As per Patanjali’s Astanga Yoga there are eight limbs or steps in the practice of Yoga:
- Yama
- Niyama
- Asana
- Pranayama
- Pratyahara
- Dharana
- Dhyana
- Samadhi
There are 5 YAMAS – SOCIAL CODES:
- Ahimsa-Non Violent
- Satya-Truthfulness
- Asteya-Non Stealing
- Bhramacharya-Celibacy
- Aparigraha-Non Hoarding
5 NIYAMAS – PERSONAL CODES
- Saucha-Cleanliness
- Santosha- Contentment
- Tapas-Austerity
- Swadhyaya-Self Study
- Ishwarapranidhana- Remembering the higher power
For a successful Yoga practice and to become an advanced practitioner one also needs to follow the restraints and observances in day to day life.
There are commentaries on Yoga Sutras of Patanjali available which will give more details:
- SVYASA publication
- Yoga Institute Publication
- Swami Vivekananda’s commentary of the sutras which is available in his book on Raja Yoga
Hari OM
Vijaya