According to the Yoga Sutras, the eight limbs are the path towards true Self-Realization and at the same time a part of it. We often approach yoga first through the third limb, through asana practice.

1. Yama
2. Niyama
3. Asana
4. Pranayama
5. Pratyahara
6. Dharana
7. Dhyana
8. Samadhi

The Yamas include Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacarya, Aparigrahah i.e. non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, control of life energy and moderation. These principles are thought to be more communal virtues, but you can start studying and meditating on them on the yoga mat already in your own practice.

Niyamas also include five parts, Saucha, Tapas, Santosha, Svadhyaya and Ishvara Pranidhana, i.e. purity (of both body and mind), self-discipline, contentment, self-study and surrender to the Higher. These are again thought to be personal virtues and cornerstones of your practice.

Asana practice is a physical posture exercise, with the help of which we affect not only the well-being of the physical body, but also our nervous system and our mind. During the practice, with the help of breathing and body control, our awareness deepens and thus often also expands, and unconscious ways of acting also become observable. The combination of movement, breathing and eye focus aligns us to the present moment on all levels.

Pranayama, or breathing practice, is often defined as a breathing practice that is done separately from asana practice, but when doing the Ashtanga vinyasa yoga posture series, we are actually doing a breathing practice during our asana practice, and with the help of bandhas (muscle locks), we become aware and possibly also learn to control the movement of energy, or prana, in our body.

Pratyahara, or sensory control, includes practices at different levels, starting from the focus points for the gaze in the asana practice, next perhaps paying attention to the sensations of the body, drawing the senses inwards from the stimuli of the external world. Ultimately, we strive to free ourselves from the stimulation of the mind by sensory stimuli.

Dharana, or the ability to concentrate, begins to develop slowly when we bring our attention to one object again and again, and we are able to observe the object without our attention wandering. This object can be, for example, the body, breath, bandhas or a candle flame.