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The 8 Limbs of Yoga Explained Simply

The 8 Limbs of Yoga Explained Simply

Sahil Thakur
Oct 26
5 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

The eight limbs of yoga are the eight-part path described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (2.29): yama (ethical restraints), niyama (personal observances), asana (posture), pranayama (breath practices), pratyahara (turning the senses inward), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (absorption). Physical postures are just one limb. Here's what each one means, starting with a short parable.

The lantern on the hill (an original parable)

A parable, original to illustrate the idea. It isn't from a traditional text, and the people in it are invented.

In a village at the foot of a hill, there was a lantern at the top that nobody had lit in years. One evening, a young woman named Ines decided to climb up and light it.

An old neighbour stopped her at the gate. "Before you go, be honest with the people you pass, and don't take what isn't yours," he said. Ines nodded, though she was impatient.

At her own door, another neighbour said: "And keep your own house in order. A tired climber won't reach the top." She sighed, and swept the step.

On the path, she found a flat stone and sat down to rest. It was steady, and she was comfortable. She noticed her breath slowing.

Higher up, the wind was loud and the village lights were bright. She closed her eyes for a moment and the noise grew quieter. She looked at one small star, and then at the lantern's wick, and kept looking until she forgot she was looking.

When she lit the lantern, she wasn't sure whether she had climbed the hill or the hill had climbed her.

Key takeaways

  • The eight limbs come from the Yoga Sutras (2.29). Britannica describes them as a path including ethical restraints, disciplines, postures, breath control, withdrawal of the senses, concentration, meditation and contemplation (Britannica).

  • "Limb" doesn't mean "step." The limbs support each other and aren't a strict ladder.

  • Posture is only one limb. Patanjali gives it only three short sutras, about nine words, just 3 of the 195 sutras (IEP).

  • The first two limbs, yama and niyama, are about how we treat others and ourselves.

  • You can start with any limb that feels right today.

The eight limbs, one by one

Sutra 2.29 lists them: "Restraints, observances, posture, extending the breath, withdrawal from the senses, concentration, meditation and integration are the eight limbs" (Centre for Yoga Studies; translations vary). (This isn't the same as "Ashtanga Vinyasa," a modern style of yoga. Ashtanga here just means "eight limbs.")

1. Yama: how we treat others

Five restraints: ahimsa (non-harming), satya (truthfulness), asteya (not stealing), brahmacharya (traditionally celibacy or continence; many teachers today speak of moderation or wise use of energy, a modern reading rather than a translation) and aparigraha (giving up unnecessary possessions, or non-grasping) (IEP). The IEP notes that commentators single out ahimsa as the root of the others. Try: Choose one conversation today and speak kindly and truthfully.

2. Niyama: how we treat ourselves

Five observances: saucha (cleanliness), santosha (contentment), tapas (discipline), svadhyaya (study, which the IEP describes as reading sacred scriptures, including repetition of the om syllable) and Ishvara pranidhana (devotion to God, or offering one's actions to a higher principle) (IEP). Try: Notice one thing today you're already content with.

3. Asana: a steady, comfortable seat

Sutra 2.46 says sthira-sukham asanam: posture should be steady and comfortable. The word asana literally means "seat." The IEP notes that in the Sutras posture is mainly there so you can sit for meditation without being distracted by the body. Try: Sit for two minutes in a way that feels both upright and easy.

4. Pranayama: working with the breath

Literally "extending the breath." The IEP describes it as the regulation of incoming and outgoing breath. Try: Make your exhale slightly longer than your inhale for five breaths. Stop if you feel dizzy.

5. Pratyahara: turning the senses inward

Often described as withdrawal from sense objects. It isn't about shutting life out; it's about not being pulled around by every sound and sight. Try: Close your eyes for a minute and listen to the sounds around you without reacting.

6. Dharana: concentration

Fixing the mind on one place or object. A candle flame, a breath, a mantra. Try: Watch the breath at the nostrils for one minute.

7. Dhyana: meditation

The IEP says the last three limbs are not different practices but a continuation and deepening of the same one. Dhyana is a continuous flow of attention toward one object. Try: Sit quietly and see if the attention can stay with one thing for a little longer than yesterday.

8. Samadhi: absorption

A state of deep absorption, in which the sense of a separate observer fades. It's not something to force, and it isn't a goal to chase on your first week. Try: Nothing. Simply notice the quiet after any practice.

Is it a ladder?

Many people picture a staircase, with each limb a step. The IEP points out that the first five limbs are separate practices, while the last three are a deepening of one thing. Other early texts count differently: the Maitri Upanishad (which the IEP dates to the 2nd century BCE) describes a six-limbed yoga, and the Mahabharata speaks of yoga with eight "qualities" and other groupings. A better picture might be a tree, with all limbs growing at once.

A small poem for the limbs

Eight (an original poem)

Be kind. Be honest. Take what's yours. Keep your small house in order. Find a seat that holds you. Let your breath be a slow river. Let the noise fall back a little. Look at one thing. Keep looking. And when the looking melts, let it.

A gentle note: who should be careful

Pranayama and long sits aren't right for everyone. If you have a respiratory or heart condition, are pregnant, or live with anxiety or trauma, speak with a health professional and an experienced teacher before trying breath-holding or long silent sits. Take it gently, stop if you feel unwell, and keep breathing normally. This guide is educational and isn't a substitute for medical advice.

FAQ

Are the eight limbs religious?

They come from a text rooted in Indian philosophy, with a devotional element (Ishvara pranidhana). Many people use them as a practical, ethical framework without taking on any particular belief.

Do I need to practise all eight at once?

No. Start with whichever speaks to you. The limbs support one another.

Is yoga just poses?

Not traditionally. The IEP notes that seeing yoga as mainly physical postures is largely a modern development.

Where can I read the original?

Look for translations with commentary, for example Edwin Bryant's edition (see Sources). Reading with a teacher helps.

Learn the eight limbs with us

If you'd like to study the philosophy behind your practice, message us at breathe@theyogshala.org or call 514-575-0009. Our Yogshala 200-hour Hatha Teacher Training runs January 5 to April 18, 2027, in person in Montréal-Ouest and online. Message us about the January training. Certification is issued by Yogshala. Details here.

With warmth,

Sahil

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