A very good conversation was had regarding the 8 limbs of yoga and what it means to the Immersion. I have included a discussion below of those limbs so that you can begin to explore. I am truly passionate about the Ayurvedic lifestyle which is simply embracing these lifestyle suggestions. If you are living a positive social and moral life. If you are nourishing your body and senses. If you consistently are kind and make good choices, then you will release your past, not worry about your future and cultivate present moment awareness. Through meditation you will connect to spirit and manifest your intentions and desires. This makes a happy person. This is why we do yoga.
There are Eight "limbs", "branches" or "chapters" of yoga. It is not just the physical posturing or asana that is yoga. That, in fact, is just one branch of the tree. The limbs, when practiced together and daily, become part of you and part of your life. They help you to live a good life and to find your life's purpose. They guide you to better choice-making, better habits, and a better life.
Maharishi Pantanjali is best known for the Eight Limbs of Yoga. The purpose of embracing the Eight Limbs of Yoga is to connect you to the real you. You are layered and cloaked in veils that hide your inner spirit. These practices part the veils that hide you.
All of the limbs of yoga come to pass naturally as you grow spiritually. You don't have to focus on any one and they are not in a consecutive order. You simply become "aware" of them and modify behavior and thoughts slowly. In time, you will find that you are living and breathing all Eight Limbs.
First Branch of Yoga - YAMA - rules of social behavior
The Yamas are rules of social conduct that when practiced, engage you with others. They are important because we are co-creating our reality and thus provide a foundation for respect and peace.
| AHIMSA | Nonviolence | |
| SATYA | Truthfulness, integrity of thought word & action | |
BRACHMACHARYA | Appropriate use of your energy | |
| ASTEYA | Honesty | |
| APARIGRAHA | Generosity |
Ahimsa
Ahimsa is the practice of nonviolence. Your thoughts, your spoken word and your actions to others, your environment and yourself should be kind. Through the Immersion, you learn to speak more kindly to yourself. That is the purpose of the soul profile. It gives you positive and wonderful traits to acknowledge within yourself. As you love yourself, your love for others grow.
When speaking to others, always ask yourself, "Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?" If any of the answers are NO, then don't say what you are thinking. If it is truly necessary, then a kind way to say it will appear.
Satya
Satya means truthfulness. It is having integrity of thought word and deed. Be kind.
BRACHMACHARYA
Pathway to unity consciousness, sexual appropriateness. Choose to use your energies wisely and don't give yourself away.
Vedic society translates this as sexuality. There is the path of the celebate and the path of the householder. The celebate perceives abstinence as a way to unity consciousness. The householder engages in a healthy expression of sexual energy.
You can also think of it as how you spend your energy. Spending energy in unfufilling situations such as bad relationships, bad friendships, bad jobs or gossiping can be very draining and unhealthy.
ASTEYA
Honesty or relinquishing the idea that things outside yourself will provide you happiness and security
Asteya means being honest with yourself and learning that things outside of yourself cannot make you happy.
When you are dishonest, it is usually because you fear loss on some level.
Asteya is truly about ego attachment. Our ego defines itself by what it has around it. It clings to things and fears loss. Know that you are more than what is around you.
APARIGRAHA
Generosity or shifting from ego base to spiritual base approach. Shifting from material possessions. You feel as if you are in this world, but not of it. Your expression of generosity in every thought, word, action and deed is spontaneous.
This is also witnessing awareness.
Second Branch of Yoga - NIYAMA - rules of personal behavior
How do you live when no one is watching? If you are living a balanced life, these characteristic develop on their own.
| SHOUCHA | make choices that are nourishing to your body, mind & soul. | |
| SANTOSHA | contentment, present moment awareness | |
| TAPAS | discipline | |
| SWADHYANA | self study | |
| ISHWARA-PRANIDHANA | surrendering. embracing uncertainty |
SHOUCHA
Purity - make choices that are nourishing to your body, mind, and soul. Always choose the more nourishing thing for yourself including food choices, exercise choices, who to hang out with, what to listen to and what to watch. Choose what to believe and what to let go.
SANTOSHA - contentment
Present moment awareness, acceptance without resignation., relinquish your attachment to the need for control, power, and approval. Simply practice present moment awareness. Accept things as they are knowing that right now everything is perfect.
TAPAS - discipline, means fire
Tapas is the disciplined practice of yoga on and off your mat. Practicing tapas is quite simple:
| Arise between 6 and 7 each morning | ||
| Express gratitude as soon as your eyes open | ||
| Spend time in silence each morning.....meditate | ||
| Practice a little yoga each day | ||
| Breath consciously | ||
| Be kind and compassionate throughout your day | ||
| Express gratitude before you fall asleep | ||
| Go to bed between 10 and 11 each night |
Many view tapas or fire as a form of deprivation. However, if you are living a balanced and healthy life, you will live by the rhythms of nature which means going to bed early, getting up early, meditating daily and exercising daily.
SVADHYANA - self study
Look inside. Your value comes from a deep connection with spirit. Know that your value cannot be derived externally.
ISHWARA-PRANIDHANA - surrendering to the Cosmos
Embrace uncertainty and let go of the past. Practice present moment awareness. Do not dwell in the past or the future. Know that this moment is perfect and all the moments to come will be as well.
Third Branch of Yoga - Asana - position
This is the disciplined practice of yoga. This is the posturing that most people are familiar with.
Fourth Branch of Yoga - Pranayama - prana, life force, breathing
This is the disciplined practice of breathing.
Fifth Branch of Yoga - Pratyahara - tuning into your subtle sensory experience.
Pratyahara is the practice of becoming accutely aware of your senses to the point that you are able to withdrawal your senses from the world. To practice, you focus on your senses and ultimately you are able to turn them off. This practice aids in meditation and in mindfulness. It is also the practice of choosing the most nourishing stimulation. Imagine the difference between listening to hard rock and listening to classical or of sitting by the ocean vs. sitting in a mall. It is a practice of feeding your senses in a nourishing way.- Pay attention to five senses and how your body reacts.
- Spend time in silence and alone
- Meditate
Sixth Branch of Yoga - Dharana - mastery of attenton and intention.
Dharans, Dhyana and Samdhi all have to due with Meditation. They are practiced concurrently. Together, they make Samyama or Control.
Dharana is the point in which the mind needs an instrument to play in order to keep it from wandering. This instrument may be a mantra, japa mala or even attention to breath. Note that even the most experienced meditator has days where the mind wants to wander and goes back to an instrument. That is why Dharana, Dhyana and Samdhi are practiced together and not consecutively.
Be aware of your intentions, pay attention to clues. sychronisity.
Seventh Branch of Yoga - Dhyana - development of witnessing awareness.
You are in this world, but not of this world. everything is always changing, but not your soul.
Be aware of the silent presence that resides within you. As you experience the drama of living, remove yourself from it and watch it. Notice your thoughts and emotions as if you are watching a movie unfold.
Eighth Branch of Yoga - Samadhi - the state of being settled in pure, unbounded awareness.
Know yourself as a spiritual being disguised as a human. Samadhi is not easily defined or described. It is a state of being known as bliss. This experience is unique to the practitionor. You will know when you have entered Samadhi without any defination or description coming from outside yourself.
Samadhi is experienced at and in death.
Samadhi to a lessor degree, is experienced during life through meditation.
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