The Eight Limbs of Yoga Explained
Before I begin I want to start by saying that you do not have to do yoga or be into yoga for this post to apply to you. This post is about yogic philosophy and how to live a better life through these concepts. I will explain each limb in depth and provide examples on how to add them into your life.
The Eight Limbs of yoga are guidelines on how to live a meaningful life. They were created around 500 B.C.E by Pantanjali. This path is supposed to lead a person to liberation or moksha. Yoga is meant to be a way of life and thus the Eight Limbs guide a person in the direction of a joyful and mindful life. Although many Americans use yoga for exercise, the asanas or postures are just one of the eight limbs. To be able to be considered a practitioner by Easterners, one must use yoga in all aspects of life.
Yoga was originally formed as a way to look inward and eliminate the thoughts. This was supposed to be a graceful and slow practice not just something used for exercise. To be able to keep the traditional form of yoga intact, I want to introduce these limbs to you in hopes that you will internalize them and spread them with others.
The first limb are the Yamas. The Yamas are universal qualities and ethical principles. Before one beings the yogic poses, one must prepare and recognize that human qualities lay within. We all have tendencies in the mind that yoga can help use release.
Ahimsa is the first Yama. This means nonviolence. Although most take this to mean not harming others, it also means not harming yourself. Embrace your being, don’t escape it. Ask yourself what you could do to be kinder and gentler towards yourself and to others. You will only be able to appreciate others if you also appreciate yourself. This Yama allows you to come closer to life and find happiness in everything. Stop trying to push yourself to do more and more (trust me I’m talking to myself here too). You are on the same team as yourself, so don’t go against you, join forces. If you are kind to someone else, they will soon be forced to show the same kindness to you. You have the upper hand when you decide to be kind instead of act out.
Satya means honesty and truthfulness. Being honest with yourself will allow you to know the true reality of your being, not just the beliefs that were passed down to you, but what you truly believe in and who you truly are. This will also allow you to see what it is that you need to grow and become the best version of yourself. Being honest with others will allow you to form better and deeper connections and allow your relationships to flourish. Lies will come back to haunt you, and karma will come. Karma doesn’t have to be a bad thing though. If you are truthful, this will also come back to you, but in a positive way.
Asteya is non-stealing. Obviously don’t steal objects, but this isn’t truly referring to that. It is said that, “the need to steal arises because of a lack of faith in ourselves…” The moment you feel badly about yourself, you may want to bring others down with you. This is stealing. You try to steal happiness or contentless from others in hopes that you will feel better. There is so much more that this word applies to. It also means not stealing someones time or peace. Do not steal from yourself, allow yourself happiness and don’t look for the bad. Drop the feeling of inferiority or superiority. Come into your uniqueness and there will be no need for comparison.
Aparigraha, non-possessiveness. Everything that is given to you will be taken back, materials are only temporary. You entered this world with nothing and you will leave the same way. Materials bring temporary happiness and a world of desire. You must learn to be more not buy more. Dedicate yourself to making your heart richer. Share your heart, give more to the experience of your life. The more you give, the more you are given. This life is a gift, you do not own it. You own your consciousness and your awareness. “We are all cosmic travelers.” “Don’t wish for permanent things in temporary life.” To bring this into life now, don’t focus so much on material objects. Yes of course it is nice to have designer items and new technology, but use the energy that you put towards those items to enrich your inner being. We get so attached to “things” that we are heart broken when they leave us and constantly wanting more. This leads us to complain and to be sad.
Bramhacharya, “the ultimate knowledge.” This is the urgency to get to your true expression therefore everything you do is to get closer to yourself. Love something, but don’t get attached. This Yama is the quality of a person seeking the ultimate knowledge of their being. Use your energy to find your best self and your higher power.
2. The second limb are the Niyamas. Niyama means discipline and it includes the qualities of a yoga practitioner.
Sauca, purity/cleanliness. This means external and internal purity. Taking care of your physical body, your environment, yourself, etc. Clean your state of mind, allow yourself to be happy and think happy thoughts. For this to happen, engage in journaling, meditation, cleaning, etc. Sauca is one of the main reasons I make my bed in the morning. I notice that a clean room equals a clean mind. Try to pick up your room or any other space that you visit often for even just five minutes. Notice how it affects your mood. Further, keep the mind clean. Stop talking badly about yourself and others. Notice when you start to judge and try to stop this from happening. Think of positive affirmations. I. Notice that women especially start to say they look ugly on a certain day. Let’s stop saying that. Who cares if you look a bit tired or have no makeup on. You are beautiful in a natural and human way. No one is going to look “amazing” 100% of the time.
