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The eight limbs of Raja Yoga – Image © snedorez / 123rf.com Raja Yoga is a truly life-changing teaching. The name itself conveys the profound significance of this style of yoga. Raja means "king," thus it is the "royal" yoga. The eight stages/limbs of this yoga style are unique and can transform the yogi's life in a lasting way. If you would like to learn more about royal yoga and embark on this path, you can read this article. It will inspire you to greater inner freedom. Raja Yoga: Definition and a short explanation Yoga is a very ancient teaching and encompasses various techniques for achieving enlightenment and mastery of the mind. Unlike traditional yoga styles such as Hatha Yoga , Kundalini Yoga, or Yin Yoga, Raja Yoga relies on different fundamental principles. Raja Yoga is one of the four paths of yoga; the other three are Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Jnana Yoga. Raja comes from the ancient Sanskrit teachings and means "king" or "ruler." All this knowledge goes back to the wise man Patanjali , who remains a well-known name in this field to this day. He wrote the Yoga Sutra, which can also be described as a guide to 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 these days. Many people are so overwhelmed by their daily lives and all the challenges they face that this is reflected in a very restless mind. What can you do to calm yourself down? Depending on your personality and the challenge you face, there are various ways to become calmer. Raja Yoga uses various meditation techniques, breathing techniques (pranayama), and physical asanas. Of course, self-observation is also essential for becoming calmer and more aware, as well as for going through everyday life with greater focus. The Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga: On the Path to a Free Spirit Many people are restless and turn to yoga for this problem. Raja Yoga helps you become calmer and more peaceful within. The reason people are so scattered and restless is the kleshas. These are the passions that cloud and confuse the mind and thoughts. Fear of death (Abhinivesha) too much selfishness (Asmita) Knowledge that is not true (Avidya) Adhering to certain preferences (Raga) Excessive 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 behavior. Overview: the eight limbs of Raja Yoga The following section introduces the eight limbs of Raja Yoga. The order in which they are performed is not important. However, in order to develop spiritually, all steps must be practiced and studied. 1. Yamas (dealing with the world, environment) We don't live alone in this world, so it's essential that we live in harmony with the environment. Our interactions with other living beings are important. Yama is divided into five sub-themes, each of which is already very intensively addressed (e.g., Ahimsa : striving for the absence of injustice, treating all living beings with respect, Asteya : not stealing or taking what isn't yours, etc.). 2. Niyamas (how to deal with yourself) This section is about engaging with and reflecting on oneself. Here, too, there are five sub-points that demonstrate how one's mind and body should be treated, for example, shaucha (purity of the body), santosha (modesty with one's possessions), svadhyaya (exploration of one's self), etc. 3. Asanas (physical exercises) The asanas are almost the most well-known aspect of the eight-limbed path and the aspect that many people in the Western world also practice. There are countless different yoga exercises for the mat that harmonize body, mind, and soul. They also increase the practitioner's life energy and physical vitality. The effect of the exercise naturally always depends on the yoga style; Hatha Yoga has a different effect than Vinyasa, yet they all help people achieve inner peace. 4. Pranayama (breathing techniques) This point is also relatively well-known, as people all over the world practice breathing exercises in their daily lives. This requires a good degree of physical discipline. Prana is the energy that surrounds us all. There are various breathing exercises, most of which involve the same components: Exhale Hold your breath with empty lungs Inhale Holding your breath with full lungs 5. Pratyahara (dealing with the senses) This section is about controlling the senses. Pratyahara describes the withdrawal of the senses to protect yogis from sensory overload. Furthermore, no one is distracted from the essential tasks. This allows you to increase mindfulness. 6. Dhyana (meditation) In this stage, you'll learn about meditation. The goal of a meditator is to have fewer thoughts in their head while resting on the cushion , or to let them drift away. This is very difficult, especially for beginners, but with time and a little practice, you'll get better and better. With enough practice, you'll notice physical and mental differences; even in stressful situations, Raja Yoga helps you remain calmer and more focused. 7. Dharana (concentration) If you want to take this path, you should learn to concentrate completely on one thing. No one should be constantly distracted. In this context, try to focus on one specific thing during the exercise. Over time, this will become easier. 8. Samadhi (inner freedom) This point marks the culmination of the path and the goal of every yogi. The goal is to achieve the state of absolute being: a moment in which you can merge with reality, become one with God, and feel all knowledge within you. How can you integrate these stages into your life? These stages may seem very challenging at first and will naturally require a lot of time to integrate into your life. Initially, it's important that you know all these elements and gradually incorporate them into your daily routine. Everyone will have different preferences. Do everything at your own pace and don't let yourself get stressed. Don't compare yourself Read a book for more information to gain a better understanding. Find like-minded people with whom you can be motivated to follow the path Do you already practice these eight limbs in your daily life ? Have you already integrated them all?

