अस्तन्ग
aṣṭāṅga (pronounced 'ash-taangah' ) ~ eight parts
Patañjali codified the teaching of yoga into an method of eight parts. He advised that through consistent practice (abhyāsha) and non-attachment (vairāgya) this method will yield success.
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1 - YAMA Restraint
Yama - Restraint
Ahiṁsā - non-violence
Satya - truth
Asteya - non-stealing
Brahmacarya - sexual continence
Aparigraha - non-acquisitveness -
2 - NIYAMA Observance
Niyama - Self observance
Śauca - cleanliness
Santoṣa - contentment
Tapas - austerity/discipline
Svādhyāya - continual learning
Īśvara praṇidhāna - surrender to the highest -
3 - ĀSANA Seated Posture
Āsana - Posture
II.46 Āsana is a steady comfortable posture.
II.47 By lessening the natural tendency for restlessness and by meditating on the infinite, posture is mastered.
II.48 Thereafter, one is undisturbed by dualities.
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4 - PRĀṆĀYĀMA Breath regulation
Breath regulation
II.49 With posture acquired, the movement of inhalation and exhalation should be controlled. This is prāṇāyāma.
II.52 As a result, the veil over the inner light is destroyed.
II.53 And the mind becomes fit for concentration.' -
5 - PRATYĀHĀRA Sense withdrawl
Pratyahara - Sense withdrawal
II.54 When the senses withdraw themselves from the object and imitate, as it were, the nature of the mind-stuff, this is pratyāhāra.
II.55 Then follows supreme mastery over the senses. -
6 - DHĀRAṆĀ Focus
Dharana - Concentration
III.1 Dhāraṇā is fixing the the mind to one place, object or idea. -
7 - DHYĀNA Absorption
Dhyana - Meditation
III.2 When awareness flows evenly towards the point of attention, this is known as Dhyāna. -
8 - SAMĀDHI Clear Perception
Samadhi - Clear perception
III.3 Samādhi is that condition of illumination, where union disappears, only the meaning of the object on which the attention is fixed is present.
*Translation: Swami Satchidananda