The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali

The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali (or Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras) is a central text in yoga written around 500 BC by a sage named Patanjali. The Sutras are scriptures which condense and collate wisdom passed down through generations of yoga practitioners, providing practical guidance for advancing on the path toward spiritual liberation. One component of the The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali is the Eight-Limbed Path, also referred to as the 8 Limbs of Yoga, Classical Yoga, or Raja Yoga. This is the basis for most modern yoga practices, including Hatha Yoga, which is the main path of yoga taught in Umi Yoga classes.

The Eight-Limbed Path provides a pathway toward spiritual liberation and includes Yama (ethical principles), Niyama (internal guiding principles), Asana (physical postures), Pranayama (breathing techniques), Pratyahara (sense withdrawal), Dharana (mindfulness/single-pointed focus), Dhyana (meditative absorption), and Samadhi (bliss/enlightenment).

To learn more about the 8 Limbs of Yoga, click here.