There are eight steps of Ashtanga yoga:
- Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation)
- Asanas (Yoga Postures)
- Pranayama (Breath Control)
- Pratyahara (Sense Withdrawal)
- Dharana (Concentration)
- Dhyana (Meditation)
- Samadhi (Union with the Object of Meditation)
- Shavasana or Savasana or Corpse Pose
- Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation)
1. Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation)
The name "Surya namaskar" means "sun salutation." It's also often referred to as "suryanamaskara" or "surya namaskaara."
A Surya Namaskar performed early in the morning on an empty stomach is ideal. On our way to good health, let's begin with these simple but effective Sun Salutation steps. Surya Namaskar is a sequence of 12 yoga poses that are performed in a specific order. The sequence is designed to warm up the body and prepare it for more advanced postures.
In a Sun Salutation round, there are two sets containing 12 yoga poses each. The Sun Salutation can be practiced in several ways. You should, however, practice one particular version regularly if you want to achieve the best results.
2. Asanas (Yoga Postures)
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The word "asana" comes from the Sanskrit word आसन (āsana), meaning "seat, posture, or firmness of the body."
Asanas are postures for the body. They are used in yoga to help with flexibility and strength. They also promote a sense of balance and well-being. In yoga, asanas are seen as a way to achieve spiritual enlightenment.
Through yoga asanas, muscles are toned, flexibility is developed, and posture and spinal alignment are improved. Asanas, or yoga postures, stimulate circulation and flexibility in the body by lubricating joints, muscles, ligaments, and other parts.
3. Pranayama (Breath Control)
Pranayama is a Sanskrit word that literally means "extension of the prana" or "life force". Pranayama is one of the eight limbs of ashtanga yoga. Pranayama has been practiced in India for over two thousand years and was originally used as a form of meditation.
In modern times, pranayama is mainly used as a breathing exercise to help with stress, anxiety, and depression. It also helps to regulate sleep patterns and can be used to treat asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory issues.
4. Pratyahara (Sense Withdrawal)
Pratyahara is the fifth limb of Astanga yoga. It is the process of withdrawing awareness from external objects and turning one's attention to the inner self. It is a state where one takes time to listen to their own thoughts, feelings, and desires.
This practice also helps an individual become more aware of their body, as well as their breath and mental state.
5. Dhyana (Meditation)
The word "dhyana" derives from the Sanskrit verb "dhyanati" which means "to think, contemplate, meditate." Dhyana is a mental process that has been described as being similar to deep concentration or relaxation.
Dhyana is the meditative state of uninterrupted meditation. It is a state of mind where one's attention on the object of meditation is sustained for a long period of time.
6. Dharana
Dharana is the sixth limb of Astanga yoga. It is the stage of concentration in which one's attention is fixed on a single object.
The purpose of this stage is to focus your entire attention on an object and to maintain that focus without any interruption. A practice of Dharana may help improve your focus if your brain is constantly moving between thoughts.
7. Samadhi (Union with the Object of Meditation)
Samadhi is a Sanskrit word meaning “a state of deep meditation or trance”. It is the eighth and final limb of Asthanga Yoga.
The aim of Samadhi is to attain complete oneness with the object of meditation. This may be achieved by an intense focus, not only on one's breathing but also on specific thoughts, images, words, or phrases that have been chosen as a point of concentration.
8. Shavasana or Savasana or Corpse Pose
Shavasana is a final resting pose in Yoga. It is the last of the eight asanas, or poses, to be performed in ashtanga yoga. Shavasana is a very important pose for relaxation and meditation. It has the power to help you de-stress and rejuvenate your body and mind.
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