What Are the 8 Limbs of Yoga—And How Do They Lead to True Freedom?
Yoga’s ancient texts date back over ten thousand years. The practice of this holistic heritage of India works on ancient philosophy. These eight limbs of yoga are important pillars that determine the values and benefits of yoga. These limbs are mentioned in some of the most important classical texts of India, like the Rig Veda and the Bhagwat Geeta. In this blog, we will understand and explore these important values of Yoga and will explain how the benefits of these yoga pillars lead to true freedom.
Back in 400 CE, some important sutras were curated by Maharishi Patanjali; these sutras were further divided into four padas. These padas include “Ashtanga Yoga”, the eight important pillars of Yoga. The eight-fold parts explain how to reach self-realisation by overcoming fear, limitations, and sufferings of human life. The yogic lifestyle, based on these 8 important values, explains how one can reach a harmonious state within mind, body, and soul.
1. The first one is Yama
2. Then comes Niyama
3. Then the next is poses or postures, the Asanas
4. Another important limb is Pranayama, the breathing technique
5. Next is the Pratyahara
6. Now, after that comes Dharna
7. Meditation is the next, also known as Dhyana
8. The last one is the universal consciousness, the state of Samadhi
1- Yama: This is also known as the five social ethics of yoga. These are the ethics that help you and prepare you to take yoga as a sacred practice. The yamas are Ahimsa, which means non-violence, a thought of kindness and compassion towards all living beings. Next is truthfulness, a practice where you always speak the truth (Satya). Then another important part of Yama is Asteya, which means non-stealing. Next comes the state where you are not addicted, you are not powered by any of your senses, you have the power to control them, and it is called Brahmacharya. After that is Aparigarha. A state that means Non-Greed, Non-Possessiveness, Non-Accumulation, and relying on oneself. These 5 Yamas strengthen you from within and make you focused.
2- Samadhi: The last important limb is Samadhi, a final state where, with regular practice of meditation, we can consciously reach a blissful state where the body and mind are harmonised. We are in a state of universal consciousness.
2- Niyamas: Niyamas are the 5 ways to be disciplined. They are the yoga routines that make it easier to perform yoga. The five niyamas are: Purity, also known as Shouch; contentment, also known as santosha; self-discipline and penance called Tapas; self-examination, also called Swadhyaya; and the last one is Ishwarpranidhana, where you surrender yourself to the divine.
3- Asanas: Next are the asanas, the postures, that ensure various physical and mental health benefits. These yoga asanas give good immunity, flexibility, and strength to your body, mind, and soul. The effect is rejuvenating. Yoga asanas help you to prevent and cure illnesses and shield your body against any sickness. Various yoga asanas have a separate set of benefits. These poses also give relaxation, mental awareness, and improve concentration. In short, yoga asanas balance the mind and body and strengthen them naturally against any health hazard, be it mental or physical.
4- Pranayama: Prana stands for life force, and the word ayama is defined as the power to control. A practice that teaches you to control your breath in a way that gives you health benefits is called pranayama. The pranayama practices help us restore mental health balance and improve our health. It relieves stress, strengthens our respiratory health, and also ensures good blood flow, leading to overall good health.
There are different types of pranayamas in the texts of yoga!
5- Prathyahara: This limb suggests the sense of withdrawal from the outer world. When practising or in daily life, we are too connected to our outer world, and it becomes difficult for us to attain the ultimate sense of peace. This practice makes the yogi learn the art of detaching or withdrawal from the superficial world, especially while practising yoga. The aim is more focus and a state of bliss!
6- Dharana: This word means intentions. Dharana helps in maintaining focus and ensuring inward attention while practising. This keeps one intact in the practice. It helps to settle our body and mind in the depth practice of yoga asanas. The dharana helps in achieving the best benefits of the yoga asanas.
7- Dhyana: Next is meditation, also known as dhyana, where you sit quietly, detaching yourself from the outer world, closing your eyes and focusing. You let go of the disturbing thoughts and attain a state where you connect to your higher self. This relieves your mind, body and soul and strengthens you from the inside out.
8- Samadhi: The last important limb is Samadhi, a final state where, with regular practice of meditation, we can consciously reach a blissful state where the body and mind are harmonised. We are in a state of universal consciousness.
These eight limbs are an important part of yoga that make one more conscious and focused towards this ancient practice. These limbs help in attaining mental health and physical health benefits by letting us follow yoga properly and in a disciplined way!
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