Physical Education · Ch 3 — Yoga
Introduction to Ashtang Yoga
Introduction to Ashtang Yoga
Yoga is more than just a physical discipline — it is a way of life and a rich philosophical path. At the heart of this path are the Yamas (social restraints — rules of conduct towards the outside world) and the Niyamas (self-discipline — rules of conduct towards oneself). Together these ten form a set of sensible, common-sense guidelines for leading a healthier and happier life and for bringing spiritual awareness into everyday social life.
Importantly, these guidelines are not rules to be obeyed blindly. They are meant for the individual to think about and reflect upon with a rational mind, because Yoga is not about mindlessly accepting externally imposed rules — it is about finding the truth for oneself and "connecting" with it.
The eight limbs at a glance
Ashtanga Yoga sets out eight limbs, practised in order as a progressive path:
| # | Limb | In one line, it is about… |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yama | Ethical restraints — conduct towards others. |
| 2 | Niyama | Personal observances — self-discipline. |
| 3 | Asana | Steady, comfortable posture of the body. |
| 4 | Pranayama | Regulation of the breath (prana). |
| 5 | Pratyahara | Withdrawal of the senses. |
| 6 | Dharana | Concentration on a single point. |
| 7 | Dhyana | Meditation — an unbroken flow of attention. |
| 8 | Samadhi | Complete absorption — the goal of the path. |
The first limbs discipline conduct, the body and the breath; the last three turn wholly inward to the mind. Each limb is described in its own sub-section that follows.
Why "Ashtanga"?
The name itself joins two Sanskrit words: ashta (eight) and anga (limb or component). Patanjali set out this eightfold path in his classical treatise, the Yoga Sutras, as a systematic ladder a sincere practitioner climbs rung by rung — each limb is a discipline in itself and, at the same time, the necessary preparation for the limb that follows it.
External limbs and internal limbs
The eight limbs are traditionally grouped into two sets:
- Bahiranga Yoga (the external/outer limbs): Yama, Niyama, Asana and Pranayama — these shape a person's conduct, body and breath, the parts of practice that can be observed from the outside.
- Antaranga Yoga (the internal/inner limbs): Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi — these work entirely within the mind and cannot be seen from outside; they are the private, inward journey that the first four limbs make possible.