The Finer Limbs of Yoga

In a yogic practice we gain control of the body to influence the breath, the breath to quiet the mind, and once releasing the mind we allow the God presence to pour in and direct our lives. Eventually we learn to stop being driven by every physical urge, emotional reaction, impulse, and thought and allow ourselves to experience life as it comes. A yoga practice really is not about your body or being able to contort into extreme shapes and take the best picture. The body is simply the doorway, it is a tool; it is not the destination.

For most of us in the western world our yoga practice begins (and usually ends) with physical movement. The poses. The flexibility. The strength. The ability to balance on one leg or touch your toes.

But asana, physical postures, is only one of the early limbs of yoga.

Here is the list of all 8 Yogic Limbs.

1. Yamas - Ethics, Restraints

2. Niyamas - Observances

3. Asana - Physical Postures

4. Pranayama - Breath Control

5. Pratyahara - Sense Withdrawal

6. Dharana - Concentration

7. Dhyani - Meditation

8. Samadhi - Bliss

At Maja, we offer breath work, guided meditation, and sound baths to explore the non physical dimensions of our beings. These practices invite us to travel beyond the material experience and into the more subtle layers of consciousness.

First the Body. Then the Breath. Then the Mind.

Then the God Presence of Pure Awareness.

There is a beautiful progression within yogic philosophy. We begin with the physical body because it is the most tangible aspect of our existence. It is the part of ourselves we can see, feel, and consciously move. Through consistent physical practice, we develop awareness, discipline, stability, and the ability to remain present within sensation. But taming the body is only the entrance ticket to truly going within. There is a full journey ahead. We use the body to influence the breath. We use the breath to influence the mind. And through the quieting of the mind, we begin to recognize the consciousness that exists beyond its constant chatter. This is where the other limbs of yoga become realized.

Limb 4. Pranayama: Working with the Breath as Life Force Energy

Prana is often described as vital life force, Qi, Spirit, Soul, Ether, the animating fully sentient substance of existence. Pranayama is the yogic practice of consciously regulating and directing the breath, traditionally understood as a means of working with pranic energy.

We can change the rhythm, depth, duration, and retention of the breath to influence our physiological and mental states. These techniques alter carbon dioxide levels, affect our nervous system, and change how we experience energy, sensation, and awareness.

Notice what happens when you're frightened, angry, excited, or overwhelmed.

Your breath changes without your choosing, and your heart rate shifts. There is a beautiful part to this. The relationship works in both directions. When we consciously change the breath, we can influence the state of the body and the activity of the mind.

Limb 5. Pratyahara: Withdrawal of Senses

Have you ever been lying in the sound bath and suddenly realized you no longer knew exactly where your body ended and the floor began? The sounds are still there. The vibrations are still moving through you. But your attention has begun to withdraw from the ordinary demands of the outside world. You are not disturbed by the cars passing by or other people shifting around in the room. This is the beautiful experience of pratyahara, the fifth limb of yoga. Pratyahara means the withdrawal or inward turning of the senses.

It doesn't necessarily mean that we stop hearing, feeling, or sensing. It doesn't mean to turn the radio or tv down and practice avoiding noises and sitting in silence. It means that we become so calm that we are not being pulled outward and distracted by every sensory occurance. The body becomes still. The senses become less demanding. The external world begins to lose its grip on our attention, and we descend inward.

Limb 6. Dharana: Concentration

As we move deeper away from the body and thoughts, we may begin to focus our awareness on a single tone, vibration, sensation, or the space between sounds.

This is dharana, the sixth limb of yoga. Concentration. Instead of allowing the mind to jump from thought to thought, we gently allow our awareness to settle on one point of focus.

Perhaps it's the sound of a singing bowl or the sensation of the vibration moving through your being. Maybe it's the vibration of your breath or the thump of your heartbeat. Our guided meditation classes offer the opportunity to explore this deeper state of focus.

Through visualization, breath awareness, and gentle guidance, you are giving the mind somewhere to rest. As concentration becomes more natural, we gradually release the effort of focusing and allow meditation to unfold.

Limb 7. Dhyana: When Concentration Becomes Meditation

Something beautiful happens when concentration becomes comfortable and attainable.

The distinction between the one who is concentrating and the object of concentration begins to soften.  Unlike active thinking or early concentration (Dharana), Dhyana is a continuous, effortless flow where the separation between the observer and the object of meditation dissolves.

Dharana is the deliberate act of focusing.

Dhyana is the continuous, uninterrupted flow of awareness.

There is no effort and no pushing. No trying to make something happen. You are no longer working hard to meditate. You are simply in the moment. In a sound bath, we experience glimpses of this as we drift toward and away from deep stillness. The layers of sounds become less like separate objects demanding our attention and more like a continuous field of experience.

The mind remains quiet and doesn't interrupt or drag you else where. Your senses have receded to a place where you don't become distracted and drawn away into a reaction by every nuance. This its not achievable by force, and not by fighting thoughts away. It's more of something that you allow to happen, that you witness.

Limb 8. Samadhi: Complete Absorption

The eighth limb of yoga is samadhi, traditionally described as profound meditative absorption. In its deepest expressions, the ordinary distinction between the observer and the observed falls away. The constant identification with the individual self becomes quiet.

In spiritual language, we might describe this as union, divine presence, or an experience of consciousness beyond the usual boundaries of the ego.

Some call it bliss.

Some call it oneness.

Some call it God.

Some call it the Higher Self.

Samadhi is not simply feeling relaxed or blissful. In the Sutras, we encounter the expression Sat-Chit-Ananda — Being, Consciousness, Bliss — describing the nature of ultimate reality and pure awareness. And while we may experience moments of extraordinary stillness, these experiences are not permanent. We move toward them, drift away, and return again. This is, after all, a journey. The field is constantly fluctuating with life. A practice of stillness, concentration, and meditation can help us begin to notice what exists beneath the endless activity of the mind, emotions and the material realm. If we have become skilled at moving instantly into anger, worry, or reactivity, we can also practice becoming more skillful at returning to calm, presence, and awareness.

Experience the Finer Limbs at Maja

Our breath work, guided meditation, and sound baths are not simply opportunities to take a nap. (Although that is wonderful too!). They are invitations to explore the deeper dimensions of your yoga practice. To cultivate a fuller relationship within your body, breath, mind, and consciousness. And hopefully, to catch a glimpse of the profound stillness that exists when we stop pushing against our own existence.

You don't have to be flexible.

You don't have to be advanced.

You don't have to be spiritual.

You don't have to know how to do anything.

You only have to be willing to explore and experience what is there.

The body is the tool. The breath is the bridge. The mind is a transmission.

The Soul is the Source.

We'll meet you on the mat.

Love Aja

Transformational Breathwork - Weekly -Tuesdays 730pm, Sundays 10am

Sound Bath - Weekly - Thursdays 730pm, Sundays 11am

Guided Meditation - Monthly - Fridays Oct 23th, Nov 13th, Dec 18th, 630pm