Yoga is a breath of fresh air for the millions of people struggling with the stresses of daily life and the demands of society. Dr. Bharat B. Vibhakar has found Ashtanga yoga to be a particularly helpful system in his journey toward a balanced mind and body. Ashtanga yoga is a dynamic and vigorous practice that synchronizes breath and movement. The individual postures (called asanas) are connected by flowing movements.
According to the sage Patanjali, who is credited with compiling a text on yoga theory and practice, Ashtanga means “eight-limbed” and the yoga system consists of eight spiritual practices. The first two practices, Yama and Niyama, each have five principles; Dr. Vibhakar refers to them as “The 10 Commandments.” He believes each of these need to be understood and practiced before jumping into the physical postural sequences.
The Concepts and Principles Behind Ashtanga Yoga
Yama (Moral Codes)
The first limb of Ashtanga yoga is yama, which involves ethical standards and attitudes toward the environment. Yama focuses on how we behave in life and treat others.
There are five yamas:
- Ahimsa – non-violence toward other living beings
- Satya – truthfulness
- Asteya – non-stealing
- Brachmacharya – chastity or marital fidelity
- Aparigraha – non-covetousness (i.e., non-greediness)
Niyama (Attitudes Toward Ourselves)
The second limb of Ashtanga yoga is niyama, which includes virtuous habits and observances.
The five niyamas are:
- Shaucha – clearness of mind, body and speech
- Santosha – contentment, optimism, acceptance of others, acceptance of one’s circumstances
- Tapas – self-discipline, austerity
- Svadhyaya – study of self and sacred scriptures
- Isvara pranidhana – surrender to God
Other Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga
The third limb of Ashtanga yoga is asanas, or the physical postural sequences that are held for a period of time. The postures should be relaxed, steady, comfortable and motionless. Practicing asanas is thought to develop the habit of discipline and the ability of concentration.
Pranayama, the fourth limb, is breath control while recognizing the connection between breath, mind and emotions. Pranayama involves changing the timing and length of the breath.
Pratyahara is the withdrawal of the senses and involves “drawing inward.” The idea is not to turn off the senses, rather to be so concentrated and present in the moment that sensations like sights, sounds and smells or outside stimuli are not distracting.
Dharana is focused concentration or introspective focus on a singular mental object. It could be fixing the mind on a mantra, the silent repetition of a sound or an image of a deity, without becoming distracted.
Dhyana means contemplation or reflecting on whatever dharana has focused on. In this state, the mind should be quiet while producing few or no thoughts.
Samadhi is the final limb of Ashtanga yoga and means bliss or enlightenment. In this stage, the mind is so absorbed in whatever it is reflecting on that it loses its sense of identity — essentially, the thinker, thought process and thought are one and the same.
The practice of Ashtanga has changed Dr. Vibhakar’s life. Learn how it can change yours by reading Dr. Vibhakar’s book, “Yoga & U in Your Daily Life,” or contacting the doctor today.