When we think of yoga, we think of only one or two things, postures or asanas or meditation and breathing. Surprisingly, it covers only two out of eight aspects of Yoga. 

The root word of Yoga is yuj, which means to connect. Yoga talks about union of an individual with the universe. 

 

Yogasutra written by Patanjali, is assumed to be earliest text.  It mentions about Ashtanga yoga which means eight limbs of Yoga.

 

1. The five yamas: These are the practices that we have to imbibe in ourselves and make a habit.

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1. Ahimsa: Non-violence of any form, we should not be violent in action, speech and even thought.

2. Satya: Truthfulness of mind, speech and doings.

3. Asteya: Being free of ownership of anything, this would eventually lead to immense satisfaction and not being envy of anyone.

4. Brahmacharya: Being in centre of everything in good as well as bad times.

5. Aparigraha: Often we are stucked in small things that have no value compared to the bigger purpose of life. Aprigraha means being generous and not hoarding such things.

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1. The five niyamas: 

2. a) purity and cleanliness of body and spirit. 

3. B) inner happiness and awareness that your happiness doesn't depend on anyone else.

4. C) Having a direction in life for growth.

5. D) Self study or self understanding

6. E) Remembering God always.

 

1. Asanas / Postures: Physical practice of body to improve flexibility, strength and balance.

 

1. Pranayama: It stands for ‘Prana’ and ‘Ayama’. Prana means breath and Ayama means expansion or stretch. Pranayama is expanding your life by breath regulation and control.

 

1. Pratyahara: When we withdraw our inner self from external stimulation through our five sense organs, we focus more on inner satisfaction.

 

1. Dharana: Practice of concentration, can be done in many ways like focusing on one thing, or chanting a mantra. Goal is to practice to control our mind.

 

1. Dhyana: We all know this limb as meditation. With meditation, we grow our conciousness, it is being aware that we are no more limited to this body , we are beyond that, with no limits , like air or just space.

 

1. Samadhi: This is the sum of all previous limbs. It is state of absolute freedom when one is from everything, no greed , no desire.