The 8 Limbs and 4 Types

of Yoga
The Spiritual Side of Yoga
Ads

Shiva Yoga Ashram

Yoga Class

Yoga Meditation

Yoga Practice

Yoga Exercises

Yoga Yoga

Hatha Yoga

Power Yoga

Yoga Benefits
Karma Yoga

Statue of Shiva in Bangalore, India, performing yogic meditation in the Padmasana

posture. Photo by Kalyan Kumar (Wikipedia)

By Subhamoy Das
Hinduism Expert
SHARE
PIN

Updated June 22, 2015.

Despite its amazing growth in popularity, many serious practitioners of

the ancient art of yoga see it as nothing more than a series of powerful
physical exercises designed to give one a perfect body.
Much More than Indian Aerobics
First and foremost, yoga is a systematic process of spiritual unfolding.
The path of yoga teaches us how to integrate and heal our personal
existence, as well as harmonize our individual consciousness with God.
Devotional meditation upon God is at the very heart of any good yoga
practice. For this reason, yoga has often been called meditation in
motion.
The Eight Limbs of Yoga
While the physical component of yoga is certainly of importance, it is
only one of the eight traditional limbs of yoga practice, all of which have
meditation on God as their purpose. These are the eight limbs of the
complete yoga system as they are found in the famous yoga textbook
known as the Yoga Sutras, written by the sage Patanjali in circa 200 B.C.
Ads
How To Clear Your Chakras
chakrahealing.com/Free-Chakra-Test
Identify the State of Your Chakras. Take The 3-Min Free Chakra Test Now
Qi Gong Online Videos
modernqigong.com/Healing
See If Qi Gong is Right for You with Our Free Lessons. Watch Here!
Download A Free Audiobook
audible.com
Start your 30-Day Free Trial today. Over 180,000 titles to choose from!

Shiva Yoga Ashram

Yoga Class

Briefly, they are

Yoga Meditation
Yoga Practice
Yoga Exercises

as follows:

1. Yama: These are five positive ethical guidelines (restraints, or

abstinences) that include non-violence, fidelity to the Absolute, nonstealing, truthfulness and non-attachment.
2. Niyama: These are five positive behaviors, including cleanliness,
contentment, self-discipline, self-study and devotion to God.
3. Asana: These are the actual physical exercises that people usually
associate with yoga. These powerful poses are designed to give our
bodies strength, flexibility and energy. They also contribute to the deep
sense of relaxation that is necessary in order to lovingly meditate on the
Absolute.
4. Pranayama: These are the energizing breathing exercises that
produce vitality, overall health and inner calm.
5. Pratyahara: This is detachment from the ever-present fluctuations of
life. Through this practice, we can transcend all the trials and sufferings
that life often seems to throw our way and begin to see such challenges
in a positive and healing light.
6. Dharana: This is the practice of power ful and focused concentration.
7. Dhyana: This is devotional meditation on God, designed to still the
agitations of the mind and open the heart to God's healing love.
8. Samadhi: This is blissful absorption of one's individual consciousness
in the essence of God. In this state, the yogi experiences the direct
presence of God in his or her life at all times. The result of samadhi is
peace, bliss and happiness without end.
Ashtanga Yoga
These eight limbs together constitute the complete system known as
classical Ashtanga Yoga. When yoga is diligently practiced under the
guidance of a well-trained spiritual teacher (guru), it can lead to
liberation from all illusion and suffering.
The Four Types of Yoga
Theologically speaking, there are four divisions of Yoga, that form one of
the cornerstones of Hinduism. In Sanskrit, they are called Raja-Yoga,

Karma-Yoga, Bhakti-Yoga and Jnana-Yoga. And the person who seeks this
kind of a union is called a 'Yogi':
1. Karma-Yoga: The worker is called the Karma-Yogi.
2. Raja-Yoga: One who seeks this union through mysticism is called a
Raja-Yogi.
3. Bhakti-Yoga: One who searches this union in love is a Bhakti-Yogi.
4. Jnana-Yoga: One who seeks this Yoga through philosophy is called
the Jnana-Yogi.
The Real Meaning of Yoga
Swami Vivekananda has succinctly explained this as follows: "To the
worker, it is union between men and the whole of humanity; to the
mystic, between his lower and Higher Self; to the lover, union between
himself and the God of love; and to the philosopher, it is union of all
existence. This is what is meant by Yoga."
Yoga is the Ideal of Hinduism
An ideal human being, according to Hinduism, is one who has all the
elements of philosophy, mysticism, emotion, and work present in him in
equal proportions. To become harmoniously balanced in all these four
directions is the ideal of Hinduism, and this is attained by what is known
as "Yoga" or union.
The Spiritual Dimension of Yoga
If you've ever tried a yoga class, try going that next crucial step and
explore the spiritual dimensions of yoga. And come back to your true
self.
This article includes excerpts from the writings of Dr. Frank Gaetano
Morales, a PhD from the Department of Languages and Cultures of Asia
at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a world-renowned authority
on yoga, spirituality, meditation and achieving self-realization.
Reproduced with permission of the author.