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The eight limbs :- The history of yoga is complex and elusive. t covers a vast time-span, a huge area and is largely uncatalogued.

Yoga is part of a system of Indian philosophy, which appeared around 2,000 years ago. The term Ashtanga yoga means ‘eight-limbed yoga’ and it comes from an old Sanskrit text known as the ‘Yoga sutras of Patanjali’; the cornerstone of classical yoga philosophy. Patanjali’s text consists of 195 sutras and is broken down into four chapters, the eight limbs are described in chapter two.

Sutra 2.29 lists the eight principals by which, when unaffected by adverse circumstances, we should live.

The Eight Limbs:-

1. YAMA

Social conduct: this includes ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacarya (moderation in all things) and aparigraha (non-greed).

2. NIYAMA

Individual conduct: this includes:

Individual conduct: this includes: sauca (purity/cleanliness), santosa (contentment), tapas (austerity), svadhyaya (study of texts), isvarapranidhana (awareness and devotion to the ‘highest’ doesn’t have to be a religious concept).

3. ASANA

Postures/poses, which should be stable (Postures/poses, which should be stable (sthira) and open (sukha) for meditation.

4. PRANAYAMA

Breath control which should be refined to help concentrate one’s thoughts, create clarity of mind and encourage the movement of prana (life-force energy) throughout the body.

5. PRATYAHARA

Sense withdrawal to enhance inner awareness and perception.

6. DHARANA

Concentration, focusing on a specific point.

7. DHYANA

Meditation, a state that arises when meditation, a state that arises when concentration is refined.

8. SAMADHI: THE SUPERCONCIOUS STATE

Self-realization, cognitive unification.

According to Patanjali’s text, following the eight limbs enables a diligent student to obtain the clarity of perception necessary to achieve enlightenment and self-realization.

What do you think of the eight limbs? We would love to hear what you think, leave your comments below.

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