Introduction to the 8 Limbs of Yoga: What are Each of Them?

The 8 Limbs of Yoga come from “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali,” a philosophical text that teaches us how to live a meaningful life through a yogic vision called “Ashtanga.”

Ashtanga, which means eight-limbed in Sanskrit, draws upon universal moral principles and guides us as we move along individual life paths. This philosophy is commonly referred to as the “Eightfold Path.”

Patanjali’s “The Yoga Sutras” outlines three basic principles: 

1. Suffering exists. 
2. The root causes of suffering are identifiable.
3. There are techniques to understand these root causes and overcome them.

The eightfold path represents a progressive journey from the tangible outer world to the subtle inner world in a non-dogmatic, nondemanding, and non-ritualistic way. 

The eightfold path isn’t religious, and there’s no guru. It’s a series of recommendations that encourage us to start paying attention to our own inner world, acknowledging that we already have all the answers inside ourselves. 

Ashtanga can create real peace in our lives. It instructs us to let go of suffering by using our bodies, minds, and energy as sacred tools. It teaches us how to remain present and enjoy life in the now, letting go of false perceptions about what we think life should be. 

In other words, Ashtanga is a set of practices to achieve inner freedom. 

Patanjali’s recommendations are meant for trial and error, so take what works best for you based on your own experiences.

The Body 

The eightfold path teaches us that the body is a temple, and we should keep it clean and healthy. 

To do this, we use an asana practice, which involves physical postures designed to develop strength, flexibility, and balance. 

As we engage in these postures, we remain mindful of our breath, nourish our bodies with wholesome food, and seek moderation in all aspects of life. 

The Mind

In Ashtanga Yoga, the focus of the mind is the mind. We should look closely to see what we are thinking and why we are thinking it. 

We all carry false perceptions that affect our lives subconsciously. Our thoughts form narratives that shape our words, actions, and reactions. We must look closely at these narratives to examine their nature. 

In yoga, we call this “cleaning the mirror of illusion.” Or, simply put, finding peace of mind.

Energy 

As we start to purify the body and calm the mind, we start to connect to a sense of freedom and purpose. As we embrace this inner freedom, the simpler and easier life becomes. Suffering exists, but we now know how to turn the mud into a lotus (Thích Nhất Hạnh).

The real challenge is to sustain this peace in our daily lives. It’s a moment-to-moment practice that requires constant remembering and mindfulness. Perfection isn’t the goal here, but rather to try our best, over and over again. This is the practice of Ashtanga Yoga. 

What Are the 8 Limbs of Yoga?

The eightfold path is a way to break the illusions that distract us from the miracles all around. It allows us to see the beauty of life.As we connect with the nature of reality and all the other beings around us, certain values, or yamas, present themselves. 

The 8 Limbs include the following practices:

1. Moral principles (Yama)
2. Daily observances (Niyama)
3. Postural awareness and practices (Asana)
4. Energy awareness and breathing practices (Pranayama)
5. Inward-turned consciousness or withdrawing from the senses (Pratyahara)
6. Mental concentration (Dharana)
7. Meditation (Dhyana)
8. Enlightened states (Samadhi) 

1. The Yamas — Moral Principles 

The yamas intend to make us aware and responsible for our behaviors. These concepts can be used like a compass to help us navigate life and find our morality.

Yamas are defined as ethical guidelines. According to the Sutras, they’re universal principles that apply to all humans. They teach us how to relate to others and ourselves healthily and harmoniously. 

The yamas are non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, and rejection of possessions.

Ahimsa (Non-harming)

Non-harming is defined as not injuring any living creature anywhere at any time. 

The physical effects of practicing Ahimsa are powerful—you feel compassionate and connected. It creates a sense of calm as you identify with all the beings around you. 

Practicing Ahimsa can be done in several ways. It starts with developing an attitude of kindness and compassion toward ourselves and others. 

Then, we begin to approach nature itself with an attitude of caring. We acknowledge a responsibility to minimize our consumption habits by taking only what we need. 

By doing this, we work to maintain nature’s beauty and balance. We research where our items come from and reflect on their total cost. 

Lastly, we may become more mindful of our diets and how our eating impacts other living beings.

Satya (Truthfulness) 

Truthfulness is defined as one’s words and thoughts matching facts. 

When you practice Satya, you feel free because you aren’t hiding anything. It’s a practice of authenticity, acting appropriately to yourself and others. 

