Astanga yoga(Sadhana pada 2.29)

सूत्र: यमनियमासनप्राणायामप्रत्याहारधारणाध्यानसमाधयोऽष्टावङ्गानि

पदच्छेद:  यम , नियम , आसन , प्राणायाम , प्रत्याहार , धारणा , ध्यान , समाधय: , अष्टौ , अङ्गानि॥

Simple Meaning:

There are Eight limbs of Astanga yoga

• yama – removing bad in you
• niyama – cultivate good in you
• asana – posture
• pranayama – breath control
• pratyahara – sense withdrawal
• dharana – concentration towards an object
• dhyana – meditation
• samadhi – absorption in the object completely

The core of the Yoga Sūtras is the Eightfold Path to liberation:

1. Yama – Ethical restraints (how you relate to others):
   • Ahimsā – Non-violence
   • Satya – Truthfulness
   • Asteya – Non-stealing
   • Brahmacharya – Celibacy/moderation
   • Aparigraha – Non-possessiveness
2. Niyama – Personal observances (how you relate to yourself):
   • Shaucha – Purity
   • Santoṣa – Contentment
   • Tapas – Discipline
   • Svādhyāya – Self-study / study of scriptures
   • Īśvara-praṇidhāna – Surrender to God or a higher reality
3. Āsana – Physical posture:
   • Traditionally means “a steady and comfortable posture” (not elaborate poses as in modern yoga)
4. Prāṇāyāma – Breath control:
   • Regulating the inhalation, exhalation, and retention of breath to control life force (prāṇa)
5. Pratyāhāra – Withdrawal of the senses:
   • Detaching the senses from external objects
6. Dhāraṇā – Concentration:
   • Fixing the mind on a single object or point
7. Dhyāna – Meditation:
   • Uninterrupted flow of concentration
8. Samādhi – Absorption:
   • The state of total meditative absorption where the meditator merges with the object of meditation