Ashtanga yoga
Ashtanga~ The 8 Limbed Path
Most poeple in the west think that yoga is just an asana(movment) practice, yoga is much much more than that. Ashtanga Yoga meaning 8, The 8 Limbed Path is also nown as Raja Yoga meaning royal way of God-union, is the science of actualization of the kindom of God that lies within.
What is Yoga and the Purpose of Yoga Practice?
Yoga is an ancient practice that unites the body, mind, and spirit through movement, breath, and meditation. Rooted in Indian philosophy, it is much more than just physical exerciseβit's a holistic system designed to cultivate inner peace, self-awareness, and spiritual growth. The word "yoga" itself means "union," symbolizing the connection between the individual and the universal, the self and the divine.
The purpose of yoga is to help you find balance and harmony in your life. Through physical postures (asanas), conscious breathwork (pranayama), and meditation, yoga encourages you to let go of stress, strengthen your body, clear your mind, and deepen your connection to your inner wisdom. It offers tools to release tension, improve flexibility, and enhance mental clarity, while fostering a deep sense of calm and presence.
Ultimately, yoga is about self-discoveryβit's a journey of becoming more aligned with who you truly are and connecting with the divine energy that flows within and around you. Whether you're looking to improve physical health, reduce stress, or cultivate spiritual awakening, yoga provides a path toward living a more balanced, vibrant, and fulfilled life.
The 8 Steps to Liberation
- Yama: moral conduct: non-violence, truthefulness, non-stealing, right use of energy, non-greed or non-hoarding
- Niyama: purity of body and mind, contentment in all circumstances, self-discipline, self study(contemplation), and devotion to God These first two steps yield self-control and mental calmness.
- Asana: disciplining the bodyso that it can assume and maintain the correct posture for meditation without fatigue or physical and mental restlessness
- Pranayama: techniques of life force control that calm the heart and breath and remove sensory distraction from the mind
- Pratyahara: the power of complete internalization and stillness resulting from withdrawl of the mind from the senses
- Dharana: the power to use the internalized mind to become one pointedly concentrated upon God in one of His aspects through which He reveals Himself to the inward perception of the devotee
- Dhyana: meditation deepened by the intensity of concentration (dharana) that gives the concception of the vastness of God, His attributes as manifested in His endless expansion of Cosmic Consciousness
- Samhadi: union with God: the full realization of the soul's oneness with Spirit