Satya means looking at the intention behind our words, which is just as important as telling the truth. Are we speaking to hurt or help someone? We examine our urge to speak and find the right moment and words to communicate with kindness.

Asteya (Non-stealing) 

The third yama is described as not taking things from others nor desiring to do so. 

Practicing Asteya makes you rich because you recognize that you already have everything you need. 

There are many subtle ways of stealing, according to Ashtanga Yoga. It could be interrupting a conversation, making it about yourself, or hoarding more than your fair share of something. 

Practicing Asteya means not stealing time from your boss by slacking off and compensating others fairly for their work. Asteya also means not stealing time and energy from other people, which is a form of manipulation.

Brahmacharya (Moderation) 

Brahmacharya can be interpreted as celibacy or moderation. 

Celibacy in the modern era can be simplified as controlling sexual desire and respecting members of the opposite sex. This Yama means not wasting energy by engaging in meaningless or habitual primitive exchanges. 

We can also practice Brahmacharya with our thoughts by channeling our lower sensual impulses towards more meaningful relationships. 

Another way of practicing brahmacharya is to learn how to enjoy the pleasures of life without becoming attached, addicted, or obsessed. 

Over-indulgence takes many shapes. For some, it’s sex, but for others, it’s TV, alcohol, food, social media, etc. All of these vices should be used consciously and in moderation. 

Aparigraha (Non-attachment)

According to the sutras, suffering is caused by attachment. 

As we look inward, we can see the problems caused by over-consumption. Practicing Aparigraha is accepting the idea that nothing lasts forever. 

Aparigraha is about more than just letting go of “things” but also letting go of ideas, concepts, and expectations that may be holding us back and preventing us from being free. 

It means accepting that good things in our lives might someday go away. We must practice non-attachment, knowing that as some things fade away, new things come into being.

2. The Niyamas — daily observances

After laying a moral foundation that helps guide external behavior, the Niyamas help us turn our attention inward through five personal disciplines. These disciplines are as follows:

Saucha (Cleansing)

Saucha is both an internal and external cleansing. 

We can purify the mind by recognizing feelings of jealousy, pride, vanity, hatred, and attachment. 

We can purify our bodies by eating healthy, exercising regularly, and making time for rest. 

Reducing stress is a form of Saucha. As is decluttering your home and workplace, practicing good hygiene, and keeping the body healthy and strong. These behaviors will create a beautiful energy that surrounds you and will attract others to you.

Tapas (Discipline) 

Tapas is the notion of self-discipline. 

Practicing tapas means sacrificing short-term gratification in exchange for long-term rewards. 

By letting go of the things we are attached to, such as alcohol or coffee, we can experience a sense of freedom. 

Another example would be abstaining from social media, food delivery, or even avoiding talking excessively during a conversation. In this practice, we search for unnecessary attachments that cause us harm in the long term.

Santosha (Contentment) 

Contentment is crucial in today’s society. 

When we make more money, we tend to buy more things, an idea known as “lifestyle creep.” 

By practicing Santosha, we feel satisfaction and peace because we are happy with what we already have. We also become content with the things we don’t have. 

Ashtanga yoga teaches that nothing needs to be chased or achieved. We already have everything we need to be happy in the present moment.

Svadhyaya (Self-study) 

Svādhyāya refers to reading sacred scriptures to liberate our minds. 

In this practice, we become less impulsive and more introverted, meaning we start to look for answers within ourselves and not from some leader or guru. 

The process of self-observation is a tough one. It’s a journey of self-discovery that examines our values and assumptions. We must look closely at our mental formations and question their validity.

Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender)

The last item on Patañjali’s list, “devotion to God,” Ῑśvara-praṇidhāna, includes offering all one’s activities to Ῑśvara, the “original teacher.” 

Some interpret God as one’s true Self. By surrendering to the Self in humility and compassion, we uncover inner peace and contentment. 

Remember, the goal is to surrender to the beauty around us and to connect with all other beings, remembering we aren’t alone but a small part of the great web of life. 

We’re connected. This deep feeling of love, bliss, or “waking up” is, in a way, a surrender to God or to the Self.

3. Asana — Physical Practice

Asana is the physical practice of yoga, the one most people are familiar with. 

Asanas are physical poses that wake up the muscles, organs, and connective tissues in our body. It also wakes up our circulation and increases the flow of fresh oxygen. 

The physical practice of yoga serves as a gateway to the other limbs of yoga, such as meditation and healthy eating. 

By strengthening and stretching our muscles in coordination with the breath, we refresh both our minds and bodies.

