8 Limbs of Yoga

Ten years ago I made several laminated charts for teaching yoga. Students are often interested in having a copy of the outline of the 8 Limbs of Yoga chart. Now that is it posted here students can refer to it anytime. This is only a basic outline and it can seem puzzling without explanation. Refer to texts, websites or if you are a student in the “Woods Class” I would be pleased to present the material again and every so often.

[Dear Dr. Schweig, should you ever read this, please know I did my best with the diacritics and will edit as necessary.]

8 LIMBS OF YOGA

5 DISCIPLINES(Sādhanā):

Yama
ABSENTIONS:
Ahimsa – Non-violence
Satya – Truthfulness
Asteya – Non-stealing
Brahmacharya – Celibacy
Aparigraha – Non-greed

Niyama
OBSERVANCES:
Shaucha – Purity
Santosha – Contentment
Tapas – Austerity
Svadhaya – Study of Sacred Texts
Ishvar-Pranidhana – Attunement to Life

Each of the YAMAS & NIYAMAS are sub-divided into three aspects:
Intellectual (Baudhika)
Verbal/Vocal (Vachika)
Physical (Sharirik)
For example there are three divisions of ahimsa or non-violence: intellectual non-violence, verbal non-violence, physical non-violence. A behavior begins on the level of thought, to speech then action. The level of mind is where opportunity for awareness begins. The seed of word and action begin there.

Āsana
POSTURES
Sthira – Stability
Sukham - Comfort

Prānayāma
BREATH CONTROL/CONTROL OF PRANA
Prana is the energy of the Universe that is expressed in different forms as mental, vital and physical activity. The breath can be seen as the perfect metaphor for our experience.

Pratyāhāra
SENSE WITHDRAWAL
Manas (mind or senses), Buddhi (intellect) and Ahamkara (ego) become passive

3 ATTAINMENTS:

Dhāraṇā
Concentration

Dhyāna
Meditation

Samādhi
Contemplation