8 steps of yoga
1. PIT
Translated from Sanskrit, "yama" means "death". In this context, we mean the death of one's own EGO, respect for others and self-control. To pass the first stage of yoga, it is necessary to unconditionally accept the following principles:
- nonviolence (Ahimsa);
- truthfulness in their statements (Satya);
- rejection of theft in the physical and intellectual sense (Asteya);
- moderation in needs (Aparigraha);
- self-control over one's desires (Brahmacharya).
2. NIYAMA
Translated from Sanskrit, "niyama" means "rule, vow". Like Yama, Niyama includes 5 principles:
- Shaucha – purity of thoughts, speech and appearance;
- Santosha – satisfaction;
- Tapas – self-discipline;
- Svadhyaya – self-knowledge;
- Ishvara-pranidhana – following one's Path and dedicating one's life to God
3. ASANA
Translated from Sanskrit, "asana" means "pose, position". Patanjali by asana did not mean the whole of Hatha Yoga with its many positions of the body in space, namely the meditative pose Padmasana. But in this case, not everything is so simple. After all, according to Yoga sutras, a meditative pose should be comfortable. But in order for Padmasana to become comfortable, you will have to practice many other yoga asanas to strengthen muscle groups, remove blocks and clamps from various parts of your body.
4. PRANAYAMA
From Sanskrit, "prana" is translated as "energy", "yama" – "control". In this case, pranayama is the control of energy through breathing. Yogis believe that the deeper and slower the breath, the calmer the mind. Pranayama is a powerful practice, it involves combinations of different types of breathing. It is believed that it is better to master Pranayama without amateur activity, but under the guidance of an experienced guru. In this case, the practices will be most effective and will not harm your health.
5. PRATYAHARA
From Sanskrit, "Pratyahara" is translated as "distraction from external influences." This stage of yoga is considered to be a transition from external practices (physical) to internal (spiritual, mental). At this stage, the practitioner learns to control his feelings. The ability to remain an outside observer of external processes without being involved in them, not to react to emotional stimuli, is extremely important for the transition to the next stages of yoga.
6. DHARANA
From Sanskrit, "dharana" is translated as "concentration of the mind." An ordinary person's mind lives its own life, constantly looking for a job, tiring us with an endless leap of thoughts. Dharana teaches relaxation of the mind and concentration of its work on one thing - sound, image, breath, flame, etc. A sign that you have mastered the Dharana will be an objective perception of reality, seeing things as they really are.
7. DHYANA
Translated from Sanskrit, "dhyana" means "contemplation, meditation." It is difficult for an ordinary person who is superficially familiar with yoga to understand the difference between dharana and dhyana. Even the words themselves are consonant. However, dhyana is a higher stage of yoga, at which you do not need an object to concentrate your mind.
8. SAMADHI
In Sanskrit, "samadhi" is "integrity, concentration." In Patanjali, this is the highest stage of yoga, the state of enlightenment, comprehension of Truth. Individual consciousness dissolves in the universe, time, space, and the biological framework of the body lose their meaning. Samadhi cannot be achieved by desire or willpower. Only after successively passing all the seven previous stages of yoga, wholeness comes.