Yoga BLOG
The eight limbs of Raja Yoga – what are they?
by Nick
on Jan 22 2023
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The eight limbs of Raja Yoga – Image © snedorez / 123rf.com
Raja Yoga is a very life-changing teaching. The name itself contains the high significance of this style of yoga. Raja means king, so it is the "royal" yoga. The eight steps/limbs of this yoga style are special and can change the life of the yogini in a sustainable way. If you want to learn more about royal yoga and follow this path, you can read this article. It will inspire you to more inner freedom.
Raja Yoga: Definition and a brief explanation
Yoga is a very ancient teaching and includes various techniques to approach enlightenment and the mastery of the mind. Unlike common yoga styles such as Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga or Yin Yoga, Raja Yoga relies on other essential points. Raja Yoga is one of the four yoga paths; the other three are: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Jnana Yoga.
Raja comes from the ancient teaching, Sanskrit, and means king or ruler. All this knowledge goes back to the wise man Patanjali, who is still a well-known name in this field today. He wrote the Yoga Sutra, which can also be described as a guide for yoga. Many equate Ashtanga Yoga (eight-limbed yoga) with Raja Yoga.
The goal of Raja Yoga is to let go of "control" over the mind, which is often difficult nowadays. Many people are so overwhelmed by their daily lives and all the challenges that this is reflected in a very restless mind.
What can you do to calm down?
Depending on your personality and challenges, there are different ways to become calmer. Raja Yoga uses various meditation techniques, breathing techniques (Pranayama), and asanas for the body. Of course, the aspect of self-observation is also essential to become calmer and more conscious and to go through everyday life with more concentration.
The eight limbs of Raja Yoga: On the way to a free spirit
Many people are restless and find yoga through this problem. Raja Yoga helps you to become calmer and more peaceful inside. The reason why people are so distracted and restless are the Kleshas. These are passions that are responsible for clouding and confusing the mind and thoughts.
Fear of death (Abhinivesha)
Too much egoism (Asmita)
Incorrect knowledge (Avidya)
Attachment to certain preferences (Raga)
Exaggerated aversion (Dvesha)
The goal of Raja Yoga is not to completely eliminate all these passions. Instead, it is important that you follow the path of Ashtanga Marga and reduce the influence of the Kleshas on your own behavior.
Overview: the eight limbs of Raja Yoga
The following section introduces the eight limbs of Raja Yoga. It is not important in which order they are performed. However, to develop spiritually, all steps must be practiced.
1. Yamas (dealing with the world, environment)
We do not live alone in the world, so it is essential that we live in harmony with the environment. Dealing with other living beings is important. Yama is divided into five sub-points, the processing of which is already very intensive (e.g., Ahimsa: striving for the absence of injustice, respectful treatment of all living beings, Asteya: not stealing or taking what does not belong to you, etc.)
2. Niyamas (dealing with oneself)
This limb is about engaging with oneself and reflecting. Here, too, there are five sub-points that show how one's own mind and body should be treated, for example, Shaucha (purity of the body), Santosha (modesty with what you possess), Svadhyaya (self-study), etc.
3. Asanas (physical exercises)
Asanas are almost the best-known point of the eight-limbed path and the aspect that many people in the Western world also implement. There are countless different yoga exercises for the mat that bring body, mind, and soul into harmony. In addition, the life energy and physical vitality of the practitioner increase. The effect of the exercise naturally always depends on the yoga style; Hatha Yoga works differently than Vinyasa, and yet they all help people to achieve inner peace.
4. Pranayama (breathing techniques)
This point is also relatively well-known, as people all over the world practice breathing exercises in everyday life. A good level of physical discipline is a prerequisite for this. Prana is the energy that surrounds us all. There are various breathing exercises, which usually all include the same parts:
Exhale
Hold breath with empty lungs
Inhale
Hold breath with full lungs
5. Pratyahara (dealing with the senses)
This limb is about mastering the senses. Pratyahara describes the withdrawal of the senses to protect yogis from sensory overload. In addition, no one is distracted from essential tasks. This allows you to increase mindfulness.
6. Dharana (Concentration)
If you want to go this way, you must learn to concentrate completely on one thing. No one should be permanently distracted. In this context, you try to focus on a specific thing during the exercise. Over time, it will become easier and easier for you.
7. Dhyana (Meditation)
In this stage, you get to know meditation. The goal of a meditator is to have fewer thoughts in their head or to let them pass during their time on the cushion. This is especially difficult for beginners, but with time and a little practice, you will get better and better. With enough practice, you can notice physical and mental differences; even in stressful situations, Raja Yoga helps you to remain calmer and more focused.
8. Samadhi (inner freedom)
This point is the culmination of the path and the goal of every yogi. The state of absolute being is sought: a moment in which you can merge with reality, you are one with God and feel all the knowledge within you.
