"The
ancient sage Patanjali was the first to systematize the practices
of
Ashtanga Yoga. The second verse of his famous Yoga Sutras
defines Yoga thus:
Yogash
Chitta Vritti Nirodhaha (Yoga is the cessation of thoughtwaves
in the mind.)
YOGA SUTRAS 1:2
Yoga
literally means 'union'. Through stilling the mind, union with
our divine source is achieved.
Practices
of Yoga (sadhana) purify the body and the mind for the
purpose of developing concentration. Perfect concentration leads
to a thoughtless mind and superconsciousness (samadhi).
This higher consciousness brings knowledge of reality and peace.
Patanjali
describes this process as having eight parts or 'limbs'; thus
the system is called Ashtanga (ashta=eight, anga=limb) Yoga. The
eight limbs are: yama
(restraints), niyama
(observances), asana
(posture, seat), pranayama
(control of prana, breath), pratyahara
(withdrawing the mind from sense perception), dharana
(concentration), dhyana
(meditation), and samadhi
(superconsciousness)."
Continue
(Yama)
| The
Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga |
Source:
Ashtanga Yoga Primer by Baba Hari Dass
©Sri
Rama Publishing / Hanuman Fellowship, 1981
Santa
Cruz, California.
