22/06/2025
*What is Yoga? 🧘😇*
*Sage Patanjali* defined *yoga* as the restraining of *thought waves*.
He compiled the *Yoga Sutras* - the *aphorisms of yoga* - in which he provides an *eight-limbed approach* for the *well-being and purification of body, mind and soul*.
This eight-limbed approach is not to be mistaken as a step-by-step approach, but a multidimensional approach, in which all *eight limbs* are practiced simultaneously.
These *eight limbs* are:
1 *Yamas* - the five social ethics
🔸 *Ahimsa* - Non-violence in action, speech and thoughts.
🔸 *Satyam* - Truthfulness in intention, remaining established in the higher truth.
🔸 *Asteya* - Non-stealing.
🔸 *Brahmacharya* - Divine conduct, celibate when single, faithful when married.
🔸 *Aparigraha* - Not accumulating things unnecessarily and not desiring things that belong to others.
2 *Niyamas* - the five personal ethics
🔸 *Saucha* - Cleanliness of the body and mind
🔸 *Santosha* - Contentment, remaining happy
🔸 *Tapas* - Austerity and self-discipline
🔸 *Swadhyaya* - Study of the Self, abiding in the Self
🔸 *Ishwarapranidhana* - Surrendering to God, honouring the Divine.
*Yamas* and its complement, *Niyamas*, represent a series of right living or ethical rules.
3 *Asanas* - physical postures or poses.
4 *Pranayamas* - proper regulation of life force (prana) through certain breathing techniques.
5 *Pratayahara* - taking the senses inwards.
6 *Dharana* - one-pointed focus.
7 *Dhyana* - meditation.
8 *Samadhi* - the highest state of consciousness. This is possible to achieve during meditation 🧘♂️
*A Blessed 🙌 Day to All 🌍*