8 Petals of Yoga
There are 8 petals of yoga that reveal themselves progressively to the practitioner as described in yoga sutras of Patanjali:
Ahimsa (अहिंसा): non-violence
Satya (सत्य): truth in word and thought. absence of falsehood
Asteya (अस्तेय): non-stealing
Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्य): celibacy in case of unmarried people and Faithful in case
of married people. One should not possess any sexual thoughts towards any other man or
woman except one's own spouse
Aparigraha (अपरिग्रह): absence of avarice (greed)
Shaucha: cleanliness of body and mind. in the traditional codification, this item is listed under Yamas; this word means purity.
Santosha: satisfaction; satisfied with what one has; contentment
Tapas: austerity.
Svādhyāya: study of the Vedic scriptures to know more about God and the soul, which leads to introspection on a greater awakening to the soul and God within.
Ishvarapranidhana: surrender to (or worship of) God.
Ultimate freedom via incremental experience of greater freedom is Yoga.
From "Light on Life", by B.K.S. Iyengar
- Yama (ethical principles) - (Sanskrit) यम, literally "death", is a rule or code of conduct for living which will help bring a compassionate death to the ego or "the lower self".
Ahimsa (अहिंसा): non-violence
Satya (सत्य): truth in word and thought. absence of falsehood
Asteya (अस्तेय): non-stealing
Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्य): celibacy in case of unmarried people and Faithful in case
of married people. One should not possess any sexual thoughts towards any other man or
woman except one's own spouse
Aparigraha (अपरिग्रह): absence of avarice (greed)
- Niyama (internal ethical observances)
Shaucha: cleanliness of body and mind. in the traditional codification, this item is listed under Yamas; this word means purity.
Santosha: satisfaction; satisfied with what one has; contentment
Tapas: austerity.
Svādhyāya: study of the Vedic scriptures to know more about God and the soul, which leads to introspection on a greater awakening to the soul and God within.
Ishvarapranidhana: surrender to (or worship of) God.
- Asana (physical exercises) - working with the body - i.e. working with the consciousness itself which is evenly diffused through the body
- Pranayama (breath control) - Sanskrit: प्राणायाम from Prāna, life force, or vital energy, particularly, the breath, and "ayāma", to extend or draw out.
- Pratyahara (sense withdrawal) - drawing the senses of perception inward to experience control, silence and quietness of mind.
- Dharana (concentration) - unbroken thread of awareness.
- Dhyana (meditation) - in a strong body and mind true meditation leads to wisdom (jnana) and awareness (prajna).
- Samadhi - (total absorption) - merging with the Self
Ultimate freedom via incremental experience of greater freedom is Yoga.
From "Light on Life", by B.K.S. Iyengar