Yoga for Beginners Simple Yoga Poses to Calm Your Mind and Strengthen Your Body

BASICS

The Eight Limbs of Yoga

Patanjali understood that there was more to yoga than just
moving the body. Achieving the now is hard work. Using the
lessons of his Sutras, he broke yoga down into the following
eight areas or “limbs,” known as ashtanga.

YAMAS

self-control

NIYAMAS

methods of discipline

ASANAS

physical postures

PRANAYAMA

breath work

PRATYAHARA

assistance with withdrawing from the senses

DHARANA

concentration

DHYANA

meditation

SAMADHI

absorption or liberation from the mind and the body

As you can see, yoga is more than just a kickass workout.
Asanas—the physical postures—are just one part of the yoga
practice. In order to comprehend yoga as a whole, we need
to understand all eight of these principles.