How can you integrate these steps into your life?
These steps initially seem very demanding and naturally require a lot of time until you have integrated them into your life. At first, it is important that you are aware of all these limbs and gradually incorporate them into your daily life. Everyone will have different preferences.
Do everything at your own pace and don't stress yourself.
Don't compare yourself
Read a book for further information to get a better insight.
Find like-minded people with whom you can walk the path motivated.
Do you already practice these eight limbs in your daily life? Have you already integrated them all?
Pratyahara: the fifth limb in Raja Yoga
by Nick
on Jul 07 2018
Pratyahara: the fifth limb in Raja Yoga Pratyahara: the fifth limb in Raja Yoga For people who are new to yoga, yoga practice primarily consists of physical exercises, the asanas. But yoga is, of course, much more, as anyone who delves deeper into this millennia-old tradition will recognize. The fact that yoga embraces body, mind, and spirit equally is particularly evident in Raja Yoga (Asthanga Yoga). It has eight limbs, which Patanjali describes in his Yoga Sutras. Pratyahara is the fifth limb in the eight-limbed system of yoga. Here you can learn more about its classification, practice, and effects. The eight limbs of Raja Yoga
Raja Yoga consists of the following limbs:
Yama : dealing with others
Niyama: the attitude towards oneself
Asana: the physical exercises
Pranayama : the breathing exercises
Pratyahara: withdrawing the senses
Dharana: concentration
Dhyana: absorption during meditation
Samadhi: the superconsciousness
The stages of Pratyahara will not be explained further here. The point is simply to help you understand how Pratyahara fits in and that yoga considers body, mind, and soul as a whole. Pratyahara: the withdrawal of the senses Pratyahara, like many yoga terms, comes from Sanskrit. The word means "retreat from battle." Even though it's not military-related, the image is somewhat appropriate for today's world. We're often overwhelmed by sensory impressions and thoughts. The "war" that rages in our minds causes stress. Therefore, Pratyahara is an essential building block when it comes to our well-being. When nothing is bombarding us anymore, when our "inner troops" have withdrawn, we often feel the peace and relaxation we've long sought. Characteristics of Pratyahara This fifth limb in the eight-limbed path has several characteristics. First, it is the withdrawal from sense objects. In yoga, this refers to everything we can perceive with the senses: everything we can see, hear, taste, smell, or touch. Another characteristic is the withdrawal from our perception. This means that we do not allow any sensory impressions in this state at all. The third characteristic is the withdrawal from attachment. This involves not allowing the mind to become active. Pratyahara in everyday life and meditation
In your daily life, you continually incorporate the fifth limb of Raja Yoga. This is, of course, only possible once you have gradually developed an awareness of this state. You can also incorporate it into meditation. Here, you might recall your first yoga classes, where you were supposed to sit in silence and allow any thoughts that arise to pass by without judgment. Preparation is necessary. Pratyahara is the fifth limb of Raja Yoga for a reason. You should only begin these practices once you are somewhat familiar with the previous stages. It is also helpful to have a yoga teacher with solid spiritual practice at your side. Discipline and perseverance are very important in the beginning. The more you try not to focus on something, the more likely you are to do it in the beginning. Withdraw the senses one by one Withdrawing all the senses at once is almost impossible. Therefore, there's a rule of thumb for how to best achieve Pratyahara. This involves the wildest sense. It's the one that's most active in you individually. Concentrate on gradually reining in this sense. Once you succeed, you can add the next sense to your practice. Force is absolutely essential. The important thing is to withdraw the senses gently, so as not to draw the mind's attention to them and refocus. Image © deklofenak / 123rf.com
Dharana - stay relaxed and focused
by Nick
on Apr 12 2018
Dharana - stay relaxed and focused Dharana, the sixth stage of the eight-stage path of Raja Yoga , is usually translated as "attention" or "concentration." It is the first stage of the last three, which also include Dhyana and Samadhi . Together, the last three stages constitute Samyama, or contemplation. What does Dharana mean? The meanings of the Sanskrit word are diverse. Depending on the context, they encompass memory and remembrance as well as resentment and anger. All of these meanings have as their common denominator the holding and clinging to something—and that is precisely what yoga is about. Dharana means keeping your attention focused on a single object and not allowing yourself to be distracted from it. This sounds easy, but in practice, it is often very difficult to keep your mind so focused that it doesn't start to occupy yourself with something else. Many distractions, both internal and external, can literally destroy this focused awareness. Sounds and movements in the environment, memories (for example, of unfinished tasks), thoughts of the future, bodily sensations... the list of possible distractions is long. Practicing dharana means learning to deliberately keep your attention focused on your object of contemplation without allowing distractions to pull you away. It doesn't make the distractions disappear. But they no longer interest you. Dharana is a state we are all familiar with, as children enter this focused attention spontaneously and naturally while playing. We simply unlearn it—but with appropriate exercises, we can re-acquire it. How do you practice Dharana? The fifth