The 8 Limbs of Yoga And why they are Important for Meditation

Embark on the Path of the 8 Limbs: A Journey to Self-Realisation

Welcome, seekers of wisdom! Today, we explore the transformative 8 limbs of yoga and their profound role in meditation. These ancient teachings, gifted by sage Patanjali, unlock our true potential.

Raja Yoga, the "Royal" path, integrates body, mind, and spirit. It leads to moksha, spiritual liberation. The 8 limbs guide us on this extraordinary journey.

Briefly, let's unravel the magic of each limb:

1. Yamas (Social Code): Harmonise interactions, release emotional burdens.
2. Niyamas (Personal Code): Cultivate self-discipline and reflection.
3. Asana (Postures): Enhance vitality and alignment.
4. Pranayama (Breath Control): Purify and invigorate body and mind.
5. Pratyahara (Withdrawal of Senses): Turn inward, quiet the mind.
6. Dharana (Concentration): Focus the mind, transcend scattered thoughts.
7. Dhyana (Meditation): Surrender to unbroken flow, touch the divine.
8. Samadhi (Enlightened Consciousness): Merge with the object of focus, realize the self.

Embrace the path of the 8 limbs. The journey begins now.

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The 8 limbs of Yoga and why they are important for Meditation

Today I will discuss a basic summary of the 8 limbs of yoga and hay they are important for yoga and specifically for meditation. The 8 limbs of yoga came from a mysterious sage called Patanjali. He wrote a handful of prominent texts before the birth of Christ, with one of the most notable being the Yoga sutra’s. These Sutra’s explain Raja Yoga, which is the most common form of yoga that is practised, especially in the west. This is where Hathaway yoga and the newer, vinyasa, yoga come from.

What is Raja Yoga? Raja yoga is one of the 4 classical yoga schools which literally means ‘Royal’. The other yoga schools, which you may have heard of are, Bhakti Yoga which means Devotion, Karma Yoga which means action, and Janna yoga which means self study. All of these schools of thought offer a path to moksha, which means spiritual liberation. It works on the physical, mental and spiritual dimensions of our human existence, which will bring balance and harmony.

Back to the 8 limbs, the first few stages have little to do with meditation, however they are important because they prepare the mind and body ready for the higher stages. Generally people will find it difficult to meditate successfully on a regular basis without achieving or practising the first 5 steps. Of course, they are not required, and some people can meditate without even knowing about them. However, these are the few lucky people who have never had any mental or physical problems and have always been drawn to looking inward and living a meditative life. Yet, the beauty of Raja Yoga and the 8 limbs is that is for everyone, no matter what kind of person you are. It starts with the most basic things you need to do to live a more spiritual life. It starts by shaping a person's character in a way that helps them grow spiritually.

So what is this magical mystical path you ask? Patanjali starts with the basic rules for changing a person's character and ending with samadhi, or enlightenment, which itself has four stages that lead to self-realisation. The first five stages are for getting ready, and stages six through eight are for getting better.

1. Yamas (social code)
2. Niyamas (personal code)
3. Asana (postures, states of being)
4. Pranayama (control of prana, life-force, cosmic energy)
5. Pratyahara (removal of the senses)
6. Dharana (concentration) (concentration)
7. Dhyana (meditation)
8. Samadhi (transcendental consciousness)

The first five are related to things outside of our selves and the last three are internal. When the outer practises have been mastered or at least performed regularly, it’s easier to do the inner and higher practises. The reason for this is that most of us can't concentrate or meditate at all because our minds are always wandering and making sense. This may seem counter productive, but meditation can only be done by people who have a calm mind. Yet that’s precisely why people turn to meditation, to quiet the mind!
More detail on each of the 8 limbs will be in future episodes where I will break down each limb in detail. For now, here’s a very brief overview to give you an idea of what each one is. Purely food for thought.

The yamas and niyamas help get rid of or at least lessen emotional problems.
Asanas help get rid of pain, illness, and bad posture, all of which are physical discomforts.
Pranayama will assist the body with the body's pranic flow that cause breathing or energy stagnation in the body.
Pratyahara will lessen the distractions from the outside, like sounds, and stimulation that mess with your mind.
Dharana or concentration, is the process of removing distractions from last and future events.
Dhyana or meditation, is the unbroken flow of the mind's concentration on the object of meditation or concentration. The difference between dharana and dhyana is subtle.
And finally, Samadhi or enlightened consciousness, this is the final step and the highest point of meditation.

There is so much more depth for each of the limbs and how they can be best implemented in our modern world, this is just the beginning.