Patanjali ‘Ashtanga Yoga’ is the most ancient and also known as well structured. This is widely practiced form of Yoga in the World, specially eastern part of the world like India.
What is YOGA
The word ‘YOGA’ is Understood in various ways by many of us; for some it’s purely a form of physical exercise to get healthier, stronger and more flexible. Or It’s a form of Some Breathing exercises. But It’s not. The Root and the actual essence of Yoga was seldom discussed. The true wisdom of Yoga is different from the common understanding of many people. Let’s know about the True wisdom of yoga.
The word ‘YOGA’ derived from the Sanskrit word, ‘YOG’ means unite, The word ‘YOGA’ means to connect, unite or ‘yoke’. The thing we look to connect to is the true Self, also known as the ‘Divine essence’, ‘ultimate self’, or Atman (also think of this as the Supreme Soul) and also called Nirvana. The else we practice like ‘Postures’(Asana) and Breathing exercises (Pranayama), is only a tiny part of the whole practice.
So what’s the Yoga Wisdom says?
Patanjali Ashtanga Yoga (The Eightfold Path) is the most ancient and also known as a well structured way of Yoga. This is widely practiced form in the World, specially eastern part of the world like India.
The Eight Steps of Yoga to connect to the Divine Essence was basically Illustrated by Patanjali.
The steps for Self-Realization
A step by step process of Self actualization
Yam : Self-Restraint or Moral Discipline
Niyam : Fixed Observance or Positive Duties
Asan: Physical Posture
Pranayama :Breath Regulation
Pratyahara : Abstraction or Sense Withdrawl
Dharana : Concentration
Dhyan : Contemplation or Meditative state
Samadhi : Trance or the state of Blissfulness
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This is the whole science of Ashtanga Yoga (Eightfold Path) in one sentence, in one seed. First, let us know the exact meaning of the concept.
Patanjali calls them both steps and limbs. They are both. They are steps because one has to be followed by another; there will be a steady growth. But they are not only the steps: they are also called limbs of the body of Yoga. They have an internal harmony.
For example, my hands, my feet, my heart – they don’t function separately, they are an organic unity. If the heart stops,no part of the body moves. Everything is joined together. They are not just like steps on a ladder, because every rung on the ladder is separate. If one rung is broken the whole ladder is not broken. So Patanjali says they are steps.
But they are also “Angas”, the limbs of a body. You cannot drop any of them. Steps can be dropped; limbs cannot be dropped. You can jump two steps in one jump, you can drop one step, but limbs cannot be dropped; The whole process of “Ashtanga Yoga” functions in harmony.
So these eight limbs of Yoga are also steps. Each follows the other. The second cannot come before the first; the first has to be first and the should be second. And the eighth will come to be the eighth; it cannot be the fifth or the first. So they are steps and limbs for a holistic approach to reach the higher dimensions of life.
Ashtang Yoga in Nutshell
