Redefine the Role of Yoga - 8 Limbs of Yoga [Infographic]

Infographic: Eight Limbs of Yoga (Ashtanga) 

Many of today's top weight loss experts agree that before you can successfully and permanently lose weight, and maintain that weight loss, you must first restore your general health.

More and more of those same weight loss, nutrition and fitness gurus agree that focusing on just one aspect of health is not enough; that optimal, natural wellness necessarily includes not only a healthy physical body but also a healthy mind (emotions, thoughts, spirit).

The eight limbs of yoga, known as Ashtanga Yoga, as outlined by Patanjali, is an integrated system of exercises and practices designed to promote control of both the mind and and the body, and train the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight.  In this sense, Ashtanga Yoga is a complete path to natural health and wellness, addressing mind, body and spirit.

This infographic from TrueWellnessGroup.com and Rakesh Sethi (Wellness Speaker, Author and Ayurvedic Practitioner), illustrates and briefly describes the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga (Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Yama, Dhyana, Samadhi, Dharana and Pratyahara).

Rakesh Sethi is the author of Health + Happiness = Wellness, in which he reveals why one solution does not fit everyone and explains why each individual needs to discover how his or her unique physical, mental ad spiritual composition operates, and then utilize that knowledge to achieve natural wellness.

Infographic source and article:  Ashtanga Yoga: What is It and its Role in our Wellness.

Related:
How Yoga Transforms Your Body
The Eight Limbs of Yoga
Yoga Health Benefits
What is Yoga?
Yoga Starter:  What's Your Style?

The 8 Limbs of Yoga [Infographic]

Traditional Yoga Practice:  Eight Limbs [Infographic | Image]

Practicing yoga asanas (postures, poses) is an excellent way to improve one's general physical health.

A regular yoga practice builds strong, lean muscles and bones, improves flexibility and coordination, heals aches and pains, relieves stress, aids in weight loss, and protects against chronic disease.

But there is more to yoga than just reaping the health benefits by practicing the postures.

In his book, The Deeper Dimension of Yoga: Theory and Practice, Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D, writes:

"Yoga is much more than a system of physical exercises - it is a profound path of self-transformation that encompasses a range of teachings, practices, and sacred text that can help us cultivate wisdom, balance, and inner freedom, as well as physical heatlh."

Dr. Feuerstein notes that the real power of traditional yoga lies in the domain of mind training and self-transformation.

Indeed, traditional yoga (as opposed to "fitness" yoga which is popular in the West and considered a reductionist form of traditional practice) is a spiritual practice that entails the "Eight Limbs of Yoga" (aka Ashtanga Yoga).  These are beautifully and simply illustrated and briefly described in this infographic/image:

1.  Yama  (self-restraint: spiritual conduct and truthfulness, non-greed, non-theft, and non-injury)
2.  Niyama (right personal conduct, dedication and self-study, austerity, purity and contentment)
3.  Asana (control of the body through postures and movement)
4.  Pranayama (control of the breath and life force by mastering breathing techniques)
5.  Pratyahara (control of the senses)
6.  Dharana (steadying the mind and emotions)
7.  Dhyana (connecting with one's spiritual self through meditation and contemplation)
8.  Samahdi (bliss and liberation)

Related:

Yoga Health Benefits
What is Yoga?
Yoga Starter:  What's Your Style?
Redefine the Role of Yoga
Meditation Styles
The Body on Meditation

Infographic/Image Source:  Unknown - please contact us for proper credit ~ thank you!