Ashtanga Yoga
The Way of 8-Limbs Unity
ashta = eight | anga = branch | yoga = unit
YAMA - Inner purification (packaging consciousness)
NIYAMA - External purification (awareness of action)
ASANA - Physical purification (body awareness)
PRANAYAMA - Subtle purification (awareness of the breath)
PRATYAHARA - Conscious use of the 5 senses
DHARANA - Discernment (concentration)
DHYANA - State of being (meditation)
SAMADHI - State of unity, totality, liberation (pure consciousness)
Ashtanga finds its origins in the Sanskrit texts, exposed by the sage Patanjali , who was the first to systematize the path of classical yoga.
These are the stages which structure the logical progression through which the practitioner goes before reaching the state of Yoga.
They are all related to each other, and can be practiced simultaneously.
The first five branches (the external support) are the foundations of the last 3 (the internal practice).
The first two branches are crucial, and are often the most neglected. Without it the practice is meaningless and does not allow the process that the practice of yoga is supposed to bring about, the upward inner transformation.
YAMA
AHIMSA - become aware of our violent thoughts
SATYA - truthfulness, sincere self-examination
ASTEYA - become aware of the desire for possession
BRAHMACHARYA - take awareness of the energy of life
ABHINIVESHA - become aware of mental concepts
NIYAMA
SHAUCHA - action without personal profit
SANTOSHA - satisfaction through acceptance of what is
TAPAH - being determined to seek the source of consciousness
SVADHYAYA - seek to associate with the truth
ISVARA PRANIDANA - surrender to the divine (love)