Cultivating a "Yogic Lifestyle"

There are Eight Limbs (Astanga) of Yoga which serve as a guide to living a more full and balanced life.

These limbs, much like a strong and flourishing tree, are sequential and dynamic; meaning a strong root foundation must first be created from which the trunk, branches and leaves can stem AND the tree must always be growing and taking in emotional and physical food so that it may reach its full potential.

The Eight Limbs of Yoga Are As Follows:

1. Yamas/Root of Tree: How we treat the world
2. Niyamas/Trunk of Tree: How we treat ourselves
3. Asanas/Branches of Tree: Postures
4. Pranayamas/Leaves of Tree: Breath control
5. Pratyahara/Bark of Tree: Sensory withdrawal
6. Dharana/Sap of Tree: Concentration
7. Dhyana/Fruit of Tree: Meditation

Of these Limbs, the Root and Trunk portion or the Yamas and Niyamas, are most critical to master in our every day lives.

Again, they create the foundation for the rest of the limbs and determine the likelihood of achieving higher consciousness through the upper limbs (Dharana and Dhyana).

There are five specific Yamas which teach us how to build strong personal ethics and integrity:

1. Non-Violence/Ahimsa
2. Truthfulness/Satya
3. Non-Stealing/Asteya
4. Moderation/Brahmacharya
5. Non-Greed/Aparigraha

There are also five specific Niyamas or steps for creating self-discipline and spirituality in our lives:

1. Cleanliness/Saucha
2. Contentment/Santosa
3. Simplicity/Tapas
4. Self-Study/Svadhyaya
5. Surrender to God/Isvara Pranidhana