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The path of enlightenment known as Ashtanga Yoga (Ashta — 8, Anga — Limb) provides principles for living a tranquil, meaningful, and purposeful life. Patanjali’s Ashtanga yoga’s first four levels are dedicated to enhancing our personalities, acquiring control over our bodies, and creating an energy awareness of ourselves. They serve as training for the following four limbs.
The senses, the mind, and achieving a higher state of consciousness are all topics covered in the second half of the voyage. The Yamas and Niyamas can be applied alone or collectively as a system leading to realization.
1. Yamas
Norms of conduct are based on the Golden Rule, which states, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
There are five yamas:
Ahimsa: Nonviolence
Satya: Truth
Asteya: Non-stealing
Brahmacharya: Abstinence
Aparigraha: Non-attachment
2. Niyama
The second limb, niyama, is concerned with self-control and religious observances. Niyamas in action include things like regularly going to temple or church services, saying grace before meals, creating your own personal meditation routines, and making it a habit to go for…