Santosha, contentment, gratitude, and feeling satisfied. Be happy with the journey not the end goal. If you keep waiting for Friday or summer vacation you will only be happy for a very short amount of time and so much of your life will be wasted. Yoga is not about attaining anything, it is about making realizations along the way. Accept that you lack nothing and that all you need is within you. Find a safe place within you. You can practice this in daily life all the time. Instead of thinking of the things you dread, think about the things you love and are grateful for. Whenever I wake up I smile and think about all that I can do with the day. Be as joyful as you can in this life, stop taking things so seriously. You are on this planet to live life, so do it and do it happily.
Tapas, burning of impurities, discipline. This Niyama is about releasing your trauma and healing your own pain and the pain that was passed onto you by previous generations. When you hold onto things, they are taking up space and energy within you. Know that whatever you are holding onto, you can come out of. Heal yourself. So often we don’t want to sit with ourselves because we know our trauma will come up and we don’t want to deal with it. However, then this problem will continue in our subconscious mind. This can also mean discipline. Practicing yoga and doing things even when we don’t want to. Be sure to monitor yourself though. Make sure you are pushing yourself in a healthy way, and take rest when you need it.
3. Now comes asana or the physical practice of yoga. We must first practice the Yamas and Niyamas to then land on our mats in a clear and clean state of mind. The asanas include the postures we do when we step onto our mats. Although it may seem the opposite, you are supposed to be free from your body and explore the layers of your being. The goal is to be in postures and be still and comfortable, without too much effort. If you are still and comfortable you don’t feel your body, you are instead with your mind. In modern times, we have changed yoga to making it one breath, one movement therefore trying to escape the mind. I encourage you at home to try out the Hatha style of yoga in which you hold poses for longer. The mind will wander and start to doubt, but just keep holding. Start by holding for about 5 breaths and slowly increase to 10, 15, 20, etc. Asanas help to make the body flexible and strong, but are specifically designed to allow energy to flow to all parts of the body. The asanas were created to prepare a person for meditation.
4. Pranayama is the balance of energy and breath. It is not just about breathing, but about trying to understand yourself as an energy. This then shows that your energy is eternal because “energy cannot be created or destroyed.” “Prana” means life energy and “ayama” means extending the life force. In pranayama we use the breath to clear the mind, body, and soul and allow our energy to flow. There are many different types of pranayama to practice and they involve changing the breath for different purposes. For example, Nadi Sodhana is alternate nostril breathing which “helps to harmonize the hemispheres of the brain, balancing the logical and emotional sides of the practitioner's personality.” You must work to balance your energies. “Hatha” is the combination of “ha” which stands for the sun, masculine energy, the right side of the body, and the sympathetic nervous system. “Tha” stands for the moon, feminine energy, the left side of the body, and the parasympathetic system.
5. Pratyahara is sense withdrawal. The focus is solely on yoga (the yogic beliefs and lifestyle) and a practitioner will get a glimpse of meditation. When you embrace this, you will start to see beautiful things that you didn’t see before. You will have a deep silence within you and you will find joy from within, not from the senses. “You become your own food” is what my teacher told me. You use the senses to turn inward instead of focusing externally. You will get to a place where no one has to motivate you to do things like meditation, you do it on your own for the betterment of yourself. Real joy is already within you, you do not need to look outward for joy. To practice this in life, meditate and be silent. Focus on yourself and what truly makes you happy and do that. Stop relying on other people or things for momentary joy. You can be happy most of the time, but remember that you wouldn’t know happiness without unhappiness.
6. Dharana is true concentration and one-pointedness. You will come to a place where whatever is going on around you does not distract you. You feel at ease with being yourself. You do not resist, you go with the flow of the world because you know that everything happens for a reason. Be one with what you are doing, have so much focus on that one thing that nothing takes you away from it.
7. Dhyana is meditation. It is when you are always in the state of dharana. Become present. You will never have this moment again so embrace it. You become in tune with the true nature of your being. Know that everything is impermanent, life is uncertain, but that is beautiful. When you accept this, that is meditation. You must realize your inner potential and see that you are limitless. This state cannot really be expressed, only experienced. You will feel connected to everything. Bliss is in meditation as it is a natural state.
8. Samadhi is absorption. You take in all of the information from the previous limbs and apply them to life. Live with no desires and embrace your true nature. My teacher said to live like a lotus in a pond, therefore live in water but do not get moistened by it. Do not let others around you change you. Take these tools and use them!
I loved writing this post and I hope you all enjoyed reading it.
“May we all be happy, may we all be healthy, may we all enjoy our lives”