Yama moral teachings: The five Yama stages - Image © koldunov / 123rf.com Anyone who moves in the world of yoga quickly discovers that the teachings extend far beyond intensive physical work. The Yoga Sutras are well known among avid yogis. In them, the author Patanjali describes the eight-fold path to enlightenment and unity with all things. Among them are the five Yamas, which describe behavior toward others. They can essentially be described as the foundation of the yogic way of life. What does Yama mean? The term "Yama" comes from Sanskrit and translates as "self-control" and "abstinence." Yama is a code of conduct that is part of Patanjali's eight-fold path from the famous Yoga Sutra . It describes behavior toward others. It is also the foundation and first stage of Raja Yoga , which is followed by seven further stages. Through Yama it is possible to further develop the personality, with five Yama stages being described: • Ahimsa • Satya • Asteya • Brahmacharya and • Aparigraha. Simply put, it is a kind of moral code that summarizes the norms and rules relevant to human (inter)personal behavior. The five Yamas help us live a life of balance and harmony and are explained in more detail below. They are part of the eightfold path according to Patanjali, which includes the following stages: 5 Yamas = Behavior towards the environment 5 Niyamas = Behavior towards oneself Asana = physical exercises Pranayama (breathing exercises) = control of the life energy Prana Pratyahara = withdrawal of the senses Dharana = concentration Dhyana = meditation Samadhi = superconsciousness, bliss, enlightenment The eight stages are intended to pave the path to enlightenment. Asanas, meditation, and pranayama for inner peace are therefore only a small part of the path to complete unity with everything in yoga. Therefore, if one wishes to live strictly according to the teachings of the Yoga Sutras, it encompasses all areas of life and requires a great deal of discipline. Ahimsa (non-harming, non-violence) The word "himsa," translated from Sanskrit into English, means "cruelty" or "violence." Ahimsa is the antonym. It can be translated as "non-violence." However, the meaning of the word goes far beyond the absence of violence. Always be friendly when dealing with others Generally, ahimsa encompasses kindness, consideration, and compassion. However, it assumes a considered and responsible approach to oneself and all other living beings. Physical violence, mental violence, and hurtful words should be avoided as much as possible. However, ahimsa should not be understood to mean that a person should or should not defend themselves in the event of an attack. Furthermore, ahimsa does not refer to an excessive peacefulness in which the killing of even the smallest living beings is prohibited. For example, members of Raja Yoga—unlike some Buddhist monks—might perform gardening work that kills microorganisms such as worms or insects. However, if ahimsa is practiced extremely strictly, even self-defense can violate the first stage. Good deeds, words and thoughts… Instead, it's important that ahimsa be practiced in actions, words, and thoughts. In other words, one shouldn't speak or think negatively about others. This would have negative consequences for both the speaker or thinker and the person being spoken or thought negatively about. In our fast-paced and often superficial world, this may not be easy at first. But you'll see how much easier life becomes if you always treat your fellow human beings with kindness and without prejudice. Ahimsa and vegetarian diet Furthermore, ahimsa refers to overcoming the desire to kill. This also includes a vegetarian or even vegan diet. For the realization that all life has common roots involves refraining from violence toward other living beings. Furthermore, this acknowledges the principle of life in general and one's own existence in particular. Satya (truth, truthfulness) The word "satya" means something like "truth" or "truthfulness." Satya refers to thoughts, actions, and words, and aims to always speak, act, and think the truth. Those who have reached the stage of satya lead a truthful and upright life. The commandment to always speak the truth is often incompatible with the commandment of the stage of ahimsa, namely, to refrain from harming. In other words: Although the truth should be spoken, it can still hurt another person. Thus, the inner desire to disobey the satya commandment exists. With regard to this conflict in the Yama code of conduct, non-harm is given higher priority. So, in this case, speaking is silver and silence is gold. Asteya (non-stealing) While the term "steya" can be translated as "theft," "asteya" is also the antonym. The word means the opposite and implies that no one should take something that doesn't belong to them or hasn't been given to them. Asteya applies to both intellectual and material property. Brahmacharya (self-control) Brahmacharya is the purity of deeds, words, and thoughts. This stage involves concentrating on the essential or moving toward it. In some interpretations, Brahmacharya is described as abstinence from God. A person should interact with the world in an untainted and pure manner. This is achieved by focusing on the essential. This, in turn, is beneficial when striving for higher wisdom in life. Aparigraha (unpretentiousness) The word "aparigraha" can be translated as "non-grasping." This means that a person should take only as much of anything as they truly need. The commandment also includes the principle that one should not exploit others. One should not become dependent or accumulate anything. Therefore, greed should be avoided at all costs. What the Yamas mean for our lives In summary, you can take away that the five Yamas form the basis of human action in daily life. Everyone should remember and practice each Yama every day. If you incorporate this way of life into your daily life alongside yoga, you will be well on your way to inner peace, balance, and personal enlightenment. At first, you may find it difficult to live according to these principles in all areas of your life. The first steps are usually the most difficult. But after a short time, you, and perhaps those around you, will notice the wonderful effects. Can you identify with the 5 Yamas? Do you practice yoga and perhaps even live according to the holistic principle? Feel free to share your experiences with our yogabox.de community!