For many of us, our first introduction to yoga is through physical movement ~ asana practice. We are all initially drawn to the practice for our own reasons ~ increased flexibility, stress reduction, injury recovery, building strength & resilience in the mind & body ~ and we stay with it as the benefits continue to reveal themselves in our lives. Yoga is a rich tradition, rooted in teachings that guide us toward living our lives with greater meaning & purpose. Patanjali’s 8-fold Path provides an accessible framework to begin a deeper exploration of the practice of yoga.
THE 8 LIMBS OF YOGA ARE ~
1st Limb ~ the 5 Yamas (yoga’s ethical standards):
Ahimsa (non-violence)
Satya (truthfulness)
Asteya (non-stealing)
Brahmacharya (non-excess)
Aparigraha (non-possessiveness)
2nd Limb ~ the 5 Niyamas (spiritual observances):
Saucha (cleanliness)
Santosha (contentment)
Tapas (self-discipline)
Svadhyaya (self-study)
Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender to God)
3rd Limb ~ Asana (physical postures; caring for our temple; developing the discipline & concentration necessary for meditation)
4th Limb ~ Pranayama (breath work; exercises designed to bring awareness to & mastery over the breath (prana ~ life force energy)
5th Limb ~ Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses or sensory transcendence; drawing awareness away from outside stimuli)
6th Limb ~ Dharana (concentration; learning to deal with the distractions of the mind itself; one-pointed attention)
7th Limb ~ Dhyana (meditation or contemplation; uninterrupted flow of concentration ; state of being keenly aware without focus)
8th Limb ~ Samadhi (state of ecstasy; bliss; transcendence of the self; oneness; peace)
The 8 Limbs of Yoga are often depicted as a tree rather than a list. As is the case with many wisdom traditions, the journey never ends & is not a checklist of items to be accomplished & never revisited. As the journey continues to unfold & our understanding of the 8 Limbs deepens, we are drawn into ever-subtler relationship with each of the concepts & how they naturally weave through our lives & intertwine with one another.
The practice of yoga rooted in a growing understanding of the wisdom tradition behind it provides a lifelong path to lasting personal transformation. Yoga is rooted in connection ~ to self, to others, to life itself ~ and the 8 Limbs provide an interesting framework for further exploration.
Please join us as we journey through the 8 Limbs as a community beginning in February 2021 and continuing through June 2022. Each month, we’ll explore a concept and how it can be used as a point of inquiry into building a strong, loving and compassionate relationship with ourselves, with an emphasis on living on purpose (our main area of discovery in 2021).
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