Ashtanga Yoga - Patanjali's Yoga Sutras

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras

Patanjali, an ancient sage, defined yoga as the and lsquo;restraining of thought waves'. He compiled and lsquo;Patanjali's Yoga Sutras', the aphorisms of yoga, in which he provides an eight-limbed approach for the well-being and purification of body, mind and soul. This eight-limbed approach, known as Ashtanga Yoga, is not to be mistaken as a step-by-step approach but a multidimensional approach in which all eight limbs are practised simultaneously.

The Eight Limbs of Yoga

Yamas and its complement, Niyamas, represent a series of and lsquo;right living and rsquo; or ethical rules.

Yamas - the five social ethics

  • Ahimsa - Non-violence in action, speech and thoughts
  • Satyam - Truthfulness in intention, remaining established in the higher truth
  • Asteya - Non-stealing
  • Brahmacharya - Divine conduct, celibate when single, faithful when married
  • Aparigraha - Not accumulating things unnecessarily and not desiring things that belong to others.

Niyamas - the five personal ethics

  • Saucha - Cleanliness of the body and mind
  • Santosha - Contentment, remaining happy
  • Tapas - Austerity and self-discipline
  • Swadhyaya - Study of the Self, abiding in the Self
  • Ishwarapranidhana - Surrendering to God, honouring the Divine.

Asanas - Yoga postures or postures.
Pranayamas - Proper regulation of life force (Prana) through certain breathing techniques.
Pratayahara - Taking the senses inwards.
Dharana - One-pointed focus.
Dhyana and ndash; Meditation.
Samadhi - the highest state of consciousness. This is possible to achieve during meditation