reflect on our self and on our lives is part of svadhyaya, as well as any activity that brings us deeper into realizing what we really are. In the Bhagavad Gita, it is mentioned that the yogi remains “centered in the Self”. We shoud become self-aware and self-conscious, and always maintain a connection inward that remains unbroken regardless of external circumstances. Isvarapranidhana - surrender to God. This literally means to lay all your actions at the feet of God. In our best times and our worst times, we should have the mind to give everything up, to surrender completely at the feet of that whose existence is beyond our comprehension. We should recognize our limitations and trust in a greater power to guide and lead us through our lives. With this humility, we should not turn away from our growth but instead continually try to align with this force and give ourselves wholly in service to the Supreme Self. The fourth limb of yoga as outlined in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is Pranayama, literally translated as control of prana or bodily energy. This is known as breathing techniques and may be included as part of a yoga class or practiced on their own. Very simple and easy to learn, these techniques allow energy to flow through the body. A practitioner will note feelings of clarity, peace of mind, and alertness. Some most common forms of pranayama are listed below. Ujjayi breathingThis may be recognized as the “sound of the ocean” breath. Coming from deep in the lower abdomen, Ujjayi breathing helps one connect deeply within the body and calm the mind.
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