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Ashtanga's 8 limbs of yoga

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For the system of yoga taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, see Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.

Description
Below is an outline of the 8 Limbs of Yoga as practiced in Ashtanga Yoga. Ashtanga (eight limbs of yoga, Raja Yoga) is the classical Indian system of philosophy and practice (composed by Patanjali perhaps ca. 200 BCE) consisting of these eight behavior precepts:

Yama (see below)
niyama - Commitments to practice, such as study and devotion
asana - integration of mind and body through physical activity
pranayama - integration of mind and body through breathing
pratyahara - withdrawal of the senses of perception from their objects
dharana - one-pointedness of mind
dhyana - meditation (quiet activity that leads to samadhi)
samadhi - the quiet state of blissful awareness

Practice of these precepts is said to result in a state in which one's behavior spontaneously follows the five ethical precepts (Yamas):

Ahimsa - refraining from injury (non-life supporting action)
satya - truthfulness
asteya - freedom from stealing
bramacharya - living within the Self (moderation; abstinence)
aparigraha - freedom from attachment to possessions

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Categories: Yoga

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This page was originally created by TinyE at 22:47 on May 4, 2005.
This page was last modified by TinyE at 22:47 on May 4, 2005.
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