The Eight Limbs of Yoga

Yama (Restraints or Abstinence)

Niyama (Observances or Disciplines or Devotion)

 Asanas (Yogic postures)

Pranayama (Breath Control)

Pratyahara (Retraction of the Senses)

Dharana (Fixation of Attention)

Dhyana (Devotion, Fusive Apprehension)

Samadhi (Fully Integrated Consciousness)

For more details and explanation about these aspects of yoga, reach out to me at goldenlightsyoga@gmail.com

“Yoga is possible for anybody who really wants it. Yoga is universal….”

Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois

July 26, 1915 – May 18, 2009

Vinyasa, विन्यास, in Sanskrit, is a style of yoga that links the body with the breath. To break down Vinyasa in Sanskrit, nyasa means “to place”, and vi means “in a special way.” In Vinyasa practice, we are placing the breath and body in a special way to connect our mind, body and soul. Vinyasa practice derives from Ashtanga fundamentals and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois teachings. Practice normally contains Sury Namaskar A, or Sun A, and flows through asanas, poses, using pranayama, breath, as the foundation of the flow.

Here is a video demonstrating Sury Namaskar A, Sun A.

David Swenson was recently in Southern California. David is an outstanding yogi, who travels around the world sharing his passion for yoga with others. He has been bringing light to Ashtanga yoga since 1973. Below is some footage from one of workshops. Don’t get intimidated by the advancement of his poses. With practice you will get it!

Krisnamacharya Yoga Film 1938

Here Krisnamacharya demonstrates asanas (poses) and pranayama (breath) techniques. Krisnamacharya (1888–1989) was an influential Indian Yoga teacher, who believed “Yoga to be India’s greatest gift to the world”. He developed Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and shared it with many influential yoga teachers of our time, including Sri BKS Iyengar, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, the late Indra Devi and Krishnamacharya’s own sons T.K.V. Desikachar and T.K. Sribhashyam.

We might have a long way to go before attempting all of his postures, but at least we know the journey that lays ahead.