THE EIGHT LIMBS OF YOGA

The Yoga Sutras, also known as The Eight Limbs (Ashtanga) of Raja (King) Yoga, was the first fully

developed and recorded system of yoga. Created by Patanjali around 400 CE, this system influences

much of the yoga that is practiced today. Although most of the sutras were originally focused on

mindfulness, the yoga practiced in the West today seems to focus more on the body. Somewhere along

the way, it seems, we began to practice the movement of yoga in isolation from its original philosophies.

For those interested in truly integrating the mindfulness of yoga with its movement, I recommend that

you read The Eight Limbs of Yoga in its entirety and digest it very slowly. Take time to reflect on it

piece by piece so you can implement it into both your practice and your daily life. Wisdom is in the

doing. The following, however, is a useful summary of The Eight Limbs of Yoga, which will

introduce you to the basic concepts of the philosophy. A deep understanding of yoga philosophy and

history will greatly enhance the benefits of your practice and put you on the path to mindfulness and self-realization.

There is a wonderful lesson in Buddhism that applies here:

Once, a very old king went to see an old hermit who lived in a bird’s nest in the top of a tree. He

asked the hermit, “What is the most important Buddhist teaching?” The hermit answered, “Do no evil,

do only good. Purify your heart.” The king expected to hear a long and detailed explanation. He

protested, “Even a five-year-old child can understand that!” “Yes,” replied the wise sage, “but even an eighty-year-old man cannot do it.”

Your biggest obstacle to self-realization is you. As it says in the Bhagavad Gita, “The mind is

restless and hard to control, but it can be trained by constant practice (abhyasa) and freedom from

desire (vairagya). A man who cannot control his mind will find it difficult to attain this divine

communion; but the self-controlled man can attain it if he tries hard and directs his energy by the right means.”

Pantanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga will help you form the necessary groundwork to get on the right

track, but you must decide to confront your problems at their roots. Reading and intellectualizing is

not enough. If you want to reap the full benefits of the yoga experience, implement the Eight Limbs

into every aspect of your life. You must live it, breathe it, and engage this planet and its inhabitants with the lessons below.

The first and second limbs, Yama and Niyama, form your foundation. Here, awareness and

realization is established. Yama and Niyama lay the footing for everything to come. A serious student

should be mindful of every limb, as each of these limbs need constant reflection. As you commit

yourself to their study and practice, your depth of understanding for each limb will get deeper over

time. In our world that perpetuates instant gratification, many people will take shortcuts and go straight to the yoga poses. Others will go straight to meditation and neglect physical health. I highly

recommend starting with Pantanjali’s first two limbs. Your practice will be at its deepest and most

fulfilling if the first two limbs are practiced at a high level. If the first two limbs are not practiced at a

proficient level, the rest of the limbs will be performed at a more superficial and less effective level.

FIRST LIMB Yama (Self-Restraint):

The focus of the first limb is on being an ethical and moral person, and on improving your

relationship with the outer world. These values are as important today as they were centuries ago.

The Yamas, as they are referred to, are not meant to be a moral straitjacket, but instead are meant to

help develop a greater awareness of one’s place in the world. It is not a coincidence that this is the

first limb of the practice. When taking steps to transform our inner world, our outer world becomes a total reflection of this effort. There are five Yamas:

1. Ahimsa: Non-violence

Replace harmful thoughts, speech, and actions with that of loving kindness toward yourself

and others.

2. Satya: Truth to be expressed in thought, word, and action

Be honest in your thoughts, words, and actions toward yourself and others.

3. Asteya: Non-stealing and non-covetousness

Curb desires for things that are not your own. Share the beauty of your thoughts, speech,

actions, and material belongings to uplift others instead of stealing and hoarding them for yourself.

4. Brahmacharya: Abstinence from sexual intercourse when not married, practicing

monogamy and not having sexual thoughts about another person who is not your spouse

It is believed that a life built on celibacy and spiritual studies done by free will increases

energy and zest for life. Celibacy may sound like an unrealistic goal today, but it may help to

remember that brahmacharya is also about monogamy. When brahmacharya is fully realized

in marriage, the sex lives of both partners improve because the level of trust and devotion

deepens their connection. It is important that the sexual activity is an expression based on the

highest level of mutual respect, love, selflessness, and wisdom.

5. Aparigraha: Non-possessiveness or non-greediness

Replace the habit of hoarding with sharing. Do not take without giving back. If you want

something, work for it. This builds appreciation for what you have. This will help minimize

the insatiable desire to constantly consume. An appetite that is not wisely disciplined leads to

personal ill health, financial debt or poor credit, and destruction of the planet’s natural

resources. The Greek god Apollo’s motto, “Nothing in excess. All things in moderation,” is a great way to describe aparigraha.