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Eight
Limbs of Yoga |
| In
the Yoga sutras, Patanjali describes asana as the third of the
8 limbs of classical yoga (raja yoga). |
These
eight limbs are:
- The yamas (restrictions)
- Niyamas (observances)
- Asanas (postures)
- Pranayama (breath work)
- Pratyahara (sense withdrawal or non-attachment)
- Dharana (concentration)
- Dhyana (meditation)
- Samadhi (realization of the true self and/or unity with
god).
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| Asanas
are the physical movements in a yoga practice. In combination
with pranayama or breathing techniques, it constitutes hatha
yoga. In the Yoga sutras, Patanjali describes "asana" simply
as sitting meditation, suggesting meditation to be the path
of samadhi, or self-realization. |
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