09/13/2025
The 8 Limbs of Yoga are Yama (ethical restraints), Niyama (personal observances), Asana (postures), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (absorption or enlightenment). Introduced by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras, these limbs provide a holistic path for living a life of clarity and intention, moving from ethical conduct and physical practices to deeper mental and spiritual states.
The 8 Limbs Explained
1. Yama (Moral Conduct/Restraints):
Guidelines for ethical behavior towards others, including nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, moderation, and non-hoarding.
2. Niyama (Personal Observances):
Guidelines for self-discipline and personal habits, such as purity, contentment, zeal, self-study, and devotion.
3. Asana (Postures):
The practice of physical postures, which prepares the body for deeper practices by promoting stability and ease.
4. Pranayama (Breath Control):
Conscious control and regulation of the breath, which helps to steady the mind and body.
5. Pratyahara (Sense Withdrawal):
The practice of turning the senses inward, away from external distractions, to cultivate internal awareness.
6. Dharana (Concentration):
The ability to focus the mind on a single point or idea, preventing distraction.
7. Dhyana (Meditation):
A sustained state of focused concentration, where the mind remains steady and undisturbed.
8. Samadhi (Absorption/Bliss):
The ultimate state of union with the universal consciousness, where the separation between the thinker and thought dissolves, leading to enlightenment and bliss.
As you can see Asana is just 1 limb of yoga !!! Let's explore all of them xoxo
