Patanjali (200 BC), a saint has explained the eight steps of yoga or Ashtanga yoga. The eight steps refer to one’s societal behavior, physical training, and psychic preparation. The eight steps of Ashtanga yoga are (1) Yama, (2) Niyama, (3) Asana, (4) Pranayama, (5) Pratyahara, (6) Dharana, (7) Dhyana, and (8) Samadhi. The first four steps are often called bahirmukhi yoga (or outward yoga) and the last four are antarmukhi yoga (or inward yoga).
The Sanskrit word “Yama” means discipline. The observances illustrated in Yama are those that help one restrain one’s social conduct to live in harmony within the society. There are five Yama in yoga. The first such observance is the principle of ahimsa (non-injury).
Avoiding purposeful injury to oneself or others in the present or with the potential to harm in the future is the practice of non-injury. The second Yama is Aparigraha (receiving accurately what is right). This entails setting limits to one’s needs and drawing the limit to one’s wants. The third Yama is Asteya or non-stealing or not desiring what another has. The fourth Yama is Brahmacharya (sensual control). This entails not overdoing sensory pursuits and rising above the consciousness of sheer senses. The final Yama is Satya (truthful behavior) which entails being honest as far as possible in one’s thoughts, words, and actions.
The Sanskrit word, “Niyama” means rituals or rules for self. The Yama and Niyama go hand in hand. The first Niyama is Shaucham (cleanliness) which entails cleansing of both the inner and outer body and mind. The second Niyama is Santosha (contentment). This entails being completely contended with the present without having any regrets about the past or worries about the future. The third Niyama is Tapas (practice) which entails self-discipline of regular practice to purify oneself. The fourth Niyama is Swadhyaya (self-study). This entails introspection on behaviors and the true nature of the “self.” The final Niyama is Ishwar Pranidhana (giving rights of outcomes of one’s actions to a Higher Power).
The third step in Ashtanga yoga consists of the routine of Asanas. Asanas are low-impact physical activity poses that serve several objectives, of which the primary role is optimum maintenance of the body.
The fourth step in Ashtanga yoga consists of the method of Pranayama. Prana means the life force or the inner energy, and Yama means discipline. It is the regulation and increase of the reserve of the life force or inner energy that this practice aims to establish.
The fifth step in Ashtanga yoga consists of Pratyahara (gathering inward). This has been defined by Swami Sivananda as “abstraction or withdrawal of the senses from their objects.” The sixth step in Ashtanga yoga is the practice of Dharana (or holding the mind at certain points). When the mind is limited to one place it is called Dharana. When we perform any creative activity, we are in essence doing Dharana. In transcendental meditation, a popular technique in the West, this is done using focusing on a mantra.
The seventh step in Ashtanga yoga consists of the training of Dhyana (meditation). The starting point of meditation according to Swami Sivananda is manana (introspection or reflection) to purify the mind. The purpose of meditation is to bring the electroencephalogram (EEG) waves of the mind to subtler levels.
The final or eighth step in Ashtanga yoga consists of the procedure of Samadhi. The word Samadhi is derived from the Sanskrit “Sam” meaning equal or together and “Adhi” meaning the primordial state. This has also been referred to as super-consciousness. The first state of Samadhi for a meditator (yogi) is called “Savikalpa Samadhi,” the second one is “Nirvikalpa Samadhi” and the final stage as “Sahajavastha” or “Jivanmukta.”
Dr. Manoj Sharma is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Health at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA. He is an avid practitioner of Kundalini Yoga.
