Namaskar / Greetings

The eight limbs of yoga or 'ashtanga-yoga' - pronounced ahsh-tahng-gah - meaning 'eight-limbed yoga', from the Sanskrit ashta ("eight") and anga ("limb"), are:

· External moral discipline or Yama (pronounced jah-mah).

· Internal moral strength or Niyama (pronounced nee-yah-mah).

· Asana or yogic postures (pronounced ah-sah-nah). 

· Pranayama concerned with proper breathing and breath control (pronounced prah-nah-yah-mah).  

· Pratyahara or withdrawal of senses (pronounced prah-tyah-hah-rah).  

· Dharana or concentration (pronounced dhah-rah-nah).  

· Dhyana or the process of meditation (pronounced dhee-yah-nah).

· Samadhi or the experience of unitive consciousness (pronounced sah-mah-dhee).  

Some basic asanas and relaxation methods have been given already, and further elaboration on yogic health practices will follow.

There are many simple useful hints you can use in improving your meditation.

These matters are covered in the postings that follow.

I hope you are all continuing with your basic meditation learnt so far.  Daily regularity leads to good habits and practical understanding of meditation.  Soon you can have taught to you, your own personal meditation technique by competent meditation teachers (acaryas).  This will be good to see and is the first step towards a spiritual lifestyle and outlook

Again, keep at it.

Dharma