The Eight Limbs of Yoga

According to “Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali,” there are eight limbs of yoga that can be seen as ascension of existence through a tree. These limbs serve their own unique and important purpose, while contributing to a beautiful bigger picture. The limbs are:

• Yama: what creates the roots for living clearly and honorably through ethical being.
• Niyama: the trunk of the tree, establishing a base of purity in one’s body and mind.
• Asana: creates the branches, extending strongly yet flexibly to move with the breezes of life.
• Pranayama: symbolized by the leaves on the tree, drawing in the life force through the exchange of breath.
• Pratyahara: the bark protecting the tree from the outer elements and preventing its essence from flowing outward.
• Dharana: the sap running through the veins of the tree and its leaves, keeping the body-mind firm.
• Dhyana: the flower of whole consciousness.
• Samadhi: the fruit, slowly ripening into pure bliss.

Let’s explore the eight limbs of yoga deeper and how it connects to our physical practice. While you read below, think about how you could implement these deeper into your personal practice. Which of these limbs call out to you the most?

1. Yamas – The Roots

In yoga, the yamas creates the roots for living clearly and honorably through ethical being. These roots ground you and provide you with sustenance as you grow. There are five yamas in yoga to keep in mind:

• Ahimsa (commitment to non-violence)
• Satya (commitment to truthfulness)
• Asteya (commitment to non-stealing)
• Brahmacharya (commitment to moderation of the senses/right use of energy)
• Aparigraha (commitment to non-greed)

The yamas and niyamas are yoga’s ethical guidelines laid out in the first two limbs of Patanjali’s eightfold path. They’re like a map written to guide you on your life’s journey. The yamas serve as an outline as things not to do, while the niyamas are things to do or observances. The idea is to be mindful of both as you continue your journey of life to lead towards a path of enlightenment.

2. Niyamas – The Trunk

B.K.S. Iyengar uses the metaphor of a tree to help illuminate the 8 Limbs of Yoga as described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. 

The Niyamas, the second limb of yoga, are likened to the trunk of a tree that serves as a strong base of support and nourishment for the practitioner to sustain a life-long yoga practice.

The Niyamas are the five do’s or personal precepts that bring us closer to the goal of union with the Self. 

1. Saucha (purity or cleanliness)
2. Santosha (contentment)
3. Tapas (burning zeal)
4. Svadhyaya (Self study through ancient texts and personal practice)
5. Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender to the divine)

3. Asana – The Branches

Asana creates the branches, extending strongly yet flexibly to move with the breezes of life. In yoga, it is the emphasis of posture. The physical aspect of yoga is the third step on the path to freedom, and the word asana here doesn’t refer to the ability to perform a handstand or an aesthetically impressive backbend, it means ‘seat’ – specifically the seat you would take for the practice of meditation.

The only alignment instruction Patanjali gives for this asana is “sthira sukham asanam”, the posture should be steady and comfortable.The idea is to be able to sit in comfort so we’re not ‘pulled’ by aches and pains or restlessness due to being uncomfortable.

The next time you take a yoga class, be mindful of your asana. Does trying an advanced move cause more strain and discomfort on the body? Would a gentle modification allow you to deepen your practice?

4. Pranayama – The Leaves

Pranayama, the fourth limb of ashtanga yoga, is the practice of breathing in Prana with awareness, intention and direction. Like the leaves of a tree reaching into the air, the breath is an expansion to life and gives the body what it needs.

The word Prana refers to universal energy or life force. It is often described as the very essence of what keeps us alive and connected to the universe. B.K.S. Iyengar, uses the metaphor of leaves on a tree to illustrate the role of Pranayama in relation to the other 7 limbs of yoga.

We can interpret Pranayama in a couple of ways: “prana-yama” can mean “breath control,“ or “prana-ayama” which translates to “breath expansion”.

How we breathe has the potential to change our state of mind and create real physiological changes such as lymphatic drainage or manage anxiety symptoms.

5. Pratyahara – The Bark

The fifth limb of ashtanga yoga is the practice of withdrawing the senses from the outer world and redirecting them towards our body and innermost self.

To experience pratyahara in yoga means to be able to disconnect from everything around you and focus primarily on what is going on inside you at this very moment. This is no simple task, but necessary if one is to progress on the path of yoga.

B.K.S. Iyengar compares Pratyahara to the bark of a tree, which when strong, protects the tree from the elements and supports its growth and retention of vital nutrients. If the bark of a tree is damaged to a particular point, even in only one spot, it can cause the tree to die.

6. Dharana – The Sap

B.K.S. Iyengar uses the metaphor of a tree to help illuminate the 8 Limbs of Yoga as described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. 

Dharana, the sixth limb, is the sap flowing through the veins of the tree and its leaves, keeping the body-mind connection steadily nourished. Dharana is translated as concentration, or the process of focusing the mind upon an object of meditation for a period of time.

Some examples of Dharana could be cultivating a consistent yoga practice (Abhyasa) over the course of a lifetime, or experiencing complete absorption in a yoga pose just once. It can be chanting “om,” for only a few seconds while observing the vibration of sound throughout your whole body or contemplating for a whole minute how all sounds carry infinitely through space.

7. Dhyana – The Flower

B.K.S. Iyengar uses the metaphor of a tree to help illuminate the 8 Limbs of Yoga as described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.

Dhyana, the seventh limb, is symbolized by a flower representing pure consciousness. Translated as meditation, Dhyana is the result of concentration practiced, sustained and perfected over time. It is the merging of the instrument of meditation (concentration) with the mind of the practitioner (consciousness) to enter into an elevated state of awareness.

Some examples of Dhyana could be discovering you can do a pose you thought before was not possible, or experiencing a savasana where you lose yourself or your awareness of your surroundings in a state of total relaxation. It can be doing a balance pose with lightness and ease, where the effort becomes effortless.

8. Samadhi – The Fruit

Samadhi is the fruit, slowly ripening into pure bliss. It is attaining enlightenment in your yoga practice. During samadhi, you have little to no awareness of the physical body, may see light while the eyes are closed, and experience sensations of joy as you fall deeper into meditation.

Samadhi is the space between what you and your body create. In this state, there is no time or space but simply a place for your soul to exist. Samadhi cannot be practiced, as it happens spontaneously during meditation. If you dedicate time to your practice of dharana and dhyana, it can escalate your opportunity to reach samadhi.

As you continue on to your yoga journey, keep these eight limbs by Sage Patanjali in mind. How can you apply each to your practice and in your daily activities? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!