Yoga: A Gem for Women - Astanga Yoga

 

Yoga: A Gem for Women

 

As Patanjali helps us understand - practice and detachment are required to control the senses and mind.

This is explained more in Patanjali's Astanga Yoga Sutras - 8-limbs of yoga.

Geeta writes on this next in her book - Yoga: A Gem for Women.

 



She says that the "proper functioning of the body depends on the several limbs.  The absence of sickness in any one limb affects the health of the whole body.  The same principle applies to the study of yoga and its branches."

The 8 steps Patanjali writes about are:
Yama - conduct towards others
Niyama - conduct towards oneself
Asana - practice of the postures for physical discipline
Pranayama - breath-control for mental discipline
Pratyahara - discipline of the senses
Dharana - concentration
Dhyana - meditation
Samadhi - self-realization

All the limbs are interdependent.

Geeta quotes 11.28 of Patanajali's Yoga Sutra's:
The study of the 8 limbs of Yoga leads to the purification of the body, the mind, and the intellect: the flame of knowledge is kept burning and discrimination is aroused."

However, in the Yoga Upanisads there is said to be only 6 limbs and was called Sadanga Yoga - Six-Sided Yoga.
They say the six are:
Postures
Breath control
Discipline of the senses
Concentration
Meditation
Self-realization

But the texts also state that in order to attain Samadhi yama and niyama are prerequisites, therefore really making little difference between Astanga and Sadanga Yoga.

Geeta does write about what the main differences between the two systems are though.

She says that the Sadanga Yoga was aimed at small groups - members of monasteries, who already practice yama and niyama.
Patanajali's system was for everyone so more instructions were needed on how to lead one's life and gain spiritual bliss.

Next blog will be on the Threefold Quest that a seeker must undertake.

Today, see if you can apply one of the limbs of yoga and see how it relates to another limb.
For example, how in the yamas - ahimsa (non-harming in word, action and thought) can relate to your asana practice.  If push to hard in a posture you are harming yourself and doing more out of ego. 

See if you can relate this even to pranayama.

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.blogspot.com