Ashtanga Yoga — Important Questions

Niyama

Niyama is the second step of Ashtanga Yoga that deals with personal cleanliness and individual behavior. It includes five principles: Shaucha (cleanliness), Santosha (happiness/contentment), Tapas (meditation/austerity), Svadhyaya (self-study), and Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender to God). Yama deals with social ethics toward others. Pranayama is about breath control. Pratyahara involves withdrawal of senses from external objects.

Control of life energy or breath

Pranayama literally means control of life energy or breath. 'Prana' means life, breath, or vital energy, and 'Ayama' means control or extension. It is the fourth step of Ashtanga Yoga where breathing exercises are practiced to regulate the breath, which is the link between mind and body. Body posture refers to Asana (third step). Meditation is Dhyana (seventh step). Concentration is Dharana (sixth step).

Pratyahara

Pratyahara is the fifth step of Ashtanga Yoga that involves withdrawal of senses from external objects. It means turning the mind inward by withdrawing the senses from external distractions. This prepares the practitioner for the higher stages of concentration and meditation. Dharana (sixth step) is about concentration on one object. Dhyana (seventh step) is uninterrupted meditation. Samadhi (eighth step) is the final stage of complete absorption.

Samadhi

Samadhi is the final and eighth step of Ashtanga Yoga. It represents the highest state of consciousness where the practitioner becomes completely absorbed in the object of meditation and experiences absolute bliss. In this state, the individual loses his separate identity and becomes one with the universal consciousness. Dhyana (meditation) is the seventh step that leads to Samadhi. Dharana (concentration) is the sixth step. Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses) is the fifth step.