3 Important Aspects of Yoga in Your Daily Yoga Practices
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras are a timeless source of inspiration and guidance for modern yoga practitioners, especially regarding living a balanced and ethical life. While the full Yoga Sutra comprises 195 aphorisms, modern yoga primarily focuses on the 31 verses that describe the “limbs” of yoga — a practical guide to attaining liberation from suffering.
वपुः कृशत्वं, वदने प्रसन्नता, नाद-स्फुटत्वं, नयने सुनिर्मले,
अरोगता, बिन्दुजयम्, अग्निदीपनं, नाडी विशुद्धिर्हठसिद्धि लक्षणम् ।
(Slimness of body, facial luster, clarity of voice, brightness of eyes, freedom from disease, control over ejaculation, stimulation of gastric fire, and purification of Nadis are signs of success in hatha yoga.)
Aspects of Yoga
यमनियमासनप्राणायामप्रत्याहारधारणाध्यानसमाधयोऽष्टावङानि ।
(Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi — these are the eight limbs of yoga.)
A committed practice of all eight limbs brings a wide range of emotional, interpersonal, and health benefits. Yoga is a holistic lifestyle — not just a physical or breathing practice.
Yama and Niyama
Yama
Regardless of who we are or where we’re from, we can all incorporate the Yamas into our lives:
- Ahimsa: Ahimsa means love. When love is present, harm is impossible. It’s a lifelong guideline.
- Satya: Satya is about valuing the truth. While telling the truth isn’t always easy, we should strive to speak with love, compassion, and respect.
- Asteya: The urge to steal comes from doubting our ability to meet our needs. Practicing yoga helps us realize we already have enough.
- Brahmacharya: “Brahma” means the Supreme, and “Charya” means motion. Brahmacharya encourages us to channel our energy inward, avoiding fleeting pleasures in favor of lasting fulfillment.
- Aparigraha: “Graha” means to seize; the prefix “a” means non. Aparigraha teaches us to take only what we need, release what no longer serves us, and let go when the time comes.
Niyama
“Niyama” comes from the Sanskrit “ni,” meaning inward. It relates to our personal disciplines and can also extend to our behavior toward others.
- Shauca (Cleanliness): Entering yoga or pranayama practice with cleanliness of body and mind is essential for deeper progress.
- Santosha (Contentment): Seeking happiness outside ourselves only leads to more searching. Santosha means appreciating what we already have and who we are.
- Tapas (Discipline): Derived from “tap” meaning “to burn,” Tapas reflects fiery discipline — the inner courage to burn away impurities and cultivate greatness.
- Svadhyaya (Self-study): “Sva” means self, and “Adhyaya” means study. Svadhyaya involves studying both sacred texts and one’s own mind and spirit.
- Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender): “Ishvara” is the Supreme Being, and “Pranidhana” means devotion or surrender. This Niyama teaches us to trust in the greater whole and offer our actions selflessly.
Postures and Breathing Practices: Asana and Pranayama
These aspects of yoga focus directly on the physical body.
Asana
In Patanjali’s Sutras, asanas were primarily designed to support meditation. The goal is to find a posture that allows ease and stillness, free from discomfort that distracts the mind.
Pranayama
“Prana” means life force or energy. Breath control techniques help regulate this energy. Whether we aim to calm the mind (e.g., Chandra Bhedana) or invigorate it (e.g., Kapalabhati), pranayama influences our emotional and mental states profoundly.
Meditation: Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi
These advanced limbs focus on mind-soul connection and build on earlier limbs.
- Pratyahara: “Pratya” means to withdraw; “ahara” refers to sensory input. Pratyahara is not losing our senses but learning to focus so deeply that distractions fade away.
- Dharana (Concentration): It trains the mind to focus on a single object — breath, mantra, or image. This sharpens attention, reduces stress, and enhances self-regulation.
- Dhyana (Meditation): Sustained meditative flow leads to stillness and insight. With regular practice, the mind becomes fully absorbed in the object of focus.
- Samadhi (Integration): The culmination of yoga practice. Samadhi is inner bliss and deep wisdom — the union of body, mind, and spirit.
Conclusion
Calling ourselves yogis means embracing the collective wisdom of sages, seekers, and spiritual masters throughout history. Yoga is not just a practice but a way of understanding the body, mind, and the infinite consciousness that has fascinated humanity since the dawn of civilization.
