Eight Limbs of Yoga: Ashtanga Yoga And Its Benefits

By Om Shanti Om Yoga Ashram

The eight limbs of yoga are also known as Ashtanga yoga. There are two great sages 2000 years ago known as Mahrishi Gheranda and Mahrishi Patanjali who systematised yoga during the Vedic period. The great text “Patanjali Yoga Sutra” is known for Ashtanga yoga and its benefits.

Ashtanga yoga defines a way of living for everyone in their daily lives. It is very beneficial and works on all kinds of bodies from the traditional period. These mentioned sutras work on physical, mental and spiritual aspects of a person.

What is Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali?- What are the 8 stages of Ashtanga yoga?

Yoga is a way of expressing and living life in a simple yet elegant pattern. For a person to attain liberation from life and death, it is necessary to work on the spiritual self. These principles of the yoga sutra have existed till now and are rooted in the Veda and Upanishad. These clear ways are best for the people practising yoga and body discipline. The eight limbs of Yoga work on the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects. Here is the explanation:

Yama

Yama is the social discipline that should be practised before entering into the next phase of Yoga. It works on the nature of any person. These are ethical restraints; the parts of the yama are: Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, and Aparigraha.

Niyama

After external restraints, there is a need for internal discipline to go on the yogic path. These basic steps prepare one yogi for poses or Asanas. Niyama includes Saucha, Santosha, Tapa, Svadhyaya, and Ishvarpranidhan. These are body disciplines that regulate the proper pranic flow of the energies.

Asana

They are physical poses or postures for any candidate to regulate energy flow in the body. An exclusive form of these asanas comes in the category of Hatha Yoga. They prepare any yogi for the next step, which is pranayama. These physical postures also cure diseases of any person with the safety considerations.

Pratyahara

It is a withdrawal of senses from external information. It is practised by yogis after the pranayama during Yoga. Common senses in the body, like eyes, ears and lips, are closed, and the internal environment is observed after this practice.

Dharana

We can also call this “concentration” in common words. It is concentrating your mind on a single point. Any Yogi can choose, breathe, and light on a point for concentration.

Dhyana

It is meditation, in this condition yogi is completely free from the external effects and social rules. It is the last stage of Ashtanga yoga. Anyone may reach this by practising body disciplines and the different rules mentioned above. This is a steady state of meditation and energy flow in a single line.

Samadhi

It is defined as the highest state of concentration. Yogis don’t come back after this stage. There is a myth that many sages remain hidden in this stage, in the caves of the Himalayas and Kailash Mountain. This complete liberation from the external world makes the union of the soul with god.

Benefits of Ashtanga Yoga- How does Ashtanga change your body?

Astanga yoga is a discipline practised along with the specified methods. They create powerful changes in the body, and it is the effect of pranic flow. According to the Indian Naturopathy system, if the body is not in alignment with nature and its values, it may manifest diseases or imbalance. The main aim of the eight limbs of yoga mentioned by Patanjali, is to bring alignment to the body of human beings. Here are the effects of the procedure mentioned in the 8 limbs of yoga Patanjali:

Helps in releasing toxins from the body in the form of sweating, respiration exchange and through increasing circulation.
Cures the body naturally, helps in maintaining a complete balance through Asana, Pranayama and Bandhas.
Enhances the posture and alignment of the body, makes a connection with the spine and also makes an easy flow of Prana.
It activates the parasympathetic Nervous system in the human body and helps in increasing the metabolic rate of the body.
Draining of the lymph, cardiovascular circulation are some functions that can be regulated through yoga.

Conclusion

The Eight Limbs of yoga is known as Ashtanga Yoga, is a series of body disciplines and yogic practices. It could be practised under the guidance of a Guru, and one should maintain the practice of the previous because it helps in entering the procedure. There are contraindications too; you can contact Om Shanti Om Yoga Ashram for more information.

Everything You Need to Know

According to the yogic cure, fat is known as “Meda”, and it is a form of subtle energy which can be regulated easily. It is not considered part of the body tissue. Any external element that is accumulated in the body may be removed through Ashtanga yoga.

The ultimate goal of the Ashtanga yoga is “Samadhi”, which is attained by a yogi after the all seven steps in the Ashtanga yoga. It is necessary to practice them under the guidance of a guru; otherwise, they may have contraindications.

With the help of poses, you can make an alignment in your body. The spiritual benefits include alignment with the purpose and meeting with the higher self. Good focus, resilience and spiritual awakening with the self realization is benefits of Ashtanga Yoga.

Ashtanga yoga is more beneficial for spiritual practice, but it could be a lifetime goal. Practising it is more difficult. All steps, like pose, pranayama, and breathing practice, make the yogi perfect for ultimate liberation.