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Patanjali's Ashtanga yoga - Eight limbs

Ashtanga Yoga (Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga - Eight Limbs)

Introduction to Ashtanga yoga:

In Sanskrit, "Ashta" means eight and "Anga" means limbs, so "Ashtanga" refers to the Eight-Limbed Path. Ashtanga Yoga is based on the yoga philosophy of Patanjali. The practices of asanas (postures), pranayamas (breathing techniques), dharana (concentration), as well as yama and niyama (ethical guidelines), all come from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. Therefore, we will first understand the basic principles as explained by Patanjali.

The origins of Ashtanga Yoga:

Yoga has its roots about 5000 years BC as described in Vedic Philosophy and Tantras. Patanjali , great sage composed this path into a Darshan(Philosophy) in his Book Patanjali Yoga Sutra. In which he has formulated Yoga as a Eight Limbs or Eight Fold path.

What is Patanjali Yoga Sutra?

The Patanjali Yoga Sutras is the oldest known text on Yoga. The word ‘Yoga’ comes from Sanskrit and has two main roots:

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  • From Yuj-yujjati, Yoga means ‘anchoring’ or ‘integration’ of a person’s body, mind, and soul.

  • From Yuj-samadhav, Yoga means ‘Samadhi’ or deep concentration.

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This means that Yoga refers both to the process of achieving balance and the state of deep focus.

The Samkhya philosophy, which forms the foundation of Patanjali’s Yoga, explains that everything in existence consists of two eternal and distinct principles - Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (matter), similar to the concept of Yin and Yang in Chinese philosophy.

Ashtanga Yoga, meaning the "eight limbs of yoga," is the path described by Patanjali to bring harmony between body, mind and soul.

 

The Eight Limbs Are:

  1. Yama

  2. Niyama

  3. Asana

  4. Pranayama

  5. Pratyahara

  6. Dharana

  7. Dhyana

  8. Samadhi

8-limbs-of-Ashtanga-Yoga | Patanjali Ashtanga

Many people believe Ashtanga Yoga is only about asanas (physical postures), but asanas are just the third limb of Ashtanga Yoga. True Yoga Asanas should be practiced along with the other seven limbs to be considered authentic Ashtanga Yoga.

Why the Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga Are Important?

The eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga are arranged in a specific order, where each step builds on the previous one. To truly progress, each stage must be understood and practiced before moving forward.

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1. Yama and Niyama:

Before doing yoga poses, a person must first follow Yama (social discipline) and

Niyama (personal discipline). These help prepare both the mind and body for deeper yoga practices.

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2. Asana:

The third step, yoga postures (Asanas), helps train the body to sit still and steady for long periods. In Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, these poses are done in a flowing sequence, improving flexibility, strength

and focus.

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3. Pranayama:

Once a person has control over their body through Asanas, they can move to Pranayama, which is the practice of controlling the breath. This helps calm the mind, improve focus and regulate energy in the

body.

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4. Pratyahara:

At this stage, a yogi learns to turn their focus inward by withdrawing from external distractions.

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5. Dharana:

Next comes Dharana, which is the ability to concentrate on one thing for a long time, improving focus.

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6. Dhyana (Meditation):

Once a person masters concentration (Dharana), they naturally enter Dhyana, which is a continuous

and effortless state of meditation. The mind becomes calm and awareness

deepens.

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7. Samadhi (Ultimate Bliss):

At the final stage, meditation leads to Samadhi, a state of pure bliss and self-realization. In this state,

a person experiences inner peace and a deep connection with their true self (Purusha).

The Impact of Ashtanga Yoga on the Body, Mind and Soul:

When we follow the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga, the benefits are immense:

  • Body: Increases flexibility, strength and coordination while improving yoga posture.

  • Mind: Leads to samyama, a state of calm and focused awareness.

  • Soul:  Achieves spiritual growth by realizing consciousness (Purusha).

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Reaching Samadhi is difficult, but even moving from Dharana to Dhyana helps create a balance between the mind and body. This balance brings the body back to its natural rhythm, protecting it from the stress of modern life.

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When practiced as a whole, Ashtanga Yoga provide not just physical benefits but also mental clarity and spiritual growth.

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Patanjali's Ashtanga yoga - Eight limbs
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