4. Pranayama — Breath Control

Prana is the life force that sustains us. This is the breath. By practicing breathing techniques, we learn to respect this life force energy and channel its power to restore and heal the body. 

A Pranayama practice calms the body and mind to prepare it for self-discovery and inward-lookingness. 

Practicing Prāṇāyāma means controlling the movement of the breath—the inhalation, exhalation, and pausing or holding of the breath. 

The idea here is to extend our vital energy. Try taking a long, slow, deep inhale and an equally long, slow deep exhale, and notice the effect on your body and mind.

5. Pratyahara — Withdrawal of the Senses 

Every day we are bombarded with constant stimuli entering the body through the five senses. 

When was the last time you sat in a quiet, dark room with no screens? 

By focusing the mind inwards, we become hyper-aware of the constant stimulation around us. This practice helps us refrain from reacting impulsively to the outside world. It’s a practice that makes us calmer and cooler.

When we cling to constant stimulation, we become attached to distraction. We mustn’t be afraid to be with ourselves. 

This practice also grants our partners and loved ones freedom as we no longer cling to their validation.

6. Dharana — Focus

Dharana, the sixth limb of the Eightfold Path, translates to “focus” or deep concentration. 

It’s the ability to hold your focus on a single point, like your breath or a mantra, without distraction. 

Calming the mind and reducing impulsive desires allows for deeper understanding and a sense of inner peace. Such sharpened focus can lead to greater wisdom and a feeling of connection to something larger than ourselves.

Simply paying attention to how the mind works and noticing its influence on you is a huge step toward personal growth. 

We must acknowledge that we’re not our thoughts. We’re not our feelings or our emotions. We must observe our mind as an outsider. 

Notice how you speak to others and how you react to others. We must be present in everything we do. This is the practice of present-moment awareness. It’s a living meditation.

7. Dhyana — Meditation

Dhyana is defined as the true meaning of meditation. It’s not the typical Western idea of meditation. Dhyana is a subtle loss of identification with the body, mind, or intellect. In this state, the object of meditation flows uninterrupted by thought. It’s a pure connection with the Self. 

The sixth, seventh, and eighth limbs of yoga aren’t different practices but a continuation and deepening of the same practice.

8. Samadhi — Enlightenment

Samadhi is the highest state of consciousness. There are no physical effects related to Samadhi because it moves beyond the physical, transcending any ideas of the body, mind, or anything else. 

In this state, the mind is no longer aware of itself. All barriers have disappeared. All labels, names, feelings, and emotions have disappeared. This means all thought has been stilled, which is the final goal of Yoga. 

LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU 

MAY ALL LIVING CREATURES FIND PEACE AND HAPPINESS IN THIS WORLD. MAY MY ACTIONS, WORDS, AND THOUGHTS CONTRIBUTE TO THE PEACE AND HAPPINESS OF OTHERS. 

SHANTI, SHANTI, OM

Resources 

Jakubowicz, Rina. The Yoga Mind: 52 Essential Principles of Yoga Philosophy to Deepen Your Practice (p. 65). Rockridge Press. Kindle Edition.

Thron, Raji. Mastering Vinyasa Yoga: The Yoga Synthesis Guide to Dynamic Sequencing with Hundreds of Photos and Instructions (p. 16). Yoga Synthesis. Kindle Edition.

Freeman, Richard; Taylor, Mary. The Art of Vinyasa. Shambhala. Kindle Edition. 

“The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” Rutgers University

Frequently Asked Questions 

Do I need to practice the 8 Limbs of Yoga in order? 

The beauty of the 8 Limbs of Yoga lies in its flexibility. You’re free to practice the limbs in whatever order you find the easiest and most accessible. 

Some people focus on breathing practices (Pranayama) first before moving on to physical postures (Asana). Others start with ethical guidelines (Yamas and Niyamas) to build a foundation of moral conduct and self-discipline.

As long as you reach a point where you’re integrating all of them into your daily life, the order doesn’t matter. It’s the destination that counts.

Do I need a teacher to practice the 8 Limbs? 

Not necessarily. A teacher can provide helpful guidance and personalized instructions, but you can also explore the 8 Limbs independently through books, videos, or online resources such as this one. 

Can I practice the 8 Limbs even if I’m not religious?

Absolutely. Patanjali, the original author of “The Yoga Sutras,” wrote the 8 Limbs for personal development and self-realization rather than a religious doctrine. Believing in God or Isvara is an option but not a requirement.