The name "8 Limbs yoga" comes from the Sanskrit word of Ashtanga. Asta meaning Eight & Anga means Limb and refers to the eight limbs of yoga. It is Also known as Eight stages of Yoga. Ashtanga yoga briefly describes in Patanjali sutra.
The name "8 Limbs yoga" comes from the Sanskrit word of Ashtanga. Asta meaning Eight & Anga means Limb and refers to the eight limbs of yoga. It is also known as eight stages of Yoga. Ashtanga yoga briefly describes in Patanjali sutra.
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the 8 limbs of yoga |
WHAT ARE THE 8 LIMBS OF YOGA?
- Yamas (RESTRAINTS)
- Niyamas (OBSERVANCES)
- Asana (POSTURE)
- Pranayama (BREATH CONTROL)
- Pratyahara (WITHDRAWAL OF THE SENSES)
- Dharana (CONCENTRATION)
- Dhyana (MEDITATION)
- Samadhi (PURE CONTEMPLATION)
The 8 limbs of yoga
Yamas ( Restraints)
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the 8 limbs of yoga yamas |
The Yamas are the morals and restraints one should have to achieve harmony with one’s self and others.
•Ahimsa – nonviolence
•Satya – truthfulness
•Asteya – non-stealing
•Brahmacarya – energy balance
•Aparigraha – non-possessiveness
Niyamas (OBSERVANCES)
The Yamas are the morals and restraints one should have to achieve harmony with one’s self and others.
•Ahimsa – nonviolence
•Satya – truthfulness
•Asteya – non-stealing
•Brahmacarya – energy balance
•Aparigraha – non-possessiveness
Asana (POSTURE)
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Asana (POSTURE) |
Asana: -The word asana is translated as “seat”, and is referring to the physical postures of yoga practice. These are the physical movements and positions one experiences in a Yoga class, the down dogs, the lunges, backbends, etc. The postures are in the practice of Yoga in order to create stimulation to the body to promote balance and strength. Then, meditation can be much more attainable when the body is less restless.
Pranayama (BREATH CONTROL)
Pranayama: -Pranayama is the practice of controlling one’s breath, to gain a steady composure of the mind. It is translated as “vital energy expansion.” There are dozens of different breathing exercises, all based upon the four stages of breath: inhalation, retention, exhalation, retention. Breath is life! Breath practices both strengthen lung capacity and diaphragmatic muscles to expand breath potential and expand life force capacity. Attention to breath is one of the more emphasized principles of Yoga, and consistent commitment to intentional breath-work will result in many benefits to the physiological processes of the body.
Pratyahara (WITHDRAWAL OF THE SENSES)
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Pratyahara (WITHDRAWAL OF THE SENSES) |
Pratyahara:-As you observe your thoughts now, you might notice that you can THINK about your thoughts, can’t you? This is pratyahara, the practice of withdrawing from the external circumstances, to attend to the present perception of the internal environment. In Yoga, you can learn to tune your subjective reality towards a greater amount of neural stimulus responses thinking about the perception of your current state of mind. Notice what your beliefs are, your values, your opinions, desires, aversions, lifestyle, and the “prescription” of the “lens” you are seeing through.
Dharana (CONCENTRATION)
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Dharana (CONCENTRATION) |
Dhyana (MEDITATION)
Dhyanam: -To hone your focus and internal environment towards one object of concentration is the practice of Dharana, the stage of the Eight Limbs where it can be said the “inner Yoga” begins! The internal observations are focused on one specific experience of your current subjective reality.
Samadhi (PURE CONTEMPLATION)
The final stage of the Eight Limbs of Yoga is the absolute and complete absorption of the one practicing meditation into the actual meditation itself, the moment where the observer and object combine to experience the ultimate reality of “oneness.” A practice that transcends words and is available to the ones willing to move towards it, it is the ego less, blissful state of union within Yoga and life.
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