Eight Limbs of Yoga: Part 2

by Catherine Madsen
Bliss Crafter, Austin Yoga Tree

Before we delve into the second limb of yoga, let’s briefly recap what we learned last week.

The eight limbs of yoga teach us how to live a healthy spiritual life. Each limb builds on the previous one, which demonstrates just how fundamental the first limbs are. It is also important to recognize that we are never completely finished learning about one limb. We are capable of advancing from one limb to the next but we must always remain focused and in tune with our restraints and observances, otherwise known as our yamas and niyamas. Our yamas and niyamas keep us grounded and focused on what is important in our lives.

Yamas, or restraints, shape our daily behaviors and give us a code of conduct to abide by. Let’s review the 5 vital yamas.
1. Ahimsa – nonviolence

• The foundation for all other limbs, the most emphasized principle of the eight limbs
  
• Teaches us unconditional love and acceptance
  

2. Satya – truthfulness

• Reminds us to always be truthful to others and ourselves
  
• We must be true to ourselves by not participating in activities that lead us away from what we want in life

3. Asteya – non-stealing

• Teaches us to not steal from others and also to not covet things that other people have
  
• Being content with what we have helps us avoid negative emotions like jealousy and greed 
  

4. Brahmacharya – moderation

• Moderation keeps our lives balanced and simple
  
• If we practice moderation effectively, we will have more time to devote to our spiritual practices, whatever they may be
  

5. Aparigraha – non-possessiveness

• We should be aware of what we are attached to and learn to let those things go
  
• “You only lose what you cling to” 
  

Second limb: Niyama

The word niyama means observance. This limb teaches us about self-discipline. Niyamas are recommended habits for a healthy life and a prosperous spiritual journey. There are 5 niyamas.
1. Saucha – cleanliness

• Saucha applies to many different aspects of our lives. First, it is crucial to keep the environment around us clean and tidy. A messy environment can lead to mental chaos and added stress. 
  
• Saucha also applies to our yoga practice. Our practice is meaningful, thus we should keep our mats and props clean. We should also practice yoga with a fresh body. If you practice in the morning, splash water on your face and brush your teach before class. If you practice in the evening, it can be helpful to have a quick shower before class to wash the day’s stresses away.
  
• Lastly, saucha can be applied to our minds. We should keep our thoughts as pure as possible in order to emanate a positive light. When we have negative thoughts, observe what you thought and why and try to let it go. 

2. Santosha – contentment

• Santosha reminds us to be happy and content with all that we have. In most cases, we are constantly searching for the newest thing we need to make us happy. Santosha teaches us to pause, reflect, and remember all the beautiful gifts we already have. This contentment will slowly start to bring joy into your life where it wasn’t before. You will begin to appreciate things like doing laundry because you realize what a gift it is to have laundry to do and to have somewhere to do it. 
  
• Santosha does not mean complacency or stagnation. We can still have goals and aspirations while practicing santosha. The difference is that we are not attached to the potential results of our goals. 
  
• It is also important to apply santosha to our yoga practice. We should always be content with where our bodies are; if we can take a pose further one day but not the other, we should be content in both situations. 

3. Tapas – restraint

• Tapas means restraint or discipline. When it comes to our yoga practice, sometimes it takes a lot of restraint to get onto our mats. Waking up early to meditate or staying up later to practice are both ways that we use tapas to progress on our spiritual journey. 
  
• Tapas also teaches us the restraint we need in order to continue on our spiritual journey. Sometimes people or situations are put on our path as a way to challenge us. Tapas helps us to stay the course and not be distracted or discouraged by whatever obstacles come our way. 

4. Svadhyaya – study of religious scriptures, study of the self

• There are two parts to svadhyaya. The first calls for studying scriptures. This does not necessarily mean picking up the Bhagavad Gita and reading a text that is written in Sanskrit. Reading scriptures is different to each person, to some it can be reading online articles about yoga, to others it might be buying a book about holistic medicine. The goal is to study something that is meaningful to you and is moving you forward on your path. 
  
• The second part of svadhyaya involves self-study. We should become aware of what we do that moves us forward and what we do that harms us. By knowing ourselves better, we can let go of the habits that don’t make us better to make room for new practices to help us grow. 

5. Isvara pranidhana – worship of the Lord, surrender of the ego

• The final niyama, isvara pranidhana, teaches us about the importance of being selfless. The worship of the Lord means something different to everyone. The general idea is that we need to devote our actions to something bigger than ourselves. You can choose to dedicate yourself to a higher power, whichever one(s) is(are) meaningful to you, or you can dedicate yourself to the higher power that exists in us all. Isvara means ‘state of collective consciousness’ which tells us that God exists in each and every one of us. 
  
• The second half of isvara pranidhana relates to surrender. At first glance, surrender can appear similar to defeat. In reality, it is quite different. Surrender is when we tune into our bodies and let whatever we are feeling, or thinking take over. Surrender can be when we let go of our thoughts and the need to be in constant control of our lives. Surrender can be holding a pose for a few more breaths and surrendering to the discomfort and emotions that arise. Surrender can be letting go of thoughts about the future so that you can truly enjoy the present moment. Surrender is to let go, and to let go is to find peace. 
  

Check back in next Wednesday when we focus on the third limb, asanas, or poses!