It all begins with an idea

External Disciplines

Yamas means “restraint” in Sanskrit.

This will optimize social relationships and ensure that they do not become a source of mental disturbance.

1. Ahimsa (1) - Avoiding any words or actions, even thoughts, that might harm others. Non-violence.

2. Satya - Speaking only what is truthful. Truthfulness.

3. Asteya - Avoiding taking what does not belong to you. Non-stealing.

4. Bramacharya - Seeing others as spiritual beings first and not as sex objects. The right use of energy. Celibacy.

5. Aparigraha - Avoiding greed. Non-hoarding.

Internal Disciplines

Niyamas means “rules” in Sanskrit.

These rules/observances are directed towards ourselves which are intended to help us build character.

1. Saucha - Cultivating pure loving thoughts, words, and actions. Cleanliness.

2. Santosha - Being grateful for what one has. Contentment.

3. Tapas - Continuance practice of remembrance of our higher self. Self-discipline.

4. Svadhyaya - Letting go of false identification with the mind’s movements. Self-study.

5. Isvara Pranidhana - Turning continuously toward the Divine with love and reverence for all of its manifestations. Surrender to a Higher Power.

Asana means “sitting down” in Sanskrit.

Practice of the physical yoga postures, yoga asana, produce stability and relaxation. This limb of ashtanga yoga is to prepare the body for long ‘sits’ of meditation.

Pranayama means “extension of life force” in Sanskrit.

Prana in Sanskrit means life force energy. To practice Pranayama is to expand life force energy to circulate throughout the mind and body.

This is a practice of special breathing exercises to calm the mind and to access one’s potential power and consciousness.

Pratyahara means “withdrawal of senses” in Sanskrit.

The two root words: prati = to withdraw and ahara = food. In this case, ‘food’ is the external stimuli that the mind consumes.

Practicing Pratyahara means to withdraw one’s consciousness from all external sensations and avoiding mental dispersion in many unnecessary activities.

Dharana means “one-pointed concentration” in Sanskrit.

This limb is a practice of developing one’s power of concentration on a single object. This is the act of holding, fixing one's full attention on one place, object, or idea at a time. It is the faculty of retaining in the mind, a good or retentive memory; developing one’s power of focus.

Dhyana means "contemplation, reflection" and "profound, abstract meditation" in Sanskrit.

There are two root words in Dhyana: dhi = to perceive, think, reflect, wish or desire and yana = path, course, journey, travel, or moving. From these two words we understand Dhyana to mean a process, path, or vehicle to properly think or reflect. Practicing and following all of the previous limbs of ashtanga yoga, one gains meditative absorption from daily disciplinary practice (sadhana).

Meditative absorption means to develop continuous awareness with whatever object or experience one is focused on. This practice is an important practice on the path of self-realization and attaining freedom (moksha).

Samadhi means “completion” in Sanskrit.

All the above limbs lead to the ultimate goal of yoga referred to as Samadhi, or cognitive absorption in which one transcends the ordinary ego perspective of being separate from objects of experience. One becomes self realized.

By recognizing that so many things including our body and its health, our mental and emotional habits, our social relationships all have an effect on on our ability to meditate, to still the mind, one will derive the maximum benefit and avoid many of the pitfalls that beginning meditators experience.

Samadhi is the highest of all the limbs of yoga. It is the experience of spiritual enlightenment when the self, the mind, and the object of meditation merge together into one. This is why yoga is called union. By practicing restraints and observances, preparing the body, practicing proper breathing, withdrawing the senses, stilling and focusing the mind, one attains the highest goal: Samadhi.