What is Ashtanga Yoga?

In Sanskrit, ashtanga means eight-limbed (asta- eight, anga- limb). Ashtanga Yoga is an eight-limbed path towards achieving the state of Yoga, also known as Samadhi.

The definition of Ashtanga Yoga is found in the Yoga Sutras of Patañjali, an ancient text on the theory and practice of Yoga thought to have been compiled in about 200 CE by Sage Patañjali.

The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali is comprised of 196 sutras- short philosophical statements - on the theory and practice of Yoga, divided into four books, or padas. The Yoga Sutras are so succinct and are therefore almost incomprehensible without commentary. The most definitive commentary is by Veda Vyasa; his commentary is known as the Yoga Bhasya.

The Yoga Sutras begin with the highest teachings first, for those ready to enter into the final limbs of practice. In the second sutra of the first chapter, Samadhi Pada, we are offered the definition of Yoga: “Yogas citta vritti nirodah”, which can be translated as “Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.” When the mind is stilled, and the state of Yoga is reached, the individual mind is at one with the Universal Mind and individual consciousness with Divine Consciousness, and we experience our divinity through unity.

Yoga is not only the state of Yoga, but also the practice, or sadhana, we engage in on the path towards Yoga.

The definition of the eight-limbed path that leads to Yoga is found in book two of the Yoga Sutras of Patañjali, Sadhana Pada, the chapter on yoga practice. Sutra 2.29 states: “Yama-niyama-asana-pranayama-pratyahara-dharana-dyana-samadhyaya-astavangani.” This can be translated as: “the eight limbs of yoga are yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi.”

These limbs can be described in this way:

1) Yama- Restrains or observances regarding how the aspiring yogi should relate to his or her community.

The yamas are:

Ahimsa- Non-violence

Satya- Truthfulness

Asteya- Non-stealing

Brahmacharya- Conservation of vital energy

Aparigraha- Non-hoarding

2) Niyama- Intense observances that the aspiring yogi should carry out in his or her daily life in order to have a body and mind suited for Yoga.

The niyamas are:

Saucha- Cleanliness of body and mind

Santosha- Contentment

Tapas- Discipline

Svadhyaya- Self-study

Ishvara Pranidhana- Surrender to the Divine

3) Asana- The word literally translates to “seat”. These are meditative postures that promote stillness of mind, and physical postures that facilitate sitting for long periods of time in those meditative postures.

4) Pranayama- Prana is life force/breath/vital energy, and Yama is restraint. Pranayama translates to extension of the life force. Pranayama are breathing practices that involve the retention of breath.

5) Pratyahara- Withdrawal of the senses from things that are not conducive to the practice of Yoga, a moving from the external to internal world. When the 5 senses are quelled, the mind can then become still.

6) Dharana- Concentration on a single thing, ideally something spiritual in nature.

7) Dhyana- Meditation. Uninterrupted, flowing concentration in which the meditator begins to merge with the object of meditation.

8) Samadhi- A super-conscious trance in which the mind merges fully with and becomes one with the object of meditation. In the highest state of Samadhi, there is no longer any object of meditation.

The eight limbs are a process of going deeper and deeper inward to discover and abide in the Divinity within us. When we come to rest in Yoga, we are in a state of perfect oneness, beyond peace, beyond bliss.

At New Vibe Yoga, students begin their exploration of Ashtanga Yoga with the third limb, asana. This is often the easiest access point for new students beginning their sadhana (spiritual practice). Asana is physical, it makes the body and mind quickly feel better, and it is easily relatable to almost anyone. The great sages taught that the first duty of an aspiring yogi is to take care of the physical body, as it is surely the means to the pursuit of a spiritual life. For a serious practitioner interested in the Yogic Path, a next step might be to begin practicing the Yamas and Niymas. These will be covered in depth in upcoming blog posts.