The 8 Limbs of Yoga, Explained for Daily Life

Yoga basics 3 illustrations Updated 2 Nov 2026

The 8 limbs of yoga are the eight stages of practice described by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. Together they are called ashtanga yoga, from ashta, eight, and anga, limb, and they move from how we treat others, through body and breath, to deep meditation.

This page explains each limb with plain examples, shows how the eight fit together, and clears up the common confusion between this classical ashtanga and the modern exercise style of the same name.

Source: Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, chapter 2 and 3
Other name: Ashtanga yoga, raja yoga
Outer limbs: Yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara
Inner limbs: Dharana, dhyana, samadhi
Yamas: 5 restraints
Niyamas: 5 personal disciplines

The 8 limbs of yoga at a glance

Limb	Meaning	Everyday example
1. Yama	Restraints toward others	Not harming, being honest
2. Niyama	Disciplines toward oneself	Keeping clean, being content
3. Asana	Steady posture	Poses on the mat
4. Pranayama	Breath regulation	Unhurried, smooth breaths
5. Pratyahara	Withdrawing the senses	Not reacting to every distraction
6. Dharana	Concentration	Keeping the mind on a single point
7. Dhyana	Meditation	Attention flowing without effort
8. Samadhi	Absorption	Complete stillness of mind

8 limbs of yoga in pictures

Asana, the third limb, shown as a steady and comfortable warrior two pose — Level
Beginner
Hold
5 breaths
Works on
Steadiness
Asana is the third limb. Patanjali describes it simply as a posture that is steady and comfortable.
**Teacher's cue:** Find the point where the pose feels both firm and easy, then stay there.

Pratyahara shown as a seated figure turning attention inward, hands resting in the lap — Level
All levels
Hold
5 minutes
Works on
Attention
Pratyahara, withdrawing the senses, is the bridge between outer and inner practice. Sounds remain, but they stop pulling you away.
**Teacher's cue:** Let sounds come and go without naming them.

Dharana concentration practice gazing at a small candle flame placed at eye level — Level
Beginner
Hold
1 to 3 minutes
Works on
Concentration
Dharana means holding attention on one point. A steady candle flame is a traditional focus for beginners.
**Teacher's cue:** Blink when you need to and simply return to the flame.

Yama in yoga: the five restraints

Ahimsa: non-violence in action, word and thought, including toward yourself on the mat.
Satya: truthfulness.
Asteya: not stealing, including other people's time or credit.
Brahmacharya: moderation and wise use of energy.
Aparigraha: non-possessiveness, not grabbing more than you need.

When people search yama yoga or yamas yoga, this list of five is what they find. In practice, ahimsa is the one you meet most often in a class: never forcing a pose.

Niyama yoga: the five disciplines

Shaucha: cleanliness of body, surroundings and mind.
Santosha: contentment with what is.
Tapas: steady effort and self discipline.
Svadhyaya: self study, including study of good texts.
Ishvara pranidhana: surrender to something larger than oneself.

Of the five, santosha often surprises new students. It does not mean giving up on goals. It means practising without the constant feeling that today is not good enough, which makes regular practice much easier to keep up.

Asana, pranayama and pratyahara yoga

Patanjali gives asana only a few lines: the posture should be steady and comfortable. The many poses we practise today came later, from hatha yoga, but the principle holds. Pranayama then steadies the breath, and pratyahara turns attention inward, so the senses stop dragging the mind outward. Many people experience a taste of pratyahara at the end of a good class, lying in shavasana while the street noise fades into the background.

Dharana yoga, dhyana and samadhi

The last three limbs are stages of one process. Dharana is effortful concentration on a single object, such as the breath or a candle flame. When that attention becomes continuous, it is called dhyana, meditation. When the sense of a separate meditator falls away, it is samadhi. The Sutras call these three together samyama. Our yoga meditation guide has simple ways to begin.

Ashtanga yoga: two meanings

Astanga yoga, ashtang yoga and astang yoga are all spellings of the same Sanskrit word. In India it often means these eight limbs. Outside India the word mostly brings to mind ashtanga vinyasa yoga, an athletic pose series developed in the last century. The two share a name and a respect for Patanjali, but they are not the same thing. So the 8 limbs of ashtanga yoga and the eight limbs of ashtanga yoga refer to Patanjali's path, not to a series of poses. Some school books call them the 8 types of yoga, which is not quite accurate; they are stages of one path.

Using the eight limbs in daily life

Pick one yama or niyama a week to notice, such as truthfulness or contentment.
Practise 20 minutes of asana with the attitude of ahimsa.
Add five minutes of slow breathing.
Sit for five minutes with attention on the breath; when it wanders, return.

That small routine touches six of the eight limbs. Read more in our Yoga Sutras summary.

Practise on an empty stomach, move slowly into each position and stop at any sharp pain. If you have an injury, a health condition or are pregnant, check with a doctor or an experienced teacher first.