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THE EIGHT LIMBS OF YOGA

Click on the red symbol for it's definition

1st. LIMB  -  Yama   5 ethics regarding behaviour towards others.
I.     Ashima - Non violence
II.    Satya - Truthfulness
III.    Asteya - Non stealing
IV.   Brahmacharya - Non lust
V.    Aparigraha - Non covetousness


2nd. LIMB  -  Niyama   5 ethics regarding behaviour towards oneself
I.      Saucha - Purity of mind and body
II.     Santosa - Contentment
III.    Tapas - Sustained practice
IV.   Svadhyaya - Self study
V.    Ishvara Pranidhana - Surrendering one's ego and trusting the self


3rd. LIMB  -  Asana
The practice of Yoga postures.

4th. LIMB  -  Pranayama
The practice of breathing exercises.


5th. LIMB  -   Pratyahara
Withdrawal of the senses so that the exterior world is not a distraction from the interior world within oneself.


6th. LIMB  -  Dharana
Concentration - meaning the ability to focus on something uninterrupted by external or internal distractions.


7th. LIMB  -  Dhyana
Meditation - building on Dharana, the concentration is no longer focused on a single thing but is all encompssing.


8th. LIMB  -  Samadhi
Meditation - building on Dhyana, the transcendence of the self through meditation. The merging of the self with the universe. Often referred to as enlightenment.