Eight Limbs of Yoga
A Path to Remember Who You Are
Yoga is often seen as movement — a sequence of postures linked with breath. But beneath the shapes and flows lies a timeless philosophy designed to guide the human experience. The Eight Limbs of Yoga, described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, are not rules to follow, but pathways to remember who you are and how to live in deeper alignment with your true nature.
The first two limbs, Yamas and Niyamas, are like the roots of the practice — ethical and personal observances that help us live in harmony with ourselves and the world. The Yamas invite us into compassion, truthfulness, integrity, moderation, and non-attachment. The Niyamas nurture self-discipline, contentment, purification, self-study, and devotion. Together, they form the moral and energetic foundation of yoga.
The third limb, Asana, is what we most often see in studios — physical postures that build strength and flexibility. But the deeper purpose of Asana is to prepare the body to sit in stillness, to quiet the restlessness that keeps us disconnected from the present moment.
The fourth limb, Pranayama, teaches us to regulate the life force through breath. When we learn to breathe consciously, we bridge the gap between body and mind, cultivating balance and presence.
From there, the practice turns inward. The fifth limb, Pratyahara, is the art of withdrawing the senses from external noise, allowing us to listen to our inner world.
The sixth limb, Dharana, is concentration — the ability to focus the mind on one point without distraction.
Through steady concentration, we enter the seventh limb, Dhyana, or meditation — a state of flow where awareness expands beyond the individual self.
And ultimately, the path leads us to the eighth limb, Samadhi — union with the divine, the recognition that we are not separate from life itself.
Yoga, in its truest form, is a lifelong practice — not something we achieve, but something we live. It invites us to return to center again and again, to meet life with awareness, grace, and curiosity. The Eight Limbs remind us that yoga is not just what we do on the mat, but how we show up in every moment — with presence, compassion, and an open heart.