Light on Yoga - Day 16

Tribute to Guruji and Light on Yoga - Day 16

Ashtanga Yoga - 8 limbs of yoga was codified by Pantanjali in the Yoga Sutras.  This book is divided into 4 padas or chapters with 196 sutras or threads linking from one to another. 

The 8 - Limbs are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.

These eight limbs of yoga are described in the second chapter - Sadhana . 
Over the next few days we will explore the 8 - limbs of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.  Here is a bit about Yama and Niyama.

Yamas – are the external disciplines of yoga, universal codes of conduct or the basic rules of living, teachings that help to lessen the suffering that is to come.

The yamas include:

Ahimsa: not harming, non violence, letting go of hostility in our words, thoughts and actions

Satya: honesty or truthfulness in every thought, word and action

Asteya: not stealing or not having any desire to have something that is not yours by untruthful ways of obtaining it

Brahmacharya: celibacy or self restraint over things that are not needed or take away from ones vital energy

Aparigraha: not hoarding or not holding onto things not needed by you so that someone else can’t have it, not wanting more, also letting go of negative thoughts and not holding onto them.  It means to be happy with what you have.

Niyamas – are the internal disciplines or individual rules of conduct.

The niyamas include:

Saucha: cleanliness – purity in mind, body, thoughts, words, deeds and actions

Santosa: true contentment with oneself, not trying to be like someone else or relying on external forces to make one happy

Tapas: desire to achieve a goal and having intense discipline or consistency to bring out the true self, free from attachments

Svadhyaya: self study, not just reading and studying the scriptures but putting them to practice in your own life, keeping yourself aware

Isvara Prandihana: study of the Scriptures: by stilling the body and mind one can reach pure awareness. 

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.BlogSpot.com