When we say yoga in the West, we are referring to only part of the eight limbs of yoga. We know yoga in the West mainly as an asana practice, the third limb or step. We do these movements in a yoga class: forward fold, mountain pose, moving with your breath, or holding a warrior II posture. In yoga philosophy, this is only a small part of yoga.
‘The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’ is the culmination of wisdom and the ancient foundational text that gives words to yoga philosophy. It is the yoga guide toward the spiritual path of Samadi or enlightenment. These concepts are thought to be even older, but in this collection, they are all written down. The idea is by practicing the eight-limb path of yoga; one will find inner peace or samadhi (the eighth and final limb/step).
The eight limbs of yoga
Yamas (ethical commandments)
Niyamas (observances)
Asana (physical postures – this is what we think of as yoga)
Pranayama (breathing practices)
Pratyahara (withdrawing your senses)
Dharma (holding concentration)
Dhyana (meditation practice)
Samadi (bliss state or right state of consciousness)
The eight limbs tell us that yoga is more than physical, more than breathwork, more than a set of rules. It is a slow and steady approach, changing how you approach life to create more balance, a calmer nervous system, and a resilient mind, body, and spirit. At the heart, yoga is about bringing the disparate, unrelated aspects of our being or experience. It is also about bringing together people with nature and with each other to create a more balanced and unified world.
Photo by Jared Rice