stage, Pratyahara, has already prepared you for Dharana with the withdrawal of the senses – just as the first five stages can be considered preparation for the last three. You have already become acquainted with many forms of practice that promote concentration, for example, in Pranayama , which focuses on the breath. To practice Dharana, you choose an object that you want to hold in your consciousness for the entire duration of the practice. This can be a deity, a meditation image, a sound (even an imagined one), a mantra, a scent, a material object, an anthill, a flower or a tree, or a part of your body – what is important is not what you focus your concentration on, but that you do not allow yourself to be distracted from it throughout the entire practice. This does not mean dogged concentration, but rather a relaxed, focused awareness. When you begin practicing Dharana, it is best to practice for only a few minutes - this is already a real challenge for beginners - and extend the duration of the exercises when you are able to maintain relaxed but focused awareness for a few minutes without your thoughts starting to jump restlessly from one topic to another (Kshipta) or becoming tired and sluggish (Tamas, Mudha). You can basically practice with your eyes open or closed, and observe something externally or internally. Ultimately, it makes no difference how you achieve dharana—only the arrival counts. When this happens, your consciousness effortlessly, as if by itself, transitions into dhyana, meditative absorption. Tips and tools
Be aware: It's perfectly normal for your mind to be distracted at first while practicing. Just accept them calmly, let them go, and return to your focus in a relaxed manner. Getting angry will only make things more difficult.
To better track progress, you can use a string of beads. Each time you get distracted, move it one bead further. This way, you'll be more aware of the decrease in distractions over time.
Start doing what you're doing in your daily life with full attention and concentration - this will greatly improve your ability to concentrate while practicing!
Image © dotshock / 123rf.com
The inner path: calming the mind
by Nick
on Jun 18 2016
The inner path: calming the mind When the word yoga is mentioned, many people immediately think of the physical exercises, the asanas. They have achieved a high status in the Western world because they promise a flexible body, a toned figure, and stable health. We are familiar with them primarily from Hatha Yoga or from more extreme, modern variations such as Power Yoga (fast exercises) and Bikram Yoga (exercises in a heated room) . It is often forgotten that the royal path of classical yoga consists of eight parts: five for the outer path – including the asanas – and three for the inner path. These three parts are called: Dharana: complete concentration Dhyana: meditation Samadhi: oneness with the object of attention The individual path
This may sound strange and difficult to you. But don't be discouraged. The fact is that the inner path is a very subjective one: Only you can walk it. You can neither do it for someone else, nor can anyone else do it for you. It's about the search for self-knowledge, for your own essence. That's why there is no universally valid path that works as a panacea for everyone. By concentrating completely, you block out all distractions. This is where mindfulness in everyday life comes in: being completely present in what you're doing. This way, you tame the chaos of thoughts that constantly plagues you, distracts you, and makes you unfocused and insecure. Simple rituals To prepare for a meditative practice, all you need is a quiet space. If you like, take a few deep breaths and/or try some simple breathing exercises like alternate nostril breathing. Some people find it helpful to practice a few asanas. However, this will make the practice significantly longer overall. Concentration and meditation can be practiced. A popular example is a burning candle, which you place about an arm's length away from you so that your gaze is directed slightly downwards. But it can also be a bowl or any other object. You sit comfortably in front of it and concentrate completely on this object. This exercise sounds easy, but it is not. Your thoughts keep jumping around; you remember something, have your day's plan in mind, or something important occurs to you. The trick is to notice these leaps in your thoughts but to let them pass. You can watch them like clouds floating by and let go internally. In this moment, only sitting and concentrating is important, nothing else. Everything else can wait until you have finished your exercise. An alternative is immersion, where you keep your eyes closed and focus solely on an inner image. Imagine, for example, a favorite place. It should be a strong, positive image. This exercise can be done anywhere and at any time. Start your practice with a five-minute session—especially as a beginner, you'll find that sustained concentration is almost impossible at first. Practice this exercise regularly, ideally daily: you'll always find five minutes when you really want it. Growing internally The goal of all your efforts is to strengthen your self. Over time, you will become more relaxed, and the pursuit of wealth and material things—the external factors in our lives—will diminish. It is your inner reality, your spiritual self, that truly matters. You will learn about a power of the heart that will make you a better person: One of the basic tenets of yoga philosophy is to harm no one; to recognize other people and their faults, but to accept them without judgment. In the best case, you will not only be able to tolerate them, but even empathically understand them. The inner path calms your mind and allows it to function clearly. This allows you to cope with everyday life more easily and radiate a strong inner strength. Image © filmfoto / 123rf.com