Eight Limbs of Yoga
The Eight Limbs of Yoga are set out in Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra (YS) as the proper order of practicing Yoga.
yogāṅgānuṣṭhānād-aśuddhi-kṣaye jñāna-dīptir-āviveka-khyāteḥ
The practice of the limbs of yoga leads to the remission of impurities and the radiance of penetrating knowledge, bringing the aspirant towards discrimination from knowledge. (YS II.28)
1. Yama
Yama is disrupting systemic harm, to participate in facts of people not being deprived of what they need, personal boundaries respected and no appropriation.
2. Niyama
The five observances are purity and contentment in the practice of self-challenge, self-determination, and devotion to Sovereignty.
3. Asana
Postures to be assumed should be both still and pleasant. Continuous effort and endless relaxation are the twin attainments (of āsana, in particular, or Yoga in general).
4. Prāṇāyāma
On the realization of this (the perfection of posture), control of breath should be practiced. It consists in breaking the mal-flow of inhalations and exhalations.
5. Pratyāhāra
When the mind withdraws from its objects and resides in its own form, then in a like manner the sense organs imitate the mind by withdrawing from their objects.
6. Dhāraṇā
Concentration binds the mind on to a single area.
7. Dhyāna
In that is the condition for the singular, uninterrupted reflection of a an abstract and transformative character.
8. Samādhi
Samādhi, or conclusion, has the purpose of revealing the implications of the meaning inspected, and nothing more.