At The Yoga Palace retreat in Cambodia, we balance the practical and philosophical aspects of Yoga. While creating a safe and friendly environment where physical practice and meditation can naturally deepen, we also honor the ancient roots of this profound tradition. The following article explores how a regular Yoga practice offers opportunities to connect with all eight limbs of Yoga, showing that even the simplest asana class can touch upon the deeper aspects of the tradition.
Note: This article refers to the Eight Limbs of Yoga as described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Don’t worry if some terms are unfamiliar – we’ll be exploring these concepts in more detail in future articles, and there are plenty of sources of information on the subject online.
It is often pointed out that the exercises we do on the mat are only a small part of the overall discipline of Yoga. According to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, posture (Asana) is just one of the 8 limbs of Yoga, and he says absolutely nothing about the various movements and postures that make up today’s Yoga classes. There is no Yoga sutra about downward dog, or how long you should lie in Savasana. Basically, the sutras just say that our posture should be balanced between ease and effort.
All of the various stretches and alignment exercises were originally developed to make the body more comfortable to carry out extended periods of meditation. When you find the balance between ease and effort, your body will not distract you with pain, nor lull you into sleep.
Although Asana is just one of the 8 limbs, our time spent on the Yoga mat can be used to embody ALL aspects of Yoga as described by Patanjali. This is part of the beauty of the Yoga Sutras: each aspect reflects the practice as a whole, like a fractal pattern.
The Yamas (moral restraints):
When you practice Yoga, you should be gentle with your body, never pushing it beyond its limits. This embodies Ahimsa (non-violence), the first Yama. It is important to be honest about your current capabilities, not to over or underestimate what your body can do (Satya – truthfulness).
What about Asteya (not stealing)? Well, obviously, don’t sneak home with the blocks from the studio down your trousers! But there is a deeper way to look at it. Asteya on the mat means honoring your body’s true limits and current capabilities, neither stealing from your future self through forceful progress nor from your present experience through comparison and competition.
An interesting link between Asana and Brahmacharya (celibacy/restraint of sexual energy) can be found in the commercialization of Yoga and it being twisted to selfish ends. If you are practicing Yoga to make your Instagram photos sexier, you are probably not following the same path as the ancient sages of India. This also relates to Aparigraha (non-greed) – Yoga isn’t meant to be practiced for personal gain; ultimately, it is to awaken you to a state of selflessness. While there are many personal benefits to the practice, remember it’s something much more.
The Niyamas (personal observances):
Regarding Purity (Shaucha), you will find Yoga practice much easier if your body is free of unhealthy foods or substances; in fact, many people make dietary and lifestyle changes after adopting a regular Yoga practice since they became better able to listen to their bodies. Contentment (Santosha) is something that is easy to forget if you take the practice too seriously and push yourself too hard; the paradox of Yoga is that it invites you to change by accepting things just how they are: no need to think about this too much or your head will explode, just don’t forget to smile when you practice! Intense discipline (Tapas) is that burning desire that brings you to the Yoga mat even if it’s the last thing your mind wants you to do. If a session is difficult, remember that at least you showed up, that’s the main thing. Self-study (Svadhyaya) helps us understand our patterns and limitations. Dedication to the ideal of Yoga (Ishvara Pranidhana) can be practiced during Asana by remembering this isn’t just a fitness routine – it is an ancient discipline designed to bring you into alignment with the divine.
Asana (Posture):
Patanjali didn’t write about any specific postures, but the goal of all physical practice is to bring your body into a state where ease and effort are balanced. Can you feel the ease in a challenging posture? Can you feel the subtle effort required to stay focused in Savasana? As sustained Yoga practice improves your alignment, strength, and flexibility, meditation will become easier…
Pranayama (Breath control):
One of the benefits of Asana is that a balanced body will allow you to breathe deeper, as your shoulders and chest open and become more flexible, it is easier for air to enter your lungs. Many Yoga postures are designed to facilitate the breathing process, inhaling as we open the shoulders and chest, exhaling as we squeeze the body inwards. Many Yoga teachers will instruct on when to inhale or exhale; eventually it becomes natural to breathe the correct way. Focusing on one’s breath can help to find a sense of ease in the more challenging postures…
Pratyahara (Withdrawal of the senses):
A Yoga class is a great way to withdraw from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We do not have to go to a mountaintop retreat; the mat itself can become our little haven of tranquility. Practicing Asana with the spirit of Pratyahara means to focus completely on the practice: being aware of your body, your breath, and your inner world but undistracted by what is going on around you. Comparing yourself to the other students is how you fail at Pratyahara! If you keep the focus on yourself, you will be able to listen to your body and get deeper into the postures.
Dharana (concentration):
Dharana is when consciousness is completely fixed on a single object; for example, a meditator who is focusing on their breathing is practicing dharana. Many Yoga classes offer a section of meditation where we can practice this focused attention. But it can actually be applied to all aspects of the class. With practice, you can keep the mind from wandering during Yoga sessions: this has the benefit of keeping you calm and insulated from your daily worries, and it also improves the quality of your practice since your attention is where it should be.
Dhyana (meditation):
This is when the practitioner is completely absorbed in the object they are concentrating on; there is no possibility of distraction. This may seem like a very lofty idea, but with practice you will find the mind actually prefers the state of peaceful focus instead of its default state of frantic distraction. Even when not in this state of total focus, it is something we can aspire to. If during a meditation or Yoga pose on the mat, you enter a complete state of focus (the apparently timeless state of “flow” sometimes described by musicians and mountain-climbers) then you are practicing Dhyana.
Samadhi (integration):
This highest state of meditation is impossible to describe in words, when the distinction between the seer and the seen dissolves. What did the Yogi say when he ordered a pizza? Make me one with everything! Oneness with everything isn’t something that can be comprehended from our present state of individual consciousness, and it may be a bit much to expect that you, your Yoga mat, teacher, studio, and other students merge into an infinity as you levitate skywards. But still, remembering that Yoga has a goal beyond any of our worldly desires is important since it causes us to develop a subtle form of motivation. Rather than simply practicing to be stronger, more flexible, calmer, or more instagramable, we aspire to a state of spiritual freedom.
The Yoga Palace
We hope this article has shown how the physical practice of Yoga can be enriched by understanding its deeper dimensions. At The Yoga Palace in Cambodia, we create space for all of these aspects to unfold naturally through daily practice. Whether you’re interested in the physical benefits of Yoga or seeking a deeper spiritual connection, our peaceful retreat environment allows you to explore at your own pace. Join us to experience how these eight limbs of Yoga can blossom in your practice, supported by experienced teachers and a caring community.
For more information about our retreats or to explore other aspects of Yoga philosophy, visit us at The Yoga Palace, where ancient wisdom meets modern practice in the heart of Cambodia.