The Eight Limbs of Yoga, An Overview

Widely translated and interpreted for nearly 2,000 years, The Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali is an ancient text that helps forms the foundation of modern yoga philosophy. The text contains an outline for the eight limbs of yoga, also known as the eightfold path.

In sanskrit, "ashtanga" translates to "eight limbs." Therefore, the eight limbs of yoga are also known as "ashtanga yoga" -- not to be confused with Ashtanga yoga, the specific style of physical yoga practiced by K. Pattabhi Jois, and later made popular by David Swenson.

The eight limbs of yoga describe a way of life that is designed to create a union between body and mind. Each limb builds on each other, while also intertwining like the limbs of a tree.

Here is a brief overview, based on both my formal training and personal study:

1. Yamas - Five moral codes for interacting with the external world:

Ahimsa - Non-violence toward ourselves and others; Having compassion and consideration for all living things.  

Satya - Truthfulness and honest communication; Telling the truth with love, yet also considering ahimsa and deciding whether it is better to speak or stay silent. 

Asteya - Not stealing; Not taking anything that hasn't been freely given, including possessions, time, energy, and so forth. Also, not taking advantage of another's trust.   

Brahmacharya - Moderation in all things; Balancing how to spend our energy. Sometimes interpreted with a greater emphasis on sexual energy.  

Aparigraha - Not being greedy; Not relying on external objects to reinforce a sense of self. Also, letting go of attachments.  

2. Niyamas - Five personal practices for self-observation and self-discipline:

Saucha - Cleanliness or purity; Having good hygiene, being organized, and seeking clarity of mind.  

Santosa - Contentment; Being grateful for what we have and happy with who we are. Appreciating life in the moment.  

Tapas - Discipline of our energy; Heat. Having passion and enthusiasm for goals, while using heat to burn away distractions.  

Svadhyaya - Self-study; Being self-aware and looking within to learn more about ourselves. Welcoming both our strengths and limitations.  

Ishvara pranidhana - Surrender to the divine; Finding reason and meaning in life, whether through a higher power (religion) or through larger connections with others.

3. Asana - Physical postures and practices; This includes all the different varieties of hatha (physical) yoga practice (ex. Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Yin, Bikram).

4. Pranayama - Breath control; Breathing techniques which are practiced to balance the flow of energy (prana) within the body.

5. Pratyahara - Withdrawal of the senses; Detaching from external senses to better focus on the inner self and avoid distractions.

6. Dharana - Concentration; Bringing the focus of your attention to one single point, shutting out everything else.

7. Dhyana - Meditation; Combining pranayama, pratyahara and dharana to focus on our perception of reality and find true clarity of mind.

8. Samadhi - A state of joy and peace; Enlightenment.

While this overview covers the basics, these principles are open to interpretation and have been explored in many different ways by different scholars and yoga practitioners. If you like to learn more, you can read the yoga sutras for yourself and find many resources which delve into the eight limbs of yoga in much more depth.