The wisdom and history of yoga go deep. Traditionally the practice of yoga was to prepare for meditation and was only practised by men. The first female yogi was Indra Devi, she came to be named the "First lady of yoga."
The practise of yoga asana is one of 8 branches of yoga, commonly referred to as limbs. Asana is in fact the third limb, proceeding the Yamas and Niyamas. The intention of the physical practice, while useful in opening the body for daily activities, is but a small branch of this rich wise tradition.
Yoga seeks to offer a guide to living life off the mat. Practices and techniques that aid us in everyday life. It always amazes me how such a rich philosophical tradition that reaches back in time is still so applicable to the life we live today. When this tradition came about, there was no technology, cars or the fast-paced life we live and yet it applies now more than ever.
You can consider yoga as a tree, deeply rooted in the earth and its history with branches that seek to stretch upward and outward into the world.
The 8 limbs are:
Yamas - Restrains
Niyamas - Observances
Asana - Posture
Pranayama - Breath
Pratyahara - withdrawing of the senses
Dharana - concentration
Dhyana - Meditation
Samadhi - Absorption
Each limb seeks to lead you towards Samadhi- absorption, wholeness, completeness or some say enlightenment. Often the term enlightenment is referred to as an end goal that will happen when, but in actual truth, samadhi can be in the fleeting moments of life, it can last 2 seconds and then you land back in the hustle and bustle of life.
Don't practice yoga to get better at yoga; practise yoga to get better at living.
I have two moments I would liken to samadhi. After reading Ekhart Tolle's The Power of Now, I was walking down a mundane street and when I looked up at the sky I felt completely whole and connected to everything around me. There was no separation between me and the footpath, cars, trees, sky, buildings, or people it all felt whole.
Another experience of Samadhi is in a place I regularly walkthrough, the river near my house. It is surrounded by trees and full of natural life. Every time I walk across the bridge, I stop, turn off all technology and just watch and listen. These moments are small no more than a minute and yet I still experience samadhi, total and complete absorption and presence.
Each limb highlights a way to live your life, and how you can step into each moment, and be in a relationship with yourself and others. We get to live yoga off the mat by using the eight limbs each day and when we feel the need arises. Personally, my favourite limbs are Santosha, Asana and Dhyana.
Look out for more blogs that dive deep into the eight limbs of yoga.
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