Do people often ask you what style of yoga you do? This question is an opportunity to remind yourself that practicing yoga can be more than just yoga asanas. The original Ashtanga Yoga, also known as the Eight Limbs of Yoga, is a great way to dive into your yoga practice.
The Ashtanga are a core element of the yogic path, but with so much focus nowadays surrounding physical postures, it can be easy to lose sight of the spiritual parts of the practice.
Why Follow the Ashtanga?
Maybe you practice yoga as a means to increase your flexibility or to decrease stress. So what is all this philosophy, this spiritual path? Practising asanas is getting to know yourself — if you only want to practice asana, then go for it! Maybe you’ll want to go deeper into the spiritual aspects later, or maybe not. Do what is right for you based on where you are now. That is self-awareness.
A Quick Review
Famously described by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras, Ashtanga is Sanskrit for eight limbs. Following these Ashtanga is the path to attain physical, emotional, ethical, and spiritual well-being. The Ashtanga doesn’t conflict with religious beliefs; in fact it complements religious practices.
The Eight Limbs are:
- Yama – universal moralities / ethics
- Niyama – personal disciplines / observances
- Asana – bodily exercise / postures
- Pranayama – regulation of prana via breath (breathing exercises)
- Pratyahara – withdrawal / sense control
- Dharana – concentration
- Dhyana – meditation
- Samadhi – blissful union
Despite sometimes being called the Eight Steps to Yoga, the first seven pillars are practiced simultaneously with the end result being Samadhi.
A common path nowadays starts with the physical Asana and Pranayama. Then come Yama and Niyama, the two pillars relating to personal behaviours. Finally there are the three pillars relating to meditation — Pratyahara, Dharana, and Dhyana.
Tips on Living the Ashtanga
As with any philosophy or way of life, it’s easy to read, write, or talk about it; it’s a challenge to live it each day. Remember that the Limbs of Yoga are guidelines, and you’ll feel good following it because it helps you live a righteous and peaceful life.
Think about the Ashtanga each day. If you’re starting out, try just giving a moment to think about the Limbs each day. Post them up in your bathroom and read it while you brush your teeth, or on the fridge so you see it before you dive into a meal. This gentle subconscious messaging helps prime the mind.
Do a little bit each day. If you already have a practice of meditation, yoga asanas or pranayama, increase it to a daily effort, even if it’s just a short practice. Just a little bit each day helps to get things going.
As for the Yamas and Niyamas, there are five Yamas and another five Niyamas. Try focusing on one characteristic a week, then choose another the next week. Keeping things to manageable proportions will allow these habits to grow organically. After you’ve gone through all ten, start back at the beginning or try doing two at a time.
This spiritual journey is neither easy nor short. It might take many lifetimes, so go slow and steady. Develop habits you can maintain over the long term. With perseverance, you’ll reap the benefits one day of the Ashtanga — blissful union of the soul.