The Eight Limbs of Yoga: Philosophy and Modern Practice

July 7, 2025

Our most recent blogs have focused on very practical and even playful aspects of our modern yoga practice. However, yoga is an ancient practice, and there is more to it than might meet the eye of new practitioners. If you’ve been taking Uptown Yoga classes for a while, maybe you’re looking to expand your connection with yoga beyond the mat. The eight limbs form the philosophical framework on which our modern practice is built. They may be ancient, but they have lost none of their relevance today. Read on to learn more.

Understanding the Eight Limbs of Yoga

The eight limbs of yoga trace their origin back to the original Yoga Sutras written by the sage Patanjali written around the second century BE. In them, Patanjali outlines the eight stages of yoga leading practitioners to self-realization, inner peace, and spiritual enlightenment.

If that sounds a little heavy, think of it in this way: by expanding your view of yoga and including additional elements of this practice into your lifestyle, you might just transform your day-to-day life. Incidentally, the term ‘eight limbs’ is a combination of the words ‘ashta’ (eight) and ‘anga’ (limbs). As a result, the concept of the eight limbs of yoga is the original Ashtanga Yoga.

Today’s Ashtanga Yoga has its roots in the eight limbs concept but offers a different approach.

What Are the Eight Limbs of Yoga?

Here is a closer look at the eight limbs of yoga.

1. Yama – Ethical Restraints

There are five parts to the ethical restraints component of the eight limbs. Those philosophies relate primarily to the world around us and how we interact with it. They include non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), non-stealing (asteya), moderation (brahmacharya), and non-possessiveness (aparigraha).

From choosing a vegetarian diet to making genuine connections, and consuming anything in moderation, these principles can transform your daily life. While adhering to all of them may seem difficult, try integrating some of these principles into our daily routines.

2. Niyama – Positive Duties

While the first limb deals with external factors, the second limb of yoga looks inward. There are five niyamas within this philosophy. They include cleanliness (saucha), contentment (santosha), discipline (tapas), self-study (svadhyaya), and surrender to a higher power (ishvarapranidhana).

Working on niyamas means looking for the truth within ourselves. In practice, that means maintaining a regular yoga and meditation practice, reflecting on your day by journaling, embracing uncertainty, and being grateful for everything we have.

3. Asana – Physical Posture

Within the context of the eight limbs, asana doesn’t refer to your ability to perform a specific pose. Instead, asana describes a posture that a practitioner can hold comfortably and motionlessly for meditation.

Interestingly, the original sutras don’t prescribe a specific posture but simply refer to a position that you can hold without developing aches and pains.

4. Pranayama – Breath Control

Prana means energy or life source and refers to the essence that keeps us alive. Prana often describes the breath and how we can work with our breath to control our mind.

In connection with the eight limbs, pranayama can mean controlling or restraining the breath as well as liberating or expanding your breath. The way you choose to breathe influences how your mind works, which is why this is such a powerful practice.

5. Pratyahara – Withdrawal of Senses

Our senses constantly take in sounds, sights, and smells – even when we’re asleep. The practice of pratyahara teaches us to withdraw from or switch off this assault on our mind. With practice, you learn to meditate without distractions and your ability to focus grows outside of your yoga practice, too.

6. Dharana – Concentration

Translated literally, dharana means ‘holding something else,’ staying fully focused on one point to the exclusion of everything else.

This is where dharana and pratyahara are closely connected. In order to concentrate, you must withdraw from distractions. To withdraw, you need to focus intently.

7. Dhyana – Meditation

This stage of the eight limbs is when you really meditate. Think of meditation classes as pathways leading you to this stage.

True meditation is not something you actively practice. Instead, it is a stage at which you arrive through the previous limbs. Joining a yoga class with meditation elements at Uptown Yoga allows you to lay some of those foundations to help you achieve a true meditative state.

8. Samadhi – Enlightenment or Bliss

Samadhi refers to seeing life as it is or realizing the world in front of us without distractions and disturbances. True enlightenment means letting go of our need to judge or become attached to any specific part of the process.

In combination, these elements guide the interpersonal behavior of yoga practitioners and can foster societal harmony even in difficult times.

How You Can Apply the Eight Limbs Today

Especially if you’re new to yoga, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the eight limbs concept is too theoretical and complicated. But as with so many things in life, it’s a case of starting small and integrating selected practical aspects into your daily routine.

Try integrating mindfulness and focus on behaving ethically in every single interaction you have with others throughout the day to practice yama and niyama.

Joining a class at Uptown Yoga or incorporating other physical activities into your routine will set you on the path to asana, just as breathing exercises help you learn more about your breath and how you can use it to learn more about the inner workings of your mind.

Setting aside time for meditative practices paves the way for reaching a true meditative state eventually. You may find that you achieve this state for seconds initially and then extend your time gradually as you continue practicing.

Conclusion

As you walk along this path and continue to expand and grow your yoga practice, you’ll likely find it easier to see the world for what it is and accept and enjoy the moment you’re in.

If you’d like to know more or need more guidance to explore new aspects of yoga, don’t hesitate to approach any of our instructors. We’d love to share our insights and experiences with you and accompany you on your journey to greater health and wellness.