The Eight Limbs of Yoga

The Sage Patanjali describes the Eight Limbs of Yoga in his classical text, The Yoga Sutras, written 2000 years ago. The eight limbs, or astanga, are eight aspects of yoga, sometimes called the eight-fold path towards enlightenment or super-awareness.

This term we will take the eight limbs as a theme. The first class will introduce the eight limbs. The next eight classes will take one limb per class. The last class will review the theme.

Physical postures, breathing practices and relaxation will be used alongside the astanga theme, to complement it.

The eight limbs are:

1. Yama – restraints, general ethical principles
   
2. Niyama – observances, personal practices
   
3. Asana – yoga postures
   
4. Pranayama – yoga breathing, literally breath control
   
5. Pratyahara – sensory withdrawal, having an internal focus
   
6. Dharana – one-pointed concentration, the mind is still
   
7. Dhyana – meditation, the mind encompasses the object
   
8. Samadhi – super-consciousness or super-awareness.