Yoga: 8 limbs

Yoga means to yolk together.

Yoga is to bring us to notice our physical body and move through our various sheaths of existence. Our mind, intelligence right through to our soul so we can find peace.

For us to feel whole we need all our sheaths aligned and our chakras aligned, and then we can find flow.

When we aren’t aligned, we feel fragmented and disconnected. Therefor we search for balance, and homeostasis, we need integration and communication between the subtle bodies and the physical bodies, so we are whole.

Eight limbs, I will expand on these in future blogs

1      Yama’s – there are 5 external, ethical disciplines, the moral commandments. How we act and show up to others and in the world

 2    Niyama’s- 5 internal steps for purification, which help us with our inner world and perceptions and how we develop self-discipline.

These 2 help us to show up as decent human beings, being honest and trustworthy, ability to control our urges, see how we are responsible for ourselves and not blame, to share joy with others fortunes and not act in jealousy or hatred. To not judge others or ourselves, learn compassion, see the good, not grab, hoard, binge and be gluttonous. To share, care and love.

Imagine if we all abided to these ways of living!

 Now we come to the Asana

 3      Posture /Asana practice – the practice is to keep us healthy and strong, balanced in our physical body, to prepare the body for concentration and meditation. Using the body to train the mind.  When the body is unbound from the discomforts it is easier to move towards bliss.

Did you know most of the postures you see now, are Westernised practice and not in the traditional practice which was simplified and about just finding your seat for meditation

 4      Breath techniques, pranayama, breath helps to calm the mind and change our physiology, affecting our nervous system. Pranayama is observing the breath and controlling the breath. First you must be able to observe the breath and understand what impacts the breath has in the way you use it, or practices you use. One to be careful of if any heart conditions or other chronic problems, not that you can’t ever but you need to have an awareness on the effect and how to use it and respect it, so you don’t run into trouble.

5      Pratyahara- is the withdrawal of senses.  Turning our perceptions inwards, moving away from the external noise and goings on,

Helping us find stillness and silence, from this space we can find more clarity and focus.

6      Dharana, concentration, without clarity there is no ability to concentrate.  Concentration is about keeping the focus without breaking it, one pointedness. To be totally in awareness without waiving in complete concentration.

Social media is driving people’s attention spans to be shorter and shorter.

“True concentration is an unbroken thread of awareness. Yoga is about how the will, working with intelligence and the self-reflective consciousness, can free us from the inevitability of the wavering mind and outwardly directed sense.” B.K.S. Iyengar

 7      Dhyana-meditation. In true Yogic traditions one cannot reach Dhyana without the preparation of asana, Breath -pranayama, Pratyahara- the withdrawal of senses and Dharana, concentration.

As we become more embodied, our focus and concentration are naturally improved.

Our Mindbody becomes at ease and at one,

Our breath finds flow.

This is meditative movement, we find ease in our body, our nervous system is soothed, our mind finds space, all enabling the right recipe for more ease for meditation.

But meditation can be seated, lying, moving, walking. In my humble opinion. How do you feel about this?

 8      Samadhi, bliss, union, integration the individual blends, with the divine and the universal spirit, freedom, we come one with everyone and everything, we are boundless. Where we are everything and nothing.

 I hope you find this helpful and that you may have a different perspective or insight.

There are so many wonderful books for further readings.

Go explore and enjoy the journey and maybe take these awareness’s into you next practice

In my asana Yoga and Pilates practices we put this into use, we use awareness and intelligence to align the body for ease and equanimity, we use the breath finding ease and flow through the asanas. With gentle curiosity we aim to concentrate fully as we are consciously; move, sense, embody, feel, breathe, and find inner stillness. 

Each session starts with attention, intention and inquiry.

Breath and body awareness, asana, stillness, meditation are all part of the session.

Love and light,

Sue xxx