What does yoga mean?

The word “Yoga” means to connect with “Yoke”. The only thing we look to connect to is the true self, known as “Divine essence”. You also think of this as the soul. If your thinking doesn’t resonate with you, then choose the word yoga. whatever stops us from feeling free, the ultimate goal of any yoga practice is to find Moksha, meaning freedom.

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What are the 8 Limbs of yoga? 

1. Yama (moral discipline)
2. Niyama (observances)
3. Asana (physical postures)
4. Pranayama (breathing techniques)
5. Pratyahara (sense withdrawal)
6. Dharana (concentration)
7. Dhyana (absorption or meditation)
8. Samadhi (enlightenment or bliss)

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1. Yama (moral discipline)

This is 1st limb, Yama, which shows to vows, practices, or disciplines that is concerned with the world around us, and our interactivity with it. The practice of yoga can surely increase physical strength and flexibility and support in calming the mind. There are 5 Yamas:

• Ahimsa (non-violence)
• Satya (truthfulness)
• Asteya (non-stealing)
• Brahmacharya (right use of energy)
• Aparigraha (non-greed or non-hoarding)

Yoga is a practice of benefitting and transforming every detail of life. if we want to learn to be kind, and truthful and use our energy in a valuable way, we will not only benefit ourselves with our practice, but everything and everyone around us.

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2. Niyama (observances)

This is 2nd limb, Niyama, which refers to internal duties. The beginning “Ni” is a Sanskrit verb that means “Inward”. There is 5 Niyama:

• Saucha (cleanliness)
• Santosha (contentment)
• Tapas (burning of desire)
• Svadhyaya (self-study or self-reflection, and study of spiritual texts)
• Isvarapranidaha (surrender to a higher power)

Niyama is traditionally practiced by those who want to travel further along in yogic path and are considered to build character. Niyama is closely related to Koshas, our “Layer” leading from the physical body to the essence within.

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3. Asana (physical postures)

This is 3rd limb, Asana, which refers to the path of freedom, and if we are being honest, the word asana doesn’t mean here the ability to perform delicately impressive backbend, it means “seat”. This is a seat that you would take for the practice of meditation. The only instruction Patanjali gives for this asana is “sthira sukham asanam”, the structure should be stable and comfortable. While traditional texts hatha yoga “Pradipika” lists many postures like Padmasana (lotus pose) and Virasana (hero pose) good for meditation, this also tells us about the most important posture like “Sthirasukhasana (a posture the practitioner can hold comfortably)”. The idea behind this is to be able to sit in comfort so we are not “pulled” by pain or restlessness due to being uncomfortable.

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4. Pranayama (breathing techniques)

The word “Prana” means energy. It is also described as the essence that keeps us alive, as well as the energy in the universe. Prana is also described as breathing, and working with the way we breathe. Beyond this one of the most amazing things about Pranayama is the fact that it can mean 2 different things. Which might lead us to 2 different directions at this point on the path of freedom.

We explain Pranayama in “Prana- Yama” which means “Breath control”. The physical practice of working with different breathing techniques changes the mind in a mass of ways, we can select calming practices such as Chandra Bhadana (moon piercing breath) or more energizing techniques like Kapalabhati (shining skull cleansing breath). Breathing will change our state of mind, and it is up to us as we want to save this by controlling the way we feel or freeing ourselves from the habitual way our mind might usually be.

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5. Pratyahara (sense withdrawal)

Pragya stands for “Withdraw and Ahara stands for “taken in”, like many sights or our sense to take in continuously. When we are sitting for meditation practice, this is the 1st thing we do when we think we are meditating. The practice involves the way we breathe, so this limb is related directly to the practice of pranayama too.

The sentence “Sense withdrawal” is being able to switch our senses off through concentration, which is why this practice is often misunderstood. Instead of losing the ability to smell and hear, to feel and see, the practice of pratyahara changes our state of mind and things outside ourselves no longer trouble us and we can meditate without being distracted. Experience practitioners might be able to translate pratyahara into everyday life, being concentrated and present in the moment at hand, so that things like excitement and sound don’t distract the mind.

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6. Dharana (concentration)

Dharna stands for “Focused concentration”. Dha means “maintain” and Ana means “something else”. Closely linked with 2 limbs, dharana and pratyahara are important parts of the same aspect. To focus on something, we have to withdraw our senses so that all attention is on that point of concentration. We should focus and concentrate intently. Candle gazing, focusing on breath and visualization are all involved in the practices of dharana, and this is the stage many of us get to when we think we are meditating.

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7. Dhyana (absorption or meditation)

The 7th limb is Dhyana (absorption or meditation) when we are absorbed in the focus of meditation, and this is when we are meditating. All the things we might learn in class are only techniques to help us settle, focus, and concentrate. The practice of meditation is not something we actively do; it tells the spontaneous action of something that happens as a result of everything else.

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8. Samadhi (enlightenment or bliss)

Samadhi stands for “bliss”, and this is the final step of the journey of Patanjali’s yoga sutras. After we rebuild our relationship with the outside world and with our inner world, we come to the finale of bliss. Breaking this word in half, we see the final stage is made with 2 words “sama” stands for equal, and “dhi” stands for to see. There is a reason it is known as relaxation. It is because reaching Samadhi is not about dreaming, it is about realizing the life that lies in front of us. The ability to “See equally” and without trouble the mind, without our experience being conditioned by likes or dislikes, or habit, without to judge, that is bliss.

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