The Eight-Limbed Path of Yoga - Patanjali “Your GPS on the path to enlightenment”

The Eight-Limbed Path of Yoga: A Guide to Inner Freedom

Yoga is more than just postures with animal names or impressive Instagram posts. Behind the sun salutation is a holistic concept of life that is around 2.000 years old and is described by the scholar “Patanjali” in the Yoga Sutras. It consists of 195 short verses (sutras) that describe the basic principles, techniques and goals of yoga. The 2nd chapter Sadhana Pada (chapter on practice) describes in particular the “Eight-Limbed Path” (Ashtanga Yoga). It is, so to speak, the instruction manual for a fulfilled life. But don't worry, we take a relaxed, humorous and everyday approach.

1. The 5 Yamas: The don'ts of life - or: “Do not do to others what you would not want done to yourself.”

The Yamas are five ethical principles that give you guidance on how to live certain values and the resulting behavior constructively in social interaction.

• Ahimsa: non-violence, non-harming

• Satya: truthfulness, non-lying

• Asteya: non-stealing

• Bramacharya: abstinence, moderation

• Aparigraha: non-possessivness, non-attachment

  
  

2. The 5 Niyamas: The to-do's of life - or: “Be your own guru! Create habits and routines that work for you.”

Now comes the part where the focus is more on your behavior towards yourself and the impact it has on your life.

• Saucha: purity of body and mind

• Santosha: contentment

• Tapas: discipline, willpower

• Svadhyaya: self-study (reflection, introspection), study of yoga scriptures

• Ishvara Pranidhana: devotion to the highest, to the divine, to God

  
  

3. Asana: The poses - or: yoga for the body                                                                             

Yes, finally! Those sexy asanas you see on Instagram are actually part of the path. They are designed not only to save your back, but also to strengthen your body while keeping it supple enough to sit for hours in meditation. Those who practice yoga asanas regularly, in conjunction with complete, even breathing and mindfulness, are not only doing something good for their physical body, but can also influence the deeper layers of their being, such as their mental or emotional levels. For those who are not yet so deeply immersed in yoga, I would like to clarify something here: "Sport, exercise or gymnastics is not the same as practicing the asanas" - and yoga is definitely not a sport about sweating or burning calories. Yoga is a path, a discipline, a way of life, a treasure chest of ancient wisdom that, when used properly, connects body, mind and soul. So yes, sexy asanas may be the beginning and they have their place, but yoga shows you that behind every pose lies a deeper meaning!

4. Pranayama: Breathe, please! Breathe in and out consciously!

Your breathing is like your body's WLAN: always there, but often ignored. With pranayama (breath control), you learn how to control your life energy (prana) by simply breathing consciously. Your bonus? You become calmer, more focused and may even be able to face the next stressful situation more calmly. You learn to use your breathing as an anchor when things get chaotic on the outside. For me, pranayama is one of the most effective tools for regulating my nervous system quickly and in a healthy way. When you have control over your breathing, you have control over your mind and body. There are various breathing exercises and techniques in yoga that have different effects on our body, some are more calming, others activating. However, they all have one thing in common. They increase our life energy (prana) and purify our body and mind.

5. Pratyahara: Handy, TV off, withdrawing your senses, become quite!

Pratyahara means withdrawing your senses from the outside world. It sounds like social detox at first, but it's much deeper than that. Withdrawing our senses helps us to reduce the constant flood of stimuli from outside and to reconnect with ourselves. In a world full of distractions, it strengthens the ability to calm the mind and find inner clarity. Through this practice, we learn to consciously choose where to focus our attention. It creates space for deeper self-awareness and supports us in cultivating serenity in everyday life. Pratyahara is the key to becoming independent of external stimuli and finding inner peace.

6. Dharana: Concentration - or: Your mind becomes a laser pointer!

Now it's about focusing your mind on a “meditation object” or in other words: “Your mind now becomes a laser pointer.” Dharana means directing your focus and attention to one thing and keeping it there - be it a candle flame, a mantra or your breath. It is the preliminary stage to meditation.

7. Dhyana: Meditation - stillness in the mind, without effort, in full awareness!

Meditation is like the VIP area of the mind. No thoughts, no distractions - complete fusion with your “meditation object”. Sounds difficult? Don't worry, it gets easier with regular practice. It's like brushing your teeth, but for your head. We can still influence dharana with willpower and a certain amount of effort. But in order to experience dhyana, we can, or rather: “We have to let go and relax again.” Easier said than done, because you don't actually do anything. You just be and let it happen. It's worth striving for, because if you've already come this far, then you also want to experience the finale.

8. Samadhi: “The finale” - enlightenment, baby! 

Samadhi is a profound state of consciousness where you become one with the universe. In this state, all boundaries dissolve - there are no distractions, no inner chatter, no to-do lists. Your mind becomes perfectly still, and you experience yourself as pure awareness. In this state of complete freedom and deep peace, where you recognize truth and let go of illusion. It might sound like science fiction, but even the smallest glimpse of it can transform your life. And once you experience it, everything begins to unfold in a whole new way.

Why should you try the “eight-limbed path”?

Patanjali's path is not a dogma, but a toolbox from which you can pick and choose what works for you. Whether you start with ahimsa and try to be less rude to others, or whether you go straight to pranayama. You will notice for yourself that the eight limbs are all interrelated and build on each other. Each step brings you closer to a more conscious, authentic and fulfilling life.

So, roll out your mat, take a deep breath and start your own personal path. And don't forget: the “path” is the destination.

Namasté and have fun walking the path to enlightenment!