8 Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga

Very often when people talk about Ashtanga Yoga there is confusion. With Ashtanga Yoga, we refer to the eight aspects/stages of classical yoga set forth in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. Is important to not confuse the 8 limbs of Ashtanga Yoga with the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga style of Pattabhi Jois. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras are the quintessence of yoga. They represent the fundamental map for practitioners. Ashta in Sanskrit means eight, in fact the 8 limbs of Ashtanga Yoga are: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi. Each stage is important and related to the next, like a path to follow to get to the goal. Without yama and niyama, it would not be possible to arrive at mastery of the discipline of yoga.

8 Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga: description

Outward searches: sadhana

-Yama: ethical disciplines also referred to as "restrictions" on behavior. Universal vows. They are the basis of yoga. concepts, vows unconditioned by class, place and time. They represent the great universal vow "Maha Vratam."

-Nyama: Virtues, rules of moral conduct to achieve individual purification. They represent self discipline.

 -Asana: physical postures/postures/physical practice of postures. They keep the body healthy and balanced. In asanas the 'union of effort, balance and concentration, leads us to live in the present moment.

Inward searches: antaranga sadhana 

-Pranayama: control and extension of the breath. Expansion of 'life energy through the breath. 

-Pratyahara: withdrawal of the senses. Control of the senses by which we can bring the mind into silence. The instrument that makes it possible to not be disturbed  by external agents. Pratyahara is the bridge needed to move to the last three stages. 

Soul searching: antaratma sadhana

The first five stages, are the basis for gaining access to the next three stages: 

-Dharana: concentration. If maintained for 12 cycles of 12 counts, one moves from concentration to meditation.

-Dhyana : meditation. 

-Samadhi: total absorption. Stage in which we transcend polarity and become one with the universal spirit. In samadhi we reach a deep meditative state in which we become one with the whole. When the one meditating and the object of meditation become one, dhyana evolves into samadhi. A superior condition that makes us live with a different awareness.

These three stages together, are also called Samyama.