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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?

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!