The 8 Limbs of Yoga: A Deeper Dive into Limbs 1-3

THE YAMAS

The Yamas form the first limb of the 8 limbs of yoga, offering us principles for living in harmony with ourselves and the world around us. They are ethical guidelines that help us to lead a life rooted in kindness, integrity, and compassion; a life that is a reflection of our truest nature. Here are the 5 Yamas:

1. Ahimsa (Non-violence): Practicing kindness and compassion towards all beings, including ourselves. To practice Ahimsa is to be living with love and avoiding harm in all of our thoughts, words, and actions. By practicing Ahimsa we are acknowledging and living in alignment with universal oneness.

*Mantra suggestion: 'Lokah Samastah Sukinho Bhavantu' translating to 'May all beings everywhere be healthy, happy, and free. May my thoughts, actions, and words contribue to that happiness and that freedom for all'.

2. Satya (Truthfulness): Embracing honesty in all aspects of life. Speaking our truth with clarity, while remaining mindful of how our words and actions impact others. Satya is also about being truthful with ourselves - making sure our words and actions align with our core values or truest self. Integrity is also a part of Satya, it is ok to say that we do not know something, we do not have to have the answers to everything.

3. Asteya (Non-stealing): Respecting others’ time, energy, and resources by not taking more than what we are freely given. Asteya invites us to live in abundance and gratitude, content with what we have and free from envy or desire to take what isn't ours.

4. Brahmacharya (Moderation): Practicing self-control and balance, especially in the use of energy. Brahmacharya is about moderation in all areas of life, encouraging us to channel our energy towards a higher purpose or greater good, without excess or personal indulgence.

5. Aparigraha (Non-attachment): Letting go of greed and the constant desire for more. Aparigraha is about living simply and mindfully, appreciating the present moment and trusting in the flow of life. These ancient principles offer a foundation for a peaceful and purposeful life. As we integrate the Yamas into our daily practice, we create a ripple of positivity that extends beyond our yoga mat.

THE NIYAMAS

In the 8-limbed path of yoga, the Niyamas represent the second limb, offering us guidance on personal habits and self-discipline. While the Yamas focus on our interaction with others, the Niyamas help us cultivate inner strength and harmony. Here are the 5 Niyamas to reflect on:

1. Saucha (Purity): Keeping the body, mind, and environment clean inside and out. Practicing Saucha helps us to clear out distractions and create space for clarity and focus. A clean environment allows energy to flow freely and easily without obstacles or distractions. When we are working with clean thoughts and actions we create an inner haven for clarity, creativity and positive energy to flow freely within us

2. Santosha (Contentment): Finding peace in the present moment, no matter the circumstances. Cultivating gratitude for what we have rather than focusing on what’s missing. Deliberate gratitude can be part of a daily practice and is ideal for morning and / or nighttime routines. Like a muscle, once we start practicing gratitude regularly, the grateful part of us becomes stronger, more present and more easily accessible.

3. Tapas (Discipline): Developing a sense of commitment and passion in our practices -through physical effort, mental focus, or emotional perseverance. Tapas is the fire that drives transformation through disciplined practices. Morning routines can be a great time to connect with Tapas, cultivating willpower and dedication to get us to where we want to be - physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Like gratitude, willpower can also be thought of as a muscle that we need to exercise, and the more we do it, the easier it becomes.

*Book suffestion: The 5am Club - Robin Sharma

4. Svadhyaya (Self-study): Taking time for introspection, self-inquiry, and reflection. Through understanding ourselves deeply - our patterns, thoughts and behaviours, we can grow and align with our higher purpose. Study of sacred texts is also included in this Niyama.

5. Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender to a Higher Power): Letting go of ego and control, trusting in the flow of life and the universe. It reminds us to offer our actions to something greater than ourselves.

ASANA

As we already learnt in the previous blog post; in the 8 Limbs of Yoga Asana is the third limb - focused on the physical practice of yoga postures. But did you know that Asana is more than just the movements we do on the mat? Asana literally means “seat” and in yoga philosophy, it signifies the practice of finding stability, ease, and balance within our body and mind. Asana also prepares us for the later limbs of yoga - allowing us to be seated stil in meditation and self-awareness.

While we might initially conjure up images of flexibiity and stretching when thinking about the asana (movement) part of yoga, the reality is that the practice and the benefits go far beyond simply stretching. Here are just a few examples:

1. Strength and Stability: Through practice, we build physical strength, but we also cultivate mental resilience. Each pose challenges us to stay steady and focused in the moment. Through falling down we learn how to get back up - both physically and mentally. Through experimenting with new ways to move the body we develop and fine tune our motor skills - allowing greater ease of movement throughout our day and throughout our lives.

2. Mind-Body Connection: Asana brings awareness to the body. It encourages us to listen to our breath, notice our thoughts, and honor our limitations (think back to Ahimsa). As the nervous system learns which muscles to fire up and how strongly each muscle needs to fire to perform or control a new movement we are also very literally strenging and growing the connection between the mind and the body. Future posts will delve further into the nervous system and the wonderful work it does for us.

3. Presence and Patience: As we hold postures, we learn to be present with what is, without rushing to the next pose or goal. Asana reminds us to trust the process and stay with sensations. We may also receive this practice of patience through the learnig of new or challenging postures. A good reminer here is that 'everything is hard before it's easy'

4. Preparation for Meditation: Traditionally, Asana helps create a comfortable, steady body and mind for seated meditation. By practicing postures, we prepare the body to sit still and stay focused. If you are in the west you may be thinking 'but hold on, the yoga that I am taught is almost entirely Asana, with very little emphasis on being able to sit in meditation'. And this is certainly a worthwhile observation. One that - you guessed it, is worthy of its own discussion / blog post, and we will indeed dive into this topic in the future.

5. Embodiment of Inner Peace: When we find stillness and ease in a pose, especially one that was once or still is difficult, we are embodying one of the ultimate goals of Asana and of life: to remain calm and peaceful, no matter what life throws our way. Through maintaining presence in our discomfort zones, we allow our comfort zones to expand.

6. Movement of Energy: We all have surely noticed how getting out of our head and into our bodies can shift stuck energy. Both physical and mental tensions can release. Emotional releases can be a common side effect of an Asana practice. And to quote Einstein for the mental part; 'I think 99 times and find nothing. I stop thinking, swim in silence, and the truth comes to me.' If it's good enough for Einstein it's good enough for me! Somatic and spiritual practices often refer to emotions and energy becoming stuck in the body, with movement being one of the key practices used to start to free them. I will dedicate a future blog post to energy as there are so many avenues you could take with it.

So the next time you step onto your mat, remember that the purpose of Asana (regardless of whether you are coming from an eastern or a western practice perspective) is not about how far you can stretch, but how deeply you can connect with yourself.