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               Astanga Yoga

One of two approaches to yoga outlined in Chapter 2 of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.

The other is Kriya Yoga.

Astanga means ‘eight-limbed’ and that means we’re talking about a form of yoga composed of eight interrelated parts. 

A sutra – which translates as thread – contains a number of aphorisms. 

Aphorisms are short statements, to the point and with no wasted words.

Patanjali chooses his words very carefully and often his aphorisms have more than one meaning and so create a multi-faceted image in the mind of the reader.  Additionally, each aphorism is shorthand for fuller, more complex statement.

So, when Patanjali talks about eight limbs, he doesn’t mean eight steps or eight stages.  He means exactly what he says and what he says is intended to create an image in our mind of yoga as a living being, just like you and me.  He also means (because yoga is for people and people normally have four limbs) that this living thing has an outer and inner body, each with four limbs. 

So immediately we know that we’re dealing with something that will affect not just our outer being but our inner being as well.  Put in another way, Astanga yoga is for body AND mind and with the two being part of the one whole being.

The four outer limbs are Yama, Niyama, Asana and Pranayama.  They can be practised directly; you can do asana; you can do pranayama.  But, and this is significant, if you do any one thing in isolation from the others, perhaps thinking that you’ll take things step by step,  then it isn’t Astanga yoga; not really.

The four inner limbs are Pratyahara, Dyhana, Dharana and Smadhi.  They can’t be practised directly.  You can’t do Dhyana without some involvement from the outer limbs and the other inner limbs as well (or at least not when you begin and not for some time after that).

If you want to work with Astanga Yoga, then you are going to be working with all of these things.  This is important because there is a popular style of modern yoga that only has one limb – Asana – and  so although it may be very good for you physically, it won’t work on the whole of your being.  So long as you know this, you pay your money and take your choice!  Whichever you do choose, enjoy.