Here I am invoking the guidance of my Guru, Shri Sridhar, to start this writing on my understanding of the Yogasutras. May I feel the guidance to write my understanding here!
Yogasutra by Lord Patanjali is made of 4 chapters – Samadhi, Sadhana, Vibhuti and Kaivalya. I have had the benefit of learning the first 2 chapters from Sir as a part of my teacher’s training program. Recently, I have started studying the chapters again, under the guidance of Sir.
This effort is my sincere attempt to bring out the teachings, and the learnings from Yogasutra in simple terms, in the way it has made sense to me.
In this first post, this is what I would like to talk about – Ashtanga yoga. Ashta is eight – anga is limb/parts. In Yogasutra, it is suggested that we practice Ashtanga yoga – meaning the eight limbs of yoga. This practice is highly beneficial to the person who practices. Ashtanga yoga when practiced under the guidance of a Guru, helps the person to reduce ignorance, to become more aware of body and mind, and to evolve as a human being. Also, we need to be present with the practice without expecting any return or profit from it.
These eight angas of yoga practice do not represent 8 steps, where you become proficient with the first step and then move onto the second. These angas grow together in an individual. They work together and are used together.
Let’s look at the eight Angas now…
1. Yama – Here we learn to maintain harmony in a relationship/surrounding/society.
2. Niyama – The relationship we have with our own self – harmony with the self.
3. Asana – Harmony / to work with our own body, to be present and be aware of it.
4. Pranayama – To work with our energy, using our breath. To find harmony in our breath.
5. Pratyahara – To work and find harmony with our senses – to self-regulate.
6. Dharana – To help the mind to begin focusing on a single object – harmony in thoughts.
7. Dhyana – To retain the focus on the object for a longer period – strengthen the harmony with thoughts.
8. Samadhi – When we become one with the object of focus – harmony of thoughts and awareness.
The practice of each and every anga mentioned above is very essential to remain in a state of awareness, with a reasonably good control over thoughts. It may take years to reach that state and we may fail on many days. The goal is to practice the ashtanga yoga every living moment without being disheartened at our failures in our practice.
To be continued…
Please take some time to read my previous posts on similar topics:
UmaS Reflections 
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