The Eight "Limbs," Steps, or Stages of Yoga

According to the Yoga-sutra (YS)

(see YS 2.29)

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1. (social) restraints (yama)
2. (personal) constraints (niyama)
3. asanas (yogic postures)
4. breath control (pranayama)
5. withdrawal of the senses (pratyahara)
6. concentration (dharana: 1st limb of meditation and "conscious power," samyama, which also includes the 7^th and 8^th limbs)
7. meditation proper (dhyana: 2nd stage of meditation)
8. mystic trance, mystic accomplishment (3rd stage, samadhi, the supreme personal good)

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1^st LIMB

Restraints:	3. asteya NON-THEFT
1. ahimsa NON-INJURY	4. brahmacarya SEXUAL RESTRAINT
2. satya TRUTHFULNESS	5. aparigraha NON-ACQUISITIVENESS

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2^nd LIMB

Constraints:	3. tapas ASCETICISM (e.g. fasting)
1. saucya CLEANLINESS	4. svadhyaya SELF-STUDY (in the light of one’s preferred wisdom text)
2. santosa CONTENTMENT, SELF-ACCEPTANCE	5. isvara-pranidhana RELATING TO ONE’S HIGHER SELF OR GOD

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3^rd LIMB : ASANA

goal: to be able to sit easily and steadily in meditation (sthiram sukham)

4^th LIMB: PRANAYAMA

goal: to gain deep conscious control of breathing and harmony between breath and mind

LIMBS 5 - 8: MEDITATION

occult processes of increased power over body & mind

FINAL GOAL: SELF-AWARENESS

(self-mastery? self-realization?)