The Eight Limbs of Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga)
The first two limbs detailed in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are the moral and ethical rules that the yogi or yogini must follow with wholehearted dedication:
The first limb of Ashtanga Yoga, Yama, can be translated as regulation, abstinence, or restraint. These are the ethical rules of Yoga philosophy. Patanjali detailed five rules of Yama:
- Ahimsa (nonviolence)
- Satya (truthfulness)
- Asteya (non-stealing)
- Brahmacarya (continence, moderation)
- Aparigraha (non-greed, non-grasping).
The second limb, Niyama, can be translated as observance. Patanjali detailed five observances of Niyama:
- Sauca (purity)
- Samtosa (contentment)
- Tapas (austerities, accepting pain, heat)
- Svadhyaya (study of spiritual books for Self understanding)
- Isvara pranidhana (self-surrender, worship of God).
The third limb, Asana, can be translated as observance. Patanjali detailed five observances of Niyama: