PATANJALI

Patanjali is the father of yoga. He is thought to have lived between 500 and 200 B.C. Although we know very little about the man himself, his yoga sutras – which codify the yoga path in succinct form – are one of the most direct and powerful pathways to enlightenment.

Patanjali wrote 196 sutras, which are divided into four chapters. Within this structure are eight
practical steps, each one leading to the next, yet entwined and complementing each other.
These are known as the 8 limbs of yoga.

THE STEPS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. YAMA
Disciplines for social harmony.

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2. NIYAMA

Self-purification by discipline.

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3. ASANAS

Yoga postures.

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4. PRANAYAMA

Rhythmic control of the breath.

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5. PRATYAHARA

Withdrawal and emancipation of the mind

from the senses and objects.

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6. DHARANA

Concentration.

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7. DHYANA

Meditation.

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8. SAMADHI

State of super-consciousness, oneness.