Yoga is beneficial to reduce stress, anxiety, joint pains, depression. It also improves your blood circulation, immunity, focus, concentration, heart-health, flexibility, beauty & lifestyle. Do you know that the ancient Yoga explains 8 principles of Yoga to get 100% results? Let’s read more about the 8 limbs of Yoga.
8 Principles of Yoga: Ashtanga Yoga
Maharshi Patanjali, the great Saint of Yoga gave eight Yoga Sutras (or principles). If you follow these 8 principles of Yoga, you can attain 100% results of Yoga in your life. The 8 principles are:
- Yama: Ethics, Restraint and Ahimsa
- Niyama Cleanliness, Ascetism
- Asana: Posture
- Pranayama: Breath-control
- Pratyahara: Sense-withdrawal
- Dharana: Concentration
- Dhyana: Meditation
- Samadhi: Oneness with Supreme Power
Benefits of 8 principles of Yoga
The first five principles are for everyone to follow: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara. The rest of principles: Dharana, Dhyana, & Samadhi are for Saints & Rishi. Let’s discuss them briefly to understand more.
- Yama refers to Ethics and Abstentions such as Satya (truth in words & thoughts), Brahmacharya (abstaining from sexual intercourse and Aparigraha or non-possessiveness).
- Niyama refers to daily observances such as Svadhyaya, Santosha, Tapas, Pavitrata and dedication towards Supreme Power.
- Asana refers to disciplining the mind and body by sitting in correct postures and meditating.
- Pranayama means controlling of breath.
- Pratyahara refers to withdrawal of senses from the external objects and concentrating on the spiritual aspects.
- DharaNa, Dhyana and SamAdhi are the sutras more meaningful for those who have completely transformed and developed themselves spiritually.
If any worldly being manages to even follow Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara correctly with complete dedication, most of the pains and sufferings shall come to an end.