Universal morality

The yamas offer five ethical guidelines for behaviours to avoid in daily life, such as telling the truth and not stealing. In action, they help us shift our view of the external world and how we interact with others.

Personal morality

The niyamas offer five guidelines that promote a positive internal environment, such as tapping into the true self, and being content with your circumstances, no matter what they are. In action, these guidelines support personal, internal growth and inner peace.

Physical practices

When we engage our body and challenge ourselves physically, we become strong, energetic, flexible and calm, releasing long-held tensions in the body and opening it up to new possibilities. And when we practice routinely, we cultivate discipline.

Breathing practices

Pranayama means aiding the movement of life force through the body by harmonising the breath, and is a foundation of yoga practice. Focused breathing has both calming and energising effects on the body and mind.

Movement toward silence

The practice of pratyahara prepares us to focus the mind on one thing at a time and, with training, to sustain this one-pointed focus under all conditions. By shifting focus away from external things, we are rewarded with a deep, abiding sense of peace.

Concentration

The practice of dharana involves applying our clear-headedness acquired via the fifth limb and cultivating inner perceptual awareness in order to focus attention in one place. This bolsters us against harmful distractions and prepares us for the next step.

Meditation

An ancient practice that enables the mind to enter a state of uninterrupted concentration and calm. Engaging in the previous practices should prepare the yogi for this kind of deep mental concentration. Dhyana can deliver the yogi to the eighth and final limb.

Enlightenment

Samadhi is a blissful state; a feeling of oneness with the world. There are an infinite number of ways to experience this. Essentially, it happens when the mind returns to original silence. In time, and with practice, we can allow ourselves to see every part of life as samadhi.